Mission Bbq

Nice spot. I stopped by here on a whim, after working out at the nearby OT Fitness in the Fairfax area. It was a dreary Friday afternoon, just about as dreary as it gets. Rain pour the entire day, a constant pitter-patter, mingling with sweat in my case. I was wearing a casual t-shirt and workout shorts, a light jacket on top (not waterproof, that would be the dream). Hanging out in the vast and near-deserted P-lot outside, it was drizzling with a consistent intensity, meanwhile I was searching on Google Maps for nearby BBQ spots. Well, I was just in luck, as I found one that looked cool -- called none other than Mission BBQ -- and aw, look at that, 'twas walking distance to boot, as well. I ran it briefly over on my head, and shrugged and said why not, let's refill all those calories I just burned. Neat little jog there, less than a minute, and at the door I was presented by this sign -- they honor vets and those that served in the armed forces, on a rotational basis throughout the week, so for example the Navy gets a free 'wich on Tuesdays, the Air Force & Marines another day, and so forth down the merry little road. I promptly went in, almost no line, and a friendly dude behind the counter clad in what looked a police officer's uniform, took my order without further ado. I noted it was my first time here, and the meat sampler was suggested to me, as it embodied the "best of both worlds" deal. I said why not, so I ended up going for that, w/ the brisket and spare ribs -- dry rubbed, w/ spices but no bbq sauce on top -- and on the side, corn bread and a peach cobbler, for dessert. Now I'm not sure if normally comes with that, or as it was my first time and all, but either way I'm glad it worked out. I filled in a glass of water, and in less than two minutes my order was already ready. I blinked in surprise as I went to pick it up, but honestly that is blazing fast service for ribs at any joint, probably the fastest I've ever seen. The ribs and brisket were equally great, and can't say enough good things on them. On a "first pass", they seemed nothing special, certainly smaller quantities as they weren't full-fledged entrees, but you'd be surprised by how filling the meat can be. I know I certainly was. The reason I'll give this full stars is the presentation, speed of service, included dessert (which was pretty great) and also the house BBQ sauces, a neat row and two-columns worth, stacked nicely on mine and every other table I could see. The BBQ sauces were just splendid, and really added a lot to the flavor, as well as to the childlike enjoyment of trying new tastes and flavors, just for the heck of trying something new and great-tasting, because like why the heck would you opt to pass on something good like that, one of the few times it swings by your way. I don't know the answer to that, and I don't expect any others to, so I'll just leave it at that. Anyways, I tried the house bbq sauces, knocked 'em all out, so here's a few of my personal favorites: Bay-B-Que (dry 'n hot), Tupelo Honey Heat (sweet and tangy like honey, with a kicker 'n sucker punch), and the Smoky Mountain (thick 'n rich like smoked meat on a hiking trail, kind of like the Grand Smokies I visited a while back). I will say, I especially liked mixing 'em all together, they tasted really well with ribs which were rather dry and bland. They helped stand up and illuminate an otherwise solid dish that didn't have a whole lotta flavor on its own. Overall, awesome spot here at the Mission BBQ. The fact that they cater to & respect those that serve, especially local heroes such as policemen and firefighters among others, is uplifting and great and I say more power to them, but to be honest it's kind of lost on common folk such as (you and) me. Long story short, this is a respectable, quality BBQ joint in the heart of Fairfax, with high-quality meat and a plethora of house BBQ sauces. I liked it much, and for the price point it was outstanding quality. I'll recommend and will likely be back myself, once again.

The quality of the food is high, though the portions for the cost have tipped in their favor. For a family of four, it’s just too expensive for what you get for a counter-service/ self- serve restaurant. I’m a veteran and love seeing all the pics, but sometimes feel like it’s just a marketing theme for them- no real connection to the military and no discounts for the military community despite a few holidays, which every other restaurant in town offers on those same days.

Love mission! Super accommodating for gluten issues, always feel safe eating here and have never gotten glutened at any location. As a long time meat free person starting to eat meat again this is THE place to go for a good introduction to new foods. Pulled pork is top notch and always delicious. 10/10 recommended. Allergy menu online is super easy to read and crew is very knowledgeable. Favorite of the sauces attached as an image

This was my first time ever visiting a Mission BBQ, I was hesitant at first because I didn't know what to expect (especially since each location has a giant military truck out front) I'm so glad I went! I decided to try the three meat platter (jalapeno cheddar sausage, brisket, baby back ribs) and a peach cobbler. The staff was so friendly and helpful with helping me out with ordering, and especially since I have a nut allergy, I was thrilled to know they were a nut free restaurant. The food was some of the best BBQ I've ever had, its been hard for me to find good jalapeno cheddar sausage anywhere, and theirs is very good. The brisket was really good too, I was shocked you have the option of lean or moist. The ribs could have been a bit more tender, turns out I like the st louis better than baby back. The corn bread was good as well, and the peach cobbler was to die for. Dinning in and trying all the difference sauces was a good experience. Mission BBQ is one of my new favorite places now!

I really enjoy visiting Mission BBQ when I have the opportunity because they honor military and law enforcement families. In addition, the food is very good there too. I usually order the Pulled Pork sandwich North Carolina style, which means it's topped with coleslaw and my side is macaroni and cheese. The macaroni and cheese when served had the baked crust of cheese, which is heavenly. While dining in I use the Smokey Mountain BBQ sauce on my sandwich that makes my mouth water each and every bite. The folks here really know their business in preparing the meats in their in-house cooker or oven. The meat is cooked to perfection so that it falls off the bone or in my case, falls off the sandwich. I can honestly compare Mission BBQ with the Texas BBQ restaurants - and they do a good job of delivering that Texas style flavor and tenderness. So Mission BBQ freaky brings that flavor to every meal all the time without failure. I should mention that the staff at everyone of these Mission BBQ restaurants are well-trained in every aspect of delivering great customer service and pride in their work. If you haven't tried their foods, I recommend you give them a shot.