The campground where we are staying recommended this place but warned us there could be a line. We were a little late so no line but I understand why there could be - this is some of the best brisket I've eaten! We had the Mad Jack Sandwich with Brisket, grilled peppers and onions and pepper jack cheese. Outstanding. Only negative was the peach cobbler, it was more like peach flavored cake - very few peaches. I'd highly recommend this place. The staff is friendly - Jack stopped by our table and chatted a bit, the decor is cool and the food is excellent.
Lynn P.
Travel nurse from NH. Glad we got the chance to stop in and eat some amazing bbq. This is a MUST stop if you are even remotely near Cloudcraft, NM. We got the opportunity to eat what was "left"...did not disappoint!
Chris R.
We drove two hours to eat here but didn't know you should line up at 9:30 am if you want everything on the menu. We show up at 2:00 and they only have brisket sandwiches left. The food was amazing. Pinto beans, coleslaw, loaded baked potato with brisket, three sandwiches, and two cobblers. Oh my goodness. But the greatest part of the day was sitting with Mad Jack for almost two hours and hearing his amazing story from the epicenter of Texas BBQ to Cloudcroft, NM. This man is the real deal and he respects his food so much that he drives 1300 to get Texas post oak for the smoker, has the sandwich rolls shipped from central Texas, and he gets his meat from Texas as well. You have to check this place out but get here early and pray that Mad Jack takes some time to tell you his story.
Randy P.
I've eaten barbecue from all the best places in the US and Mad Jack's does them all proud! Definitely one of the best so if your travel plans put you anywhere near Cloudcroft, NM from Thursday thru Sunday, don't be afraid of the lines that start an hour or more before they open at 11:00. Wait patiently and prepare to be amazed!
Andrew S.
Outstanding food. Loved everything. The sour cream potato salad was the only thing that was just okay. Everything else was just amazing.
Yanine B.
LOVE LOVE this place! Always a line to get in but it is worth it. Brisket and ribs are SO good and the owner is always so nice and happy to help his customers!
Francine L.
The day we had to fly back out to Los Angeles we decided to try this place out and come here right when they open. The line was already starting and it took us about an hour to get our food and enjoy it. But it is well worth the wait and you must stop and try this Bbq spot out. Mad Jack was there and he is a character. He's super nice and very friendly to everyone. Overall you will fall in love with how much happiness and joy he is with the customers and also the staff as well. We tried a little bit of everything but just be warned that they can also sell out quickly because when people come here they order a ton of things so you can have variety and it's great for large groups. They have a perfect system in here and the meat orders were amazing! The Bbq chicken was nice and juicy and everything was so flavorful. My friend said this is honestly one of the best bbqs he has ever had and it reminds him of his college days in Texas. So if you want to try some amazing Bbq you must must head over to Mad Jacks!
Bobby D.
It has been written that this place has the best BBQ in NM. So I am only a couple of hours away and on one cold winter morning I drove here to try the food. I arrived at 10:30 and there were 30 people in line. Opening promptly at 11, the masses wound through the queue to order at the counter. sidenote: if you tell them it's your first time there, they announce it to the restaurant. as it's my first time here, I got the treatment too. what to order? I wanted to try it all. The sausage, the brisket, the pulled pork and the ribs. limited seating makes it difficult during Covid season, so you might find yourself sharing a table. Don't be daunted, they did a fine job sterilizing the seat and table after a patron cleared a table. verdict: the sausage was okay, but not exceptional. That said, I probably wouldn't buy it again. The ribs were good too, but nothing to do dances over. the pulled pork or brisket? Without a doubt some of the best I have ever had. the baked beans were okay, not as thick as I prefer. The BBQ sauce was sweet. It's just the way I love it. I did not try the potato salad because I don't like it. the Mac and cheese was okay too. if I am within two hours, I will come there again!
Judy B.
Yes, yes, and YES!!! Absolutely MAD for the Jack's! So the first and only time so far that I have visited was practically a last minute, spur of the moment get away and we barely made it here for the last maybe 30 minutes of their business hours. I was already hungry since before we ventured from El Paso, so needless to say, I was READY for meats! lol At first, the lady said they only offered sandwiches at that point, which already was a huge let down. I'm just not the biggest fan of sandwiches right off the bat, especially for a BBQ spot. I need cuts of meat and lots of it! And I particularly love potato salad to have its sweeter flavor compliment the salty flavors of smoked BBQ. Luckily, somebody was nice enough to allow us a pound of their cut up brisket after I inquired politely. Spirits super lifted from that! So a pound of brisket, 2 sausage rings, and a thing of potato salad later, we sat our happy asses down outside one of their picnic tables. It was a PERFECT day in Cloudcroft, so why not enjoy the outdoors with this meal? We were also saving most of the brisket for dinner but I was famished, so Lord knows I needed to eat! Everything was absolutely delicious!! I have never had a smoked sausage so fresh that the meat was crumbly but worked so well for its flavor profile! Brisket was perfectly smoked and tender as well. Their potato salad was also delish and at first, I wasn't sure if the sour cream one was better than the mustard one. I figured sour cream is perfect since it would be like a baked potato... and oh, but it was! Been dreaming of the day we make a trip up here again for their delectables! Next time, I am not missing out on their peach cobbler and going all out!
Alex W.
In all of my life I have never had barbecue this good. There is nothing else to say. (But I will anyway ;) ) I usually enjoy writing longer views detailing the smallest attributes of every part of the experience but honestly it was all worth it. The line was super long to the point that we were there an hour before it even opened and it still took us a while to be able to actually order our food but it was worth the wait. The owner went around shaking peoples hands in the long line about 15 to 30 minutes before ringing the bell to officially open and he was very charismatic and very detailed about his process and why his is different. I highly recommend asking him about his treasure story. The brisket was perfect. Incredibly seasoned and juicy and packed with flavor. The pulled pork was fantastic. The sides were not as good as the meat but good complements to them. If you haven't been, take the trip. If you live near it, I'm jealous. Please don't take it for granted.
We tried Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue on Friday at 11:00am and the line wasn't bad at all. We waiting in line inside for about 15 minutes. I highly recommend everything we ordered - mountaintop sandwich, peach cobbler, and Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese is my favorite and Mad Jacks hands down has the best Mac and cheese I've ever had!
jessie a.
Now I know why the lines are often out the door. The place is on the smaller side and informal but the service is fast. Everyone seems to be considerate of the lines and so they eat and go. No lingering here. Expect disposable plates and utensils. You serve your own fountain drink. The napkins could be thicker considering how messy your fingers will get. I must've gone thru 20 napkins. I had the Mad Jack sandwich which in short is like a Philly cheese steak but with brisket. It was moist and delicious. Very messy albeit but worth the 35 min wait to order my food. I also ordered the mustard potato salad but thinking I could've gotten the sour cream potato salad cause it was very creamy. It possibly could be the best potato salad I've had. I ordered a green chili sausage link too. It was ok. They were out of jalapeño sausage. A definite must stop if you are in cloudcroft.
Travis D.
Great food and service! Mad Jack came by to thank us personally and chat. Staff was extremely friendly. Great environment. Def a must stop in Cloudcroft. Make sure to get their early! When the food is gone it's gone! :)
Linda L.
Wow! We got in the line around10:15 and ordered at 11:35. Worth the wait! We had a lot of food! Brisket, Mac n Cheese, baked potatoes. Everything was delicious! Everything was fresh, hit and yummy! Must try!! Worth every minute waiting in line!
Charlene T.
This is the place where BBQ dreams are made. Having lived in east Texas and gone on more than a couple BBQ crawls in the Austin region, I can confidently say without a doubt that the meat you're served at Mad Jack's is authentic Texas BBQ and arguably even better than most of the world famous TX BBQ places. Mad Jack himself is from Lockhart TX and still drives there specifically to obtain the wood for his Q. There's often a line and items can and do run out which is to be expected at nearly every worthy BBQ place. I typically order just meat with sauce on the side because I feel the meat has to be excellent in its own right and the sauce is simply a complimentary add. However, since they were out of the sliced brisket on my latest visit, I ordered the Kirk Jackson (chopped brisket) sandwich with American cheese instead. OH EM GEEZY!!!! That was the best sandwich I've ever had in my life! The bread was soooo good and it was grilled to perfection. My mouth is watering now just remembering it. Although I own a home in Ruidoso, Mad Jack's makes me wish my home was in Cloudcroft instead. It's that good and is well worth the detour on your way to/from Ruidoso. Pro tips: They offer a military discount and last I checked they are only open Thursday-Sunday until they run out which you can expect will happen.
The campground where we are staying recommended this place but warned us there could be a line. We were a little late so no line but I understand why there could be - this is some of the best brisket I've eaten! We had the Mad Jack Sandwich with Brisket, grilled peppers and onions and pepper jack cheese. Outstanding. Only negative was the peach cobbler, it was more like peach flavored cake - very few peaches. I'd highly recommend this place. The staff is friendly - Jack stopped by our table and chatted a bit, the decor is cool and the food is excellent.
Travel nurse from NH. Glad we got the chance to stop in and eat some amazing bbq. This is a MUST stop if you are even remotely near Cloudcraft, NM. We got the opportunity to eat what was "left"...did not disappoint!
We drove two hours to eat here but didn't know you should line up at 9:30 am if you want everything on the menu. We show up at 2:00 and they only have brisket sandwiches left. The food was amazing. Pinto beans, coleslaw, loaded baked potato with brisket, three sandwiches, and two cobblers. Oh my goodness. But the greatest part of the day was sitting with Mad Jack for almost two hours and hearing his amazing story from the epicenter of Texas BBQ to Cloudcroft, NM. This man is the real deal and he respects his food so much that he drives 1300 to get Texas post oak for the smoker, has the sandwich rolls shipped from central Texas, and he gets his meat from Texas as well. You have to check this place out but get here early and pray that Mad Jack takes some time to tell you his story.
I've eaten barbecue from all the best places in the US and Mad Jack's does them all proud! Definitely one of the best so if your travel plans put you anywhere near Cloudcroft, NM from Thursday thru Sunday, don't be afraid of the lines that start an hour or more before they open at 11:00. Wait patiently and prepare to be amazed!
Outstanding food. Loved everything. The sour cream potato salad was the only thing that was just okay. Everything else was just amazing.
LOVE LOVE this place! Always a line to get in but it is worth it. Brisket and ribs are SO good and the owner is always so nice and happy to help his customers!
The day we had to fly back out to Los Angeles we decided to try this place out and come here right when they open. The line was already starting and it took us about an hour to get our food and enjoy it. But it is well worth the wait and you must stop and try this Bbq spot out. Mad Jack was there and he is a character. He's super nice and very friendly to everyone. Overall you will fall in love with how much happiness and joy he is with the customers and also the staff as well. We tried a little bit of everything but just be warned that they can also sell out quickly because when people come here they order a ton of things so you can have variety and it's great for large groups. They have a perfect system in here and the meat orders were amazing! The Bbq chicken was nice and juicy and everything was so flavorful. My friend said this is honestly one of the best bbqs he has ever had and it reminds him of his college days in Texas. So if you want to try some amazing Bbq you must must head over to Mad Jacks!
It has been written that this place has the best BBQ in NM. So I am only a couple of hours away and on one cold winter morning I drove here to try the food. I arrived at 10:30 and there were 30 people in line. Opening promptly at 11, the masses wound through the queue to order at the counter. sidenote: if you tell them it's your first time there, they announce it to the restaurant. as it's my first time here, I got the treatment too. what to order? I wanted to try it all. The sausage, the brisket, the pulled pork and the ribs. limited seating makes it difficult during Covid season, so you might find yourself sharing a table. Don't be daunted, they did a fine job sterilizing the seat and table after a patron cleared a table. verdict: the sausage was okay, but not exceptional. That said, I probably wouldn't buy it again. The ribs were good too, but nothing to do dances over. the pulled pork or brisket? Without a doubt some of the best I have ever had. the baked beans were okay, not as thick as I prefer. The BBQ sauce was sweet. It's just the way I love it. I did not try the potato salad because I don't like it. the Mac and cheese was okay too. if I am within two hours, I will come there again!
Yes, yes, and YES!!! Absolutely MAD for the Jack's! So the first and only time so far that I have visited was practically a last minute, spur of the moment get away and we barely made it here for the last maybe 30 minutes of their business hours. I was already hungry since before we ventured from El Paso, so needless to say, I was READY for meats! lol At first, the lady said they only offered sandwiches at that point, which already was a huge let down. I'm just not the biggest fan of sandwiches right off the bat, especially for a BBQ spot. I need cuts of meat and lots of it! And I particularly love potato salad to have its sweeter flavor compliment the salty flavors of smoked BBQ. Luckily, somebody was nice enough to allow us a pound of their cut up brisket after I inquired politely. Spirits super lifted from that! So a pound of brisket, 2 sausage rings, and a thing of potato salad later, we sat our happy asses down outside one of their picnic tables. It was a PERFECT day in Cloudcroft, so why not enjoy the outdoors with this meal? We were also saving most of the brisket for dinner but I was famished, so Lord knows I needed to eat! Everything was absolutely delicious!! I have never had a smoked sausage so fresh that the meat was crumbly but worked so well for its flavor profile! Brisket was perfectly smoked and tender as well. Their potato salad was also delish and at first, I wasn't sure if the sour cream one was better than the mustard one. I figured sour cream is perfect since it would be like a baked potato... and oh, but it was! Been dreaming of the day we make a trip up here again for their delectables! Next time, I am not missing out on their peach cobbler and going all out!
In all of my life I have never had barbecue this good. There is nothing else to say. (But I will anyway ;) ) I usually enjoy writing longer views detailing the smallest attributes of every part of the experience but honestly it was all worth it. The line was super long to the point that we were there an hour before it even opened and it still took us a while to be able to actually order our food but it was worth the wait. The owner went around shaking peoples hands in the long line about 15 to 30 minutes before ringing the bell to officially open and he was very charismatic and very detailed about his process and why his is different. I highly recommend asking him about his treasure story. The brisket was perfect. Incredibly seasoned and juicy and packed with flavor. The pulled pork was fantastic. The sides were not as good as the meat but good complements to them. If you haven't been, take the trip. If you live near it, I'm jealous. Please don't take it for granted.
Restaurantji Recommends
We tried Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue on Friday at 11:00am and the line wasn't bad at all. We waiting in line inside for about 15 minutes. I highly recommend everything we ordered - mountaintop sandwich, peach cobbler, and Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese is my favorite and Mad Jacks hands down has the best Mac and cheese I've ever had!
Now I know why the lines are often out the door. The place is on the smaller side and informal but the service is fast. Everyone seems to be considerate of the lines and so they eat and go. No lingering here. Expect disposable plates and utensils. You serve your own fountain drink. The napkins could be thicker considering how messy your fingers will get. I must've gone thru 20 napkins. I had the Mad Jack sandwich which in short is like a Philly cheese steak but with brisket. It was moist and delicious. Very messy albeit but worth the 35 min wait to order my food. I also ordered the mustard potato salad but thinking I could've gotten the sour cream potato salad cause it was very creamy. It possibly could be the best potato salad I've had. I ordered a green chili sausage link too. It was ok. They were out of jalapeño sausage. A definite must stop if you are in cloudcroft.
Great food and service! Mad Jack came by to thank us personally and chat. Staff was extremely friendly. Great environment. Def a must stop in Cloudcroft. Make sure to get their early! When the food is gone it's gone! :)
Wow! We got in the line around10:15 and ordered at 11:35. Worth the wait! We had a lot of food! Brisket, Mac n Cheese, baked potatoes. Everything was delicious! Everything was fresh, hit and yummy! Must try!! Worth every minute waiting in line!
This is the place where BBQ dreams are made. Having lived in east Texas and gone on more than a couple BBQ crawls in the Austin region, I can confidently say without a doubt that the meat you're served at Mad Jack's is authentic Texas BBQ and arguably even better than most of the world famous TX BBQ places. Mad Jack himself is from Lockhart TX and still drives there specifically to obtain the wood for his Q. There's often a line and items can and do run out which is to be expected at nearly every worthy BBQ place. I typically order just meat with sauce on the side because I feel the meat has to be excellent in its own right and the sauce is simply a complimentary add. However, since they were out of the sliced brisket on my latest visit, I ordered the Kirk Jackson (chopped brisket) sandwich with American cheese instead. OH EM GEEZY!!!! That was the best sandwich I've ever had in my life! The bread was soooo good and it was grilled to perfection. My mouth is watering now just remembering it. Although I own a home in Ruidoso, Mad Jack's makes me wish my home was in Cloudcroft instead. It's that good and is well worth the detour on your way to/from Ruidoso. Pro tips: They offer a military discount and last I checked they are only open Thursday-Sunday until they run out which you can expect will happen.