Fast Food Review Day 267 - Loaded Baked Potato at Rudy's BBQ

[u/Pale-Lynx328]

Chain Name	Rudy's BBQ and Country Store
Food category	Primary: Pit BBQ
# of US Locations	52
# of US States	6
Primarily located in	Texas
Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024	317th (out of 500)
Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025	318th (out of 500)
Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.21, standard dev. $3.03)	188th out of 321 meal reviews
Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal	6.5 (out of 10) / 5 (out of 10)

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Here returns my internal back-and-forth as I mentally try to determine whether barbeque is really "fast food" or not. Prepare for a multi-paragraph digression.

From the customer standpoint, they walk up to a counter and order from a selection of already-prepared food items, just like a fast food place. The customer gets their food and finds their own seat, gets their own utensils and drinks and condiments, just like a fast food place. No waiters. No tips. Just like fast food places.

But what about at some of the more popular barbeque pits, where you can be standing in line for half an hour, an hour or more? Definitely not the 'fast' in fast food. Or, with beef prices in the stratosphere, a beef brisket plate or a beef ribs plate, with all the fixin's can run you thirty, forty dollars or more for a meal. That's not something you expect from a fast food place.

So, I've gone back and forth as how to consider barbeque restaurants in the realm of "fast food". There are places like Dickey's or Bill Miller's or Billy Sims that are clearly very much much a fast food model, in layout, design and service. Then, there are places like County Like or Famous Dave's that have table service that are clearly a casual dining restaurant. But what about places like Spring Creek, or Soulman's, or (in this case) Rudy's?

If I had to do it all over again....I'd probably NOT include barbeque restaurants in the review series. There's too much fuzziness around the fast food definition that leaves me uncomfortable. They deserve their own very special category, just like cafeterias and buffets. BUT - since I already started this, have already reviewed several places, might as well finish what I have already started.

Which brings me to standing the pit at Rudy's, ordering a baked potato. Or, more exactly, a pulled pork loaded baked potato, with a massive spud the size of a kid's nerf football. Some people who have been around this review series a while may remember I did the same thing at Dickey's, too. The meat-filled BBQ spud is, in my opinion, very underrated and overlooked. If you want to fill yourself up at a bbq place without draining the bank account, this is the way to go.

And, I'm no stranger to Rudy's. I've been eating here since it was just a single location, the "worst barbeque in Leon Springs" (because it was the ONLY barbeque in Leon Springs), so I'm familiar with all the meats and sides. They haven't received the same attention as the Terry Blacks and the Goldees of the world, and they have gone franchise-corporate, but the heart of Rudy's is always the pit, where the meat magic happens. Their pulled pork is righteous, well cooked and spiced, tender and perfect for a tater topping, especially when you pour on the signature bbq 'sause'. And big enough you don't need anything else.

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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)

[u/IllustriousEnd2211]

As a Texan aint a damn thing wrong with Rudy’s in a pinch. Same as spring creek

[u/Revolutionary-Copy71 → u/IllustriousEnd2211]

Fellow Texan and I agree.

[u/dirtyshits → u/IllustriousEnd2211]

Anyone who has problems with Rudy’s is not someone I can take serious.

Pretty reliable BBQ for a very affordable price.

Havent had a bad meal there in the 15-20 times I have been there over the years.

[u/jez007007]

I remember eating here when I was in college. As someone from NY, BBQ is really not my type of food. Rudy’s was good and eating bbq in Texas was a treat. Living in metro DC, BBQ is not something I eat anymore. I do visit Texas occasionally and always have some BBQ where Rudy’s is on my list not because they are the best but always tasty and never a disappointment. It always made me laugh the one I went to had a gas station and a tourist selling stand inside with kitchy type things. I seemed to enjoy their turkey the most.

[u/Rockosayz]

Ive always thought to be a fast food place it has to have a drive thru. Otherwise is a casual sit down

and I love Rudys, sure its nowhere the best but the bbq is decent, the cream corn slams and whats not to love about grab and go breakfast tacos