NOTE: the 3.* rating is due to an old location...which went downhill and was ran poorly in the end. This Main St location is new since Sept 2025. This place is fantastic for a quick, reasonably priced BBQ meal. - Hot link: excellent. - Smoked bologna: excellent - Chopped brisket: Pretty good. - Pork ribs: Pretty good. - Pit Beans: Very good. - Mac & Cheese - Not good in this night. - Cole Slaw: Decent. Staff was very helpful, nice and want to please folks, as they get this new location off the ground. Food came out fast...and even had 5-6 sets of folks to serve almost at once. The place is well worth a visit! read more

NEW LOCATION IS GREAT So we have always favored the old location in Joplin when we would come to visit but when the place closed we were a little concerned that we were going to miss our favorite spot. Service at the old location wasn't as good towards the end and so maybe that's why they closed. THE NEW LOCATION is under new management and things are soooo much better. The new place is brighter inside, great seating., Parking could be a little bit better but we were able to get in-and have a great meal. Service is 10 times better than the old spot. The ribs are delicious! So glad to have Billy Sims Barbecue back in Joplin under new ownership...we will be back the next time we're in Joplin! read more

food was cold; tables not cleaned; heard employees in back of restaurant arguing; brisket was dry; too expensive. Will not return.

Horrible service. I ordered through the drive through and asked for potato salad as my side. but they didn't give me a fork or napkin. I called and they said they were out of forks. When I asked if I was supposed to lick the potato salad out of the cup, she called me rude. No, rude is letting me order Potato salad and not telling me you are out of forks. Then I said, you also forgot the BBQ sauce and onions on my sandwich. She said they were out of BBQ sauce too. And that was after she asked me what kind of BBQ sauce I wanted when I was ordering. Why can't they just be honest from the start. it would be a lot less frustrating than me getting to a parking spot to eat my lunch with no utensils at all and a plain dry sandwich without sauce. read more

Went for bbq and always enjoy the Heisman. Staff was a little preoccupied, so the staff wasn't as happy as usual, but that could be from the heat too. I'm sure a kitchen isn't a great place to work with 100-degree temps. I don't like that i know have to ask for bbq sauce in packets bc they always just give you one, and i have to tell them nope need way more. My wife got potato with brisket, and the potato was large the brisket was juicy but doesn't seem as seasoned as it use to be. Overall, it wasn't a bad visit. read more

My wife picked up dinner for us on her way home from work. I ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs with beans and potatoe salad. The sides were so so , but the ribs were like shoe leather and inedible. I called to tell them and they said they would replace the next time I camein if I gave them my name and number. I told them I had to go to work, and I really didn't want more of the same. She asked me what I would like them to do so I asked for my $19.00 back. (A lot of money for food I couldn't eat) she told me she was sorry but they don't give refunds so I told her I wouldn't be eating there again! read more

I discovered a great place for BBQ. I asked the hotel front desk for recommendations, but they didn't have any so I reverted to YELP to select a BBQ restaurant. Here are the positives and negatives of Billy Sims BBQ: Positive Friendly employees - As soon as I came through the door they said hello and welcome. They talked to me throughout my visit and asked if I enjoyed my meal when I left. Food - The BBQ was very good. I had the three meat combo with brisket, pork and sausage. Everything was very good with the perfect amount of smoke flavor. And the baked beans very good. Portion Size - I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size of the three meats. It was a lot of food. Price - With the excellent quality of the food, the large portion sizes, unlimited soft drinks, $17.75 is a great deal. Most places would be well over $20. Negative Cleanliness - The restaurant looked dirty. The tables and floor were not clean and there many flies. read more

Billy Sims BBQ - a plate of meat and beans - Barbeque Near Me - Joplin, Missouri

Higher prices and smaller portions. Hip hop music blaring. Dirty tables, I was disappointed i hadn't been here in a while, its leaves a few things 2b desired , it'll be a while b4 i come back? I use 2 luv this place... read more

Thank you for the good food and good service. Keep up the the good work. Food was hot and ready when I picked it up.

The food was terrible, the service was far from ok very rude and unclean that store is won't be doing business there anymore have been going there for years but no more read more

Was my favorite place for BQ. Not anymore. I dislike the way they treat their employees. I will not go back after seeing this.

Must start off by saying how wonderful the employees were. However, the ribs were the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth! It tasted like I was eating the outside skin of an unprocessed pig. Hard burnt rubber like ribs. Barbecue sauce was delicious. Ribs were terrible. Pretty sure they would not have passed a health inspection as my father in law runs a meat processing plant and my husband claimed it was rancid fat and rotten old meat hence some green coloring near the bone. Disgusting. read more

Honestly I am surprised they're still up and running. I have been here a few times and the meat is always Soo dry! I think Taco Mayo use to be here? I'm pretty sure on that, I wish they'd just come back. read more

Great food, great service and the best baked beans I've ever had! Highly recommend this Billy Sims! New owners and employees are amazing!

Walked in the door recently and immediately new something was different really different. The place was cleaner, it was far less cluttered, way cleaner. I asked if there was new management, he said his name was Lewis and yes he was the mew manager & most of the old crew was gone. 1000% improvements! Friendly staff now, consolidated menu, super clean interior, best food we've had there in a long time. We love the pulled pork & sliced brisket. If you haven't been there in a while, you really should go now. read more

Billy Sims BBQ Joplin catered an event for me for 60 people and it was all the rave!! Kudos to ordering, being on time and food quality. You will not be disappointed. Bravo!! read more

My husband really enjoyed the ribs. I had the brisket and wasn't super impressed. The baked beans were very good. Overall I would say our dinner was average. read more

I drove through Joplin over weekend and stopped here at billy sims for togo bbq. Wow! Hit the spot - was really good. read more

Billy Sims BBQ - a barbeque wrapper on a table - Barbeque Near Me - Joplin, Missouri

This used to be my favorite BBQ in town, but unfortunately the past few time we have came we have ended up disappointed. (And we are a big family which means we don't just by a couple of meals...we purchase the huge tailgater packs or more!) About a month ago we came in and everything we tried ordering we were told they were out of, so we left empty handed. Tonight the service was just strange, like no one working wanted to be there, could care less we were there, no smiles, just blah employees. There is a now hiring sign out front, so maybe they are hurting for quality employees or something? Who knows. When the girl was gathering up our things she put my salad in the styrofoam container upside down which I thought was odd. Then she put the whole tailgater meal in many separate plastic bags. Since I have ordered it so many times over the past 4-5 years I know that it is better to carry it in the brown bags with handles, so I asked for one. Pretty sure that annoyed her, but she did transfer the items to the bag for me. Then the register was out of printer paper when I paid. The person who approached to fix it looked to manager-ish, but was equally unfriendly and seemed not happy to be there. Despite the odd service, I was happy leaving thinking they must just be having new employee issues. But then when I got home, the toast was very soggy and under toasted. This made me sad and I decided we will not be going back. I think this place needs new management or something. read more

Let me just say that my son and I love the food! I would rate 5 stars if not for the drive thru results we have experienced. Most of the time, we dine in. But the 2 times I used the drive thru, the orders have been so screwed up, they weren't even close to what we ordered. We live 20 miles away, and to get home and see that we have nothing close to what we ordered is BS! I understand when McDonald's screws up an order because they have 10 cars waiting constantly. But both times I used this drive thru, I was the only vehicle. 0-2 records don't win Heismans in my book Billy! read more

I've been to the Billy Sims in Joplin several times. Every time the person who fixed my food either has a big bushy beard or long hair that is hanging. What happened to tying the hair back? And I would think they could cover the beard. Don't like hair in my food. read more

Have only been once but it was pretty good. I had a baked potato that was cheap, about the size of my head, loaded with every typical topping from butter to bacon and came with a choice of meat or chili. I had pulled pork with it and while it wasn't very flavorful it was extremely tender and wasn't stringy at all. The BBQ sauce is ok, though I wish they had a spicier option. We ate inside but they have a drive through as well. read more

Thank's Billy Sims for a wonderful dinner. You did forget to put in my extra side but made up for it with a darn good portion and great tasting food. We WILL be back. read more

Billy Sims BBQ - I devoured my sandwich. We WILL be back. - Barbeque Near Me - Joplin, Missouri

I have always enjoyed Billy Sims BBQ since they opened up in Tulsa around 14 years ago. I was super excited when they opened a location in Joplin. I have 2 reasons for not giving a score higher than 3 stars. 1. The store isn't properly ventilated from the smoker and we leave every time smelling like smoked meats. 2. On more than one occasion, I have come in from quite a ways away to be told they are out of brisket. One time, it was before 6 p.m. on a Friday and another time, it was a Monday night around 6:45. I have never run into this problem at the Tulsa stores. Seems like they need to plan better. read more

Very good BBQ place in Joplin! The ribs are some of the best in town, however, I am not as impressed with their sides compared to comparison restaurants. As with all BBQ places, it tends to be pretty expensive, but it doesn't keep me from coming back! I would recommend getting the ribs with no sides to save money. Make sure to ask for BBQ sauce as theirs is very good! read more

A+ for the service, solid C for the BBQ. It is unclear why this place came recommended to me when there are places such as Big R in the area, as well; everything - both meats I tried, and all three sides - were "fast food chain" quality. And everything came shockingly lukewarm; barely reheated. The links were the biggest bummer: flavorless, with the strange, processed consistency of a supermarket frankfurter. The pulled pork was tolerable, but lacking texture, tasty crisp bits, and needed more smoke. And oddly, the "hot" BBQ table sauce seemed scarcely more zippy than the regular. Only the loaded baked potato passed muster, but it's pretty hard to bunge up a baked potato. That and the mango smoothie, which was quite refreshing... but I don't go to a BBQ joint for a smoothie. read more

there was hair in my mac n cheese. super expensive for not that much food. the staff was friendly, though.

Forgot our pickles and gave us the wrong sauce. I ordered through door dash. Restaurant called saying they were out of turkey (I ordered the three meat meal) no big deal, I love their chopped brisket so I told them to replace the turkey with it. We ordered three meals two three meats and a half rack meal. One with hot bbq, and the other two with hickory. Ordered the pickles to go with two of them. Received sweet bbq and wasn't given near enough of it. And no pickles. I know that shouldn't be a big deal but my daughter and I LOVE their pickles. Meal just wasn't the same without them. I'll be ordering delivery from somewhere else from now on. read more

A great addition to the BBQ family of restaurants in the Joplin area. Similarly priced to Rib Crib, I think the food is slightly better, but the atmosphere isn't quite as nice. read more

Well I really like your food, but I only ate it through bite squad. How I probably won't ever eat it again because, you don't do deliveries anymore. Don't really want to go down there, it's usually out of my way. read more

Sweet tea could have been sweeter. Huge Portions and meat was great.

Had the ribs and the baked beans. Beans were 9 out of 10, ribs were a 7 out of 10. Spicy sauce was good but not spicy.

Please take the time to read the 4 reviews that are not included! We've eaten here quite a number of times and have not been disappointed. Sauces range from mild to spicy and are just great. I prefer the mild. We get the brisket, extra chopped, pulled pork, extra chopped chicken and turkey too. All are flavorful, brisket juicy, pork's not stringy, chicken's tender, but the turkey was a little dry. The beans are ok, if you like canned, even though they "dr" them up. The coleslaw is fresh! The sour cream based potato salad is awesome good. The mustard based potato salad is good too. The green beans are the best we've ever had! A little expensive, but there's 2 days worth of food you're taking home, so left-overs are a guarantee. Not been inside, but looks nice. We come here once a month, it's that good. Please stop in or go to drive-thru and make your own opinion! read more

For franchise bbq, Billy Sim's is the best in town! Recommend the turkey and Billy beans.

Expectations were high. Big name owner and award winning BBQ. But they weren't met. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the staff was helpful, and I like the atmosphere, but there are better options in town. They do have an iPhone app which is nice. I wonder with as competitive as Joplin is with restaraunts if they will survive with just a "good" product. read more

Nigga i went in and the shit was good as hell hahahaha. There was a fine ass girl behind the counter too lmaooooooo

We tried the pulled pork and sliced brisket sandwiches. Both were very tasty and more like Texas BBQ than other places in this area. We will definitely go again. read more

If I were the owner/manager of a franchise restaurant in a decent sized city, and my location was in the 112th position on a site where diners look for food options, I'd be concerned. Positives- the food. We're in BBQ country. Folks are fussy about their Q. I'm particularly fussy about side dishes and Billy Simms wins with their offerings. Environment- it's ok if you give a darn about sports. I don't, but it's not a deal breaker. Service - not bad except for the off-putting dude with all the piercings. I know we now live in a society where all the personal decorations are supposed to be accepted, but come on. That appearance usually comes with a 'tude, and this guy fits the image. Gotta sharpen the first impression here. Lose some of the bling, add some professional presence and I know it'll make a difference. Manners matter. read more

On the heels of having finished up the last session of a conference held near the campus of Ozark Christian College, we asked for recommendations for good local barbecue. The hands down best location was Billy Sims. And we were not disappointed! Our initial apprehensions upon walking into what appeared to be a typical chain like restaurant setting were quickly laid to rest. The Tuesday night all you can eat ribs were tender and flavorful. The sides were plentiful and definitely did not taste like an after thought. The employees engaged us and made the the entire occasion memorable! Highly recommended for sure! read more

I was expecting to be blown away by delicious BBQ, but instead my husband and I left disappointed and still a little hungry. Very dry pork and mediocre brisket. The hot links were good although. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Just thumbs down on food quality. read more