I got brisket and chicken with fries and WOW, great flavor. I'm not a fan of their sauces as I don't like heavy cumin vinegar bases but honestly the meat doesn't need it. Has great smoke flavor and isn't dry. Could see.taking this home for sure. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Brisketand chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

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I grew up in North Carolina and barbecue was my favorite food. Then I moved to Minnesota and my world was cold, gray, and devoid of anything that could satisfy my desires for properly smoked meats. I wasn't interested in ZZQ at first. I had been burned so many times by other so called "barbecue" restaurants in MN that didn't live up to their claims. But when my wife and kids were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, ZZQ showed up as a safe place thanks to the owner's careful commitment to having a single bun grill and keeping the rest of the restaurant completely gluten free. I tried it with my in-laws one weekend and I was blown away. The ribs? Probably the best I've ever had. The pork and chicken are both smoked so well you don't even need to add sauce. In my book, that's the sign that barbecue is being done right. That said, they have about eight sauces to choose from on any given day and while they trend a bit thick and sweet for my taste, they are still made in house and done well. If I could ask for one more it would be a true, simple eastern North Carolina sauce - just apple cider vinegar, red chili flakes, and maybe a couple other seasonings. I waited to make a few more trips before writing this review, and amazingly, each has been just as good or better. The food is great and the people are friendly. Be sure to visit ZZQ! read more

Best barbecue ever. Knowledgeable owner who has been to and can speak to the best barbecue joints across the country. A true expert. My ribs were the phenomenal! read more

*POOR quality ribs-very fatty. POOR customer relations. I called (12/30) to voice my objections to the manager, no manager there, but employee who answered the phone listened to my complaints. The vexed employee then proceeded to growl-"well, you won't be missed as a customer". Not a place you want to spend your $. read more

This was an unexpected surprise. Although the low key location next to a gas station raises an eyebrow & makes one think the food can't possibly be that great...the food was delicious! I had a pulled pork sandwich with potato salad, coleslaw, and a stout beer. The serve your own sauces were tasty & I sampled three of them. I wouldn't hesitate to dine here again. read more

This place has some really fantastic bar-be-que. I enjoyed all 3 meats I ordered and had plenty for leftovers the next day. They have an assortment of sauces you can try on your meats and each was different and tasty. I enjoyed them all, especially the white garlic sauce. I wish I could have tried the beers, but I took my order to go and MN law doesn't allow that. Next time! read more

Nothing worse for this restaurant. Just adjusting due to more experience. I wouldn't rave about this restaurant but I would definitely recommend it. They do a great job. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Brisket, ribs, chicken, fries, beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Famous Dave close your doors. BBQ has finally come to the Twin Cities. We heard about the place from an article in the Pioneer Press. Don't be afraid that it is in a strip mall. Pulled pork so tender - the pig just walked out of the steam room. Brisket is a bite of heaven. On Sunday's they have burnt ends. We had a sample and will be taking an order to go. Lasting word - you gotta try it. Don't want to miss this read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Pulled pork sandwich with side of slaw. Make sure you add some slaw to the sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

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New to the area and had a chance to go to ZZQ. From the friendliness upon entering the establishment, to the assistance in making meal choices and even help in deciding on a beer, all done politely/graciously with the customer in mind. We tried the ribs, dry rubbed chicken wings, pulled pork and brisket. Deliciously seasoned and when you add your choice of sweet, tangy or spicy sauces the taste is only enhanced. Will be going back again and would definitely recommend them. We ordered and are in with food being served quickly. Carolyn Blakey read more

Fantastic experience all around!! The food was fantastic, bbq sauces were splendid, and I even got a free gluten free chicken finger! Nomnomnom read more

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At the urging of my brother in a law I had to check out ZZQ. My brother in law has become a big fan of Yelp and uses Yelp as his research before selecting places to eat. He is a regular at ZZQ and has been telling me about their que for a while. So I have since been here twice. As much as I really wanted to enjoy this, both times were good, just not great. The first time I had the brisket, ribs and fries. Some of the brisket was tender and juicy while other pieces were dry and tough. There was a hint of smoke flavor but I could have used a little more. The ribs were not my favorite. The meat pulled right off the bone which is usually a result of boiling or steaming. I only use sauce as a condiment as I feel good bbq is the flavor in the meat and or rub. I had to use some sauce on both meats. The fries while not crispy still had a really good seasoning. Those fries could be great. On my next visit I again ordered brisket and skipped the ribs. The brisket this time was sliced a bit thicker and was more tender and flavorful. The fries were still a bit soggy but had the same flavorful seasoning on them. I like that there is a sauce bar that you can create and pack your own sauces. I thought the sauces were all right. Again I don't use a lot of sauce on my que but when I do, I prefer a thicker sauce. I have said this before that bbq is really so much better when eaten right out of the smoker. In my opinion some of the places in KC, Memphis and Texas have really great bbq. I don't know if its just the sheer volume that they make or what their secret is. I feel ZZQ is still relatively new to the BBQ scene and will continue to improve. I still love my brother in law and he knows his food. We already have plans to smoke up some brisket this Spring and we know that will be great. read more

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I ordered this completely randomly because I really wanted a good BBQ pork sandwich and it was nearby. The sandwich came disassembled, ok. Side of fries was ok. Absolutely HATED the taste and smell of the sauces. But the pork. Ohhhhhhhhhhh the pork. It might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth, and I've had quite a few great things in there. I heaped it on the bun - phenomenal. I ate the rest with a fork - even better. I want to write an ode to this pork. read more

Awesome food! I love their variety of sauces. If you can't find something like you gotta to get some new tastebuds. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - So hard to pick!! - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Excellent BBQ Great customer service I am from Missouri and this BBQ joint has done its homework, great BBQ for Minnesota!! read more

We planned to have lunch here on Sunday 1/22/17 in order to sample a variety of meats which we are considering for a graduation party for my son. Pulled chicken, pulled pork, a special was available- burnt ends and fries. All of it was enjoyed!!! Burnt ends were not overdone and the fries were hot! The sauce selection was great! I like the ZZQ smokey sauce. The owner happened in carrying some smoked sausage and told us about the beer pairing they started recently. Great idea! Our tasting of ZZQ's was a success- enjoyed by all four in attendance. So we know what we'll be serving at our graduation party! Cheers and enjoy!! read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

The food was okay but just okay. The sides selection is not really a selection. I had the coleslaw and the potato salad both for mediocre. I asked if they had rolls what I got was a bun for sandwiches. The barbecue itself was super greasy and I didn't care for it much. I was recommended to this place by several different people I don't know why. I've had better barbecue at Dickies BBQ. And that place is more like a fast food chain. read more

This place is a true gem! I came in not knowing the menu or really what I wanted. I narrowed it dOwn to the brisket and either the pulled pork or the ribs. The young man that took my order said "well we've already run out of ribs so....". And i said well that makes my choice a little easier. Brisket and pulled pork with fries and beans. I had seen some of the portion sizes in the pics of previous reviews but I didn't expect the tray of food that I received. The brisket; was delicious! Tender, juicy and so freaking flavorful! Not to mention the pile of it was enormous. It was so good it didn't need sauce. The Pulled Pork; I was a little cautious with the pork. I shouldn't have. It too was delicious! I tried a couple of the different sauces with it but I ended up eating more of it without sauce because it didn't need it either. It was moist and smokey, it had some chunks and wasn't just mush. Fries; hand cut, fresh and perfectly seasoned. What more do I need to say? Smoked Beans; were good. Can't say they were great but they were a good side item. The sauces; I tried several of the sauces and to be honest they were the only part of the meal that I was disappointed with. I know several other reviews said the loved or liked the sauces and i did kinda like one of them but... to me sauces are subjective everyone has a particular kind of sauce that they like. Sauce on Que tends to cover up the true taste of the meat. The best BBQ doesn't need sauce and this BBQ didn't need anything added to it. Two thumbs up guys! I left happy and very full! Sorry I didn't take any pics... I was too busy eating read more

Placed an order for take out. Did a double order of brisket with a few sides. The brisket was flavorful and tender. I would recommend. We also had the fry rubbed wings. These were a bit dry and tough but that could also be due to the lack of eating immediately. I'd try them again if I was able to eat immediately. We also had the French fries - hand cut and shoestring. I liked them but pretty standard. We also had the coleslaw and potato salad - both very good. read more

This place used to be a Jersey Mike's but luckily for Eagan it is now ZZQ Smokehouse! They have been open for 3 years now, and seem to be doing really well. We decided to try it out because honestly...mama is sick of cooking. I talked to someone who said this place was really good so we decided to give it a shot. When we walked in I was pretty impressed with their beer selection. I like that they had Bald Man in house. Their menu is simple and I applaud them for that. There is nothing worse than a huge menu of mediocre food...why not make some bomb ass food and keep it limited? Smart move! Place could use some polishing up on the inside, gives off kind of a dive vibe, but a lot of places go for that. We ordered..I was worried I wasn't going to get enough food, so luckily the little ones were with us! I ordered brisket, husband ordered pulled pork and the little ones chicken...so we got to try just about everything. Food was pretty quick and I liked how they served it on small pans. All the meet was fantastic but the pulled pork was the winner with chicken in second. Fries were fresh cut and really good! Potato salad was a little strange. A lot of mayo and I think there was horseradish in it? Beans...none of us were a fan. The only down side? I didn't like any of their sauces. I'm not a huge sauce person, so this didn't really detract from my rating. I think next time we will definitely grab meat to go and make the sides at home. We will for sure be back! read more

Awesome!! Best bbq I've had in the twin cities, you won't be disappointed. Pulled pork is excellent and will be back soon. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - The 3 meat tray can be handled, best I've had inN! Nice job - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Amazing hometown food! Not a copy cat restaurant which is what I love. They have several sauces that you can get yourself to get the full experience. This is also a great place for catering!! read more

My wife and I were looking for a good BBQ place, and decided to give them a try. Their website didn't show the menu that well, so we thought we were taking a bit of a risk. But as soon as we opened the door, the smell sold us. They had an excellent menu, with insanely cheap pricing on everything. She had a half rack of ribs (about $16 with fries and coleslaw), and I had the rib tips ($12 with fries and smokehouse beans), as well as a coke and a bent stout. And on that note, their beer pairing menu was great, and simply designed to properly pair ales, lagers and stouts with each type of meat. The quality of food is grade A. Their beer selection is wonderful, and the food is fast yet of great quality. 10/10, our new favorite BBQ. read more

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If you want a heaping pile of meat ... this is your place . Excellent brisket . I had the beans and potato salad as my sides , both very good . Great place for lunch read more

Delicious! The best BBQ I've had since living down south. The sauce options were great. The spicy has a good heat to it and the pulled pork was great with the tangy sauce. I would definitely recommend if you like BBQ. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Pulled pork, brisket and fresh cut french fries. - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Fantastic food. Everything from ribs to pulled pork and chicken are some of the best I've ever had. Very good wings too. Zac (the owner) has various themed specials weekly. Excellent French fry's. Very friendly staff! read more

My last stop at ZZQ was for takeout. I had planned to order pulled pork and brisket. However, Zac (the owner) and I got into a brief discussion about my impression of his spare ribs. I said I preferred a meatier, chewier rack than what I had been previously served. He disappeared into the back and emerged with ribs that bore little resemblance to those first encountered. They looked so much more appealing that I immediately changed my order to brisket and ribs. I was glad that I did. They were generously sized, well seasoned with a savory dry rub, meaty, smoky and had just the right amount of chew. Alas, the brisket was not as top notch compared to the sublime slices I'd previously enjoyed. Still very good but just not quite up to the high standard that had been set. The potato salad also didn't seem quite as fresh while the beans remained a rich, hearty, tasty side. This unevenness is another example of how difficult it is to evaluate BBQ joints. Smoking is as much an art as a science. There are so many variables that it is extremely challenging to serve a uniform product. But this is the nature of the beast. Particularly for a place that's only been open for six months. ZZQ is still hitting its stride. Despite some minor misses, I think it's already better than most. And with someone like Zac at the helm, an owner sincerely devoted to perfecting his craft, it has an excellent chance of achieving iconic status. I look forward to being a regular customer as this place expands and evolves. read more

Ok - first understand I'm from Dallas, Texas and I'm picky about barbecue. In Dallas we have barbecue restaurants that of been there since the 1930s and 1940s, others that have sprung up from pit master barbecue winners that created their own BBQ chains in town. So I'm saying my standards are pretty high. This place was just awesome. - No frills store front barbecue. Get past it, the meats are "right on". I had a brisket sandwich and dry rub ribs and they were just fantastic - anything and everything on the menu - just can't go wrong. I prefer dry rub ribs and picking my own sauces vs. having heaps of barbecue sauce drowning out the flavor. I'll be back. It's a regular stop. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Food was great! Loved the variety of sauces, my favorite was the Sweet Carolina!Service was fast and the atmosphere was mellow!

Clean dining area, personable staff, good sized meat portions and very tasty smoked farm animals. For being this far north, ZZQ knows how to bring the taste of the southern states to Minnesota. Brisket is very good, pulled pork flavorful and not dry. Pork spare ribs are abnormally large... and good! I like their fries and seasoning. Nice selection of beers as well. Will definitely return. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - 3 meat plate w/ fries and slaw. Pulled pork, massive pork spare ribs and moist smoked brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

Get there early if you want brisket- but try the smoked chicken wings! Wish they were open a little later than 7 pm during the week.

It doesn't look like much from the outside, and even as you enter! But DAMN great brisket. Don't judge this book by its cover. Coleslaw is phenom! read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Delish beef brisket and pulled pork!! - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

What a cool find! Wouldn't see it if they didn't paint huge BBQ on the windows but well worth a detour! Super friendly staff.All Memphis style dry rub. I had the brisket sandwich portion. Incredibly juicy. Chose the homemade slaw for my side - great! Great micro brew selection to pair with the Q. Give this place a try! read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

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While doing my new neighborhood MBWA Survey, I dropped in to chat with Zack! Both #ZZQ menu quality & delivery or self-service options equal or exceed Jayhawk Nation standards in #LFK Territory! read more

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Don't let the gas station next door fool you! This is the place to be for BBQ. Friendly staff. Clean & Organized environment. Great music. read more

Oh, my! Was unprepared for John good this place was. Don't be put off by the horrible strip mall location next to a gas station. Their smoked meats were so good, we couldn't bear to put BBQ sauce on them. The brisket was the best I've had. You won't want to miss this little gem. read more

Sadly the owner is very rude and unprofessional. He got very impatient while asking him about menu options. When asked if we could have extra dry rub seasoning on the side, he rudely barked "It's already seasoned".We still ended up ordering food and that was the greatest disappointment. Ribs were overcooked and very bland. The sides were also very bland but also tasted like they been sitting around a fews days. I'm a Texan that now lives in Minnesota so I know a thing or two about good BBQ. I would avoid this place at all costs. There are a good number of quality BBQ spots in the Twin Cities with way better service and most importantly way better food. Old Southern BBQ in Edina and Mr Pig Stuff in Shakopee are way better options. Trust me you will taste the difference. read more

Fantastic meat! Feels like a Memphis BBQ trendy spot! The grandpeople, young and old, ate everything on their tray!

Holy cow! Such a gem- kind people and great gluten free food! Absolutely zero complaints!

A buddy told us about this great BBQ place in some strip mall with a gas station in Eagan so I had to search for it. Found it and I was not disappointed. I got there right when they opened and ordered a pound of brisket just for myself. It was seasoned perfectly and unlike most smoked brisket it wasn't dry at all but was moist and had smokey flavor in every bit. One of my top places for brisket in the Twin Cities now! I can't wait to go back and try some other meats! read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - One pound of brisket!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota

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We had the best pulled pork sandwich and chat with the owner. Friendly for all, clean, delicious and quick. Easy parking and access. read more

ZZQ Smokehouse - Pulled Pork Sandwich! The best flavored meat and quick, friendly service. - Barbeque Near Me - Eagan, Minnesota