Al's & Son Bar-B-Q is driven by our desire to serve the perfect smoked brisket, ribs, chicken, beef, and sausage in Big Spring, TX. Of course, what's barbecue without delicious side dishes? Our potato, macaroni, and pea salads are to die for! Prefer beans, coleslaw, fries, carrots, or green beans? We've got you covered!
And if you haven't tasted our onion rings yet, well, you'd better get on over here. We really mean homemade! Nearly everything is made in-house. We even grind our own hamburger meat to get the perfect meat/fat ratio for the best flavor. Our homemade chicken strips and steak fingers taste a cut above because we literally cut them from the best meat and poultry!
And if you haven't tasted our onion rings yet, well, you'd better get on over here. We really mean homemade! Nearly everything is made in-house. We even grind our own hamburger meat to get the perfect meat/fat ratio for the best flavor. Our homemade chicken strips and steak fingers taste a cut above because we literally cut them from the best meat and poultry!
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About Us
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Al Bagwell founded Al's Bar-B-Q in 1964, serving the folks of Big Spring, TX, amazing BBQ from family recipes. When his son, Chuck, joined him he moved the restaurant to our current location and renamed it Al's & Son Bar-B-Q. Chuck's son, Matt Bagwell, purchased the restaurant in 2015 with the intent of carrying on with the family tradition of serving family recipes, great values, and awesome service to customers for a third generation.
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Al's & Son Bar-B-Q carries on for the third generation of family recipes at our Big Spring, TX, restaurant. Whether you're coming in for dinner, ordering for a big delivery, or making arrangements for catering, we'll make sure your order is fresh, hot, and delicious. Take a peek at our menu for a taste of what we have to offer.
Reviews (23)
Yournewcarnow
Jan 09, 2022
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Lucretia B.
Dec 29, 2021
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We are constant BBQ diners and this place was really worth a detour off the highway to grab a great bite to eat. One child's plate and one small one meat plate was $33. Reasonable and filling! We had the moist brisket which was good. The sausage looks to be Polish style and the pinto beans have some chili powder in them. We ate inside the restaurant and at the end of our meal, the server offered us vanilla ice cream. A hit! We are always willing to go a little out of the way to try a town favorite, and Al's was worth every bit!
Joseph Scavo
Dec 17, 2021
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Just happened to be in big springs and looking for dinner brought us to Al’s and Son bbq. What a nice surprise. Friendly people make you feel at home and guide you through cafeteria style of getting some good Texas smoked meats.
The brisket was perfectly done with just the right amount of smoke. Home style sides are tasty like they are done in your own kitchen.
If you find your travels along I-20 in big springs find Al’s and son Bar-B-Q.
The brisket was perfectly done with just the right amount of smoke. Home style sides are tasty like they are done in your own kitchen.
If you find your travels along I-20 in big springs find Al’s and son Bar-B-Q.
Tracy Jackson
Sep 26, 2021
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Way overpriced. Last night the food was barely warm, brisket, ham, ribs,& beans. The bread was cold. Only thing hot was Mac & cheese. I was turned off to see water being poured into the beans right in front of me. The dining room fans were so high that even the barely hot food was cold within 3 min. And sadly the music was so loud that I felt like I was in a bar. My husband and I couldn’t even talk. Also with only one person cutting meat for the drive-through and inside, it took too long.
J. Tino
Aug 03, 2021
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Chandler Robinson
Apr 03, 2021
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Was passing through and was hungry for some BBQ and read a few of the reviews so I thought I would stop by. The service was great and helpful. I had the rib basket with fries. The ribs had a great flavor but IMO had to much sauce. I prefer them dry and dip in sauce if needed. They were very tender and delicious. But I will definitely be back to try the brisket
Steven S.
Apr 15, 2020
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Thought I'd give this place a try on my drive through Big Spring en route home to Ft Worth. Wanted to support a local business vs a chain during this COVID pandemic. Ordered a chopped beef sandwich and a side of potato salad. Chopped beef sandwich was more along the lines of a sloppy joe. Pretty skimpy with a lot of sauce and minimal amount of meat. Potato salad was average.
Roy P.
Mar 16, 2020
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This place was really good. We were passing through and saw this older place on the Gregg. Decided to give it a shot. It is cafeteria style with tons to choose from. I had catfish plate... amazing, cooked perfectly, my son ordered the bacon cheese burger and couldn't finish it... he said it was great, my wife had steak fingers... a little over cooked but tasty. Tea tasted a bit old but it was really late in the evening, understandable. Staff was friendly. We will definitely go back next time we are in town.
Sheldon Zitzmann
Jan 13, 2020
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Lesley W.
Sep 11, 2019
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Great burger! Hand formed patty and a fix it yourself bar. Hand cut fries were amazing. Service was great. One of my friends had a sliced brisket sandwich that had enough meat for two people. Another friend had chicken breast and sides. Not too great. Mac and cheese was good the other sides (weird potato salad and equally strange coleslaw) not so great. Brought homemade vanilla ice cream at the end of our meal.
Teana R.
Mar 15, 2019
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Love Al's & sons! Been a customer since I was a small child. As a matter of fact, because of their potato salad being so close to like what mom used to make oh, I hope all other BBQ places potato salad up to their standard. I will judge other BBQ joints by their potato salad, if it's not as good as Al's it just don't make the cut. LOL. Oh, guess I should comment on their barbecue meat, excellent brisket and ribs. Pretty good grilled chicken to. All in all I guess I could say I like Al's & sons BBQ.
Kyle B.
Feb 21, 2019
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Susan Fuqua
Jan 11, 2019
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We stopped here one time before on our way up to Colorado and decided to stop in on our way back home. Down home cooking, delicious smoky chopped BBQ, and their fried catfish is cooked when ordered.
Lightly battered and fried, it is my favorite here. Love their coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce, too! Husband ordered a chopped BBQ sandwich which was sweet and smoky with hand cut French fries, all very tasty. Then the final delight is their homemade ice cream. Tastes like the snow cream my mother made when l was a child many, many years ago, brought back a lovely memory for me. Be advised that
Lightly battered and fried, it is my favorite here. Love their coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce, too! Husband ordered a chopped BBQ sandwich which was sweet and smoky with hand cut French fries, all very tasty. Then the final delight is their homemade ice cream. Tastes like the snow cream my mother made when l was a child many, many years ago, brought back a lovely memory for me. Be advised that
Aimee L.
Jun 16, 2018
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Alicia O.
May 30, 2018
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Rgg
Aug 24, 2017
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Samantha N.
Jul 12, 2017
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K. J.
Jun 10, 2017
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Ugh! We used to live in Big Spring in mid-1990s and loved Al's. We would often compare their food to other barbecue places because it was so good. Today we chose Al's when we made the drive to visit the place. That was a mistake! The bodacious ham sandwich is no longer made with love in the back on Texas toast. Now the ham gets slapped on cold stake bun and I had to make it myself from the burger bar. The brisket wasn't good. The only good thing was the potato salad. We should have gone to Big John's or our other old haunt - Rocky's!
Keith L.
Mar 07, 2017
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Chose the BBQ combo plate with 2 choices of meat (I chose sliced beef and chicken breast) and 3 sides. Half of my beef was lean and the other half, anything but lean...I don't like marbled meat. Flavor was average for both the beef and chicken. My sides were mac and cheese, green beans and something I thought was mashed potatoes. The latter turned out to be a cold dish...maybe blended up potato salad...I didn't care for it. Green beans were okay in flavor but the mac and cheese was very dry...and both were only lukewarm. Sweet tea was only moderately sweet.
$20 is too much for an average
$20 is too much for an average
Judy H.
Dec 27, 2016
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Lisa C.
Jul 05, 2015
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I saw better reviews for Sonny's up the road, but that place was closed when we came through town around lunchtime yesterday. Al's was open and had enough pick-up trucks in the parking lot to convince us to give it a try.
Overall, it was an average Texas BBQ joint. Sauce was solid -- thick and tangy with a bit of a kick. The brisket was a bit on the fatty side for our taste. If you like it lean, get it sliced and ask for a lean cut. The chopped brisket comes premixed with sauce, so it's hard to see fatty it is and how much meat vs. sauce you're actually getting. My conclusion
Overall, it was an average Texas BBQ joint. Sauce was solid -- thick and tangy with a bit of a kick. The brisket was a bit on the fatty side for our taste. If you like it lean, get it sliced and ask for a lean cut. The chopped brisket comes premixed with sauce, so it's hard to see fatty it is and how much meat vs. sauce you're actually getting. My conclusion
Jim M.
Mar 15, 2014
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If you are expecting sweet smokey "bar-b-que" beans and moist flavorful beef brisket you need to head to the Midwest, 'cuz this ain't it.
If black on the edge brisket with little flavor and plain over-cooked beans is your feast, then this is your place. No smokey sweet flavor, even the sauce is sub-standard.
When you smell that delicious smell a block away you know you are heading in the right direction. You won't smell it here...not even inside.
Ok for kids, well lit, clean enough, but thumbs down on the cuisine.
Sorry Texans, this ain't BBQ. Try Kansas or
If black on the edge brisket with little flavor and plain over-cooked beans is your feast, then this is your place. No smokey sweet flavor, even the sauce is sub-standard.
When you smell that delicious smell a block away you know you are heading in the right direction. You won't smell it here...not even inside.
Ok for kids, well lit, clean enough, but thumbs down on the cuisine.
Sorry Texans, this ain't BBQ. Try Kansas or
Scott B.
Dec 08, 2013
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After moving to Big Spring, I quickly realized that this place has better BBQ than any place I've tried in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where I lived for 20+ years prior.
All of their meats are solid tasting, juicy, with just enough smoke taste.
My recommendation though is "Big Al's Special" - the juiciest beef brisket sandwich you could ever want, topped with sausage slices, BBQ sauce, and pickled relish. You get a scoop of their scrumptuous potato salad too.
I died and went to BBQ heaven....
All of their meats are solid tasting, juicy, with just enough smoke taste.
My recommendation though is "Big Al's Special" - the juiciest beef brisket sandwich you could ever want, topped with sausage slices, BBQ sauce, and pickled relish. You get a scoop of their scrumptuous potato salad too.
I died and went to BBQ heaven....
