BBQ was ok-and I like bland. Just not much flavor to meat or sauces. I had the brisket and hubby had the pulled pork. Coleslaw was creamy but that’s it. Not sweet. Not tangy. We were disappointed as we were watching Rashad on Bobby Flay’s...‘Master of (Bar Be) Que’ and were excited to sample locally. Probably won’t go back.More
Enthusiastically recommended by a friend and finding ourselves in Ocala, we stopped at the Big Lee's food truck a few minutes after opening and were thinking: it was okay. A few details follow. Clearly with a wildly enthusiastic following, Big Lee's operates out of several...locations; we were at the mid-town food truck at the time of opening; I was second in line. Wanting the multi-meat sample but passing because it served 3-4 and cost $40, I walked away with the brisket sampler, which included two sides and a drink for about $14 and sat down. The brisket was cooked medium and was fall-of-the-fork tender; no doubt about that. It tasted, however, more like pot roast and had little smoke. It was okay, no better. The spicey fries were nicely cooked and were flavorable. The beans were a bit sweet - probably from orange juice - and had a tomato base; they were okay. There you have it. If I were in Ocala, I'd stop back to try the chicken, sausage and ribs but would not go out of my way for the brisket.More
Will definitely eat here often. Best Brisket and Burnt Ends we've ever had. We eat at new bbq places often. They knocked it out of the park. Just double check that you receive all your sides if they're super busy.
I first visited Big Lees back in 2018 after a google search of “best BBQ near Orlando” came up with Big Lees at the top of Trip Advisor (an average of 4.9 out of 5 if I remember correctly). Having never had “real” BBQ (only...ever having a shop bought sausage or frozen burger burnt over charcoal!) I wanted to make sure I was trying a piece of “real” BBQ’d brisket: none of this smoke flavoured tack or braised muck. I can honestly say I was so taken by how good it was (and the nice touch of Rashad welcoming the increasingly large queue) that I had to have a return visit during our next holiday from Scotland to Orlando. It even got me buying my own grills to try my hand; at present, that’s not going to well!! Today my Daughter and I took a 5 hour, 150 miles round trip from Davenport to visit again. I could have been disappointed that we didn’t get to see Rashad this time round, had it not been for the wonderful staff who tended to my every need and answerEd many questions as well as posing for a picture with us too. I am no BBQ critic or aficionado, I’m not even a good BBQ cook (I can’t run an off-set or get good results from a WSM) but feel that a pound of brisket and a pound of burnt ends from Big Lees was worth taking a day out of the vacation for; if that doesn’t tell a story, I’m not sure how else to let you know this place has my vote! As others have noted, as does Big Lees website, you need to be there early. We arrived at 14:00, to collect an online order made at 10:30 to make sure we got what we were wanting, and found all sides were sold out except fries. Other customers asked for items whilst we were there that were also sold out. The price is maybe a little higher than what you would expect to pay for a pound of lower grade beef (we would in Scotland), but once you factor in the man hours to do a 12 hour cook and take a premium to pay for the craftsman’s skill who creates a perfectly rubbed/seasoned, juicy, well barked tender brisket flat, it’s worth every cent. Emails to Big Lees are answered quite quickly by Mrs Evans herself, who makes great conversation and leaves you feeling like a truly welcomed and valued customer. Keeping a family run business going, having the closeness of the owners to the product and the level of quality are all great reasons to make a trip here too. Well done to Mr & Mrs Evans, please keep doing what you’re doing. 👍🏴More
We arrived 19 minutes before the opening on a Wednesday morning. No line ... indeed, no food truck! It arrived about 10 minutes before the opening. A few customers trickled in during the 45 minutes we were dining there (outdoor concrete picnic tables), so mid-week...looks like a good option if your time is limited. We ordered a half pound of burnt ends, a brisket sandwich, and sides of french fries and corn nuggets. The sides were out of bags, but both were tasty, especially the seasoned fries (rosemary, perhaps). The same seasoning gave the moist and tender brisket an unusual but pleasing flavor-- and there was a lot of it. The burnt ends were simply large chunks cut out of the fatty end of the brisket. They were okay, but are not to be confused with legitimate burnt ends, which do not come from this cut, and have far more intense flavor. Be careful ordering this dish more than 2 hours after the opening. It has been our experience that the meat will become more and more dry as the day wears on, and therefore more and more dependent on saucing. For $33, we were satisfied with the quantity of food set before us, but not the quality.More
I Really didnt like bbq until I tried Big Lees Now i am in the food truck line a few times a month. Hands down the best Brisket and tacos in Ocala. Service was excellent and quick
This was truly an amazing foodie experience. A must go for BBQ! Either the Deacon or Smash Burger would be my go to. If I am within an hours drive, I detour to my favorite food truck.
The brisket and pulled pork were wonderful. We initially tried to determine if they were open on a Tuesday. I spent considerable effort searching on their website to find their hours since Google maps suggested that they did not open until Wednesday. I did finally...find the information after we decided to hunt them down at their address on a Tuesday to find the truck not there. We returned the next day and we're glad we did.More
Tried it for the first time yesterday. My wife a Brisket Sandwich and I had a Burnt Ends Brisket Sandwich. Our favorite is Franklin's BBQ in Austin, TX. We used to go when Franklin was operating out of a little pull behind trailer...now he's in...a larger building and you have to wait for hours in a really long line. Worth the wait and so was Big Lee's. I was really impressed, it is close to the flavors that I love about Franklin's. Ocala has a gem in Big Lee's; so glad we tried it. If you love quality BBQ (not the chain stuff), this is authentic really really good BBQ. Sides were great also!More
Been around to quite a few bbq places in the country and this is my favorite. The burnt ends and ribs are on another level. The Kathy(brisket with Mac and cheese) is addictive. They add limited time items to their menu all the time. All...of them good and definitely showcase the talent they have for bringing out flavors. Owner(Rashad) is super nice and has a real passion for not only the food he puts out, but the community he serves. This place is a real slice of Americana. Not to be missed.More
Having been to Big Lee's numerous times and always being impressed with the superior quality of their food they've earned a place in my culinary heart. Rashad and his team run an efficient operation, and if somethings not right he'll fix it. Keep it up...Rashad! RonMore
I had their lean burnt ends which are always great, as are the regular burnt ends. Didn't care for the cole slaw..weird flavor? The Mac & Cheese has a bit of meat in it which adds flavor. Service can be a bit slow but if...you call ahead to place your order you'll avoid the wait while your order's being prepared. This place ain't cheap, but it's an occasional treat. RonMore
Been going since the original trailer was next to the gas station. No one has ever accused them of speedy service, but I waited in line for 45 minutes, and I was about 10 people back. The food just doesn’t taste as good as it...used to when Rashad was doing all the cooking. They also posted a desert on Instagram and didn’t actually have it. I’m happy for their success, but I think they need to get back to the basics.More
The quality of the food is excellent coupled with the friendly banter with regulars. Additionally, the portions are just right, not too much and not too little.
this is for a very casual lunch or early dinner. One of the things we liked best was the freshness of all the meats. When they the meats are gone for the day , he closes. We have tried several different things on the menu....I have my favorite, ribs. my husband has his favorite brisket. Whatever Lee does he most definately does it right. There are only picnic tables and at times really crowded but its worth waiting for.More
