River Road BBQ

My husband and I were driving down River Road, not looking for food, really. We happened upon, this little place, that looked inviting. It was. The smell, from the smoker, immediately sucked you in! Next, the staff were beyond courteous. The menu, wasn't readily available to look at, as it was taped at the order counter. The associate stated the reason, is so that way, you have to talk to them. We chose to eat in, and take out, as we didn't know what to have. Chicken tacos, for eat in, and a rack of ribs to go. The chicken tacos, were not your regular "taco." Very large, tender chicken, that had been smoked, seasoned with a tangy sauce, drizzled with a white sauce, all under shredded cabbage, and pickled purple onions. Absolutely, not what we were expecting! The ribs, we haven't engulfed as of yet, still full from the large taco! I'm sure they won't disappoint.

This is the real deal. I was happy when I pulled up and saw a monster offset smoker out front, and the food, and service, did not disappoint. I will definitely be back as a repeat customer. They used cherry wood. The potato salad was probably one of the best I have ever had at a barbecue restaurant. The brisket was so juicy you didn't need barbecue sauce. This looks like it was an old gas station, and it's a barbecue pit. It's legit. And they take credit cards.

IF YOU MISS YOUR POP's RIBS OR YOUR 'DOWN-HOME' RIBS LIKE I DID, VISIT! Great outside patio and seating area (of course! It's on RIVER ROAD)! The staff is exceptional! The cooks/chefs know what they are doing. Go there between opening-5pm if you want to order anything off the menu (they sell out of links, chicken and greens after 6pm sometimes). The have menus online and a menu there. Good price for their amazing BBQ! The pictures below, you will see their 12oz ribs(before and after 💪🏽😶‍🌫️✊🏽💯). It truly depends on the weight of how many bones you get {6oz/12oz}. FOR MY ATG BEER LOVERS: they got it in cans for a normal price! Check them out. What a wonderful place to go when you are craving BBQ. P. S: The ribs bit easily off the bone and homemade BBQ sauce is sweet/sour/tangy. It stayed true to the BBQ flavor!

We came across this place when we were driving and I'm glad we saw them. One of the things that I like about them a lot is that you don't feel rushed to order and they provide great service even to our dog (I don't know if they are Fido-friendly but they were with us). The food and the serving size were exceptionally good; you would not go hungry with the sandwiches, they put a good amount of meat on them. I have to start by saying, that I am not an expert in BBQ by any means but the chicken and the brisket were good. I had the brisket and it was moist with a spicy and smoky flavor. My husband had the chicken. They had different sides but I had just the potato salad and it was a great flavor and amount, too. They gave us free cute cookies and we had a nice quick lunch. They had enough tables and parking.

I got the $20 meat sampler and was EXTREMELY disappointed. The amount of food was slightly disappointing, but the quality was very disappointing. The rib bone was decent at best, the pulled pork tasted like it may have been OK at one point but was soaking in water or something, and the brisket was the worst I've ever had. Zero bark, zero taste, zero smoke, and zero moisture. It actually tasted like a chuck roast that never saw a smoker. None of the food tasted like it ever hit the smoker.

Pre-ordered 1 pound of smoked tofu on Thursday, and it was ready on Saturday by 12. It was smoked nicely, lots of paprika and soft inside. Looking forward to adding barbecue sauce and mixing with vegetables and couscous.

The brisket is the best I’ve had for a long time. Seasoned & juicy enough to skip the included sauce but it tasted too good to skip. Portion size was very generous. The potato salad ranks among my top two favorites. The service was wonderful & even had the privilege of meeting the owner. I definitely won’t wait as long to return. Looking forward to next time. My buddy also had the brisket & liked it as well as the baked beans.

Delicious, smoky Pulled Pork. BBQ Baked Beans were really good. Ordered Xtra meat and honestly had enough for 2 additional sandwiches.

best bbq i've ever had every single time i've ever been here...the brisket is top notch and the service is fantatic. scott always takes care of us

While this place has potential I find it very limiting. The sides I feel like could have some better options. The green beans were very good and had great flavor and seasoning. The meat is okay, it gets dry and the sauce option is not my tempo. I prefer a thicker bbq sauce and this one was thin and didn't do much for the meat. Not a bad place to eat, but there is better BBQ in Louisville.

We were fortunate enough to nab one of the limited carry out Chef in a Box fundraising dinners to benefit the APRON organization -- WOW! Restaurant location was very easy to find on River Road and plenty of easy free parking. Building is low key and the smells of smoked meats was divine. Staff were all awesome. We got to meet an owner and she was friendly and helpful. We are very grateful that the business was kind enough to participate in this fundraising effort and were so generous. We had a sampler of smoked meats -- ribs, brisket, tips -- and incredible sides of baked beans, slaw, potato salad, and green beans. A side of sauce and a couple of buns were also provided. Two bourbon balls were also included -- yummy! This was advertised as a dinner for 2, but we easily stretched it out for up to 4 with so much food. Bonus of a chip clip magnet and a gift card for a a return visit was also included in the bag. Highlights were, of course, The Meats. Tender, smoked goodness. Green beans had pork, slaw was more of a vinegar type, baked beans were good standard, and my fave was the potato salad. We plan to return in the near future to repeat our faves and also try more menu items.

We have passed by this barbecue multiple times going to seafood restaurants along River Road. Today was the day that even though we were filled to the gills, I wanted to stop in and just get a sample of the pork barbecue. I bought one pork barbecue sandwich And added extra meat for $1.25 more. What a bargain that is! I'm not a big fan of brisket and since it's more of a carryout place, I can easily pass on the sides. Without hesitation, I can say, this is absolutely the best pork barbecue I have ever tasted. Melt in your mouth, huge chunks, enough to put on three buns, not just one. I always lean toward a sweet, spicy type sauce, and this was absolutely perfect. Here is my amazing fact...I usually flood the sandwich with sauce. This barbecue did not even need one drop of sauce so much flavor, so tender, like a filet mignon, you don't need any more flavor or sauces. I look forward to the excuse of driving down there for more. I will definitely share this with my family and friends. The only thing that could be improved on is a full service restaurant in the East End.

We moved to the Louisville area almost exactly a year ago and after trying a few different places decided River Road BBQ definitely is the best around. We're so glad they've reopened after the floods. The food is really great and their prices very reasonable for the quality of food you're getting. Definitely recommend trying them!

I experienced River Road BBQ as a catering order and based on the food, I plan to stop by the location with my family. BBQ seems like a personal, debatable topic and I find it's hard to please everyone. I enjoyed it! The pulled pork and brisket - and I never order brisket because I find it fatty. This was not. My friends warned me the chicken was spicy and I avoided that meat. We enjoyed the potato salad (hard to compete with my fav of Mark's Feedstore but I'd put it second), green beans and mac & cheese. The catering order also came with sauce and buns. Our group devoured most everything. Our order was delivered on time and set up quickly. Excited to see this is family owned and will support local!

Tried River Road BBQ for the first time the other day and was completely blown away. From the outside, it's pretty unassuming--but don't let that fool you. This place serves up some of the best BBQ I've ever had. Both the pulled pork and the chicken were absolutely delicious--tender, flavorful, and made with impressively lean cuts of meat. You can tell they care about quality. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and we even had a great chat with the owner, who happened to be sitting nearby. It's rare to find a place that nails the food and makes you feel like part of the family. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already!

Wanted something quick for dinner, that was NOT fast food. This little hidden gem was amazing. Only got the pulled pork but OMG, delicious!! Will be back to try the brisket

The food is hands down some of the best BBQ i've tasted! Their portion sizes are adequately priced also! But the most memorable was the staff! They make you feel right at home from the time you walk in till the time you walk out whether you choose to dine in or carry out. And that patio of theirs creates the perfect evening environment!

Here's a preface: I grew up in Memphis, you know, the (a) Mecca of pork bbq. So, in other words, I was spoiled early on. Anyway, onto River Road. This place has a big ole smoker out front that lures you in. There's no frills in this place, and that just adds to the bbq experience in my opinion. They only offer bottled drinks, a few sides, and a handful of meals. I got the pulled pork--it was kinda dry, and the sauce didn't wow me. I didn't dig the barbecue baked beans, they just seemed overcooked. The banana pudding was okay, but not as good as grandmas. I would go back just to try something different. Brisket? Maybe the ribs? The meat sampler? People seemed to like the potato salad. Anyway, decent prices,decent food, nice staff. Worth a shot, for sure.

After flooding from April, River Road BBQ has reopened their doors! The food is even more amazing! The staff are super friendly! Very relaxed atmosphere!

In town for a job from about an hour and a half away. Passed this place on the way to a job site and said we have to try it on our way out. I'm so glad we did. The food was probably some of the best bbq I've ever had. The brisket and chicken were . Every time I come into Louisville I will be back! Customer service was outstanding as well!

Great food and after being flooded they are coming back strong. Good service every time

Food and service were absolutely wonderful! You must order the brisket and baked beans and potato salad. Lovely family run establishment that everyone should support. Definitely check it out when you're in the area. Don't miss out!

Didn't order from them. They are a little high on the prices for their food. I can't afford it. I am sure the restaurant is very nice 0

This was our first and last visit. We ordered two brisket sandwiches, bag of chips and side of beans...it came to $55.85!!!!!! My husband was ticked off when he saw what the sandwiches amounted to, which wasn't much, and they didn't care.

Stopped in to RR BBQ for dinner last week. Long of the short, I would avoid at all cost. I ordered the brisket sandwich, my wife ordered the pulled pork tacos, which each got one side and a bottle of soda...came out to over $40!!!! We open the food and the brisket sandwich had one 6" x 3" piece of brisket and my wife had a SINGLE taco that was about 2" x 4". Incredibly small portions particularly for the cost. To make matters worse it was by far the worst BBQ either of us had ever eaten...zero flavor, absolutely nada, had my wife try mine to just make sure it wasn't my taste buds...her immediate response was...it's like I'm just eating roast beef. Louisville is full of quite a few great BBQ places...stop there and avoid River Rd at all cost.

Never been so happy to eat from styrofoam containers with plastic cutlery in my life! Finally stopped by River Road BBQ on this gorgeous weather day with Dwayne. Wow! Absolutely everything we ordered was fabulous! Falling apart tender brisket, and equally moist and flavorful pulled pork, and tender meaty ribs. I'm so picky on potato salad that I haven't ordered it anywhere in decades but tried theirs today and it definitely hit the mark! We went in 'not very hungry, let's just try something & sit out enjoying the weather' to ordering a good variety and eating a much bigger lunch than anticipated! Definitely one to return to... soon! Sampled the sauce too and it was delicious. Perfectly seasoned meats. Yum!

Pretty standard bbq. Sides were underwhelming. One sauce was good. Was hoping for better

Honestly, not the best I've had. The measure of a BBQ place is brisket for me and this brisket I got was nearly dry. I slathered the sauce on to make it a redeemable sandwich. I got a side of potato salad, which was excellent, and a bottled drink. This was $21. Are you out of your minds? Not much food. The high cost was a turn off and the brisket quality isn't good enough to make up the difference for me.

I had the brisket sandwich, baked beans, chips, and a drink very very juicy brisket. They could use a little bit better barbecue sauce baked beans with meat. I'll be back to this place.

Two days in a row they didn't have bbq. This place is trash. I went out of my way to come here. Don't bother. They don't have good management or employees.

River road bbq is very small take out/patio done bbq eatery located off river road in the Louisville area near the Ohio river. Me and the family stopped in Here for lunch the other day while checking out the river front area parks and monuments the other day. We walked inside and placed our order and found a picnic Table outside that was in a ice shaded area. I personally ordered a pulled pork sandwich. It was pretty tasty. The sauce while not bad by any means was a different type of flavor then I was expecting so that was a bit of a surprise. More sweet. My wife also got a pulled pork with two sides though. She got baked beans which we both agreed was great and Cole slaw which she said was pretty good. My younger daughters got Mac and cheese and had mix reactions. One loved them and thought were amazing the other was "meh" on them. My oldest daughter got a chicken sandwich but I think she got room in sun. She said her stomach was hurting and didn't want to eat it. I think she blamed the sandwich. Tj it was the heat. My wife ate it for lunch the next day and liked it. My biggest knock is they don't have fountain drinks. 20 ounce bottles only. On food like bbq it would be nice to have refills at a fountain even if you don't really have an indoor seating area. I get not having it. But it would be a nice addition. Overall cool place that I was shocked to hear has been here for ten years. I thought it was newer. Food is moderately priced and is pretty good. I enjoy the outdoor smokers setup and patio is a cool place as long as it's good weather or if you can grab a picnic table In the shade like we did.

Just visited and was hopeful to use them for a party. Took home a pound of brisket to try. Absolutely the worst bbq brisket. It was very over cooked and tasteless. Can't believe anyone would come Back for more. You are getting day old brisket held in warming trays for 15-20 hours.

Delicious bbq. We stopped on our way through & had brisket taco, pork taco, brisket sandwich, beans, ribs, potato salad, derby balls, derby pie bar & pudding. The potato salad was red potatoes, mayo, onion & I think I tasted the egg but didn't see it. So good. The baked beans had smoked pork and again was superb. The staff were nice and efficient, the bathroom clean. There was table space inside and out. If we were closer to being home I would have bought pints of meat to take home.

we are from out of town and saw this on the way to our airbnb. was greeted by smiling faces, very friendly atmosphere. the food was AMAZING!! we had ribs, pulled pork, chopped chicken, coleslaw, green beans, and potato salad. no complaints on any of it. and the sauce is delicious. highly recommend!!

We stopped here after seeing a sign on the road during a road trip. The food was amazing - the beef brisket was fresh, full of flavor, tender, and juicy! The staff was friendly and attentive. If you're on the road and interested in great local food, do yourself and your taste buds a favor and check them out!

Solid stop along a stretch of River Road. Tried the brisket tacos, which were 60:40 slaw to brisket ratio. Good crunch and brisket was OK. Probably would have been better if BBQ had been fresh. In the past have enjoyed the pulled pork sandos and beans sides. A really good option on a nice day if you want to picnic at one of the parks on Rover Road.

I have used River City BBQ to cater 2 events and all of our guests raved about the pulled pork and chicken along with the green beans and Mac n cheese. I will definitely use them again. The management and staff are very easy to work with and go out of their way to make things easy.

River Road BBQ is the best in Louisville. The restaurant service excellent. Location, facility and ambiance special.

I was not very happy with the portion size..Very small.I got the chicken sandwich ..with potato salad and coke ..The price was over $16.00..Ask for a cup of ice..The guy sais ,We dont have that..I want good..Not just ok for $16.00. Thats my opinion..

Great Place Great prices the meat is moist and the Potato Salad was fantastic. It is a very nice atmosphere to eat and owners are very friendly. It's family owned and they take pride in their products. Go Taste & Enjoy!!

Three and a half stars rounded up to four. We stopped at River Road BBQ on a spur of the moment totally unplanned lunch. We had errands in the east end and on the way home I remembered River Road BBQ is right off the Zorn Ave exit. We've talked about stopping there for lunch for quite a while. My wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a Cole Slaw side. She loved the pork sandwich. I took a sample of her pork and it was very tasty. The Cole Slaw was not what she expected. It's not what most people would consider a traditional Cole Slaw. She actually liked it. I tried it and thought it was pretty good too. The Cole Slaw is more of a rough cut salad with a sweet and sour vinegar dressing. We liked it. I had the brisket sandwich with a side of baked beans. The brisket was moist and tender. Unfortunately I didn't taste hardly any smoke flavor at all. The meat's flavor was unimpressive, but it was fork tender. Pretty much the same with the baked beans. The beans had strands of pork throughout and when I looked at it I thought it was going to be good. However, it was still was pretty bland. Also I wish they had choices of BBQ sauce. Neither of us were too crazy about their "stock" BBQ sauce.

I was working in the area and came across this place. Nothing fancy but who cares. I thought I would grab a bbq sandwich and hit the road. I ordered a beef brisket sandwich ($11.xx) and an order of Mac and cheese, and a bottle of Coke. Cost over $20 and was less than filling. At least the bun they provided was big enough to at least get me to the next town. 3 small pieces of meat and Mac and cheese that had zero flavor. I gave them 2 stars because of the chance I just ordered wrong and they actually have good food and I just missed it but the price for what I received was definitely not worth it.

Perfect bbq So even though they have a coupon here on yelp they will not accept it But seriously not a single complaint Staff is friendly food is amazing I had to meet sampler platter my favorite would be the ribs and the brisket off from the chart

Ordinary bbq sauce was very reminiscent of sweet baby original... a little pricey too....

Huge portions of pulled BBQ served with no sides, sides are 3.00 each and not really big sides and just okay. Not sure how to explain the sauce it was soaked in, just a hint of spice and the meat was warm. You must take it to go and if you eat at a picnic table, the bees will swarm the food. The bees loved it more than me. They do serve beer and have other options for BBQ eating.

I happened to pass this place on a job. I am glad I stopped in. The bbq has a great smoke flavor. The bbq sauce is a nice touch. Not your average thicker sauce. It's light, thin & really made the sandwich I had. Their baked beans are unlike any I've ever had. The beans are very unique & I suggest you try them to see for yourself. It almost has a northern chili vibe to it. I will definitely go back and try their pork tacos when I'm in the area. The slaw was light & crisp with a vinegar base. They also have plenty of drinks to choose from. The guys there were friendly and happy to help. Good job River Road Bbq

This is MY FAVORITE place to eat barbecued meats! Their brisket and pork are to die for! This is a constant request by my children so it is a family favorite

Coincidently found myself in the parking lot of river road bbq to be pleasantly surprised by the food, ambience and service. I am so happy to have known that this place exists in Kentucky. How can someone go elsewhere? I loved the coleslaw!!!! So good.

If I can give this restaurant, zero stars for the food I would. When we arrived at the facility, it was nice and clean. We ordered ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and baked beans. When we received our food and the ribs and brisket were good. The pulled pork was dry and tough and needed bbq sauce (which was nasty as well) and water. I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to put pulled pork and baked beans, but that was not a great choice. That had to be the most disgusting baked beans I have ever tasted. No sweetness to the beans at all! They didn't have a big side selection or desserts! Only chocolate balls that's been the fridge for who knows how long. I would not be returning anytime soon.

Very good beef brisket and chorizo. The chorizo was a tad on the mild side for heat level compared to a lot of others, but it was perfect for sandwich. The mustard based barbecue sauce was the perfect sauce for it, with the right balance of mustard tang and sweet.

Drove by and saw a smoker outside. Had to stop by and try. Food was good and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Had the Texas plater which had a little bit of everything. It's a Dry rub place which I was a fan of. If you're in town, come and give this place a try! The only place with a smoky smoker outside!

This is a great barbecue place that my dad and I like to visit when we're in Prospect on River Road special nice spring day they got a park right next to it you can get the food you can't eat inside there's it's so small and a food truck almost and go to the park next to eat the barbecue it comes in like a little Styrofoam tray package and you can eat smoked really good meat really good food definitely check it out

Had the habanero sausage, chorizo sausage, pulled pork, beef brisket and authentic pork n beans. All delicious! Highly recommend this place! Thanks Rachel!

In my opinion, River Road BBQ has the best bbq in Louisville - hands down! I've driven past here so many times on my way to the dog park or Riverfront park, and you can always smell the smokers going. I'm not sure how I went so long without trying it! Both the chopped chicken and pulled pork are amazing, and their bbq sauce is great too! Though, let it be known, this smoked meat doesn't even need bbq sauce - it's just that good. I'm not the biggest fan of meat, so that really saying something! I always forget to take a picture of what we get, because it's devoured as soon as we get home! On top of that, there's a good amount of parking, tables outside that you can sit at, and the staff are very kind!

I was on my way back from hitting absolute bombs at the driving range when I noticed River Road BBQ. I said to myself, "Hey this place looks cool, maybe I should check it out." I order a small BBQ pulled pork sandwich (almost $9). Chips were $1.50 and got a bottle of water (yes I know, rookie mistake but I had just finished hitting flush 5 iron shots.) I get the food, the bun is probably bought from Kroger. The pulled pork was ok, but super small size for $9. The sauce reminded of mix between Lysol and sparkling water... I mean there's 50 better places than this in Louisville from a BBQ standpoint. They just have a great location and captive audience.

Delicious food, the chopped chicken was so well seasoned and the baked beans were delicious! Highly recommend

Engelbrecht Date Night and we were craving some BBQ. Found this spot on Yelp a few weeks ago and had the perfect opportunity to go. We ordered the family pack, split 50/50 brisket and pork, with potato salad and cole slaw. Came with 4 buns and bbq sauce as well. Also ordered 2 drinks. The food came out crazy quick, the brisket was delicious, tender and basically fell apart on your fork. The pork was also pretty good! I will warn you the the coleslaw and potato salad are both delicious but may not be what you're used to, no mustard in the potato salad and the coleslaw isn't creamy. Overall a good spot to stop for a low key date night. We took home enough to have another meal! (And look forward to eating it again )