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Abilene · Taylor County

Jay's BBQ Shack wins USA Today readers' vote for best Texas-style barbecue

After weeks of community voting, the Abilene restaurant took first place nationally.

C
CIVILIAN News Desk
Oct 29, 2026
Business
A free-license photo of a place, not of this event or anyone in it. Photo credits

Abilene's Jay's BBQ Shack took first place in USA Today's readers' vote for the best Texas-style barbecue in the country. The result came after several weeks of public voting, and local customers had pushed to get the restaurant to the top.

The business started in 2015 as a catering operation, then ran a food truck before opening its own restaurant. Customers there told the station the award matched their own experience.

Sources KTXS, KTAB/KRBC

Written by the CIVILIAN News Desk in our own words from public records and local coverage. We don't copy text, quotes or photos. 2026-11-03.

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