J & M Bar-B-Q, Lubbock

Certified Angus beef, ham, turkey, and pork soak up smoky flavor over J & M Bar-B-Q’s mesquite fire pit. Before long, chefs will pull them away from the crackling fire and send them off to the restaurant’s homey dining room, where guests can then chow down on sauce-slathered pulled-pork sandwiches, jalapeño sausages, and plates of sliced or chopped brisket. Piles of baked beans, creamy mac 'n' cheese, and napkins made from authentic Wanted posters often accompany these meats to tables. J & M’s specialty meats also appear atop nachos, in Frito pies, and in bar-b-ritos—Mexican-inspired creations that swaddle chopped beef or turkey breast in flour tortillas along with beans, onions, and cheese.