The Texas Tater: A Waco BBQ Favorite Born at Uncle Dan’s

Some menu items come and go. Others become part of the story.

At Uncle Dan’s BBQ, the Texas Tater has been a longtime favorite for generations of Waco barbecue fans. It’s simple, hearty and unmistakably Texas: a big baked potato loaded with classic toppings, smoked chopped brisket and your choice of BBQ sauce. But the Texas Tater isn’t just another item on the menu. It’s part of the Uncle Dan’s tradition.

A Waco Original

Uncle Dan’s BBQ has been serving Waco and Central Texas since 1978, and over the years, a few menu items have become almost as much a part of the Uncle Dan’s tradition as the BBQ itself.The Texas Tater is one of them.The idea is pretty straightforward: take a big baked potato, load it with the classic fixings and top it with smoked Texas barbecue.The result is a longtime Uncle Dan’s favorite and a different way to enjoy the same slow-smoked BBQ that has kept Waco coming back for generations.It’s simple, filling and unmistakably Texas.

What Is a Texas Tater?

The Famous Texas Tater starts with Uncle Dan’s Big Spud, a one-pound baked potato loaded with real butter, sour cream and cheddar cheese.Then comes the BBQ.
The potato is topped with Uncle Dan’s smoked chopped brisket and finished with your choice of BBQ sauce. You get the smoky flavor of Texas brisket and all the comfort of a loaded baked potato in the same meal.No complicated formula. Just two Texas favorites that happen to work really well together.You can find the Texas Tater alongside brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork and other favorites on the Uncle Dan’s Waco BBQ menu.

BBQ Doesn’t Always Have to Come on a Plate

When most people think about Texas BBQ in Waco, they picture sliced brisket, ribs, sausage and a couple of sides.We certainly have plenty of that at Uncle Dan’s.But after decades of serving BBQ in Waco, we know there are plenty of ways to enjoy good smoked meat.
The Texas Tater is one of our favorites.It gives you chopped brisket in every bite without going the traditional sandwich or BBQ plate route. And because the potato itself is substantial, this isn’t something you’re ordering as a side.

Come hungry.

More Than One Way to Build a Tater

Brisket may get most of the attention, but it’s not the only way to enjoy one of our oversized baked potatoes. The Uncle Dan’s menu also includes the Pulled Pork Potato, which tops our Big Spud with fresh pulled pork and BBQ sauce, and the Chicken Tater, featuring smoked chicken breast and your favorite sauce. If a full one-pound potato sounds like a little more than you bargained for, there’s also a Half Tater with the classic toppings in a smaller portion.But if you’re trying Uncle Dan’s for the first time and want the classic experience, we’d point you toward the Famous Texas Tater. You can see the Texas Tater and the rest of our Waco BBQ favorites before your next visit.

A Different Way to Enjoy Texas Brisket

Brisket is at the heart of Texas barbecue, and the Texas Tater gives you another way to enjoy it. At Uncle Dan’s, brisket is seasoned and slow-smoked over oak before being served sliced, chopped or piled onto favorites like the Texas Tater. Pairing chopped brisket with a loaded baked potato brings together the smoky, savory flavor of the meat with butter, sour cream, cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce. It’s comfort food and Texas barbecue all in one. And while plenty of people come through the doors looking for a traditional brisket plate, the Texas Tater has earned a following of its own.

Part of a Waco BBQ Tradition Since 1978

A lot has changed in Waco since Uncle Dan’s first opened its doors in 1978. We’ve changed, too. Uncle Dan’s has grown, moved, added locations and introduced new things to the menu over the years. But we’ve also held onto the foods that became part of the tradition.
The Texas Tater is one of them. It’s been around long enough that some of our customers who grew up eating at Uncle Dan’s are now bringing their own families through the doors. That’s one of our favorite things about being a locally rooted Waco restaurant. Food has a way of becoming attached to places, people and memories.

We’re grateful that a big potato covered in Texas BBQ has managed to become part of so many of them.

Want to know more about where we came from? Read the story of Uncle Dan’s BBQ and nearly five decades of serving Waco and Central Texas.

Looking for BBQ in Waco? Try the Famous Texas Tater

If you’re looking for BBQ in Waco and have never tried the Texas Tater, we’d say it’s about time.

Stop by Uncle Dan’s BBQ & Ribhouse in Waco at 1001 Lake Air Drive, or visit our Hewitt BBQ location at 231 N. Hewitt Drive and give one a try.

You can stick with the Famous Texas Tater and chopped brisket, try pulled pork or chicken, or just order your usual BBQ plate.

Either way, come hungry.

Uncle Dan’s BBQ — proudly serving Waco and Central Texas since 1978.