Johnson's BBQ

Definitely one of the best bbq spots in Hampton roads. Family owned, wonderful customer service, and food is literally to die for. Love the Johnson family. Always love eating here. If you're in the neighborhood come check them out

First time eating here today and I’m already planning to come back. I asked the friendly guy at the counter what he recommended, and he suggested a lunch special BBQ sandwich, one side, and a drink for $12. Great deal! The service was quick, and everyone was super nice. The food smelled so good I couldn’t even wait until I got home, I ate most of the sandwich in the car. It was delicious! If you’re thinking about trying this place, do it! Just a heads up, they don’t take card payments, so bring cash. Not a big deal, but good to know.

Wish we would have come here sooner. Been missing good bbq since moving here. Keep in mind its cash only, but we fed 3 people full meal with drinks for less than $60. Well worth the price!

After 50,000 views I return to this establishment to share love, but received nothing but a stinky attitude from no one other, but Mr. Johnson himself!! He definitely needs to exclude himself from the service there it’s a shame to be liability in your own business. I stepped in to pay a visit and show the progress on Google Maps, but was treated shabbily. You cannot even sit down and eat here, not a very welcoming place from the start . Do yourself a favor and find better barbecue where you will be appreciated as a customer, do not eat here. He is a negative owner producing negative product. From one of his biggest but certainly one of his last supporters. Never eat in a place that you aren’t welcome to dine in. They’re not trustworthy.

First time eating here. Was just looking for some good barbecue and ended up here. Got chopped pork platter with baked beans and potatoe salad. Food was amazing so was customer service.

Caught up with them at the Elkhorn Ribfest, absolutely incredible sauce ribs were fall of the bone smack ya with flavor, there was a gentleman greeting everyone through out the lines he is top notch in customer service such a fun personality definitely will be checking them out again next year as we now have a new favorite. Did I mention the Mac and cheese? Oh myyyy possibly the best I’ve ever had. A must stop.

Had 1/2 rack ribs and the pulled pork sandwich special with bacon and cheese fries. Ribs were tender with an excellent BBQ sauce. You can definitely taste the hickory in the meat. Service was great, place was clean and good was great. Defenitly will stop in again. Great prices for the portions you get. I couldn't eat all of my ribs and had to take some home .

Johnson’s BBQ is a must-visit! The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, the pulled pork was juicy and flavorful, and the sides were just as delicious (especially the potato salad and baked beans). The staff is welcoming, and the smoky aroma alone is worth the trip. Just a heads-up, it’s cash only, so come prepared! Can’t wait to go back!

Excellent bbq at a basic no frills restaurant. It's all counter service from friendly retired military personnel.

Great food! The people working were so nice. Made for good leftovers too

I believe that this Johnson's Bar-B-Que business also travels across the United States to compete in rib competitions. At the Pittsburgh Rib Fest, my husband and I shared a sampler of three ribs from Johnson's BBQ. The employees did a good job with cutting and serving the ribs and with taking our payment. The ribs were a large size and contained lots of meat. The meat was not as tender as we had expected, but none of the other vendors' ribs were very tender either. The sauce tasted OK. We were in a hurry to beat the long lines of customers at the festival, so we did not purchase any other foods from Johnson's BBQ. Maybe we will try some of their other meats and sides in the future.

Good, tasty greens and pretty tender pork ribs. Just heard the microwave door shut as they were finishing up my order. I'd rather it cold or fresh out of the oven rather than microwaved. Beans a little bland. Would give a 4 if it wasn't microwaved.

Amazing BBQ . I got the brisket , ribs ,coleslaw, and baked beans. Cash only . Soo freaking good.

Love this place. Great locally owned. Its been her for a long time and you will always feel welcome when you go in.

After driving by this place for many years and hearing great things about it, I finally stopped in to for a takeout order on my way home from work one evening. It was a good choice. The restaurant is strictly take out at this time. There are a few tables and chairs inside but they seem to be used mostly for storage. There are stacks of books, statues and awards from various barbecue competitions and photographs of celebrity customers. There are tons of posters and smaller signs with witty sayings plastered all over the place. If you take the time to read some of them you will certainly be amused because they are really humorous. Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by a gentleman whom I presume is the owner. He was friendly and very happy to engage in conversation and talk about some of the awards they have received over the years. He took my order for a sampler platter (chopped pork, chopped brisket, pork ribs chicken leg, baked beans, coleslaw and a roll) and rang me up. This is when I discovered they do not take credit cards. I rarely use cash but had just enough to cover it in my wallet. I was actually a little change short so I told him I'd go to my car to get the rest but he told me to forget about it. I received my order pretty promptly and headed home to share it with my wife. The food was good, really good. I am more a fan of vinegar based barbecue but Johnson's sweet and tangy sauce is pretty darned good too. I loved the chopped pork and brisket. The ribs weren't exactly fall-off-the-bone tender but were tasty enough. The coleslaw was creamy and delicious, the baked beans were just okay for me. I made a delicious chopped meat and slaw sandwich with the included roll. I would have liked a second bun but used a couple pieces of bread from my pantry to make another sandwich. I am glad I tried Johnson's Bar-B-Que and will certainly return. I'll make sure to have cash because they don't take plastic.

The food here was absolutely amazing! It was so good that my wife and I wanted a whole new order just to take home for later. The space is simply, yet inviting kinda like going down deep south to granny's house. We have eaten at many so called fancy restaurants and left feeling cheated after finishing our meal and receiving the bill. I could have easily paid twice the amount charged and would have still felt I got a deal! This restaurant is nothing fancy at all, but the food is first class, and a must try!

Local. BBQ place. A few tables inside but mostly carryout. BBQ is delicious. Well priced. Highly recommend.

Top tier. Best bbq I've had in town. Great customer service. No frills environment. Definitely will visit again.

Goooood gravyyyyy Marie! That's some good **s barbeque! WE picked up a full slab of ribs & a pound of BBQ pork. Both were delicious & worth the drive from the Norview area of Norfolk to Chesapeake. JV

Tonight I went to Johnsons bbq on s. Military hwy in Chesapeake for the first time. The food was lousy. The chicken and brisket had no seasoning. It was bland with BBQ sauce. The greens and baked beans were out of a can. You could tell the weren't homemade. I paid over $17 and was extremely disappointed.

This place has some really good BBQ fam ! The collards are my favorite. There the best damn collard greens ever. I love how they include strips of meat ( I believe chicken) in the collards. It adds a soulful taste. The problem is the sides that are included in the plates are very tiny. For the amount your paying i feel you should get more of your sides. If you want a larger side you have to pay a higher price for a pint. And it will come in a large Styrofoam cup with a lid which is quite ghetto in my opinion. Also this place only takes cash which is annoying. I still don't understand establishments like this. Living in 2020 everything is electronic including payments its just safer and easier but to each its own. Im still going to come here whenever I want some BBQ.

Best BBQ in the seven cites. Don't like the fact they don't use Apple Pay but the food definitely makes up for it. Just make sure you have cash DEFINITELY WORTJ IT!!!

Prompt service and service with a smile on day off the food I wonderful I will be going back forever I will give them a 5 rating in service alone and another5 for flavorful food.

I was looking for good bar-b-que, not from a chain restaurant and my research brought me to Mr Johnson's spot. I grabbed a family pack that serves four with short ribs, pulled pork, cole slaw,, and I have to say I was blown away by the flavor. It was delicious! The owner himself takes your order and explains in mouth watering detail what every plates comes with. The smells coming from kitchen add to your confusion in which direction to go. Great portion size. Loved them so much that I came back the next day and bought three pounds of pulled pork for a luncheon. It was a hit! We will definitely be coming back!

Great food.. family owned business.. even the sides are good... collards are to die for.. pulled pork is amazing

The food was so-o-o good!!! Had the chicken plate with potato salad and collards. Will definitely go back!!

Now this is the place to go for your BBQ! So tender and tasty! We've tried the combo platter, briskets and pulled pork and it's nothing short of amazing. The staff are always very friendly too! TIP: bring cash as it's a cash only establishment!

Picked Johnson's based on its proximity to the route. Didn't realize it was takeout only - my fault. Called an audible and got two beef sandwich's to go. The owner was good enough to ask if we wanted slaw on our sandwich - we passed. The sandwiches were amazing. The smoker was busy right outside the shop. It would have been nice to sit and eat, but we totally understand that's not always feasible for small restaurants these days.

Does it look like much from the outside but boy they got the best barbecue in town, we used to think The other guys had the best but these guys blow them out of the water! so good perfect brisket the pulled pork has amazing flavor. And forget about the mac & cheese it's so good takes me about half hour to drive there but worth every bit!

Ribs were delicious! The sweet potato pie is the best I've ever had!! Wish I would have known about this place sooner. Can't wait to go back!

The food is very good but pricey! They are some great country cooks though! I've been visiting this place from time to time for over twenty years! I have had some great meals from here!

How did this place get all these high ratings? Barbecue was awful. I'm pretty sure my entire sandwich was all the leftover stuff just finely chopped up to the consistency of dog food. There were bigger pieces of cabbage in the cole slaw than barbecue meat. Absolutely disgusting.

The Johnsons take competitive barbeque seriously. That's obvious from the many, many championship trophies and banners on display in their restaurant. Also from the celebrity autographed pictures, including one from President Clinton! The large smoker in the parking lot, going full speed with visible logs burning is also a great signal that you're going to get legitimate barbeque at this place. I was tipped off by a friend from church about this place, so decided to give it a shot for lunch. I was not disappointed. I got a large pulled pork sandwich combo. The pork was smokey, tender, and very tasty. A top-notch version of a pork barbeque sandwich. Johnsons uses a Kansas City-style red, sweet barbeque sauce on the meat, which is unusual in this area. I thought the sauce was really good, sweet, but not too sweet. The sandwich also included a good, creamy cole slaw. The baked beans I had as a side were OK, but were nothing special, and did not include any meat. Overall, this was classic barbeque done very well. Another great Hampton Roads barbeque spot I'd recommend!

One of the better BBQ in the Hampton Rd area. Been here a couple of times and it has never disappoint. You can tell they smoke all their meats because there's a big old smoker in the parking lot and when you see the smoke down the street you know it's that serious! Today Ribs was the agenda for me so I ordered up a half a rack. The ribs was very meaty, tender and have great hickory smoke. Sauce was tasty that I dipped my fries in it! hehehe... Bbq sandwich was equally delish, not vinegar base just good ole pork being slowly cooked in a smoker. Sides are limited to potato salad, collard greens, fries and baked beans. Potato salad was good, not sure if it's store bought or homemade tho. Can't figure it out. Anywhoo.. It's still a cash only establishment and still have great customer service!

Three stars for a few reasons. We were there at noon on a Tuesday. People were there the a/c wasnt, but thats ok. Stuff was sticky you know. The pork was chopped and not pulled and made a few days ago. The bread was stale. The fries were tasty. The beef was chopped and not sliced...tasted old also. The smoked chicken was good, collard's were good. Tea was good. And.....cash only. The smoker out front was running so im sure fresh meats are on the way. I have had great stuff here before.

Went in for lunch at 11:30 on a Wednesday. They had a special that said Mac daddy sandwich with fries. I ordered that. The sheer weight of the box was surprising. The sandwich was HUGE. The fries were piping hot and seasoned well. The sandwich was impossible to lift at first. I had to eat all the off fall with a fork. The next time I'll get the plain bbq because it was hard to tell how the bbq tasted by itself. For $9 with fries and a sweet tea, I'll go back.

Like me the Johnson family is originally from Memphis, TN. When a good friend of mine recommended that I try Johnson's BBQ for a taste of back home Memphis I had to give them a shot. And OH MY LORD Johnson's BBQ is truly the REAL DEAL!!! These guys are the BEST in town if you are looking for some authentic down home bbq. I highly recommend Johnson's BBQ for a taste of pure Heaven!

Ordered the rib dinner with collard greens and potato salad and the chopped beef sandwich topped with slaw lunch special with fries. Both were great. The ribs were very tender. The beef was juicy and tasted good. Not an overpowering smoke flavor. Just nice. The only change is next time my wife wants the sauce on the side. She felt the ribs had a little too much sauce for her liking. But we will definitely go again next time we are in the area.

My dad sang high praises about this place for about 6 months before I dragged myself to it. And let me tell you, he wasn't wrong. I'm pretty sure it's pecan wood smoke, but man it SMACKS! The beans were fantastic and the portion sizes are right on point. I had the special of the day, and had leftovers. There is a reason they win award after award (ribs and sauce). I could drink the bbq sauce from the sandwich,btw. Some might consider it a dive type place, but this joint is a diamond. I'll be headed back soon. And a heads up, it's cash only.

Wanted to try some local bbq while I was in Virginia. This place wasn't too far from my hotel. It was cash only. The service was fast and friendly. I had the combo plate. I chose the ribs, brisket, fries, and beans. It also came with a bun. It was really good. Will try to come by again before I leave.

My fiance found this spot as soon as we moved to Va Beach and the food is amazing. First off its black owned and I love supporting my people! Second the ribs are some of the best I've ever tried and the sauce is banging. You have to go just to try the ribs! The pulled pork is also good. It's smokey and sweat. Please go check this spot out!

Wow! Just... Wow! Amazing bbq and thoroughly nice people. The Johnsons not only maintain a restaurant in Chesapeake, but also compete in bbq competitions around the country. They've won Best Ribs in America six times, and other "best in America" awards many other times, and they absolutely deserve it. And the pie... Oh my goodness that sweet potato pie...! To describe how delicious it all was is beyond my degree eloquence. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Best BBQ SPOT IN HAMPTON ROADS! my husband and I are regular customers. Today we ordered pork bbq sandwiches & two orders of fries. The sandwiches were smoked to perfection. And their bbq sauce is to die for ! Sweet and Tangy at the same time! Hopefully in the future they will be able to open up more locations, everyone needs to go here at least once. They won't let you down. Prices are affordable and the customer service is good. No shade but Mission BBQ could take some tips from Johnson's!

BBQ is a strange beast. Some cities have it, some cities don't. If you haven't spent a lot of time out of Hampton, I'll give you a spoiler... Hampton Roads is on the 'don't' list. But BBQ is very regional, you make due with what's available, unless you just like long drives. If you want to get ribs just this side of heaven, you can hop in your car and drive to 12 Bones in Asheville, NC. That's the closest place I know of that really knocks it out of the park. It's a 7 hour drive. Good luck, have fun. If, on the other hand, you are willing to trade the 7 hour drive to amazing for a short jaunt to the best ribs you can get in Hampton Roads, head on over to Johnson's and get yourself a rack or two. TLDR: Compared to the best BBQ available anywhere, Johnson's is maybe a two. Compared to the BBQ available in Hampton Roads, they are pretty close to a five.

The food is just, not good. I had the ribs & the bbq sandwich. The sweet potato pie is OK. Just because a pie is sweet, it does not make it good, and it is super sweet.

In a non-descript shopping mall...I didn't get the address before we left the house and just remembered it was further down south on Military Hwy. This was a a last minute decision and the Hubs knew I wanted to try this place after reading all the great reviews on it. So with no address in hand, I rolled down the windows and let me nose find the way...and it did. We stopped by here Friday evening and apparently in the nick of time...the place closes at 7pm. Forewarned is fair warned. The lady at the counter was turning away people left and right and said "We may not be strict about opening on time, but we are about closing!" You could be offended coming from someone who was pretty rude, but this woman was really nice. And...we came earlier, so our order was in already! Score! The Hubs had a large beef brisket sandwich. It was pretty big and unlike the two previous establishments we've had brisket at (you'll find them in my reviews), it wasn't drowning in sauce nor was it relying on the sauce to earn it's reputation. The smokiness beef flavor shined through and was pretty good. The Hubs prefers more sauce...but I thought the execution of this dish was pretty good. It could've used a few more hours to tenderize some more...but still pretty well done! The kids and I ordered full slabs of pork ribs...each (well, one for me and one for them to split). The woman thought I was crazy and I'm just accustomed to ordering baby back ribs. I see why she thought I was cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. The portion of these bad boys (@ $19.50/full slab) was ginormous. They had a decent smoke ring on them...but again, it could've used a few more hours as well. Some of the meat was dried out too. But still...those that were juicy still had a pretty good amount of smoke to them and the sauce was great. Still...a few more hours (and some TLC while smoking) would've allowed the meat to fall of the bone and be way more tender & juicy. Although it's hard to compare baby back pork ribs to non-baby back pork ribs...I'd say these ribs were the best we've had (grading on smokiness alone and not relying on boiling the ribs for tenderness with a quick slap on the grill before serving like other establishments). We also ordered large fries and they came out hot with some Old Bay/Cajun seasoning. Although we had a substantial wait for our order, our time was spent reading all the different signs, various awards, new articles, and trophies they have up around the dining room. Go...you won't be disappointed...just don't go after 7pm!

Went there in the middle of May 2022. The prices on the menu I saw online said $12 for a pound of barbecue, it's now $14. I haven't been there in a few years and forgot that they put sauce on the barbecue. I don't care for their sweet sauce that tastes kind of commercial. I like North Carolina thin vinegar sauce. So to me it kind of ruined the barbecue because the sauce is more dominant than the barbecue flavor. This is the only barbecue place I know that puts sauce on without asking you if you want the sauce on it. When they take your order they should ask if you want the sauce on it or on the side! The barbecue has a good taste to it without the sauce. Also when I got home I put the container on my digital scale and it only weighed 15 and a half ounces with the styrofoam container (the container I'm talking about is the kind that has three compartments for putting a dinner in not just a small container. So they need to check their scale because they're not giving a full pound. Also the little container of coleslaw is overpriced at $2!! I won't buy their coleslaw anymore.

This place is fantastic! On first glance, it looks a little divey, but don't let that fool you. It's simply character. The food is great and the service is friendly. You will not be disappointed. Take time to speak with the Colonel. His stories are as great as his BBQ!

Johnson's is the Best Barbecue in Hampton Roads PERIOD. Yes it is hard to find. Yes the appearance of the place isn't impressive. Totally ignore it. The reason is that I have found over the years that a flashy looking Barbecue Place usually equals lousy Barbecue. Johnson's is Great! He has won endless Awards. Fed Presidents and World Leaders. He makes great food. Bring cash because this is a No Credit Card Establishment. He would probably make more if he did accept them because it has prevented me from going when the craving kicked in many times. I understand not wanting the hassle with credit as a business person but as a customer more and more folks prefer credit over cash. Despite a few things that could help his business Johnson's has a formula that works for them. If you want great Barbecue in Hampton Roads don't leave without dropping into Johnson's Barbecue.

Looks like a dive, but those usually have the best BBQ. This place does NOT disappoint. We had the regular pork sandwich, fries and a drink - $12 for the 2 of us and that included tax! Cash only, but luckily we saw that on yelp, so we were prepared. WOW! Hubby and I are big fans of vinegar based BBQ, and this is NOT, but it was amazing. Finely pulled (no huge chunks that can have bones like some places that don't care) and the sauce was outstanding! It's easy to see why it has won so many awards. Smoky, slightly sweet and a little hint of salt. The fries were nothing to write home about, but who cares? So good that Hubby went back for a second sandwich and we got a pound to take home with us. Definitely worth a stop when you are in the area. Just don't go on a Sunday - they'll be closed.

"This Is The Best Ribs You Will Get in Hampton Roads" A Review By John Mizal "Thick," "tasty," and "fills your belly," three qualifications anyone looks for when it comes to eating ribs. Some restaurants pack you with quantity, but the flavor quite misses the mark. And, some are tasty, but not exactly filling. "Johnson's Bar-B-Que," located on South Military Hwy in Chesapeake, hits all three marks. This place satisfies the natural carnivore in all of us with the ribs cut to thick proportions with each bite showcasing a balance of fat that packs a whopping flavor accompanied by huge amounts of juicy pork ready to be chewed. And, I am talking huge! Ribs too dry? Never in this place! The sauce is not too sweet and not too bitter, but made exactly right promising your taste buds that it will live up to the expectations of the award winning barbeque! And, did I mention this restaurant is filled with championship winning trophies that cover up a whole window verifying and assuring the customers that this will be the ultimate quality of taste? Perhaps, the use of an outside smoker played a big role in adding the natural smoked flavor! The best part is, ever so humbly, Mr. Johnson, himself, sits in a corner observing guests and waiting for some feedback on what he is known for. That is, if you actually recognize him from the various pictures that decorate his back wall displaying his love in cooking this delicious masterpiece. I tried other places like "Rib City," "Wood Chicks," "Frankie's," and "Q Barbeque," but this modest barbeque place, sitting in a modest Chesapeake parking lot, conquers all of them! And so, it leaves no doubt in my mind that, by far, this is the best ribs you will ever get in Hampton Roads. Oh, and they accept only cash! "Johnson's Barbecue" 1903 S Military Hwy, Chesapeake, VA 23320 (757) 545-6957

The food that makes you want to dance. Mr Johnson is such a kind man he values his customers and the food is great so it's the quantity of it. Wife had the ribs and they tested amazing. This is my go to spot now for BBQ. But some advice I would recommend more bbq sauce on the pulled pork sandwiches.

First, retired Lt Johnson, thank you for your service to our country. It is appreciated. I hope I have your rank accurate! My daughter and I stopped by after a soccer tournament in the area three weekends ago. They were getting ready to close so be sure to get by early. They don't stay open as late as a chain restaurant would. I had the pork (appears chopped) and really enjoyed it. We both enjoyed our dinner and my daughter made the statement we are stopping here any time we return to the Va Beach area for soccer. Thanks for the great food!

HOLY FUCK. This the best dang bbq sauce I've ever had in my life!! A very quaint joint with DELICIOUS food. I highly recommend. Remember to bring cash.

This BBQ is amazing!!! Prices are very reasonable and they really feed you. I'll rate 5 stars once they start taking credit/debit cards. Bring cash!!!

Wow! This place has amazing BBQ and monstrous proportions of food. If you are looking for atmosphere, it's older and run down. If you are looking for great food, look no further than Johnson's. I had the sampler platter ($19 with tax) and I could barely eat 1/2 of all the food. Everything was delicious and the collard greens were simply out of this world! Honestly, I never knew collard greens could taste that delicious. Try it for the food, come back for the friendly staff.

The barbeque is great. And, the sides are homemade! This is not the place for a "fancy" diner, but if that's not your hangup you'll be most satisfied at Johnson's Bar-B-Que. So while a little funky, the place is very pleasant & clean. And besides their tasty - homemade style - food, the other quality that strongly recommends Johnson's is the staff. These folks are just plain, down-home-decent, kind and warm people. I felt like I was at home with good folks.