Smoke on the Water BBQ Shack

Smoke on the Water – A BBQ Lover’s Paradise! If you're a fan of bold flavors and comfort food done right, Smoke on the Water is an absolute must-visit. This place delivers on every level, starting with their brisket — hands down some of the best I've ever had. It's rich, juicy, and bursting with that perfect smoky flavor that only true BBQ masters can achieve. The deep-fried mac and cheese is outrageously good — crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside. Pair that with their classic coleslaw and signature BBQ sauce, and you've got yourself a plate of pure happiness. What makes it even better? The atmosphere. You’re dining outdoors on a dock, with the water just steps away — it's relaxing, scenic, and the perfect complement to the comfort food experience. Whether you're a BBQ connoisseur or just looking for a great meal with a view, Smoke on the Water is the place to be. Five stars and then some!

Perfection! The owner really takes pride in his food and it shows. From the house made drinks and hot sauce to the hand cut fries - everything is made with care and en pointe. We both had the smoked sock eye salmon baguette and it was amazing, with a side of fries, lemonade and iced tea. Fantastic with a water view - can’t beat it.

Simply exceptional food created by someone who is a truly talented chef. We loved it here. We were greeted and welcomed with such friendliness and courtesy we instantly felt relaxed kicking back on the dock. We missed out eating here last year when we visited, so this was top of the list this year. We ordered the shrimp tacos, the bbq brisket sandwich, fries and a mango frangipane tart. The shrimp tacos were a sensation, juicy shrimp fried to perfection with a crisp fresh salad. The bbq brisket sandwich was beyond good. Super tender, created by a bbq pit master the brisket just fell apart and into my mouth so quickly. Served with a refreshing kale coleslaw. Glorious food. The fries deserve their own mention as they are quite possibly the best I have ever had. Hand cut, perfectly crisp and seasoned well. Now the desert. Oh my goodness this is the best baked bite of the month long trip. We have eaten some wonderful baked delights around Vancouver and the Island but this is by far the best. Beautifully light crisp pastry, encasing a generous amount of frangipane which itself was not too sweet, just the perfect counterpoint to the fresh mango sitting on top. This was perfection. What a wonderful place to eat. Forget being lured into other places at Gibsons, just wander down onto the dock, it’s on the right hand side on the water. We will be back for sure. Thank you chaps for making food heaven a reality.

This is an absolute gem of the Sunshine Coast. I'm literally sitting here moaning with my eyes rolling back in my head because my food is so delicious. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich cornbread and mac and cheese. The only thing I'm regretting is not ordering the fries as well. Do not miss out!

We had a fantastic lunch yesterday that left such a great impression, my partner and I couldn’t resist coming back for a takeaway before catching the ferry home today. The area itself has a wonderful vibe, with plenty of local shops that make exploring the community a real treat. A special shoutout to Chef Kenny and the amazing staff—your kindness and delicious food truly made our visit unforgettable. The house-made sauce is an absolute must-try! Thank you for the warm hospitality. We’re already looking forward to our next visit. Sorry for no photos, the food was too good to wait.

Some delicious BBQ. Had the brisket platter and some shrimp tacos. Brisket had good moisture with a nice crust, I personally enjoy sauce with my BBQ and it comes with a vinegar based sauce with a hint of spice and tang. The fried mac and cheese cube was great. I personally love shrimp tacos and the batter was super crispy with nice fresh prawns inside. The vue is nice looking out into the water and docs with the occasional harbor seal. There is only outdoor seating and it is very cozy, expect to be shoulder to shoulder with some strangers during peak hours.

Amazing place right on the pier. Food was fantastic: delicious deep fried mac&cheese, softest beef brisket and very nice coleslaw with a light dressing. Great balance on spice. Located on a pier, open air with a few on the cute boats in the bay. Would love to come back. Pic of demolished in 5 min food attached.

Ordered seasonal salmon sandwich and salmon with salad. The portion of salmon can't be smaller. Mango in the sandwich means very small one tiny piece of mango. Paid $51 before tips. Guys, its really mean - its not Coast at all. How much you saved by this small portion? $2 per portion? We are in salmon country salmon portion size like this looks like an offence. Service was fine - they did not bark at us and even brought the plates for a distance around 5 m. Atmo - this is the strong point of this venue. Right on the Marina (even though some guy on a boat turned on generator or did some pressure washing - its understandable). Summary - don't be mean!

The food was amazing! Highly recommend the brisket. They had a hot smoked sockeye salmon sandwich special that was fantastic!

The food was great - my banh mi sandwich was a great balance of flavors and every component tasted fresh and delicious. The chef also made a salad to order for my wife with shrimp and a blackberry chipotle dressing to accommodate her onion and garlic sensitivity even though it was just at closing and they were super nice and helpful. Eating out by the boats as the sun went down was lovely too. Would definitely come again.

Smoke on the Water is a small BBQ shack in Gibsons. They smoke all their meats on site using real hardwood for an authentic southern flavour! * Pulled Pork Sandwich The pulled pork was so flavourful from being applewood smoked then dipped in a slightly acidic sauce! It really gave the perfect balance of sweet and savoury. It also came with coleslaw which we found to be overly sour rather than creamy and refreshing. However, when you eat it with the sandwich it works well * Beef Brisket Sandwich This sandwich features an angus beef brisket coated with a signature spice paste and slow smoked with hickory and cherry wood! The brisket itself was so tender and fatty that each bite practically melted in your mouth * Sturgeon Tacos Unfortunately the tacos weren't the best as the fish was marinated in an acidic sauce that overpowered the dish and affected the texture as it became soggy and difficult to hold I would recommend trying either the Pulled Pork Sandwich or Beef Brisket Sandwich if you're in the area! The view is stellar

We had the most delish fish taco, it was sturgeon fish, you can see from the photo, was so appetizing. This place has a great seating area with amazing sea views in Gibson landing. We chat with the owner. He is so welcoming.

Smokin' good. Smokin' tasty. Smokin' view. Before I get to the food, this place has a great seating area in which you can fully take in the one of the best views in Gibson. When I went at noon (right when they opened), I even had the choice of sitting in the sun or in the shade. Fantastic view of the marina and the sky. I ordered the pulled pork burger and the sturgeon fish tacos. Oh. My. Goodness. Great amount of meat and extremely flavourful pulled pork on toasted buns. It came with coleslaw, which itself, was unlike any typical clowslaw. Looked great, tasted even better. Sturgeon fish tacos were also very appetizing. Overall, a very nice lunch by the waters. Highly recommend visiting if you're in Gibson's!

Delicious food and lots of meat for the price. Delicious ice cream with various toppings. All with a beautiful view!

Amazing. Best brisket sandwich I've ever had. A must stop in Gibsons! My hubs loved the spicy chicken sandwich. We had several warnings about how hot it is, but he's a spice lover so he gave it a go and loved it! 11/10

I asked which is the most popular dish and was told it was the beef brisket. I was not very hungry so I had the beef brisket sandwich which had 3 slices of the brisket. It was still very filling. It came with a side of slaw and pickle. The brisket was AH-MAZING! It was very tender and where there was a bit of fat, it almost melted in my mouth. The flavor was good too. The slaw and pickle were ok, I could do without it. I also ordered the fresh corn flan to try. I did not care for it. I did not expect the place to be like a shack where you could get the food to go in a box or eat in at the tiny patio. I would love to come back again and try the other stuff, especially the fried mac and cheese. I find the prices are on the high side. As you can see from the past pictures posted by Yelpers, they have been increasing the prices steadily. But this is an on-going trend in BC now, so what can you do?

Website said the restaurant was open. After navigating to it we quickly found it was not.

We're explorers and don't like repeat much but this place just sticks ut as a summer post-hike fave. This is probably the best actual BBQ I know of in the Lower Mainland and I've liked everything I've had from brisket to ribs. What I also like is that they turned an unassuming location (doomed in the past and dingy) into a 2 patio, inviting in winter, location. I mean,.. I instagrammed the interior because it was that nice. I'm not a big drinker but if beer and bourbon are your thing, this place seems also great for that. In non-COVID times, I can imagine spending an evening in this place in winter and enjoying the patio in the summer.

Great Barbecue, great sides. As a good Jewish boy I've known brisket since my first tooth broke the surface of my gums and this brisket is as soft as my grandmother's. Now, you would never suspect that this little hut at the end of the pier in Gibsons harbour would have great southern food. So, though there are no tables the location couldn't be prettier. I suspect now that Texans might be a list tribe of Israel because the mac and cheese came in the form of a cake - pretty much the noodle pudding I grew up with called kugel. It's usually sweet but my grandmother made it savoury just like this. I need it a bit more cheesy, but if you've read this far you know that I come by cheesy naturally. Beans were great, spicy. I'm pretty sure the fries were frozen and won't order them again but I know when a war is lost and it's really hard to find a resto that hand cuts the potatoes. The genius behind this great barbecue works in such a tight place that I'm giving them a pass on the fries. When we try the ribs and other sides we'll get back to you snd consider that fifth star. Love the food but love my healthy heart more--it might be several months before I'm ready to go b

Not your average, Southern style BBQ. This place puts a unique twist on BBQ with creative and interesting flavours. We shared the ribs platter and the deep fried mac n cheese. The ribs were topped with a good heaping of tangy-flavoured sauce. The platter came with a side of coleslaw and some of the best fries I've ever had. The deep fried mac n cheese was also pretty good, although a tad dry (coming from a girl who likes her Kraft dinner "soupy"). Be sure to grab your food and take a front seat at the pier 'cause this hole in the wall place has great seating with a view!

Excellent gluten free options and delish food! One of my absolutely favourite places to eat! The Heritage Chicken Sandwich and the Sturgeon Tacos are my favourites, but honestly, it's all scrumptious!

They have a chicken sandwich called "diablo". That is not hyperbole. This sandwich was quite spicy. Great flavour! You've been warned.

Great BBQ!!!! We did a day trip to the coast and had this place booked marked. Great location right on the pier, great view, but limited seating. We walked by and it was pretty busy with no seating available so we kept on walking. We realized it was busy everywhere. We came back and to our surprise there was plenty of seats. We lucked out a big group just left. You order at the side window. Wait till they call your order sometimes they bring it to you. I ordered the bbq rib platter about $17. Being a touristy spot I didn't expect much, but I was surprised. Big portions and good food. My ribs were tender, great bbq sauce. Came with fries, beans and slaw. Very filling I ended up taking half home. If you cant find seating take your food to go and lots of seating around the pier, just watch out for birds.

Had some of their BBQ sample here during a food tour. I got to say. It has this unique bbq or not like burnt burnt but that char burnt smell to it. As well the after taste is just as yummy. The owner works as a chef in Yaletown bluewater and in the summer time he comes here to run his own bbq stand. This is pretty cool to me. I guess this is Summer hot spot to have bbq. They were featured on TV at one point and on the Vancouver Sun. So this really say something. Its a must try if you are in Gibson.

Wifey was so excited to try this place based on the reviews. Was major letdown. The pulled beef ribs was just too sour and dry. The smoked pork BBQ platter was not even seasoned and could even tell if it was smoked as there was no smoke rings. Apart from their location, I don't think this place is worth it.

We've been to SOTW probably 4 or 5 times over the last several years. Food is always fresh, tasty, and quick. VERY casual, with open air seating for just a few folks. My only beef (poor pun) is that they no longer offer real entrees, but have pivoted instead to sandwiches- brisket, pulled pork, chicken etc. Still good , but sometimes you just want a mess of brisket.

This is probably an update - I think I reviewed SOTW a year or two ago. Still good, still well worth your time and money. On the large Gibsons wharf, so there's great seaside ambience and a priceless view of an active harbour and marina. Four of us for dinner a few weeks ago and agreed with their recommendation for the combo platter. Everything they have, virtually, and lots of take-home left over. I was surprised that it was quite quiet at dinner time and they said that's typical, that their really busy time is lunch. So give them a try for dinner.

This little BBQ shack on Gibsons Landing has tasty food. Everything is cooked on hardwood. Had the pulled pork which was delicious. All sandwiches come with slaw. Mac 'n cheese, fries, beans and other sides are ordered a la carte. You order at the window and either eat standing up or wander around nearby to find a cement block or bench to sit on. Park on the street then trek down the hill towards the water to find this place. They do catering and offer vacuum sealed food for those traveling by boat. Food: 3 Service: 3

WOWZA!!! 'Ya Gotta' try this place. What a great find for us! Great food, service, great location. Our group of 7 (including 5 & 8 yr olds + 2 vegetarians) enjoyed the unique variety of foods available here. The brisket was perfectly done and topped with the owner's special BBQ sauce, the smoked jackfruit (the owner has a smoker on-site) was super as the sturgeon fish tacos on corn tortillas. Also, the the fries were perfect. And then there were the deep fried Oreo cookies and mango/almond tarts. We will be back to try some of the rest of the menu SOON!

What a lovely spot in Gibson's! The owner is extremely nice and clearly loves BBQ! My family enjoyed lunch in the shade, happily looking out onto the marina. The ribs fell off the bone, the pulled pork was tender and juicy, and the chicken was simply fantastic! I had the chicken over salad and they did everything right! I honestly expected a sad salad at a BBQ spot, but this one was GREAT! Don't miss this place when in Gibson's!

Friends if ours who live in the Gibsons area suggested Smoke on the Water. My wife and u were delighted to have a smoked salmon lunch special which was a freshly smoked (large) piece of salmon on a freshly made Italian bun with a fresh mango salsa and their own in house slaw. My wife opted for the water while I had the watermelon/lemon drink which had the slightest hint of jalapeño (slightest)....heavenly...! The view of the harbour only lends positively to the atmosphere here.

I missed the ferry by minutes. So, I returned to Gibsons to grab a bite to eat. Surprising to find a BBQ Hut on the wharf, as I would expect mainly seafood only...which peaked my interest. Although the brisket platter was a bit outside my budget, I had to try it. Everything was delicious, right down to the slices of dill pickle, draped over my slaw and nothing was over salted at all! The brisket was so tender, that it flaked apart with my fork and was hard to pick up. It was paired well the the side of homemade bourbon barbecue sauce, which added a little sweet, yet tangy spice and the baked beans were a similar accompaniment. The slaw was fresh and well dressed with the perfect amount of mayo. For my carbs intake, the perfectly golden fried mac & cheese topped it all off. Thank you for a way better lunch than the BC Ferries can offer! Unfortunately, there is only very limited outdoor seating and the prices are what I'd expect in a big city restaurant, which is why I gave it 4-stars.

Delicious BBQ in a magnifient setting! We stopped in Gibsons for a lunch at Smoke on the Water. It's a small BBQ shack right on the docks with limited patio seating and views on the marina. It was perfect on a sunny summer afternoon. We ordered the brisket platter and the pork ribs platter too. The brisket was melt in your mouth tender, served with macaroni and cheese, slaw and the beans were so good! The ribs came with beans and slaw and very good fries. It was a lot of food but so good we cleaned both plates. The customer service is friendly and welcoming. Food was served up quickly. Prices are in the higher range but food is high quality to match. Definitely stop by when you're in Gibsons with an appetite.

This place has now ruined all future pulled pork sandwiches for me. I recently traveled to Austin, TX where they proclaim themselves the barbeque centre of the universe. I ate pulled pork and barbeque brisket almost every day for a week. It was good, really good, but one trip to Gibson's, BC changed my whole world. The owner of Smoke on The Water makes a pulled pork sandwich and tastes like it was sent from the heavens as a gift to the people. I feared that I was not worthy of such a masterpiece. The sandwich literally melts in your mouth and has a flavor that is not overpowered by barbeque sauce. What did it for me was the vinegar dip that is used on the meat, it brought the meal to a whole other level. A great family run place with a nice patio to sit and enjoy your meal. Lots of sides and great ice cream too. If you're looking for barbeque you don't need to go to Texas, you only need to go to the sunshine coast!

Wow, awesome quality and flavor all around. I ordered the yellowfin tuna wrap. Just the wrap part alone was so good. It was crispy and flaky, and wasn't bland like many tortillas. It was so flavorful, I actually enjoyed it more than the fish! But the tuna was also very good. Cooked medium rare with a decent amount of tuna in there. The cole slaw was also the right balance not overpowering or underwhelming. This place rocks!

Excellent flavor with a pooch friendly patio. Generous portions match the quality and price. We could have split either the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket --but we managed to finish both anyway.

Second time visiting this smoke shack and again was impressed. The staff is extremely friendly, the food is absolutely delicious for those who really enjoy BBQ/smoked meat. We have eaten the smoked wings, mac & cheese, tuna wrap, brisket and sturgeon tacos with ZERO complaints. The sides are abit small in portions (or maybe so tasty we wanted more) and I personally will not eat coleslaw any other place than here.

Small little bbq shack on the docks at Gibsons. Everything is made from scratch in-house. The pulled pork sandwich, poutine and tuna wraps were delicious. Super great service too

Great little take out place on Gibson's wharf. The beef brisket sandwich was awesome, slaw comes on the side with a pickle. I didn't really like the slaw by its self because its more acidic tasting then a normal creamy slaw... but I loved it on the sandwich, it worked really well together (Not sure if that's what I was suppose to do :P). I also got the Mac and Cheese, I dunno if its deep fried or pan fried on the grill but its crunchy, cheesy, creamy goodness!

This small place offers very good comfort food. Service is very friendly. Highly recommended.

The food we ordered was amazing. We ordered Seared tuna wrap, Smoked salad with pulled chicken and Pulled pork sandwich. My favourite was Seared tuna wrap. All the food is locally sourced and organic. Good job! Way to go!

I enjoyed this sandwich very much. I have had pulled pork many times. Buns, coleslaw and fries were also excellent.

My husband and I really enjoyed this spot. They were super friendly and helpful, and dogs are welcome on the patio which is a HUGE win! The food was delicious and everything you want from good bbq.

Very good brisket. Great location if sailing in. Fries were very salty and other sides were ok but smaller sized. Be prepared that it is priced higher than expected for a one meat plate and a lemonade at $28. Great meat though and convenience comes at a price.

Frigging delicious!! Had the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese side. Yum!! Great view on their patio, or take it to go wait in the ferry line. Yum!!

Great view on patio, and AMAZING food! We had the smoked veggie sandwich and the smoke veggie salad. Really fresh and flavourful ingrediants. The service is also fantastic. Must see.

We decided to take a shot at it for the good reviews and were happily rewarded. Though the outfit didn't look much, they have some great pulled pork poutines, oyster po' boy, and tuna wraps, and chicken sandwich. Just about everyting that is. Everything is decent comfort food and the staff is super friendly. Will come back again!

What a great place to wander into in Gibsons, BC! Even though the owner and chef, Chris, was about to close, we were able to order from the menu and enjoy the late afternoon sun on the semi protected, sunny deck-and were amazed at how good everything we ate was! The pulled pork had a vinegar based barbeque sauce (North Carolina style) that was just sweet enough to contrast perfectly with the lightly vinegared cabbage and kale slaw (no heavily sweetened and mayo'd dressing here). The beans were slow baked and bourbon based, and were amazing. Chris brought out our desserts as we finished: lemon pound cake with berry compote and one scoop of salted caramel ice cream-EVERYTHING homemade! We would give 6 stars if we could-you don't want to pass this little place by, that's for sure!

Fries were awesome. Pulled pork sandwich was solid. A bit pricey but good food and fast.

What a delightful surprise. We intended to go to a seafood place on the wharf only to find it closed that day. We were drawn in by the amazing smells of smoked wood. We had the smoked salmon sandwich, smoked meat poutine with pulled pork, beef brisket and candied bacon (incredible). Everything was done really well. The flavours were complex, the meat beyond tender. Also loved the spicy watermelon lemonade. 3 orders of poutine, 1 sandwich and 4 lemonades set us back $90 but it was fresh and local. Lovely little spot on the warf made the perfect atmosphere.

We loved this place! My partner's from Alabama and said the bbq was legit! We're also snobbish west coast vegetable loving types, and the salad we got had basically just come from a local farm field. Best of both worlds, amazing veggies and amazing meat!

Very good food, right on the water. Good service. Would definitely go back again. Pulled pork sandwich was bomb.

Definitely a fabulous gem in Gibson's. We stopped in with the family and ordered the platter. More than enough super delicious food for all us - left us comfortably full and all talking about how tasty everything was. So if your looking for "real food" like your mother would make (if she was a chef) with all natural ingredients I would highly recommend stopping by.

I happened to be over in Gibsons, looking at real estate last Saturday with my sister and brother-in-law. After spending most of the day looking around, we decided that the we would catch the 4:40 pm ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. Which left us time to have a late lunch. I had seen the "BBQ Shack" sign down at the marina so we decided to give that a try as we really love southern BBQ and the Yelp reviews were really good! I went for the pulled pork platter cuz this was going to be my lunch/dinner and the other two ordered fish tacos and the fish of the day wrap. Since it was late in the afternoon, we had our pick of seating at the back covered patio, which was perfect! No one else there! Our orders arrived pretty quick and my pulled pork was tender, juicy and very flavourful and wasn't drowning in any BBQ sauce! It could have fed two people! The beans were yummy and I loved the freshness of the slaw and the yogurt dressing! Now the twice fried Kennebec potatoes with their seasoning were sooo good!!! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!!! I tried to finish everything but couldn't!! The wrap apparently was also tasty and the wrap was homemade too! And was GF!!! This was explained to us when the order arrived. The fish tacos were also very good!! Everything was so good and fresh, when my sister and brother-in-law returned a few days later, looking at more real estate, they stopped here again, before catching the ferry home! And they both told me their food was delish that day too! I know if I'm over there, I will go back! But they need to come to Vancouver!!! Good BBQ like that isn't that easy to come by here!!!

We had the salmon sandwich special and it was unreal. So delicious, we had it again on our way back through Gibsons. Worth every penny.

As a southerner living in Canada, it's hard to find good barbecue in the Lower Mainland. Smoke on the Water, hands down, has the best Carolina style pulled pork in the Lower Mainland area. Super fast and super friendly service. I can't wait to be back!

Had a chicken sandwich and tuna wrap. Friendly and fast service and Amazing Food. Enjoy