KC's Rib Shack

Stoked we found this place! The layout was setup with different levels - a dining room on the first floor, an upper level with a great sports bar and a nook tucked away in the loft of an old barn turned restaurant is really cool. The food was incredible with tender, moist BBQ and some creative sauces and sandwiches. The back patio with a tiki bar and live music really was the perfect place for a summer day. Would be great for Sunday football or to break up the drive going to the lakes region. One of the best BBQ spots we've found in the Northeast and definitely worth checking out!

Ashley was a lovely bartender however I have a real problem with their brisket. Thin dry lean zero flavor - the issue I have is their special comes sauced, a huge red flag. Good spare ribs good rice good sausage. I would advise against the onion rings..... Their unique homemade bbq sauces were amazing especially the carrot habanero

Would recommend Will return The atmosphere was all over the place also because it was open mic night Our server kelcie was the best she knew exactly what she was doing she had great personality and knew her menus It was loud in there so if your looking for quite this is not the place We didn’t have a reservation and got right in with 2 people The prices were a little steep for what we ordered there was nothing fancy about the flavors we could cook like this at home

KC Ribshack Manchester NH May 24, 2025 We arrived early in the evening and were immediately seated upstairs (neither of us had ever even been upstairs at KC’s). There’s a full bar, surrounded by hightops. We were sat at one of the hightops. We were warmly greeted by our server Kristen. For drinks I ordered a Sam Summer, and she got a Corona with a Salted Glass and lime. We couldn’t decide between the PBR Onion Rings and the Fried Pickles as an app. We told Kristen we were on the fence about it, and just told her to pick one for us, don’t tell us, just bring something. She said “Really?” Yep. Our app came, and it was fried pickles. Most places do pickle chips, not KC’s, they do pickle spears. They were served hot, with a side of ranch dipping sauce. The fry on the batter was crisp and delicious and it stuck to the pickles very well. Kristen stopped back by to take our mains orders. We ordered a couple drinks first, I ordered an Old Fashioned with Bulleit Rye and my wife ordered a Moscow Mule. Both were good. She said her Mule could use a little more lime. My Old Fashioned was slightly sweeter than I like it, but we’re being nit-picky. My wife, for her main order, ordered a Large Wing (so she could get 2 flavors) with half Jerk and half Spicy Caribbean. When Kristen looked at me, I just told her that I was having whatever she recommended. “Like, anything?” Yep. I told her if it comes up, burgers medium and other beef medium rare. “This is overwhelmingly fun!” The mains came, my wife got the wings she requested. They were cooked very well. Nice and crispy on the outside, appropriately sauced. The seasonings that she chose weren’t incredibly hot, but did make her lips very hot, which was interesting. We took most of them home, as she had already decided on a dessert (more on that in a minute). When my main came it was some sort of sandwich, I wasn’t sure what it was. It had brisket, bacon, and some sort of condiment on it, served with a side of dirty rice. (I didn’t know it at the time, but it turned out to be the Brisket Bacon Swiss). The condiment turned out to be a horseradish mayo. The sandwich was very good. There was plenty of brisket on it, and appropriate amounts of bacon and mayo. I practically inhaled it. The dirty rice was solid, well cooked and well seasoned. “The Rule” is that I play this game (letting the server pick my dish) with my main, then she does it with a togo dessert. Alas, not today. She had already decided that she wanted the tabletop smores for dessert so that’s what we did.

Will come again, and again and again!Ordered the platter that served 2. Was awesome. Next time will take two orders of pulled pork with the ribs and brisket. Got the side of fries and chili, both very good and leftovers came home. Sauces at the table are yummy but not required. Hickory bbq is spot on, tangy Georgia gold had more of a mustard vibe, the sweet apple is just that similar to pie filling, and the Carolina vinegar has a vinegar start with a spicy kick. Also ordered the bloody mary, rim spice had a nice smoke flavor and this is the most extras I've ever had.

We went in, and they set us at the bar. The place was packed, and we did not have reservations. The young guy at the door said we were packed, and the kitchen is backed up. But let me find you a place to set. The food was great and the service was amazing.

Ribs, sausage and cornbread are awesome. Brisket, pulled chicken and pork were dry and without a good smoke flavor. I have been smoking meat before BBQ became popular so I'm very picky, so do not take my review as harsh! TX BBQ requires post oak and I didn't taste it. However, I believe most people will like the food here. I will be back again. Oh, we ordered the shovel. Great price! The establishment was clean and the servers were friendly. I definitely recommend trying their BBQ.

I went here for dinner on a Monday night with five coworkers and we really had an enjoyable meal. The restaurant has a rustic vibe and the food simple and delicious. The portions were quite large and we definitely got good value. Try the deviled eggs! The wait staff was attentive and social. I would definitely go back!

Food was great !! Drinks were strong & service was quick & friendly. Highly recommend the wings . We were a larger group with separate checks & the waitress handled it with ease .

Would recommend Will return The atmosphere was all over the place also because it was open mic night Our server kelcie was the best she knew exactly what she was doing she had great personality and knew her menus It was loud in there so if your looking for quite this is not the place We didn't have a reservation and got right in with 2 people The prices were a little steep for what we ordered there was nothing fancy about the flavors we could cook like this at home

A group of 4 of us went here before a hockey game in Manchester and we had a good time. We called ahead for a reservation and were seated right away. We ended up getting "The Shovel" which I think is also know as "Feedbag" is for 3-5 people so split it among the group. Plenty of choices, plenty of food, we all have enough to eat! I like this place and will be back again.

Everything could improve. Brisket was not good, so dry and just not something I'd like to eat again. The ribs seemed old and like they sat around for ages. It's real hard to find BBQ in these parts, I miss Texas is all I'm going to say. Not sure what people like about this restaurant. And no fried okra

Bad: Portion has changed significantly, about half of what it used to be. You can easily spend $40 and leave hungry Good: to make up for small portions they have make the facility much nicer. If you're looking to have a great meal there are much better options. If you want a fun place to hang out and not looking to eat. Highly recommended

We stopped in with friends for dinner on a Saturday evening and had good meal! Roxie was our server and had great reccomendations. We all had drinks, appitizers to share and entrees. Party of 4. Everything was well prepared, hot and well seasoned. I had the brisket meal which was a good portion. I had collards for a side and I thought they could be cooked down some more, but they tasted ok. NIce atmosphere and we would definlaty return for more BBQ !

My daughter had the pulled pork sandwich and said it was amazing! I had the Pit master Cesar salad, which had sausage, Pulled pork, and bbq chicken. Wasn't sure on the combination on salad but was so damn good!

This was my third time to have a meal here. First time was a large group event with a buffet. The meat was very dry and we weren't impressed. The second time, everything was really fantastic! We all enjoyed our selections. The third time (last night) it was just average/ok. The Chinese Pie is interesting and pretty good, although for the price they could definitely add more meat - it was sparse, but good flavor. The brisket sandwich was not great, but just ok. Stale bun and somewhat dry meat. We felt like you bit into a bowl of cotton, between the bun and dry brisket. The meat plate was much better, my son said. So, it's a toss up and probably hit or miss with food - but the atmosphere is fun and the service was very good.

The service is very friendly and attentive. The sides of baked beans and Brunswick stew were very good. The cardiac sandwich was flavorful, but hard to eat with the bun being so soaked. I love the vibe of eating in a barn.

Went here for lunch the other day with some friends. We ordered the QQ Pladda, which was plenty of food for 3 of us. We swapped the sausage for brisket, which was the right choice (for us). All the meats were good, I enjoyed the pulled pork the most, the chicken breast was ok (think I would've liked pulled chicken over chicken breast). We ordered fries & mashed potatoes for sides, which were both plentiful. Service is an area that could be improved. Our waitress seemed annoyed from the second she stopped by (and didn't improve), which set the tone for the meal, leading to a 3-star vs. 4-star review.

This is our favorite BBQ place. We drive 45 minutes. Ribs Kielbasa pulled pork brisket Chili Stew

The food is great ans the staff is amazing! If you're looking for barbecue that is consistently rated the Best of Manchester and New Hampshire, this is the place to be. They often have entertainment in the evening and everything I've seen has been was totally worth the drive! I would recommend them to everyone looking for excellent food, good entertainment and fantastic staff. Check them out, you'll be glad you did. Oh, and the specialty drinks are off the chain! I really like the Key Westside. Lots of parking and plenty of tables. The outside Tiki bar is a destination when the weather is nice. I love this BBQ joint!

Great brisket. Service is terrific and the meats are prepared excellently. Atmosphere is relaxing.

This was absolutely delicious, a great stop on the way to Boston. Fun decor, and friendly staff.

I love barbecue. I don't know if I can say that enough. Every time I am somewhere looking for a lunch barbecue is one of the things I try and find. After stopping at a new brewery, I was suggested to go to KC's rib shack. The service was very good. I ordered a brisket and ribs combo with cornbread and coleslaw and a side of stew. The stew was very tasty and the cornbread was absolutely amazing. I can't tell you how tough it is to find good cornbread these days. The stew is also quite tasty. The downside was the ribs were in re-as well as the coleslaw, which was really odd. Usually with barbecue coleslaw, you either have a mayonnaise based creamy coleslaw, or a vinegar based, neither which are supposed to be dry. This seemed like they just put a bunch of vegetables in a bowl with no kind of dressing and served it. I also noticed that the beer had a sour taste to it which it shouldn't have had. Probably will not go back.

IDK if Kevin is still the owner but I'm back.... Came for wings as a quick dinner since I'm just getting to town. Well that damn Brunswick stew almost made me a stray cat. It's excellent and very filling. I forgot how good the fries are there too as I stole a few from my coworker. Yes I'll be back again if I come this way!

Went for the first time, sat at the bar. Tried a two combo plate with the chili, beans, brisket, pulled pork. Brisket was absolutely nothing to write home about kind of flavorless not very tender, and the pulled pork to me tasted kind of strange almost plastic like. Beans and chili were just OK, To be honest their chili tasted exactly like Wendy's canned chili you can buy at the store....Service I would say was a little below average considering how slow they were. Seemed like they were more interested in catering to the regulars and chitchatting then checking on what people needed refills. Probably won't go again.

We had a fun night, the brisket was excellent as was Brisket Chinese pie ( like Shepard pie ) and our other dinners. Atmosphere was casual, kid friendly. Everyone enjoyed the food, the drinks and the dessert - try the key lime pie not too sweet or too tart, pecan pie was good also. Our service was good, attentive but not rushed. We will be back.

Great spot for good BBQ with nice casual atmosphere. Family friendly, especially with the 'campfire smores' dessert option. Only downside can be the wait on a Friday Saturday night; no reservations allowed but apparently you can call ahead 2hr prior? Need to try that next time to avoid what ended up being an hour wait for us, otherwise a good meal experience.

KCs Ribshack just made my 50th birthday party a ripper! We did a house warming party 2 summers ago and spent about $500 on meat alone.. sides & breads were another $150? Then I spent 50% of my time at the grill, which I normally don't mind although ppl trying to talk to me had to stand next to the grill, and if I made a mistake oops.. 100 people eat bad food! We pre ordered Brisket, chicken, ribs pulled pork and cornbread and people. were. floored with how great everything was. We knew and expected it but the big quantities were 100% as good as if wed just ordered at the restaurant. A MASSIVE triumph, and Mrs & I got to enjoy the whole party, telling everyone to eat at will as everything was over sterno cans keeping it warm. Price - this is a tough one to articulate.. my lovely has a tendency to go overboard with food. She easily ordered double what we needed, so in a sense we over spent. People were leaving with literally a foil tray of bbq and we STILL had leftovers. The cost was higher than we'd *liked to spend* initially, but we 100% could have spent 1/2 that, been BARELY over what we spent 2 years ago, and STILL had enough food for the 80-100 ppl here this time, and we spent zero time manning the grill, enjoying the party - stress free. KCs is Always my favorite restaurant in New England, and 150% would do it exactly this way again

Great wings,beer and BBQ! Excellent service You have to try the ribs great bark and smoke ring

Ambiance was nice and a very friendly staff that was welcoming. The food and drinks came out quick with a generous selection of sauces for your food. There's a ton of art and every where you turn there's something colorful to look at. The food was extremely good and the cornbread with the sweet apple bbq sauce was !

Ordered the pull off pork ribs coke slaw had no vinegar just mayo yuck & ribs where tough they leave the membrane on Disappointed & very expensive, never again The AC made it cold no one took their jacket off & said it's been broken for mo's So no one cares & it's an awful way to run a business

Go there it's fantastic Pulled pork the most tender I have eaten Tasty sides Saw a family get the shovel meal ! Great service friendly

Ordered the takeout shovel for 4-5 people. All the meat selections were very good. The sides were small, two 1lb containers of beans and macaroni salad. The sides weren't very good. I didn't like the beans because they put green bell pepper in, yuck. Corn bread was delicious. Could have used more Bbq sauce.

Great brisket! Ribs were done just the way I do them in my smoker at home! KC's never lets me down!

Words can't describe how good the food is! The flavors of BBQ sauce, the tender meat, yummy drinks. So good

Stopped in for a late lunch and the place was already packed with a 30min wait at 2pm. Slid into the bar and annoyed our combo meal plates-fast service and food was delicious!

This place was so much fun we brought family here for a birthday dinner. The staff were nice and the food was good. The sauces were the best and my favorite part of the barbecue. I liked how the sauces were out on the table I was able to get as much i wanted. They sell sauces and other stuff which was great because we bought a couple. If you haven't been here I recommend you go and get some good barbecue and enjoy the atmosphere. Pictures attached

wrote about this many years ago, when my friend bragged how great they were, served RAWish Ribs, complained, Owner came on to brag he knew how to cool and called the RED meat at the bone, the red ring some bbq slow cooking has, boring pompus man, but OK, never went back till this past wednesday, OH well, the Ribs my daughters boyfriend got were GREAT, I even had one, their selections have gotten extremely Lame, I mean so limited and sides, pretty sad, BUT, he, it is the Meat that counts, the Ribs were great, wish I got them but they don't have a variety of dishes any more, I thinking of last time, went with the two breasts of Chicken, now I am starting to think it is just me they love to serve raw food too, the meat near the bone was extremely Pink, and off tasting and the BREASTS were so Small, they looked like thighs ( I would swear they were but, who could mess that up, well, I have zero faith but I have to give them they couldn't have ) would I go there ever again, well, swore I wouldn't and got stuck last week after YEARSSSSS so never know, see how the next decade turns out. would I ever tell anyone to eat here, that is a BIG NOPE

Honestly this was my first time here, and if this wasnt 2hrs away I'd come here all the time. As soon as you get out of the car you can smell the bbq cooking. When you walk in there is a little shop you can buy clothes and probably other things and upstairs is where I sat. Very open, bar in the middle, high tables. Everything from the ribs, pulled pork even the chicken was so moist and had the best flavor. The staff were very polite and was very helpful. The bbq sauce that I thought was the best was the apple. 10/10 nothing I'd change

We are brand new to Bedford from the Boston area and saw this place online as one of the best in the area. As new residents, we are exploring all of our soon to be new local haunts. This place was GOOD, very good, and I am picky. Service by Julian was great, the atmosphere was fun and kid friendly (you can draw on the tables!), drinks were excellent (lots of coconut-y ones!), and the food was above and beyond. Please give me allll the sides. I am okay still being full a day later haha. We are tempted to go back again this week so my Dad can try it out. Highly recommend!

This place is fantastic came here to visit and they don't have any places like this in California. The aesthetic is very cozy and like an old western bar. The servers are very welcoming and attentive. And by god the food was mouth watering. I am telling you I am fat and I could not finish my portion. Please make a place like this in Cali somewhere. Dang blue state needs so red love.

Always amazing BBQ! Anytime I'm in town, I find a way to have dinner here. Friendly service. Try the pig tails!

I visited this joint a few months back and forgot to review it, so I'm making up for lost time! Bellied up to the bar as most of the joint was packed on a Tuesday night, and opted for a hazy. Ordered the 2 meat platter, and was once again amazed at the amount of food...I guess I didn't learn my lesson the first time! Nicely smoked tender brisket and pulled pork served along side Mac salad and fries. The cornbread was there but I had no gastrointestinal real estate to mess around! Ambiance is backwoods chalet, service was friendly and attentive, and prices are in line with area. I'm sure I'll be back, but the bbq is good for the area, but not good enough to make the list...

I was thoroughly impressed with how our food tasted. We ordered wings to start and they were cooked perfectly and had that smoked flavor. I had brisket, mashed potatoes with gravy, and collard greens. My kids had the ribs, and pulled pork. No complaints, only happy bellies. And the cornbread is like no other! We will definitely be coming back. Our server was attentive and friendly.

I have been a fan of BBQ since my earliest years in South Texas. I'm over 70 now and so I have a lifetime of experiential feasting to report. KC's does it well. I have enjoyed the ribs, brisket, beans, collards and pig tails. The latter is a creation of frying strips of rib meat. Excellent. KC's is a community treasure. We have had take out (2X) and my son-in-law and I have saddled up to the bar for a beer and a Saturday night feast in person-terrific! Ask Sam (she) to pour a local brew on tap and take your time choosing your favorite meal. Great atmosphere, great food, good people. No regrets save for the calories consumed. This native Texan is a fan of Kevin C's place!

We both got brisket and a couple of sides - tasted good, well prepared and adequate portions. Their prices, however, felt unreasonably high. Two meals, two sodas with a total cost of almost $70? They like their brisket more than I do.

Great BBQ in NH might seem foolish for some but rest assured that KC's BBQ has great BBQ.

Amazing food, service and ambience. Hands down one of the best restaurants in NH and hands down the best BBQ restaurant. From the host station to the time you walk out the door you feel welcome and cared for. One of our kids left his ski tag at the table. The owner went out of her way to track us down and return the tag. We are forever grateful and are customers for life. Can't wait to come back!!

Wonderful staff. This is a casual barbecue type restaurant. The servings are ample. The food is delicious. We had the stuffed eggs as an appetizer - very good with a little spice. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with fries. The chicken was delicious and moist. The fries were good. The barbecue sauce is excellent.

I have been to BBQ in Kansas City and Texas and I must say I never expected to find bbq so good in New Hampshire. The service was great and we were seated upstairs and loved the all the custom license plates around the place. I definitely recommend this gem of a restaurant if you want to try some great bbq food that will transport you to the south. Three adults shared the QQ Pladda and we still had enough leftovers for me to have lunch the next day. The cornbread was so moist it was like eating a piece of cake.

KC's is second to none For great southern BBQ and fixings. Staff is courteous and the Vibe is great. Love the place 5 Stars

We found ourselves in a difficult situation, needing a caterer for over 100 people on very short notice, and KC's Ribshack stepped in to save the day. Despite the last-minute request and adapting to a scenario outside their usual scope, they managed everything seamlessly and were an absolute pleasure to work with. Their team was incredibly accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure all our needs were me and I am sincerely grateful for all their hard work to help make sure our event was a success. The food was exceptional, and I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism and kindness shown by Kevin, Kristine, and Paul. As someone who is not from Manchester, I will definitely be stopping in whenever I'm in the area.

This would be my wife's second time eating in dining room. My first time eating here with my wife was excellent the ribs fell off the bone just the way we love it. Unfortunately our second experience was not that great, the ribs were dry not pleasant meal. Hostess & Waitress were very professional. Just didn't give us the feeling as the first time. We decided maybe it was a bad day and maybe we would give it a try again on the third time. Not a sign in the near future. I believe given another try someday.

Food is basic Service was good Ambiance was good Nothing special I expected a lot more and got a lot less for saying best BBQ in the 603

We had driven up to New Hampshire for the day and was looking for a place to eat. I wasn't sure what was good around Manchester, so I let Yelp guide me to one of the most reviewed restaurants! I don't normally think of New England when I think BBQ, but KC's is really good! You can tell this place is popular, too! A few of us split a combo, which came with different kinds of meats and sides. Everything we really good, we had no complaints! If you come with a large group, you can even order a giant combo that comes with a shovel... I was very intrigued watching the table next to us with it. we had a great experience here. It's a nice place to try when you're in Manchester!

The Service Suuuuuuucks! I didn't even get to order anything. It was too loud in the bar area. Here's a hint: When the customer says he doesn't want to sit at the bar that means don't seat him in the bar area. If I wanted to sit at the bar I wouldn't stop by the hostess stand! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot After the response from the owner, I see where the poor customer service comes from.

Love this place! For me, this is a perfect summer place - the outdoor patio is a great atmosphere and they often have live music. My "go to" is the bbq sundae. Which sounds so weird but it's delicious!