Bobby B’s Soul Food Kitchen & More

Okay, forget everything you know about home-cooked Soul Food… Actually, you might as well discard your entire food rating system. A visit to Bobby B’s will change everything. Seriously! Step back in time and savor food as it was meant to be prepared—slowly, with dedication, passion, and an abundance of love. Bobby learned to cook as a child, inheriting recipes from his mom, grandmother, and grandfather. His soul food recipes, like his grandmother’s gravy recipe, are designed to stand the test of time. Bobby B’s smokes its meats on-site using his grandfather’s original massive smoker (I’ve never seen another like it). Everything on the menu is a classic and a true delight in every bite.

Thank goodness Bobby’s high school pro sport dreams did not come true (though, in seemingly great shape at 37 years old, I’m betting Bobby could still suit up and either hit the three ball or do some damage on the gridiron), and thankfully he risked his entire 401k from his corrections officer job to follow his other passion and start up his own restaurant–the entire community is now benefitting. In fact, once you enter Bobby B’s, and shake hands with the proprietor, as he says “you are family” and you WILL feel exactly that way.

Bobby himself mans the register and offers top notch culinary suggestions to please your appetite. On this first visit, he suggested I try the gravy covered pork chops (yes, you get two of these massive chops), the lemon pepper catfish, the collard greens and the pinto beans (I was skeptical about the beans because I usually do not even like beans, but he insisted I try a sample and after one bite I owed Bobby an apology–they are amazing).

Meanwhile, others at our table ordered the smoked chicken, chicken wings, mac-n-cheese, fried okra, corn bread, and probably several other items I am forgetting. In addition, because we were dining on the tail end of the dinner rush, Bobby took the time to spoil us rotten by serving up some appetizer sharing portions of the ribs and the smoked brisket. Well, the ribs were absolutely the best I’ve ever tried, and everything else was just simply flawless. This was such a fantastic meal, from start to finish, that I cannot artfully describe it well enough to do it justice. Only your tastebuds can truly convince you how spectacular this food is. I don’t usually share personal pics, but I had to share the group shot I took of our table so you could see the massive amount of food we had … all for under fifty bucks–just try to find this kind of deal ANYWHERE!

Oh, and the homemade sweet potato pie–well, if you’ve never had it before, once you’ve tried Bobby’s version you just might wanna smack your momma for not introducing you to it earlier (okay, don’t go smacking your sweet momma, but you get my point–this pie is insanely good … maybe you should just buy a piece for dear old mom). Forget the classic Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, because Bobby B’s sweet potato pie is the new reigning world champion of desserts.

Bobby, thank you so much for your hospitality and for sharing your unbelievable culinary talents with the world. You are truly an artist in the kitchen (and, of course, at the smoker). Keep cooking my friend … I’ll be back EVERY time I visit Killeen.

Rocco’s never disappoints. There’s almost always a line here, so I usually place my order online for pickup. However, I’ve never been disappointed with anything I’ve tried. Their potato salad is solid, and their baked beans are my absolute favorite. I often order an extra side of beans because there aren’t many places that offer BBQ baked beans. The catfish here is always delicious, the mac ‘n cheese is fantastic, and the ribs are tender and flavorful. The portions are generous and reasonably priced. I make it a point to visit every time I’m in town.

The service here is exceptional. The gentleman who runs the front is always cheerful and helpful. I ordered a few items: the fried ribs (very flavorful, 8/10), the fried bologna sandwich (could have been crispier, and the bread was not toasted enough, 6/10), chicken nuggets and fries for my kids (they ate everything, 8/10), and the Philly cheesesteak (an absolute 10,000/10). It was delicious and a hidden gem in Killeen.

Our first visit, and we loved every single bite! My husband ordered the smothered pork chops with green beans and mashed potatoes, and he couldn’t stop raving about how the gravy brought the entire plate together—it was that good. I opted for the ribs, mac ‘n cheese, and collard greens. Let me tell you, the meat was so tender and juicy that it practically fell off the bones! We also ordered a side of brisket, which was cooked to perfection. The only minor complaint is that there was a bit too much BBQ sauce on the brisket and ribs.

I’m thoroughly impressed with this place! Everything was incredibly delicious. My personal favorite was the Mac ‘n cheese—it was simply outstanding. In our group, a few people thought the ribs were slightly salty, but everything else made up for it. The potato salad leans towards the sweeter side, but it’s still enjoyable. The catfish is perfectly seasoned and fried. The only downside to this place was the flies outside, which, of course, they can’t control. There’s no indoor seating, and my guess is that they stopped offering it after COVID and never resumed. I tried the Kool-Aid flavor called “suicide,” which was a mix of different flavors, and I really enjoyed it. The customer service is excellent, especially the young man who took our orders. The food comes out quickly and is always fresh. I highly recommend this place.