New Mexico
Hidden gem in Cloudcroft, New Mexico has best BBQ in US
2026 Sun City Pride Parade rolls through Downtown El Paso
Attendees lined the streets of Downtown El Paso as colorful floats and performers celebrated Pride during the 2026 Sun City Pride Parade.
A Cloudcroft barbecue spot has gained national recognition for its slow-cooked, savory meats and generous sides.
Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue landed at No. 7 on Yelp’s latest list of the Top 100 BBQ restaurants and was the only New Mexico spot to make the list. To compile the list, Yelp identified businesses in the barbecue category, then ranked those spots based on the volume and ratings of reviews from the Yelp Elite Squad — which comprises adventurous locals.
“High up in Cloudcroft, Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue brings Texas pitmaster tradition to 9,000 feet, serving up slow-smoked meats, hearty sides, and homemade desserts,” Yelp Elite Squad writes. “With picnic favorites like loaded potatoes, roasted corn, and hand-cut brisket sandwiches, this laid-back spot turns every meal into a mountain getaway worth savoring.”
It’s no surprise that Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue ranked high on the list, since James Jackson, a native of Lockhart, Texas, founded the restaurant. Lockhart is known as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” a title it received from the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999.
Jackson’s family bought a vacation home in Cloudcroft, and Mad Jack’s came to be.The line can stretch up to two hours, and people from all over the world, including plenty of Texans, come to taste what Mad Jack’s has to offer, according to its website.
If you can’t make the trip out to Cloudcroft, you can still get a taste of Mad Jack’s by ordering its rubs and sauces online.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.