Dining Guide

Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven

Mike Havens is new to commercial barbecue, but is learning fast.

Havens’s pork ribs brought a good smokiness to every bite, and each of those bites came away cleanly from the bone. These were some solid pork ribs, if a bit too heavy on the smoke (and I’m a smoke fiend). A few bites of pulled pork lacked the zip of seasoning and smoke found in the other meats.

A side of spicy mac & cheese wasn’t to be toyed with. He roasts jalapeños and green chiles before blending them with Rotel and sautéing it all together. The finished puree gets mixed right into the mac & cheese. It’s one of those dishes that you just have to keep eating lest it burn your tongue off.

City: Amarillo

Cuisine: Barbecue

Method: Wood-fired rotisserie smoker with pecan and hickory

Pitmaster: Mike Havens

Price: $$

Rating: ★★★

Address: 7028 S Western St., Amarillo, TX, 79110

Hours: Tues-F 11-7, Sat 11-3

Phone: (806) 358-8550

Year Opened: 2012

Last updated: February 17, 2014

Reviews

February 18, 2014

Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven

By Daniel Vaughn

Mike Havens was done being an electrician. He had a lot more fun making barbecue for his crew, so he got a bigger smoker. That steel offset smoker sits out front by the road, but it’s mainly for show unless …

Mike Havens

Daniel, thank you for the review. Just for the record, my last name is Havens. The restaurant is the Haven.
Ron Howard

I had the sausage this afternoon March 25 2015 it was great I will be back to try more
Ron Howard
Christina Templeton

My husband and I just ate here about 15 min ago. Mike may remember me, I asked him how long he smoked his ribs, all I can say is OMFREAKINGAWD!! The BEST ribs we have EVER eaten. Eat here one time and you will never eat anywhere else for BBQ!!! The beans, slaw, and tater salad are the BOMB also!! Thank you spicey mikes!!!!
brad davis

Outstanding! When are you going to open up Mikes 2.0 in Northern Indiana? We’ll wait…. not much else to do in The Hoosier state 😉
Brian G.

My wife and I stopped in for the first time. It has been a long time since I’ve eaten such BBQ. Couldn’t find a bad thing about the visit. Courteous staff , the perfect smoke and spice. 5 stars
Jennifer Timmer

Hi Mike,

I’m a volunteer with the Pampa Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a small nonprofit just east of Amarillo. PAWS formed in 2010 to increase adoptions at the Pampa animal shelter and provide assistance to low-income families for neutering pets or treating injuries/illnesses.The euthanasia rate at the animal shelter dropped from 95% to 10% over the last seven years, mostly due to the spay/neuter program and monthly transports of adoptable animals to no-kill rescues in Colorado.

PAWS hosts several fundraisers including an annual 5k run and fall fashion show (with help from a local clothing store). However, to keep helping the 2-legged and 4-legged residents in Pampa and surrounding towns, we need to raise more money. I was wondering if Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven would be interested in donating part of the proceeds from a day or half day to PAWS? We would greatly appreciate the help and would promote your restaurant and its generosity as a way of saying thanks. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and thank you for your time!

Jennifer, 517-775-5906