A homemade Southern barbecue spot has returned to Bradenton after roughly two years away.
BubbaQue’s opened this summer at 6310 53rd Ave. E., taking over a space that once housed Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s.
FULL STORY: A popular barbecue restaurant has returned to Bradenton. Take a look inside
Here are key takeaways:
The menu: Signature items include Texas brisket, St. Louis ribs and chicken wings, with pork and brisket smoked overnight for 14 hours. Owner Tarek Kazbour called the wings “a little hidden gem” — smoked, then flash-fried to order for a crispy crunch and smoky flavor.Prices: Most basket dishes (meat, one side and bread) run $15 to $18. A create-your-own combo with two or three meats, two sides and bread costs $22.99 or $26.99.Sauce lineup: Seven sauces range from sweet to spicy, including the original Tractor Grease, mustard-based Ole Yeller, molasses-based Mississippi Mud and honey-based Sugar Shack. The Rump Roaster, a cayenne-tomato blend, is the spiciest.The company: Kazbour’s father, Zee, and friend Ryan Bell co-founded BubbaQue’s in Levy County, Florida, in 2008. The chain now operates 10 Florida restaurants and one in Louisiana — five family-run, six franchised. The Bradenton store is family-operated.Hours and setup: The 90-seat sit-down restaurant has a drive-thru, though every order is made-to-order. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Catering is available.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
A multitude of sauces at BubbaQue’s at 6310 53rd Avenue East on August 26, 2026. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com 
BubbaQue’s at 6310 53rd Avenue East on August 26, 2026. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
