Barbeque is quintessential American cuisine. The "low and slow" cooking with meat and smoke is unique and uniquely delicious in the culinary world. Regional styles like Memphis, Kansas City, Texas and others all have their own wonderful nuances. And while there isn't a distinct Arizona style, we're pretty good at throwin' something dead on the smoker here. And that's just what they do at The Bashful Bandit in Tucson. Their ribs and sausages are good. The brisket is lean, but very flavorful. I didn't get to try the chicken, but the highlight was the pulled pork. If there were an Arizona style BBQ it would be something like this. They cheat the competition rules, but I'm okay with that. They put some green chile in the pulled pork and it's an absolute killer. Not so killer was their coleslaw. It was as sour as the face on my ex-wife and as bland as the seggs we had before she broke up with me. And while I never had a side dish, the side dishes here (apart from the coleslaw) were all yummy. Really good mac and cheese, top shelf cowboy beans, and a potato salad that was dressed in dill and tasting mighty fine. Speaking of dressed, I like my BBQ naked, but if you need sauce (sissy) then go for the house sauce. Great flavor, just a little heat, and just a little sweet - very balanced. The spicy sauce was just okay and the mustard sauce might as well have just been French's Mustard from a two-dollar squirt bottle. Most importantly, while you're wiping the house sauce off your greasy lips, go back to the counter and do yourself a favor, order their appropriately and hilariously named "Smoked Crack Pie." It's an other worldly happy ending to your meal (didn't see that coming, didja?). This thing is a simple but genius dessert. They take a chocolate chip cookie covered in a vanilla custard topping and put it in the smoker. It's got a gooey consistency like a pecanless pecan pie and tastes like if your favorite brownie and crème brûlée had a baby (I'm honestly not sure how that would work...it's weird just to imagine the mechanics really...). Anyhow, don't be bashful, get to The Bashful Bandit in Midtown Tucson and git yerself a case of the meat sweats. You won't regret it. read more

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We've had Bashful Bandit a couple times now, both as catering at a party and a takeout dinner for a small group. The highlights for me amongst their 'que are the chopped brisket, the Sonoran hot links (which definitely bring the heat!), and the smoked jackfruit. While I'm an omnivore, I really love that they have meatless options for when I'm not feeling like eating meat. I enjoyed their sides as well. The Sunflower Crunch Salad is a nice no-mayo coleslaw with seeds and fruit that give it some nice textural and flavor contrasts. The Dill Potato Salad is on the lighter side for a potato salad (this is a compliment), with some bright herbaciousness. The Mac & Cheese, by contrast, is super heavy and rich. They round out the plate nicely! The staff are friendly and quick to help adjust orders if there's something you wanted that they're out of. read more

I have always loved BBQ. As a little boy in Alabama I loved when we would go to the Old Plantation. I particularly loved the crackling corn bread. Since then I have eaten at hundreds of BBQ places. Every where I go I'm on the hunt for BBQ. One of my last trips to Birmingham Ala my brother, his wife and my nephew took me to several BBQ places in one day, one after the other owhere we would get an order and split it to taste it. Maybe we went to 6 places that day. There were many more, there has been a proliferation of BBQ places there. Almost as many BBQ places there as there are marijuana dispensaries in Ann Arbor. The winner that day was Nikki. Simply the best all around. All forms of BBQ and sides. So when I went to Bashful Bandit Barbecue or for that matter any BBQ place it has to compete against a lot of BBQ places. How did it stack up? In Tucson pretty well, but more dispensaries here than BBQ places as well.Seems to be a trend. People would rather get a buzz from pot than BBQ. Compared to the world of BBQ average. The ambiance was nice. Newest place. Interior or out door seating was 1960-70s. As you go from the parking lot into the restaurant you are greeted by several massive smokers. I have attached pictures. They are hugh and there are several. I think 3. They are really ready for an incredible demand to come their way You go in they have a list on the wall what is available. You tell the butcher server what you want and he cuts the cooked meat there. I liked Max but the configuration of the serving area seemed to not get BBQ. I thought it detracted from the presentation of the meal. You go to a BBQ place to eat the meat. It seemed diminished in importance here. I thought the servings were ample and they looked good, I thought the sides were sloppy and dreary. I had the potato salad that was supposedly a mustard based potato salad. It was bland and had no place on my tray. The macaroni and cheese was a sea of yellow goop poured on overly cooked noodles. Really yuck! The meats were at least average. The brisket was flavorful and cooked to perfection. The ribs seemed overly cooked and dry and lacked either the flavors I have come to expect or the texture. Surpriding? read more

Really not impressed. Order at the bar ... weird. He also got my order wrong. None of the meat items had much seasonings ... dry rub or wet .. and no real smoke smell or flavor. The meats were moist .. just boring. I did however like both salads ;) They had several bbq sauces ... none of which was a traditional hickory or smoked. read more

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Amazing service from the moment we arrived -- very welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The food was outstanding, especially the pork ribs and Sonora hot dog. The drinks were also great and very affordable. Thank you for being part of such a great experience for my family during our time in Arizona! read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - The Bashful Tray - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I want to love this place because the staff is outstanding and the ambience is very cool BUT many of the dishes are just okay. Sliced brisket was definitely a hit, the sausage was solid, chicken was dry, beans were not tasty, chicken salad was decent. I love BBQ but didn't have a great experience here. It's honestly a 3.5 at best read more

Amazing excellent bbq and service. We arrived around 3 so we almost had the place to ourselves. Everything is great, so don't worry about what to order. read more

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The BBQ was amazing! Recommend getting the dilly potato salad and sunflower crunch slaw as a side. All the guys were friendly and helpful and loved that the manager went around checking in. Apparently this used to be an old biker bar, so loved that they kept the history. Would recommend stopping in! Come on down y'all. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - 2 meat plate- Sliced Brisket Plate, Spare Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Having grown up in Texas, I was excited to try this Texas-style prepared barbecue with Tucson flair - it definitely hit the spot with its smoky flavor with a Southwest twist. You order up at the counter and can choose meat by the pound, plates (choice of meat with 2 sides), sandwiches, or trays. My husband and I decided on the Bashful tray which serves 2 people and is the right amount of food. It comes with 1/2lb of brisket, 1/2lb of your choice of meat, pickle, 3 sides, and crack pie. There is a separate area for self serve sauces so you can try multiple ones. The brisket was on the drier side but had a nice kick of spice from the rub and smokiness. We chose the green chile pulled pork which we thought was better than the brisket - it was tender and not dry at all. For sides, the potato salad is great if you're a fan of dill and not too much mayo, and the sunflower crunch salad is light, complements the heaviness of the meats, and is made with vinegar-based dressing which I prefer. The Mac n cheese was standard. The crack pie is aptly named - it is addictive! I'm not sure what all the ingredients are but it's gooey, warm, caramel and chocolate goodness. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - The Bashful Tray - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We went here on a Wednesday afternoon and really enjoyed our visit! The staff was friendly, the restaurant really clean and airy and the food was delicious. We got pulled pork and brisket, with beans and the sunflower crunch salad. The brisket had an incredible peppery bark on the outside that was decadent and delicious. The pulled pork was super flavorful with some chile vibes. The sides were good too, not quite as standout for me as the meats but a great compliment to the heavier meat aspect. They also have a great selection of BBQ sauces to self serve, my favorite being the Carolina mustardy version, but they were all very good. It was about $35 for 2 people splitting a 2 meat platter with soft drinks, a little pricey but reasonable for BBQ and for the quality of the food. Excited to go back! read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Great bbq spot with a fast-casual ambiance that's perfect to hang out in. Staff is friendly and helpful! You can't go wrong with the hatch chile pulled pork and hot link. Our favorite sides were the borracho beans (had a boozy bite) and herby potato salad. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Green Chile Pulled Pork Sandwich and mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Driving through and Tikatok'd this place. Had just traveled from Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. This place is fire! Chris was so friendly and helpful! read more

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Ordered a bunch of food for takeout and it was very good. Starting with the meats, I had a rib, brisket, and the chile relleno sausage. The rib was solid. It was tender and had a nice rub on it. The brisket was also good. I had some moist and lean pieces (preference is moist) and there was nice smoke ring on it and it was tender. Solid brisket. The sausage was the star of the show. Perfect flavor and adequate amount of cheese and pepper to add some zip to the sausage. It was absolutely delicious. As for sides, I tried the mac and cheese. It was very good. I feel like bbq spots don't always have a good mac; this was not the case here. Cheesy and creamy; the mac was one of the best I've had from a restaurant. Overall, very pleased with this meal. read more

just had a great dinner there! Monday night was slow there but a really cool place inside and outside seating. Had brisket and pulled pork-both were GREAT! And if you like dill you'll like the dill potato salad. Great, frie service too! read more

Heard good things about the new Bashful Bandit had to give it a go. It is counter service BBQ with on the wall menu as you walk in. We had the wet brisket and chili relleno sausage with pickles and mac-n-cheese. Other dish was wet brisket with ribs pickles and dill potato salad. Everything was excellent. The interior is reminiscent of what the old bar looked like. Rustic as a BBQ place should be. The alcohol is separate from the food it appears because the original bar is on the opposite side of room from the food. Beware there is a 20% gratuity if you open a tab at the bar. read more

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It's efficient in service, order up and they get it right to you. It kind of reminds me of a high school cafeteria. Great patio not facing Speedway and some good shade. The inside is stark and uninspiring. There is a wide range of bbq sauce. The sides are just not good. Mac and cheese flavorless Potato salad is blah blah blah Beans fine but not good. Coleslaw left us all hanging as well 2 friends got the sliced brisket sandwich. One was leanish the other was fatty. The plate was fine I had the ribs and they were okay but not great. I wish them well and hope they do a little improvement, but I'm not holding my breath. read more

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This place is great! Options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, this restaurant was perfect for a family-style meal. They serve everything "cafeteria style" so we ordered a few different meats (and jackfruit) by the pound, or half pound. We also ordered a pint of each of the sides to share, and a couple pitchers of local beer (+1 for having Pueblo Vida on tap!) Everyone enjoyed the proteins, and the potato salad was the most popular accompaniment. I personally loved the sunflower crunch salad. The beans do contain meat, so not vegetarian-friendly. The only thing that was lacking in my eyes is the barbecue sauce. They have a few different options but unfortunately I found all of them to be too thin and also pretty bland. I would have loved a thick sweet and spicy sauce to add to the jackfruit especially for a little more flavor. The patio is great, and dog friendly. read more

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The Sonoran sausage is so good! Brisket, so good!!! Went with a few friends and everyone got somethig different and eveyone loved their food. Definitely coming back, thank me later!. read more

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Excellent experience trying the Sonoran Restaurant week menu! We went with my daughter's family, and sat outside to enjoy the cooler Tucson weather. The kids enjoyed the chalk and foozeball, and everyone enjoyed the delicious food! The smoked chicken and the sausage were so smoky flavorful! We chose beans and mac and cheese for our sides! Both fantastic! We loved the crack pie, which was similar to a pecan pie. We washed it all down with a $5.00 pitcher of beer! Very kid and family friendly, and helpful staff! read more

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Oh man! This place is 10 our of 10! I got the Brisket sandwich and I didn't even need to use any of the sauces. It was so amazing! My hubby just got the plate of brisket. It was so flavorful and juicy. The guys behind the counter were super nice and on top of it. They have indoor and outdoor seating. A good amount of food options. Only thing I would add to the menu is fries! Fries go with everything lol. We will be coming back here, no doubt! So good! read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

So my wife and I were in town for the "Seekers Summit," a treasure hunting conference with Q&A's, guest speaker s and even a hot dog eating contest. They actually put on a on-site treasure hunt that someone walked away with $10,000.00! After the long day I asked my wife what she felt like eating, she suggested BBQ, as we had not had any for quite some time. I found the Bashful bandit and it was only 12 minutes from our hotel so we agreed on giving it a try. As we pulled up, it was very quiet and there was literally only 1 other car in the parking lot. Keep in mind it was Saturday night around 8:45pm. As we pulled in I asked the gentleman outside manning the outdoor smoker if they were open, he replied "Yes, come on in." We parked and went inside. The inside was very clean and comforting with indoor and outdoor seating. We ordered from the bar and chatted with the bartender. He was a very nice guy and answered our questions about the BBQ and what was best. We took his advice and it didn't disappoint. We got our ice teas(self serve) and headed outside to the large picnic style tables. The weather was perfect, so we wanted to take advantage of the cool night air. The food came out and we dug in. Wow! It was super delicious and very tasty. The beans were good and the Mac n cheese was SUPER yummy! We pretty much tore into it and went to work. It never had a chance, lol! I believe it was the cook that came out to check on us halfway through our meal and shared the story of naming the desert that came with our combo meal. If you go, make sure to try the "Crack Berry" cookie. It's as soooo good! The only thing that I would have to say that didn't get the 5 stars, because everyone there and everything was awesome, was the temperature of the meat. I like my BBQ temp hot and steamy. Ours was warm, not hot out the oven. It's definitely not a deal breaker, but, if we ever go back and are in town, I will make sure to let them know to "heat it up" before I eat it up! All in all, it's a great spot with good people and excellent food. Thanks for the good grub! read more

This is a great spot for good Texas style barbecue! Upon entry, you're greeted with a large menu on the wall and a line to order your meats and sides-- Chipotle style! The staff is super friendly and they gave us great recommendations. As for the food, it was all super tasty! The brisket melts in your mouth, and do not miss out on the sausage because it packs a punch. As for the pork rib, it literally fell apart when I picked it up. The sides were solid, and i definitely recommend getting the Mac and Cheese. The only downside is their sauce selection. This is subjective, as I didn't enjoy how sweet all of the BBQ sauces were. But that's just me! read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The area by the smokers was clean and there were plenty of seating, especially outside. There's also a bar. The service was friendly after reading the menu by the door. We ordered the Bashful Tray (for 2) with the sliced lean brisket and sausage. Our sides were the Mac-n-cheese, dill potato salad, and sunflower salad. My faves were the sausage and the crack pie, but I thought the brisket was dry and lacked flavor. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We gave Bashful Bandit a try as I wanted something to go for Superbowl Sunday which happened to fall on my birthday, and it was excellent. We placed a phone order for a pound of sliced prime brisket (half moist and half lean), a pound of green chile pulled pork, a pound of smoked mole chicken, four chili relleno sausage links, a quart of mac-n-cheese, a quart of the dill potato salad, and a pint of the borracho beans. Everything was correct when we arrived for the pickup. The food was flavorful, and my favorites were the mac-n-cheese and the chili relleno sausages. I recommend the Bashful Bandit! read more

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Staff was 5all day!! Service was exceptional. I went today between 4-5 while getting my tire fixed across the street. I had the brisket plate with potato salad and Mac and cheese. I also got a pickle. As a whole I'd give my plate a 3 Brisket was a bit dry. Super tender, good flavor, not overly salty..just a bit dry. Sides- Potato salad was good, Mac and cheese was also good and the portions were large. BBQ sauce...I liked the sweet, mustard and spicy. Pickle was good, but not worth $2. read more

Juicy, moist, and delicious brisket and pulled pork. Vinegar slaw which they call sunflower crunch salad (note: make sure to get the toppings added to the salad to give it some great texture). I found the potato salad ok but not my favorite. The dill in it is a nice touch. Plenty of parking available and lots of seating inside or outside front patio. I love their bbq sauce station. Several choices of homemade sauces. I was enjoying the OG sauce. They have a bar as well. Prices are in line for a good bbq joint. I love seeing the smokers when you first walk in. Definitely will recommend this place! read more

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Tried this BBQ spot recently--my brisket was tender and flavorful, but my friends ended up with drier cuts, so it really seems to depend on what you get. The mac and cheese was a miss for me; it tasted like plain melted Kraft cheese with no seasoning at all. The sauces were just okay, nothing standout. On the upside, the baked beans were the best side in my opinion--savory, a bit sweet, and really well done. Overall, some hits and some misses. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Excellent BBQ. Enjoyed everything about it. Price is on par with every other BBQ joint in town. Good, quick service.

Get yourself some brisket quick! Wow! Bashful Bandit smokes a superb brisket in a cool dining experience with a warm and delightful staff! We were lucky to enjoy such a fabulous lunch after a busy morning. We shared a platter including two meats, three sides and dessert. Sauces are plentiful and delicious! We will absolutely make a brisket run next time we are in town! read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Smokers - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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This was incredible. The sides are all as delicious as the main meats, and don't get me started on the Crack pie. WOW! There are a variety of house made sauces, and the service was great. There was someone working the grill outisde, and made sure to greet us and wish us goodbye! The ambience is a very chill, dive bar vibe, I believe it used to be a motorcycle bar! read more

You can be go to a bar after work to get a couple drinks just start your weekend and they serve such great food at the same time you know you're at the right place. Bashful Ben's barbecue so awesome. Their ribs melt in your mouth read more

After visiting several barbecue spots in Tucson, AZ my favorite by far in this city is Bashful Bandit. I actually came last year right after they opened and already know this was going to be the highlight of Tucson. Funny enough, I actually came to the Bashful Bandit when it was a biker bar almost a decade ago when I was visiting a friend out here. Great times that I barely remember. Seeing the location and building changed into a barbecue joint makes me happy. The brisket was so good. Nice and peppery and from what I could taste (and see laid out) the flavor of mesquite that I love. Growing up in San Diego, everything was cooked over mesquite. I saw they mixed the wood, and I don't have the eye to know what every wood is so I asked. A Pecan and Mesquite mix. Another highlight for me is the pulled pork that is mixed with green chiles that adds extra and different flavor which my coworker said was spicy but I couldn't tell lol. My favorite side was the half sour pickle. You could knock someone out with how big that pickle was. Anyways i could come in just to grab that. Next time im in town def i need to try out their smoked jackfruit and maybe get to try their special twist on the Texas Twinkie with a prickly pear glaze they were telling me about before i needed to rush out for a meeting lol. Btw, barely made it to the meeting lol. read more

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Absolutely wonderful food! Darling atmosphere with lots of character. I love the jackfruit platter. And the delicious Cole slaw is made from the owner's family recipe. My husband is a fan of the barbecued beef. Very clean and the staff is great. read more

This place was great! Located in the old Bashful Bandit Biker Bar, this bbq joint smokes their meats on site. Service was quick and we enjoyed everything we ordered. I got the green chile pulled pork with a side of potato salad. We also ordered sliced brisket and a side of Mac n cheese. Everything was great! We also enjoyed that they had multiple bbq sauces depending on if you were looking for sweet, spicy, or vinegar flavors. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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You enter the establishment with a preview of the action; showing exactly where their meat is being smoked I think that's an awesome thing to see. When I entered the staff was extremely nice and helpful giving me their recommendations. I got the sliced brisket plate with Mac and cheese and the dill potato salad. It was absolutely amazing the Mac very creamy and the potato salad was very crisp and fresh but man oh man that brisket... I am unworthy of tasting something that good. Extremely tender with amazing flavor. They have a very nice and clean patio overviewing the smokers. Looks like they have the OG bar top from the OG bashful bandit. Plenty of seating inside and a killer sauce bar. If you're looking for great BBQ for a great price provided by some great people you gotta give this place a shot! Genuine Tucson staple read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Sliced Brisket Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Really nice set up. Sit out on the patio if it's nice out. There was a small line and the manager came out to see if anyone had any questions. Top pick was the chorizo sausage. Green chile pulled pork was mid. Needs salt-- season it yourself. Tied all the sides except for sun flower salad (their slaw). They were good, beans especially. Will likely be back because my boyfriend lived in Austin and he said it was decent. Please warm up you tortillas next time :) read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - Platter for two - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We ordered the Bashful Bandit Tray, which came with Brisket and a meat of your choice which we had the Green Chili pulled pork. We traveled 30 miles for it the reviews were great so the food had better live up to the hype. It did, both meats were great. We also had the beans, mac-n-cheese and the slaw (which they call a sunflower salad ), you guessed it, lots of sunflower seeds in it. It came with a piece of pie which i didn't care for, so go somewhere else for dessert. Overall one of the best BBQ places around. read more

I love bbq and was really excited to try Bashful Bandit. I tried their brisket (fatty option), pork rib, and chile relleno sausage with sides of dill potato salad and mac n cheese. Everything was good and fresh. The sausage and brisket were juicy and tender, but the rib was a little dry. I love potato, but there was too much dill for my liking. The mac n cheese was soft, creamy and cheesy. The sausage had a crisp outer skin, but the meat was too soft for my liking. I prefer to have more chew, but not to the point where the meat is overcooked/well done. I think I would have liked the lean brisket instead, due to the tenderness of the fatty meat. Anyhow, the portions were quite large and I had more than enough bbq meat for the next day. Honestly, I think it all tasted even better the next day. The meats had the perfect consistency for me, not too soft and not well done. The mac n cheese's cheddar flavors were even stronger than the day before. It was all a great meal, the 2nd time around. :) *Although I didn't taste it, my husband said the bbq jackfruit (and mushrooms) was overly smoked which took over any other flavors there might have been. read more

Bashful Bandit Barbecue - brisket plate with mac-n-cheese/dill potato salad. I added a sausage link and pork link. - Barbeque Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Best ribs I've ever had. My friends had the brisket and they said the same thing. I'll be going back again.

Arrived here at 6:00pm on a Sunday evening. I had high expectations considering all the good reviews. Before we got up to the counter to order, they announced that they were out of ribs and smoked chicken. We waited another 10 min and then they announced they were also out of jackfruit so all they had left was brisket, sausage and eventually pulled pork. We should have left but I really wanted to at least try out whatever smoked meat was left. We had 6 in our party so we ordered two 2-meat plates and some meat by the pound (1lb brisket, 1/4 pulled pork, chile relleno sausage, hot link). Somewhere along the way as they were tallying up the orders, we ended up paying for an extra double brisket plate on top of the 2-meat plate we had ordered. Honestly, it was a bit of a mess at the ordering counter and I'd recommend they come up with a better ordering system. Overall, food was decent. It was on par with Brother John's but not as good as Mr K's. Service could be better. If you want the best selection, get here early. I don't plan on returning because how quickly the food ran out and the issues we had with ordering and paying. read more