Barbecue aficionados, take note! While states like Texas and North Carolina are often hailed as BBQ meccas, a restaurant nestled in Arizona’s Valley is making its mark and climbing to the top. Eric’s Family Barbecue in Avondale has transitioned from a humble backyard setup to a thriving culinary destination, largely thanks to the power of word-of-mouth buzz.
“It’s a humbling experience to sum it all up,” shares Joshua, the general manager of Eric’s Family Barbecue, reflecting on their journey.
The story of Eric’s Family Barbecue began eight years ago with a simple idea: five friends passionate about food wanted to share their love for barbecue. They started in their own backyard, serving up delicious smoked meats. “I guess it was more the line getting wrapped around the neighborhood. Realizing that we need real estate that was a restaurant or food truck,” Joshua recounts, highlighting the moment they knew their backyard hobby needed to become a full-fledged business.
Their success story reached new heights this month when Yelp, the renowned review platform, named Eric’s Family Barbecue as the third-best barbecue spot in the entire nation. This prestigious recognition is a testament to their dedication to quality and flavor.
“It was uplifting, hair standing up on the back of your neck type feeling,” Joshua describes, recalling the moment they received news of the Yelp ranking. He adds, “We just doubled down on our environment and the family attitude we have toward each other,” emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a welcoming atmosphere and strong team spirit. Even with their high aspirations, the rapid ascent to national recognition was unexpected. They attribute this success largely to their loyal customers.
“So it’s just through word of mouth. People would leave us reviews and we never asked or anything,” Joshua explains. “Word of mouth is really better than any billboard or blimp that you can put across anywhere,” he believes, underscoring the invaluable role of customer testimonials in their growth.
The accolades are clearly resonating with diners. As one customer shared, “I heard from my friend they were one of the top 3 BBQ places in all of Arizona, so I had to come check it out.” The experience lived up to the hype. The same customer raved, “It’s amazing. The brisket, the brisket definitely top 3,” specifically praising one of their signature meats.
Joshua believes the secret to their success goes beyond just great food. “Good food is what brings people in, but the customer service and everything else that comes between is what brings people back,” he states. This focus on customer experience is echoed by another patron who noted, “Very friendly, always always, I’ve never been in here and they’ve never been rude or impolite.”
The owners of Eric’s Family Barbecue are deeply proud of what they’ve built and are committed to serving top-notch barbecue to the Avondale community and beyond for years to come. If you’re looking to experience some of the best BBQ in the nation, head over to Eric’s Family Barbecue. They are located at El Mirage and Indian School roads and are open Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 11 AM until they sell out – and they often do! Don’t miss out on experiencing this Arizona BBQ gem.
