Okay, let’s get it out of the way. Mission BBQ is a fairly large chain with locations across eastern and midwest USA. “Chain” can seem like a dirty word when searching for the best food in any given category and while it isn’t going to top my list, Mission actually does a lot of things really well. I’ll do my best to refrain from saying “for a chain” and focus on the food.

Built on the belief that BBQ is a uniquely American form of cuisine, Mission is aggressively patriotic. Their restaurants are adorned from top to bottom with flags and memorabilia honoring soldiers, police, firefighters, first responders, and so on. Their commitment to what they’re all about is honorable, if a bit overwhelming.

Reputation – 4.6/5

This score was the average of ratings from Google, Facebook, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. Looks like America loves Mission as much as Mission loves America. The 4.5 on Yelp stood out to me as those “elites” can be tough to please.

Experience – 4.8/5

Excellent customer service is something Mission is known for. Their counter service is always quick and pleasant and they have managers roving the floor to ensure guests are satisfied and supplied with everything they need. One of the employees made a comment about me taking pictures of the food (in a friendly way) so I told him about the blog. He said it sounds cool. It is cool.

Presentation – 4.9/5

Mission’s presentation is straightforward – food on brown paper on a metal tray. The sandwich on its own was $7.50, and it’s another $4 to add a side and drink. Pretty standard pricing overall. Portion sizes are pretty generous. My absolute favorite thing about Mission BBQ is their sauces. Each table has a six-pack holder with Smoky Mountain (WV), Memphis Belle, KC Classic, Bay-B-Que (MD), Tupelo Honey Heat (MS), and Texas Twang, as well as a bottle of NC vinegar. They’re all awesome. I like to make a little artist’s palette of BBQ sauce on my tray.

Quality & Taste – 7.4/10

The pork was hearty and flavorful and their coleslaw adds a nice crunch and freshness. Unfortunately on this visit the meat’s temperature wasn’t quite consistent throughout, and the fries (which I usually like a lot despite being a bit of a fry snob) came out pretty cold. I did visit a little later this time (9 PM, they close at 10) which could have something to do with it, but it was a bit disappointing.

Final Rating – 86.8

Mission BBQ’s food is very good. You’ll have a perfectly satisfying meal with plenty of different meats (pork, brisket, turkey, chicken, sausage, salmon, ribs) and classic sides to choose from, as well as rotating specials. You can probably find something better in most cities if you dig a little, but it’s a perfectly fine place to stop on a road trip or for a quick, friendly, and filling lunch or dinner.