Big Mama's BBQ Express

When that craving hits for some quick grub, that reminds you of the bbqs at you very own “big mama’s house”! I think I caught them on an exceptional day and they had just opened the doors for the day! Customer service: The customers that had been standing at the door waiting for them to open, were greeted with a smile and welcomed which was a good feeling! Atmosphere: The music they had in was perfect, it of summer time with family! The vibe was good, the employees were all busy doing something which is a good thing, the cashier that took walk in orders was so nice, she was super busy taking phone orders and walk ins but did her thing professionally and effectively. Food: It was fire! All of it! The rib tips were tender and juicy, the snoot was crisp and perfect amount of sauce. Wait time wasn’t long I just looked around at the many supports they have, there are so many pics from reviews for big mommas! Though that was a cool way to show the supporters they appreciate our business! Love them, getting some again today! Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 (the flooring/ceiling needs some work, a nice black and white tile floor would be banging in there… maybe more in house seating)

Amazing food best barbecue I’ve ever had ever. We are on a road trip for work driving home from Florida and we wanted some barbecue. Google this place smelled delicious the minute I got out of the vehicle highly recommend if you’re traveling and you want the best barbecue ever stop it

This is the spot for some good down home BBQ and stick to your ribs cooking. It's a small restaurant but BIG on atmosphere and service. Everybody is very friendly and the huge menu even had the customers laughing and talking and comparing stories. It's nice to see we can all come together over a good meal. So Mama's has a huge menu to talk about too. From spicy nachos to foot long bratwurst. We ordered Rib tips, the pulled pork sammich, pig snoots and the best potato salad which wasn't an exaggeration. It's GOOD. A huge wall size menu made it hard to decide but if the rest of the menu is as good as what we had today then we'll have to try everything out. And the prices are very affordable. Thanks Big Mama.

This is the second time that I came here on my own and was disappointed. I paid 12 dollars and some change for tip and snoot pieces combo and this is what I was given. I had food from here before when my co-worker at the hospital ordered for us last year and it was enough for me to have leftovers. I don’t know what changed from then until now but my money will never be spent here again

This place has very little seating inside, so it’s better suited for takeout. They also have a drive-through, making it convenient for on-the-go orders. It’s a family-owned spot with friendly vibes, and you’ll notice the delicious BBQ smell as soon as you drive into the parking lot. Their specialties include chicken nachos, beef nachos, waffle fries, and something intriguingly named “Cooter,” which we didn’t try. We ordered the chicken nachos, which seemed simple enough, but the wait was still pretty long. This spot isn’t ideal if you’re in a rush—only go if you have enough time to wait.

I think the food is good. They are very popular to the community. Only thing missing for me is the attention to detail sometimes. When it comes to things you may want to add, or eliminate to your order. It’s either not there, or something you asked to be removed is still there. You can tell they’re rushing orders out just glancing at the tickets. They have delicious snoots, but the last two times my snoots were hairy. That’s a turn off for me. Great priced food so definitely recommend checking them out for yourself.

I go there because they have the BEST snoot in the metropolitan area (whole and pieces). I always leave with extra food... trying something new every time. I have yet to be disappointed. And when I say the prices are very reasonable... you'll end up leaving with more food than expected. The cakes are good and different BBQ sauces let you customize the flavors of your meat. The portions are HUGE!! I'll just say this... when the police are waiting in line (inside & drive-thru), you know it's good. It's worth the drive.

Staff was very nice and the food was good! The Pork steak was 1" thick and delicious. Definitely going to stop in again when I am in the area!

Great barbecue! I got a huge pork steak and snoot pieces through the drive up. I will be returning for more of that goodness.

I've never lived in IL but I do work in IL and have been around this area all my life. I used to eat at Big Mama's when they had a Belleville location and we carry out from the Washington Park location every now and then. Today I ordered the Snoot Tip Combo with spicy sauce. It's a full snoot and 1/2 lb of tips on top of two slices of white bread. The sauce is basically Maull's BBQ but spicier. It doesn't get more St. Louis than this folks! Anyway about once every year or two I'll order this. Today it hit the spot. I'm also a fan of the pulled pork which is my regular order. Don't skip the desserts here!

I go thru drive thru, the food is consistently excellent! Love the pulled pork! I have nothing else to add and don't like being told I need to add more!

The rib tips combo is awesome. Best BBQ around. I have eaten at several spots. Big Mama out weighs them all.

Edit: it's been a number of years since my initial review so I thought I would check in again. Drove thru St. Louis last week and stopped by Big Mama's for the first time in several years. Still great snoots and certainly satisfying. The rib tips were good but a little chewy this time. Some folk like them better this way though, so it is just a matter of personal taste. Well worth the small side trip to visit it again.

Great food, horrible management of people's time with their "we're not fast food, we cook to order" mantra. Cooking food fresh is not the issue, how we have to remind you all about our orders because we've sat there for 30+ minutes is beyond ridiculous and unprofessional. If people are in there ordering sides (that are obviously portioned out and ready to be sold), please streamline those items, as it cuts down on your ticket times. If you have all the time in the day to place your order and eat, they deserve 5 stars but I could have sat in a restaurant and ordered food and be done by the time you all gave me my food. The staff was great, however there needs to be a better system for orders.

Oh yes oh yes this bbq is some of the best! I loved the pulled pork sandwich here with cole slaw . It's such a great deal and only $6 and they give you a ton of meat. I also love the baked beans here! Order ahead via phone and just use the drive thru to pick up your order. Super convenient!

Big Mama's is amazing. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced. The desserts are like little bites of Heaven. I highly recommend placing an order and picking it up.

Crispy yet tender snoots with a sauce that is a little sweet and smoky. I have been picking up bbq from this location for years. I have had the rib tips and rack of ribs. All of the desserts look great but I have not tried any yet. I usually get the snoot in pieces since it is pretty difficult to eat the whole snoots while driving to work. I have done it but gets a bit sketchy. Pic included...

I really love a good neighborhood restaurant, and what's better than a barbecue spot! I was in East St. Louis doing community service at a community garden and needed somewhere quick to grab a bite to eat after being in the heat and sun all day handing out food to residents. Stopped here after reviewing the reviews, and thoroughly enjoyed all the food. Besides a sort of long wait (because it is so popular) I really enjoyed the fellowship of those waiting for their food. It felt like being around family and people you knew. Everyone was laughing, talking and sharing insight to what they were ordering. Everything is cooked fresh to order. The potato salad and baked beans were delicious. My friend and I definitely will be going back!

I was amazed at how good my ribs were . It taste as if I bbq it myself in my own backyard grill ! Very flavorful . My wife had the sweet and spicy wings that was to die for ! I wish I had a side of that sauce to dip my ribs in ! First time trying this place and I will be back ! I moved from StL to Georgia and I haven't found good bbq here at all . We came home for Memorial Day and didn't have time to go to our family function . So on our way out we stopped here and was very pleased ! The quality and quantity matched the cost ! And the potato salad had me smacking my lips !!!

Absolutely delicious, wonderful service, and despite it warning of a long wait, our food was out the window pretty quickly. We'll for sure be back to try more!

So I was suggested to go here as soon as I got off the plane. I'm about support locals so when I heard it was easily accessible from the train stop and that it's the best in town I had to try it. Let me tell you this, BEST BBQ IN ST LOUIS.. I was upset to not get to try the snoot but that link and wing combo made me know I will be back! Also please please please try that potato salad!!!

I was looking for snoots (a local specialty) and found Big Mama on Yelp. Ambiance is friendly BBQ joint. Clean, with signs generously posted- walk up to the window or (maybe) drive-through. There are a few tables for eat-in, but I don't believe there is table service. Staff and other waiting customers were polite and friendly- many seemed to know each other. The snoot was crispy and delicious, the sausage in the combo was large-house sauce was good. I took it back to my hotel to eat, the serving was so large I couldn't eat it all.

Ordered snoot pieces which cost $11.07 and the snoot pieces were not grilled but fried and burnt badly. I was totally disappointed and upset that Big Mama's Bbq was serving that crap today.

Employees fairly inattentive. Food was decent, ribs were dry and tasted like propane. Would try again for a second chance.

Let's start with the service. 10/10. The young ladies were friendly and warming. I also want to let you guys know that if you don't call ahead they might be sold out because the food is amazing. The best snoots in the area hands down. My mother and I took a trip up to get a combo meal and it was amazing. I enjoyed every single bite. The ambiance is very causal and all people would feel good about traveling to the business. All in all it's a good place to eat for a good price and it's worth.

Some mighty fine barbecue here! The food is awesome, at unbeatable, reasonable prices. I think it's the closest place to me where I can get snoots. That's what I usually get when I'm here. Actually, I get the combo either with the ribs or sausage. I've had their loaded cooter fries (absolutely out of this world) and their corn nuggets. They have no shortage of side selections. If you have room for dessert, they sell large slices of cake. I've had their butter pecan and it was the perfect thing to top off my meal here. They have other flavors, including orange sherbet. Minus points for not having a public restroom. I don't know if you get free refills. They put everything in to-go boxes and bags, even if you tell them you're eating in. I know their name says "Express" in it, but I'm an eat-in kind of guy. They also have a drive-thru. It's mostly a carry-out place. It's not too far from the strip clubs and interstate (64), and right across from the prison. But still, their food is awesome.

Outstanding Snoots best in town. Whenever I come home I must have a snoot with BBQ sauce on the side

There food is really really good but you don't get much for your money anymore. The service is ok

This little place has the best BBQ. It's small but the food is so good! We call ahead and sometimes have to wait a bit. I always see cars waiting in.line and cars are always there.

So I ordered some chicken dumplings And side vegie had a friend drive to the restaurant Went inside I asked the lady to add 2 Dressings for the side she took my money And gave me my food at a different window Since she took my order and money I didnt Think it was nessasary to check my food But I was wrong. What I received was Barbeque chicken wings and another thing I was told was pig parts (they tasted terrible) The only thing they got right was the dressing Moral of the story ALWAYS check your FOOD

Good BBQ. Definitely one of the best in the St. Louis area. Most places have to "wow" you with fantastic sides because there bbq is subpar. This places wows you with bbq and solid sides.

Haven't been here in awhile. Honestly its kinda out if the way for me. Swung in for lunch today. Really tasty bbq (pulled pork) sandwich and, even better, the young ladies working the drive thru were extremely pleasant, and courteous! And their tip reflected that! I wont tip in a drive thru if I get a series of grunts or a flat tone in the drivethru. This was different. Like it was family. I like that. Did I mention the pork was really good also?

Ever had a "Snoot?" Ever heard of one? Don't ask what it is. Just try one-trust me. When you take that plunge, gotta try a snoot from Big Mamas. It's reminiscent of pork rinds but to the 100th power. They're crispy and flavorful. Big Mamas is located right of I-64 and IL 111. I always do the drive thru and the cashiers are very nice; if the wait is long (usually isn't) they're apologetic. Cashier today saw me take a pic of the drive thru menu and asked me if I wanted a printed menu. Lol. The rib tips are good too. Never ordered dessert cuz my waistline doesn't need it but at some point I'll try a slice of caramel cake or the banana split cake. Be adventurous and try the Snoot!!

The food service and the ambiance is amazing! Great local spot to check out. They also do soooo much for the community.

Excellent pig snoots and to die for caramel cake. Huge wings. Fall of the bone rib tips. We usually get a snoot sammich, but for an extra $2 you can do a combo with 3 rib tips, 4 wings, or 1/2 sausage, so this trip we did the snoot/wings and snoot/rib tips. What little bit of rib tips, they were good, but next time we'll try the sausage. Excellent service. There's always a bit of a wait, but no long. They're crazy busy with drive-up, phone orders, and walk-ins.

No meat on these bones at all. I've never left a bad review anywhere before but this crap they gave us were bones covered in sauce I should of checked bag before I left I wouldn't have accepted it.

It's not much to look at but this bbq is on point. We stopped on the last leg of a looong road trip and the food here perked is right up. Every one of the 7 people in our group got something different and we ate every last bite. It does take a good amount of time to get your food so if you're in a rush, don't be fooled by the word express in the name. Otherwise, enjoy!

Food is mediocre, the rib tips are boiled , you can taste the water . The sauce isn't made from scratch, but the snoops are crispy.

Great food! Place looks like it would be and is home cooked barbeque with outstanding side dishes They even sell their own barbeque sauces, all at reasonable prices.

Big Mama's is amazing. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced. The desserts are like little bites of Heaven. I highly recommend!!

Gonna try it! Hear it's great! Let u knowo loved the food!!!r baked beans were left out! When we got home the beans weren't in the bag! Not ur fault we should have checked!! Thank u for the wonder tasting food! We will be back and get ur baked beans got yo try them! U have a very busy Business!! Can't wait to go back!!!! Thank u all!yummy yum!!!!!!!

This is one of the best place for BBQ. It's so tender and the taste is second to my smoke grill. The deserts are amazing. I recommend this place for sure.

I read about this restaurant in one of the local magazines so I gave it a try. I wanted to try the famous snoots. We drove from Chesterfield, MO to the restaurant this Saturday about 4:00 pm. To my disappointment they were OUT of the famous snoots and rib tips so I ordered the pulled pork. It was just okay. The barbecue sauce was good. The baked bean and potato salad were the highlight of the meal. My husband wanted the grilled wings but you have to order them IN ADVANCE so he ordered the half chicken. It had a good flavor from the smoke but lacked seasoning. The food was not worth the drive.

Everything is gas, fresh & affordable workers are chill BBQ Chx Sandwich bussin BBQ Pig bussin Pulled Pork bussin bussin All around would recommend

I just went for the 1st time, ordered the half slab of ribs. I have to admit the ribs were very tender, and the portion of food was very good for the price. This was probably the either best or 2nd best ribs I've had from the St. Louis area. The workers were friendly, and the restaurant was clean. I know I'll be going back soon to try more things off of their menu. But I'll definitely give this restaurant a Big thumbs up.

To be a business you would think they would fix there parking lot. Holes all over it need repaying sad.

I definately will be back. I had the snoots and all I can say is damn!! I'm from Memphis so that says a lot in itself. I'm a very tough barbecue critic. This is a must stop bbq joint.

I've read about this place have been meaning to try it for a while as I enjoy a good snoot, but don't make it to East St. Louis very often. Unfortunately, my experience left me let down and confused. I ordered the snoot and wing combo. Both the wings and snoots appeared to be deep fried, not BBQ'd or ever touching a grill. You can order with sauce on them, but putting BBQ sauce on a sweep fried item does not make it BBQ. Neither had any seasoning. Basically they threw four wings and a snoot, unseasoned, into a fryer and that's it. I don't understand putting BBQ in your name if you serve bland fried food. Maybe the ribs and pork or better, but I doubt O visit again.

This place is conveniently located right across the street from the jail. I'm guessing that when the wind is blowing just right it probably makes some number of people regret some previous bad decisions and could possibly inspire some to turn their lives around. Or it could incite rioting. Not sure which... I asked the girl working the register what they sell the most of from their menu. She looked at me like I should be institutionalized and replied "we sell the most of everything." Hmmm...not so strong on the customer service, huh? I chose the pulled pork sandwich and was asked if I wanted sauce or not. Having reviewed the pictures on Yelp (and not wanting a completely doused sandwich) I asked for a little bit of sauce. Same girl...same great customer service...the reply this time was "so you're telling me you want 'light' sauce?" Sure thing, kiddo. I told her it was for "here" but was handed a bag to go. Whatever. I sat down at one of the 3-4 tables they have and pulled my sandwich out of the bag. When I unwrapped it the first smell that caught my attention was the smokiness. Right behind that was a slight vinegar smell from the bbq sauce. I was practically drooling before my first bite. The pork was tender, juicy and smoky. The sauce sweet and slightly tangy. The bun was griddled with a slight crispness. The portion was plentiful and everything was delicious. I will absolutely return when going to a meeting in the area and will try other items as well. The customer service? More like what I would expect across the street and on the other side of the law. At least the bbq was delicious!

First time going to this restaurant and the chicken sandwich and bake beans was excellent! For dessert I had a banana pudding cake and OMG can't wait to go back and visit this location!!!

I'm sorry mama, but Big Mama's BBQ is THE BEST pulled pork of my life!! Then there is the corn bread with the maple butter! Flavor explosion in my mouth! I got the whole wings with the sweet and spicy sauce. How did I not actually pass out from deliciousness overload is a miracle! The fried okra were great too! Generous portion and cooked perfectly! Price overall was very inexpensive for the unbelievable quality and flavor! We will be coming back when we fly out of Saint Louis airport from Illinois. We also bought two pieces of cake... followup review coming soon. In the meantime, head over to Big Mama's right now!

This place was GREAT! There was a big group of us, so we had everything from the Original Cooter to salads to hot dogs. Everything was great! If you've never been to this place before, I would definitely recommend the Original Cooter. The portions are pretty big, so don't be afraid to share a dish. They also do not have a dining area, so the focus is carry out. We grabbed this on the way home after a day in St. Louis, and it was a perfect meal for home...without the hassle of cooking.

Their food was good good... I ordered the chicken wings & links with a side of potato salad corn bread (melts in your mouth) and bbq baked beans... you'll definitely need double sides.

This spot is a hidden gem! The food was amazing and I've been in St. Louis for year and didn't know about this mom & pops shop. I will def be coming back whenever I can!

Awesome, awesome barbecue. Very affordable and Extremely tasty with large portions. I mean this is some really, really good barbecue. We pulled up today and the drive thru was wrapped around the building twice, that's how good the Que is there. So we parked and went inside. The staff is always very friendly, takes the order quickly and the place is nice and clean. We are some very, very satisfied and very full customers. Want some good barbecue? Head over to Big Momas, they don't disappoint. This place gets 2 thumbs up and 5 stars.

A genuine East Saint delicacy: The Snoot & Rib Tip Combo...Love it...grew up on it...can't imagine passing through East Saint without making a detour and grabbing some East Boogie BBQ...Sauce, meat, sides, cakes, THE BOMB...and its trucker adjacent...ingenious...absolutely love this place...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

My go to BBQ spot for crispy snoots. Also a fan of the spicy mama with spicy bbq sauce. Definitely try a slice of cake while you are there.