I'm from KC, so I'm picky about my barbecue. Haven't found much to my Kansas City taste in…read morebarbecue places in Oklahoma City. Mission BBQ hung out a lantern of hope, and I followed the light to a very pleasant experience.
First, tip of the hat to Mission for serving and helping our first responders and military. I'm a vet myself, and I appreciate any business that focuses on helping our servicemen and women and those who lay their lives on the line every day protecting the citizens.
First, ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Most BBQ restaurants overcook the meat and make it dry, but not here. It was very moist, and I tasted a hint of smokiness in each bite. Top that off with a massive amount of meat on the sandwich, and I had what I thought was a delicious sandwich.
I ordered the beans, corn casserole, and fries for my sides. The beans had a little more cumin than I normally like, but I still enjoyed the overall flavor. They put brisket in the beans, which is always a nice bonus, and you can tell they put a lot of work and care into them; most places, their beans taste like canned pork and beans with some barbecue sauce dumped in. My cumin issue aside, I would definitely order the beans again.
The corn casserole.........wow! My favorite part of the meal. Not a soupy mess. Baked with a nice crust on top. Perfect balance of spices, perfect crunch from the top crust. If you're a corn fan, you MUST try this dish!
When you dine in, the table has a six-pack of bottles with six different types of sauces. Of course I had to sample all six. First, there's a sauce named the Memphis Belle. A sweet, smoky sauce that I'm guessing is a tip o' the hat to Memphis barbecue. Very good sauce. Smoky Mountain sauce tells you just what it is: a very smoky, deep-flavored sauce that I absolutely loved. Texas Twang is a Who's-Your-Sister (Worcestershire)- based sauce and, honestly, was my least favorite, though it wasn't unpleasant. Then there's KC Classic, which, as I'm sure you can probably guess, pays homage to Kansas City barbecue. I loved the sauce because it strongly resembles one of my favorite BBQ spots in KC, Gates Barbecue. Baja Bold is a Southwest-oriented sauce with a hint of chipotle and habanero peppers. Finally, Tupelo Honey Heat is my overall favorite of the six sauces. Sweet and spicy in perfect balance. Loved this one so much I had to buy a bottle to bring home. Yes, you can purchase their sauces individually or in the same six-pack style they put out at their tables.
Lastly, the people working there were super nice, helpful, and friendly.
I wish I could remember the name of the young man behind the counter who helped me; he provided great service and great conversation, answering my questions about the restaurant and its veteran orientation.
So if you like helping our first responders and vets, swing by and give it a try. Not only will we who serve be grateful, but your stomach will thank you, as well.