Brenda's Bar-B-Que Pit

Delicious authentic BBQ. Full of flavor and good portion size (and value)! Friendly and helpful staff. Side of the road, so be safe!

First time trying this bbq spot...I would say it was just ok. The bbq was drenched in sauce we had the pork and beef rib plates. The sides could use some seasoning. The location is on the westside(nobody going to bother you..just mind your business) of Montgomery. I think the bbq was cooked quick and the heat was to high. The sauce need to be cut back so you can taste the flavor of the meat or put on the side.

Brenda's has been around for a very long time, and there was a crowd waiting which are good signs. This is a barbecue stand so no dining room or even tables. The building itself contains the pit and barely enough counter space to prep food. I enjoyed talking with the other patrons who were waiting on orders. That was really fun. The food was very good although we got a couple things we didn't expect. The chicken sandwich is actually a full quarter chicken, intact, served with two slices of white bread. So if you want a sandwich, you have to pull it yourself. It's also super messy so have plenty of napkins. The chicken was smoky and wonderful covered in the sauce. The pork was very finely chopped and mixed with a lot of sauce. Think Sloppy Joe for appearance. But the flavor was pit smoked and the meat was piled high, so it was a mess. Eating in the car was a challenge but was worth the trouble. Brenda's is a piece of history and needs to be experienced.

The barbecue here blows anything else in town out of the water. There isn't a place on-site to eat said barbecue, but if you're okay with that, I would highly recommend a visit. Attached is a picture of the beef rib plate I ordered.

The ribs were delicious!!! 😋 this place has the best barbecue sauce I’ve ever tasted. I would buy a batch of the sauce alone. The service was good and I didn’t have a long wait time even though they were experiencing lunch rush. I even met a few people who recommended different options for my next visit.

Such a great experience on our road trip through Alabama. We chatted with a few people in line and it’s clear this is a long time local’s favorite. Locals and Brenda’s crew were all very friendly and gave great recs on the menu. The rib sauce was a 10/10. Make sure you bring cash, no cards accepted!

This place is definitely a must try best beef bbq ribs potato salad and and the portions are huge definitely get your money's worth, Best BBQ in Montgomery Alabama hands down.

We picked up Brenda’s from the window and ate it at a local park. I asked for recommendations from people in line, most had been loving Brenda’s since they were kids. ❤️ legitimate Alabama bbq, saucy, fire cooked, with a side of sweet tea. Friendly and fun side trip.

Brenda's Bar BQ Pit needs to be on every barbecue connoisseur's list and map. They have fish sandwiches and some other things, but this is THEE spot for ribs in Montgomery, Alabama. The outside appearance is a humble and small brick building that many would affectionately call a shack, but what is happening inside is where the hard work and magic happen to produce excellent smoked ribs, with Brenda's sons continuing her legacy. I diverted my Uber ride from the airport after landing at MGM to order two racks at Brenda's before making my destination and it's so worth it. Understand, they have a real wood fired grill and these ribs spend a lot of time on that grill, achieving a level of smoke that clearly is tasted in the meat. That extended time in the grill renders out excessive and gratuitous fat, leaving behind the fatty flavor and creating a healthy caramelized bark on the ribs, offering that texture restaurants often do not take time to produce like you would at home. That smoked bark and texture comes through loud and clear and evidences the work and love that go into these ribs. The ribs retain moisture and texture inside, the tender and flavorful meat in delicious and tantalizing contrast to the outer bark that can become mouthwateringly crispy on the edges. You'll leave nothing but the bones on your plate. I could not evaluate their barbecue sauce, owing to leaving the sauce and some bones with my parents. I packed those ribs for carry on back to New York City and devoured some in the evening after landing. So I cannot evaluate Brenda's sauce, but they go well with Stubb's Smokey Brown Sugar sauce. This is cash only and it's a 'round the way kinda spot. Brenda's gets a high rec from me and is worth your diversion or journey to experience their ribs that taste like the best ribs made by your family back home. So pull up like so many do and understand the Brenda's homestyle barbecue experience. 4.5 stars people!

Don't play with Brenda!!!! I'm always down for some good ribs and these did not disappoint! So tender and absolutely delicious down to the last bite. This bbq joint is definitely a hole within the hole in the wall. In a questionable area BUT don't let that deter you. You order at the window and hang out til your order is ready. (My only gripe was walking away smelling like bbq smoke) I haaaaaate this so bad! The rib plate comes with about 5 bones and two sides. $18 roughly. This was a serious plate with great portions! Definitely had leftovers. I got coleslaw and baked beans to go along with my ribs. Both sides dishes were exceptional! Sooooo good!!! The bbq sauce was amazing as well. Their menu has a number of entree items and traditional sides. It's cash only so be prepared. There is street parking and private parking available. These were some of the best ribs I've ever had!!!! Next visit , I'm getting a slab!! Yummmmmmmmm

This was sooooo good! Had a chopped pork sandwich with beans and potato salad (you get 2 sides with the "plate" option. Quality ingredients and good prices but note this is carry out only. There's parking if you want to eat in your car.

Finally!!!! I finally took the time to find Brenda's Bar B Q Pit after visiting the Legacy Museum and oh my, what a visit. I had no problem finding it and was able to pull right into the parking lot. I placed my order for the ribs, baked beans and potato salad. This to-go plate was heavy as it contained around five bones and nice portions of the sides. Simply delicious! The ribs were not chewy, so every bite was truly enjoyable and the sides topped off the meal in a good way! Yes, I will be going back!!!

Let's start by saying that I'm from Montana. And used to be a vegetarian, but hear me out! This place was recommended by our Air B&B hosts. And it was pretty much up there in the top five meals I have ever eaten. You could see the smoke from the bbq a block away. My spouse had a brisket sandwich and fries and I had bbq chicken meal w cole slaw. And sweet tea, of course. Portions were huge, tons of sauce. We busted open our take out meals and shoved our faces from the hood of the car. Completely out of the way, cash only and completely worth it.

Outstanding BBQ in a modest location. The meat is cooked directly over oak wood, a very simple masonry pit. The pitmaster was a joy to watch as I waited for my food... quick precise movements as he monitored the BBQ ribs as they cooked. Inexpensive. Friendly patrons waiting in line. The sides were on point... beans and fries. The fries were lightly battered like pub fries. Such pride in the food. They could have just as easily been crinkle fries. The BBQ was moist with smoked hints. It was served on an oversized bun, some pickle and strong, but tasty, sauce. It reminded me of a Memphis sauce... sweet and spicy with a little tomato, vinegar and spices. If you are traveling 85 or 65 through town, it's worth stopping for some fine food.

Calling all of my Yelp Elite, followers and people that read my reviews. This place is special because it's still rooted in the neighborhood I grew up in decades ago. The food still tastes the same and I've been all over the world and can't get this taste anywhere! We used to walk and ride our bikes here. They just brought back the beef ribs after over 20years, but I can remember it being a good day/week when my dad could make enough money from driving cab that we could get those BEEF RIBS. This is a family owned business and I used to play with the young lady's who run it now as kids; not sure if they really remember me though LOL Tips: 0) No matter what, try the ribs. 1) CASH ONLY and there is only a store nearby that has an atm, however 2) Get the sauce on the side, so you can taste the meat, but get the sauce 3) Call Ahead: They may run out of ribs on Fri & Sat nights

Best bbq and sides (potato salad, coleslaw) in town! Huge portions--chicken breast is at least 2 meals.

Best BBQ n town! Always use Brenda's to satisfy my itch for southern BBQ: complete satisfaction!!!

Fantastic roadside bbq. Highly recommended. Had pork ribs and two sides for $18, enough food to feed 3 people. Cole slaw tasted clean fresh bright, beans cooked perfectly with a hint of sweet and smoke, and 6 ribs , of the best I've had, smoky peppery excellent bark. Nice people but CASH ONLY.

Brenda's Bar-B-Q Pit is a hidden gem located on the proverbial "wrong side of the tracks" of Montgomery, Alabama. Most would never even consider coming to try this hole in the wall joint, which is their loss. Barbecue is an American cuisine, born in humble surroundings, created by people with little money but plenty of creativity to take the little they had and make it a dish worthy of the finest linen draped tables. I opted to go with the chopped pork sandwich and french fries. With tax and all it was $7.69, a great value, especially considering the quality and taste of the food. The fries could have used a little more salt, but they were very good. The chopped pork sandwich was fantastic. Service was friendly and relatively quick. Since there was no place to sit down, I headed to a nearby park to enjoy my lunch. I don't consider this a drawback, as I got to enjoy a little fresh air with my meal. This was a great fine, one of those out-of-the-way places that serve fantastic food. If you are in Montgomery, I strongly recommend a visit here. if you don't find yourself in Montgomery, seek these places out in the city where you are at.

It was amazing delicious and the price was just right. We were visiting from Los Angeles where all spots in LA state they the best original bbq and over priced. This place was delicious meat was on point and just went down my throat not chewy at all. We order a slab or ribs some sides their sweet tea and it was all amazing. Took it to our hotel room and had some left over still for later that night.

Has to be some of the best bbq I've had not including what my daddy used to make! Visiting from the St. Louis area and wanted what the locals eat. Was not disappointed! Had the pork rib plate. Ribs were meaty, sauce was great, mashed potato salad just right, and beans were tasty. Enjoyed every bite!

After reading about this place online I knew I had to stop in on our way into Montgomery. We arrived and placed our order for an incredibly fair price.the food came out extremely promptly and came out burning hot! The food was perfect in every way! The ribs had a perfect sauce that wasn't super sweet but very tomatoey which was spectacular! The fish wasn't fishy at all and was fried to perfection! The sweet tea also complimented everything perfectly! Highly recommend if you're ever in Montgomery!

Excellent BBQ by any measure. The ribs were meaty and tasty. They grilled them perfectly. Don't be scared by the shack, I've learned the best food often comes from shacks!! Customer service was also excellent here. Folks were extremely friendly. My food came out nice and hot and didn't take too much time as well. No complaints here from me. Next time I'm in Montgomery I will come back (Pro Tip: Get the sweet potato pie. You WILL NOT be disappointed!).

The short of it is the food was Ah-mazing! I got the fish sand which. I was expecting a piece of fish on bread, instead I got two huge pieces of fish and bread. I don't eat pork, but the rest of the family was more than pleased with the ribs, which were bountiful! Ignore the actual building, one would probably drive right by it, but it is a diamond in the rough, as far as food is concerned. Pricing is great!

I love Brenda's! I always stop by for a sandwich when I come back to town. Best BBQ in Montgomery!

If I could give Brenda's More Star's I would. I Alway's get the whiting fish sandwich and Rib sandwich. And sometimes the Pig ear sandwich. ALL Kicking like Jackie Chan!!!! I enjoy coming here. The Cashier is ALWAY'S So Polite and Kind. They have the BEST Ribs in Montgomery. (I went to a chain restaurant and ordered a rib sandwich, and the ribs look like the pig was on a serious diet, and the meat was tough!!!! NOT here!!!!! Go try it for Yourself! You will enjoy. Stop reading my review and GO!!!!!

Delicious! Yes, I think it is the best bbq I've had. That sauce is amazing! If I could give this place 10 stars I would. We had a slab of ribs, sides of potato salad, beans, and fries, and sweet tea. The ribs are definitely the star, but all of it is delicious. And everything came out to $40 and was a feast for a family. Absolutely without a doubt worth a stop. Bring cash because it's cash only. And I saw some other post complain about the potato salad, this potato salad comes closer to the creamy deviled eggs side of things when it comes to potato salad. I personally thought it was delicious, but I can understand it might not be everybody's cup of tea when they're thinking potato salad. In fun case, don't miss that amazing bbq sauce here. If you don't like ribs, I'd imagine it makes the chicken delicious too. So so glad we stopped here!

Absolutely THE best BarB Que in the history of ever. Brenda, are you reading this? Your food is nothing short of amazing. From the ribs, to the chicken, to the potato salad, baked beans, French Fries ... excellent! And don't get us started on your sauce. We sit and try to pick the flavors so we can replicate it at home. Do us a favor and just bottle it. Worth the drive. Worth the wait. Worth the sticky fingers as you sit in your car and shamelessly devour her food.

YOOOOOOO! YOU NEED TO GO TO BRENDA'S. LIKE. NOW. There's some parking next to the little building, and some across the street. It's all made to-go, and it's some of the best food you're ever going to eat, okay? The little boy there recommended the chicken plates with slaw and potato salad, so we jumped right in and went with that option. The chicken was SO tender, SO flavorful, and SOOOO SCRUMPTIOUS! The BBQ sauce that's on it is to die for, and good 'till the last drop. They give you like half a chicken on the plate! Y'all. I can't say enough good stuff about that chicken!!! Brenda ended up pulling up as we were waiting for our order, and greeted us with a hug and thanked us for coming to Brenda's. Brenda, whenever we are in the area, WE WILL BE THERE. GOOOOOOOOOO!

You don't need to add a drop of sauce or change a thing about Brenda's bbq. The ribs there are everything you pay for and then some. Even the coleslaw was great, and I am not a coleslaw guy. Highly recommend, way better than anything I've eaten around the South.

This place is a "rib" gem. The meat falls off the bo e causing your lips to smack together in anticipation of that first bite!!!

Great stuff.. Come and bring friends and cash only.. Great service for everyone I got the rib plate with slaw and potato salad.. Of course sweet tea..!!

This place is popular with its loyal customers. Not sure why. Maybe lack of decent bbq in Montgomery. Fish sandwich came as two whole whiting with 2 slices of bread. Heavy on fish taste but tolerable if you are starved. BBQ pork sandwich was ok but not great. Not much smoke taste and no bark. Sauce nothing special. French fries were good at least and hot. Had to get sugar tea because no Pepsi or coke for some reason. I am not going back and not sure who got this put into BBQ Trails of Alabama. Doesn't deserve to be there. Hard to find and no place inside or outside to sit. No restrooms. Long wait for food.

I eat there all the time, I Luv there pig ear n fish sandwich. Yummy Meals for every one.

Barbecue, like most of the food that defines Southern cuisine, is one that was created out of necessity - you were stuck with the worst parts of the animal, and you had to make them taste good. It's with this in mind that I find myself enamored with Brenda's, simply because the business represents the humble barbecue roots that are so hard to come by in 2013. This isn't a dive like Sam's, or a full service sit-down affair like Dreamland - it's a shack, in a sketchy part of town, staffed by some nice folks who just want to share some of their barbecue. The food is priced extremely fairly. Aside from the pork ribs plate, which is far and away the most expensive thing on the menu at $12, you have your choice of an indeterminate type of barbecued fish, chicken, or - wait for it - pig's ear. Yes, this is not a barbecue shack from for the hoity toity. Aside from the occasional bahn mi, I admit that I am a virgin to pig's ears, but I will give credit to Brenda's for turning that mass of cartilage into a floppy, tender piece of meat. Not really tasting of smoke, and devoid of any sauce aside from some heavy application of yellow mustard between those two pieces of white bread, I wouldn't say I'm an ear convert (it's hard to clean all of the hairs off it), but I'm glad there's still places around here serving it. This is a part of Southern cooking that doesn't get as much attention from the Paula Deens of the world, and it's important that we cherish these culinary roots. And if you're squeamish about the ear, the ribs looked pretty tender and were generously sauced. Either way, we need to spend more time embracing true Montgomery barbecue and less eating cheddar biscuits.

Had rib plate+fried and baked beans side. All is perfect even when the food get cold.

I've recently visit and gotten the chicken plate. The chicken was pretty good and it also had too much sauce, which the sauce I wasn't fond of. It taste like some vinegar which I didn't like in it. The baked beans were good with the potato salad. The potato salad wasn't my kind of potato salad, but it was good enough. I pay about $10 and change and it wasn't worth the money. For $10, i expected it to be the best chicken plate in the world. It didn't have me saying I got to go back real soon. I had way better chicken from them way back then, so maybe they're change the cooks. It's not the same.

If you're looking for BBQ near Montgomery, this is about as local and authentic as you are ever going to find. Small neighborhood takeout stand, with wonderful smelling smoke pouring out of the chimney. Takeout only, there are no tables or facilities. I thought the ribs were very good, although they had too much sauce for my preference -- next time I would ask for sauce on the side.

Found Brenda's on Alabama BBQ trail app. It was on the way to the big easy, off of 85 south. The neighborhood seems a bit shady but for good food I'll go anywhere. We ordered from the pick up window and carried out. There isn't a place to sit and dine. For lunch we ordered chicken platter and pulled pork sandwich. The platter comes with two sides, we chose potato salad and coleslaw. The man said the platter comes with wing and breast or drumstick and thigh. Unfortunately we didn't get to pick so ours came with wing and breast. The chicken was tender (as tender as breast meat can be). The container with chicken and sides was half filled with sauce, meaning if you aren't a sauce on BBQ fan, this isn't your place. We love sauce on our BBQ so it was prefect for us. The pulled pork sandwich came in burger bun with sliced pickles on the sandwich . We suspect it was the same sauce as the chicken. The pork was cooked so it was falling off the bone but not shredded to pieces. The sauce for both meats has a distinct tomatoey flavor with some acid. It was new for me and we liked it. The coleslaw didn't wow me but the potato salad was fantastic, picnic style with lots of mayo and boiled eggs. The two gentlemen were friendly.

I work close to this tiny gem of a local eatery. So I decided to try it out. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the food is good. They are closed on Monday is the only downside besides the lack of parking. The bar-b-cue is tender with a well balanced spicy sauce. I was pleased to find that the few times I have ordered food from here, the staff does not hesitate to pile the meat onto the bun. I have so far ordered the pulled pork sandwich, fries, ribs, baked beans, and I also have had the potato salad. It was all served in fairly decent portions. I will say despite having to wait a short time in the Summer heat (this is a take-a-way shop) the food was well worth the wait. The food was fresh and worth the price. They only take cash though. The parking is dicey. There are a very few spots right next to Brenda's. Be careful since the street traffic can get a little busy during lunchtime. If you like bar-b-cue, then I recommend Brenda's.

We were in search of a good hole in the wall bbq joint, and this was certainly not "good". I got the pigs ears which were revolting. Ribs were okay but nothing special. Sides of baked beans, Cole slaw and fries were average. On the upside, the staff was friendly and service was quick.

Doesn't look like much and definitely is out of the way but it's one of the best BBQ places in MONTGOMERY. Cash only, great prices and proportions as BBQ should be. You won't go hungry. Loved the potato salad, it's not too heavy or over powered by any one ingredient. Chopped BBQ sandwich is my choice and the fries are battered and crisp. Great job keeping it simple as BBQ should be.

Wow! Outstanding BBQ and great service. One word of warning: bring wet wipes. I had the rib plate, which was delicious. My party also enjoyed the chicken plate. Portion sizes are large and the value is great! PRO's: The food and the service. CON's: No indoor seating. Also, no way the napkins can handle the sauce, but that may be a good thing.

A tiny shack in the middle of the sticks. Friendly folks working there. Great food. The sauce is delicious. Potato salad is done right. I would eat here all the time if I lived in the area.

Such good food. Fries are crisp and well seasoned, and the barbecue chopped pork sandwich is rich and delicious. Definitely worth making the stop.

At Brenda's, you park and order from the window. There's no place to sit, so be prepared to take the food to go. Whether you're driving through Montgomery or spending a few days, Brenda's is worth the visit. She has the best sweet tea ever! Seriously. And, the pulled pork BBQ sandwich + slaw + fries = heaven!

It was soooooo goooood. I had the chicken. I was hoping for beef brisket but he doesn't make any.

Wow!! I have lived in Texas and Oklahoma for many years and I am an absolute BBQ enthusiast. This was an unbelievable surprise! Moist juicy tender meaty ribs, delicious coleslaw (and I don't really like coleslaw!), very unique potato salad that was well thought out and seasoned. The area was a little dodgy but authentic. Total hole in the wall establishment but I have yet to find better food quality and value anywhere! Do not hesitate.....GET SOME YUMM!!!

Driving from New Orleans to Charlotte, NC we were getting near lunch time. We called the Lexus Enform for help finding a bar-b-q place that was on our way. We were given two options and Brenda's Bar-B-Q Pit was what our operator chose for us. Let me tell you, this was something more than an AMAZING experience. The special chopped pork sandwich with a side of wonderful cole slaw was out of this world. Easily the best bar-b-q we've had in a long time! We are planning a stop on our way back to NOLA.

Visited on a Friday evening -- maybe not the smartest decision, given the neighborhood -- but the ribs were worth it. The employees were friendly and welcoming, and the service was quick. I ordered the rib plate, at $11.99 the most expensive thing on the menu. Got the slaw, which was good but not outstanding, and the potato salad, which was excellent. I usually prefer my own tater salad, but this contained eggs and sweet pickles, giving it a great old-fashioned flavor. There were 5-6 pork ribs on the plate, very wet, in a sweet and slightly spicy red sauce. Two pieces of white bread were included --and I'd say necessary -- for soppin' up all that sauce. I'll be back to try the pork, baked beans, and the sweet potato pie ($2 a slice). The lady at the counter told me they ARE open on Saturdays.

Whenever I want ribs Brenda's barbeque is consistently my #1 choice in Montgomery! I travel across town to get the best of the best ribs! I even enjoy sopping the sauce with a slice of bread, even after the ample serving of ribs are gone! My favorite sides are the baked beans and potato salad. The owners and family servers are always very friendly and efficient! For great barbeque ribs this is the place! Um-um GOOD!

Driving through Montgomery to Atlanta around rib time, I mean lunch time. Read some reviews about nearby places and settled on this humble establishment. They didn't take Amex and I only had $15 cash on me, so the very friendly Robert helped me put it to good use! Got the rib plate (of course) and two sides he recommended, cole slaw and potato salad. Both sides were homemade and delicious, especially the egg-rich potato salad! Mmm. Now the ribs. I usually like my ribs dry so I can try to detect the wood(s) used in their smoke pit, but Robert was confident I'd be just as happy with the sauced ribs. He was right! Never been so happy to lick my fingers before. He even observed I might need some napkins and came by my car (there are no tables) with extras! Great service. A local lady that ordered before me said she loves their pig ears. Pig ears? Really? Guess what Robert brought to my car to sample? Yep. Pig ears! With a little mustard and hot sauce, I sampled it and can say you should never knock something until you try it! Prepped by boiling and with sort of a large thin raw oyster-like appearance, I was pleasantly surprised and Robert said I've just tasted a soul food delicacy! I've added this little place to my list of stops for future passes through Montgomery and I made a new friend. Thanks, Robert. And please accept my condolences again on the recent passing of your father. After 69 or so years in business, I'm sure you and your uncle will do just fine... But I wouldn't change that sauce recipe.... No way! Good stuff! God bless!

I have ordered Brenda's ribs through that window for decades now. The business is hard to find. I'm surprised anybody from out of town was able to find it. It's really best to call ahead. Brenda handles the front, and there is always an obscenely talented black man in the back cooking the best ribs on the planet!

The food was so good I almost DON'T want to post a review so the place would not get ruined or overun by a bunch of poser hipster foodies.... but it really is that good and the people are stellar. BRENDA'S IS SOME OF THE BEST BBQ'S I HAVE EVER HAD. Driving along after eating gave me time to think about why the food was so good-LOVE. I grew up on South Side Chicago BBQ which was imported by translplants from the South- and before you poo-poo it, you'd better try it! Brenda's chicken and pork were cooked and seasoned just right, the ribs just freaking perfect. The pig ear did not do anything for me. The potato salad was fantastic-homemade picnic style with eggs.Cole slaw, it's real slaw not that ground up prepackaged watery mush you get at other places. Their BBQ sauce us unique and flavorful - the flavor does not overpower the meat. The folks at the counter are what make all the difference. Food that is cooked and served by people who have that love and take such pride in their food is what makes this place special. They wanted us to have a good meal and it showed. They took time to pack our food in the take out trays, not slopping in the sides and and splattering the meat with sauce in there. Their smiles were genuine and real. I wish I was closer than 1000 miles to come here more often. The neightborhood- I've been in worse but I don't beleive anyone would have any issue going to Brendas.