Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q

BBQ + sides worth going out of the way for! I’m picky about brisket (I like it flavorful), and this is for sure some of the best brisket I’ve ever had. So good I couldn’t bring myself to put any sauce on it! Didn’t want to hide any of the awesome flavor. If you’re near Bowling Green and you want a hearty meal - you won’t be disappointed if you come to Smokey Pig!

We had been in the area on a road trip with some friends and decided to give this place a try since one of the folks we were with was craving good BBQ. Food and service was fantastic, dining area is small and perfect for a place like this. Pictured is the rib plate with potato salad and Mac and cheese. Portions were generous for the money. We had 3 other people with us, they got the pork plate and brisket plate but forgot to get photos of those meals. Food was fantastic and service was also amazing. Really felt that 'southern hospitality' stopping in here. We took a piece of derby pie with us to go and they was also fantastic. Give this place a try - coming from someone who lives 500 miles north - you won't be disappointed.

Great food, not from a can or a box. Great sauces. Real sides. Friendly staff. Best kept secret.

Good stuff. It's not Deep South Q, more 'roasted' than 'smoked overnight'. Nothing detrimental there, just FYI. Sides were all good. Service is as good as it gets. They are proud of their food as any kitchen should be. If ypur passing through take the 3 minutes needed to get here and pass all the same old chains. Great value, Nice dining room overlooking the river. GO!!

I had just finished a 10-hour trip and was recommended this BBQ spot by the staff at my hotel. I try BBQ everywhere I travel, and their hospitality was amazing after such a long day. The food isn’t your typical BBQ, and that’s exactly what hit the spot. I’d describe it as more of a “lunch-style” BBQ—thin cuts of meat paired with killer sauces that make for a refreshing recharge. One standout is their drip sauce, which I’d call a BBQ Au Jus. It’s a must-try.

We stopped in during the week for lunch. There was a decent line waiting to order but it moved pretty quickly. They give you a decent amount of food for the prince. I ordered the ribs with baked beans and mac. The food was okay the ribs were a little salty for my taste but very tender. The only reason for 3 stars on service was you order at the window and take your own food.

Great place to eat. The food was great and I got it immediately. The staff was friendly and the place was really clean. They put effort into their sides and I appreciate that.

Wanted to like this place. Smoker was "smokin'" but the brisket plate was flat. Hot sauce was overwhelmingly spicy with an unidentifiable leading flavor, but certainly had too much orange fat in it. Maybe it was an off day... Certainly not worth what we paid for it.

The service was friendly and very efficient. Order and food ready in minutes. The brisket was so tender and juicy. And the serving was one very full build it yourself sandwich plus some extra brisket for dessert. The sides of baked beans and mashed red potatoes was delicious. Go hungry. I highly recommend the Smokey Pig

Loved the pork shoulder and brisket- could eat here once a week! They get you your meal out quick, and you can sit out side on a ridge above the river, or inside with huge windows showing you the forested river banks below. I can't wait to go back!

We have been through Bowling Green a couple of times and missed them being open but stopped in today. We were a little worried that the smokers were billowing ugly white smoke but we were encouraged by a busy parking lot. Sadly, that wasn't a good sign of what was to come. Service: this is bare bones and quick paced so order and get out of the window so they can help the next person. It was cleanish but showing its age. Food: my husband got pulled pork plate and baked beans with chips. I got brisket sandwich with Mac and cheese and red skin mashed potatoes. Here is the breakdown: Pulled pork - it was sweet with some hints of seasoning but no smoke taste. And it was more like a boiled wet pork than a smoked pork. Baked beans: these were canned with some pepper Lays BBQ chips: best thing on the menu Brisket Sandwich: super dry brisket with some smoke flavor. Max and cheese: talk about velveeta with a large dose of salt. Nothing homemade about this. It was gross. Red Skinned potatoes: why were these sweet?? Why?? Overall - super disappointed

Great BBQ! We were in the area to visit the National Corvette Museum and decided on having Smokey Pig Bar-B Q for lunch. What a great find! We had the beef brisket plate and half-chicken plate. Both were great. The chicken had some heat to it as my wife asked for it dipped. The sides are fantastic. It's certainly worth trying out.

Drove out here at 1 PM this afternoon for their half a chicken dinner, and was told at 1 o'clock in the afternoon that they were all out of half chickens. They could do chicken breast but I don't want chicken breast. So we left and went to Mission barbecue and I think that's where we'll go from now on. Too bad I really like the chicken here but how can you be out of chicken at 1 o'clock in the afternoon?

Some of the best BBQ we've had! Hole in the wall shack... smell that smoke! We had the brisket plate, with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. I'm typing as I eat. Brisket is super tender and awesome! Back to eating

I'm going to be that guy. Yes, the contrarian of what the staff and probably what most of the regular diners think is the best thing to eat here. I have to tell you that what I was made to believe by the staff that the one meat that I had to try here was absolutely one of the worst things I've ever had at a BBQ joint. But despite how bad that one meat was that I will tell about later in my review, the rest of it was really good. I always like to start off with the good and positive. When I walked into the Smokey Pig, I was greeted by a very pleasant staff. I asked them if I could have a combo plate. They said they didn't have a combo plate but they would give me anything that I wanted. And that is exactly what they did and they did it in the most money saving way possible and they even threw in a sample of a 3rd meat for me. I also requested every single sauce they had and did not charge me for any of it. I have to tell you that means a lot to me because I'm starting to boycott BBQ joints that charge me for their sauce not made out of gold. The first thing I tried was the three sauces with all the white bread I was given. There are three - a sweet and spicy, a mild tomato type, and I have no idea how to describe the hot. The sweet and spicy and the mild were phenomenal. The hot might have been more like a broth with some spices and the closest thing to an au jus. But it was pretty hot. I didn't use it. The ribs I got on the side were phenomenal! They were easy to chew and were lathered in sauce. If I ever come back, this is the meat I'm getting. The sample I was given was the brisket. The brisket was ok but was far better from the worst. My sides were potato salad and mayo slaw. Both were creamy and tangy. My tea was refreshingly sweet. The one meat that I had to absolutely try according to the staff was the pork shoulder. If you are the owner or manager, I am so sorry for what I am about to say. The pork shoulder was one of the worst things I've ever had in a BBQ joint. It was a thinly sliced pork steak and it was inedible. I was unable to chew it because it was so tough and I couldn't cut it. It was closer to bacon and jerky than pork. I can't believe it was recommended to me to eat. How could a piece of meat that bad be recommended to me when the ribs were elite and the brisket was just better? The place was packed so I know people have to eat it but out of the 300 something BBQ joints I have reviewed on Yelp, the pork shoulder was among the worst things I've ever had on my plate. I absolutely could not eat it and it was more for the fact it was so hard to chew and eat. I really thought about giving Smokey Pig a lower rating but the fact of the matter is that the service was outstanding and everything else but the pork shoulder was really good. For that reason, I gave it a 4. But man, someone robbed me of the joy of eating pork after this one.

Just driving through and decided to stop here. Place was doing a steady business even at 2:30 in the afternoon. We had the pulled pork with baked beans and vinegar slaw. Food was great! My husband especially enjoyed the slaw. Service was great too.

Normally we love a good hole in the wall. Save yourself the stop. Disappointing BBQ. Reminded me of something bought premade at a grocery store that you reheat. Vinegar slaw and baked beans were ok. Best thing we had was the sweet tea. Service was quick.

Amazing BBQ, especially the sliced pork plate, twice dipped. Service was friendly and prompt. Highly recommend!

Assholes that overcharge for dry bbq. It smelt good driving past, don't know how they ruin it before it gets your plate. Super dry, not flavorful and I think next time I'll go for the local gas station BBQ.

I do not know how this got this amount of stars . I travel country and try every BBQ place there is where we I'm at . This was HORRIBLE . ...Brisket terrible and the sauce too sides werent good either ....terrible

They have good pulled pork, and shoulder. Everything else is eh... Store bought potato salad is the same everywhere.

The Bar B Q was amazingly, the meat was tender and flavorful, the staff was every bit of Southern sweet charming and made you feel right at home. I have had Bar B q across the states and this one goes on my top 5 favorites. I got the family meal only thing I wish is that with such great tasting food for the cost that the portions were larger to be a family meal

Food is good. The Mac and cheese is good along with the family platter. If it is busy you will have to park on the street. The place is fairly big

I cannot recommend this place enough. We have been going here FOREVER and everything we have tried is DELICIOUS. My personal favorite is the Mac and cheese (it's actually my favorite in Bowling Green). The people working here always know their stuff and are good at taking care of every customer quickly, even if you have a million questions. It's a typical BBQ joint, so fairly packed and very on theme decor, but I've never had an issue when we sat in. Our favorite thing to do is order the family pack and take it home, though!

Terrible I didn't even eat it going somewhere else for lunch this was precut rubbery meat

I trusted Yelp, but it missed the mark for me, compared to BBQ I've had elsewhere. The spot is small and family operated, which I liked. The menu is set up in the parking lot across from the order window. You have to know it's there or you'll miss it. Everything is cooked and ready to serve, so that gets the orders out fast, but how you store your BBQ defines the customer experience. This area needs improvement. Anyway, the mashed potatoes were the best item we had. Baked beans were good, but seemed like something out of a can. Mac-n-cheese was good. Pork chops were dry and brisket were dry and lacked the flavor expected from BBQ. Ribs were ok, but country style instead of baby back or spare ribs. The sauce is the key. The BBQ sauce was good, so I suggest putting it on the meats. I suspect that is what others do, which would explain the 4 and 5 star reviews. When we left, there was a line and a few tables outside filled up, so they are popular. The Yelp page only listed pork shoulder, 3 different ways, as the popular items. I should have tried that instead.

The food was awsome, If you like barbecue you can't go wrong. Next time I coming to town I will definitely go back.

Fantastic food! Super casual, order when you walk in, fast service & if you don't see your fork...it's in with your bread! Our first time here & we will be back. I had the pulled pork sandwich & my husband had the half chicken. Both were great!

Love their food. Always quick and tastes great. Good customer service. Pulled pork and shoulder are great

Was this the best BBQ I've ever had? No, but the customer service was so great that I wanted to come on here and tell you about it. We came in at 4:45 when they close at 5. They told us they plan on cleaning up and we could stay as long as we need to. Then they asked us if everything was good, asked if we needed refills, and made sure that we were taken care of. Food came out very quickly and everything was clean.

Darn great BBQ. Service is darn great. Ambience is darn great too. What a pleasure to eat local.

This is the place that never disappoints! Most restaurants you occasionally get a bad meal. Never at the Pig! I swear this place is the best family mom and pop food place in BG maybe in KY! Best flavor pulled pork, but if you ain't had the shoulder then you ain't livin!!! I'd post a picture but it was gone before I could think to get my phone out! You wanna cure your youngins from their whats'n snappy gram n tweeter then bring 'em down. They'll drop that phone and never look back.

The ribs and pulled pork were amazing. The mayo slaw and potato salad were unbelievably good. The atmosphere is picnic table that feels authentic and comes with paper towels and a couple slices of white bread. People were super nice. Defintiely stopping by the next time I roll through Bowling Green.

Everything was great, but my husband finally found moist brisket that wasn't over cooked.

Good food fast service. Had the shoulder, chicken,and pulled pork all great. They do sell out quickly on Tuesday because they are closed Sunday and Monday. Highly recommend

Smokey Pig is an excellent barbecue joint in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I've been to the restaurant a few times, and it's been a great experience every time. It's definitely not a sit-down or "fine dining" experience, but the quality of the food and service are so excellent that beats out many of the more upscale barbecue restaurants I've been to. The menu offers most of the standard items you'd expect at a barbecue place, and it's a great value for money as well. The portions are pretty massive, so come hungry! The real secret sauce of The Smokey Pig is literally in their sauce. Specifically, I'm talking about their hottest hot sauce. I believe it's vinegar based, and will absolutely light your mouth on fire! They offer a myriad of sides, including a couple of coleslaw options, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, etc. Keto/ Low Carb folks: I'd recommend getting the pulled pork plate, with both variants of coleslaw so you can try it out and see what you like!

Service: We arrived around noon on a Saturday, so it was pretty busy, but they kept the line moving so it wasn't too long of a wait. Think of it more like a fast-food wait time and less like a sit-down restaurant wait time. Staff was kind. Food: I ate the brisket. It was good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Probably would have been better with bbq sauce. I enjoyed the sides. My husband ate the double dipped pork shoulder which is spicy. He did not think it was too spicy but he likes spicy foods. He liked it but also wouldn't go out of his way for it. Seating: There is seating indoors if you would like. I found it a little chilly. We went outside and found some wooden picnic tables instead. There were a few large bees flying around, but they didn't bother me.

Brisket was just a bit too dry to be worth eating, and the pork ribs, which could have saved the meal, weren't quite enough. Sides were the epitome of generic execution. Nothing was bad, but absolutely nothing memorable or even particularly good about any of the four-- coleslaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, or the super-generic baked beans. I don't mean to knock this place too much, but this is the south, with really good BBQ joints on almost every corner. As hyped as this one is, I expected better.

The food was terrible. The barbecue wasn't better than mine on a Trager. Can't recommendLarge Pulled Pork Plate. Don't waste your money.

The food is great. The inside is tacky and out of date. They're closed on Monday which is an inconvenience to the people living in that area.

Great barbecue! Not too far from the corvette museum. Like all great barbecue places just a little place with great food, friendly service.

Safe pick not the best always ask for a tip which is weird for pick up i figured paying for the food was good enough .. meat is sometimes soggy if they over cooked for a lunch rush .. good bbq sauce

Smokey Pig is the epitome of hole-in-the-wall greatness! These are a few expectations that need to be set before you go: This is Monroe County style BBQ. This means: Don't go for the pulled pork, chops, brisket, or ribs. They are good but not where this place shines. Do go for the shoulder slices or smoked half chicken. Make sure you get it sprinkled (mild), dipped (med/hot), or double dipped (hot/extra hot). If you don't want the dipping sauce then don't bother to go (seriously). Don't be afraid to eat your shoulder slice or smoked chicken with your hands. It's just easier and you're going to get it all over your hands anyway. Be sure to get mashed potatoes so you can mix in some of your extra dipping sauce. It's awesome, trust me. If you dine in, sit in the back room by a window. You'll have a relaxing view of the river while you enjoy lunch. Finally, get sweet tea. Seriously, you're in a southern BBQ joint. Don't get a soda.

This is a BG staple and if you don't like it then I worry there might be something wrong with your buds. Everything's good and if you like it spicy, then ask for it double or triple dipped. As my dear friend Chris Beckley would say, "it makes my eyebrows sweat".

Meats are great some of the sides sucks customer service was really great would try this place again

Wonderful BBQ and sides. We used them for catering a rehearsal dinner and all of our guest loved their food. Everyone was pleased with the choice of side dishes. Excellent food!

Great food. Friendly staff. Catering order was well organized & packaging was top notch. We ordered a catering order for my son's going away party b4 leaving for deployment. Everything was perfect! Staff members loaded our vehicle up, which was so helpful & efficient!

We were in Bowling Green and decided to try this place based on their good reviews. What a disappointment! We both had the brisket. It was tough and the serving was small for $17.00. The baked beans were just canned pork and beans dumped on the plate. TERRIBLE! The potato salad was average. Skip this place!!

When you walk in it provides a small, hometown feel for a barbecue joint. The food was pretty good, service was good, but the price is a little steep. I would recommend for a couple but not a family.

Friendly staff and clean restaurant! Seems family operated as well. However, not very good BBQ. I would stick with pulled pork sandwich and some chips! If you are used to top bbq (like in Texas) you will be disappointed! We were just pass through! I have 3 stars for the friendliness, cleanliness, and family operated!

A legitimately awsome little bbq joint just slightly off the beaten path. My visit was during the time of COVID but the experience was none the less a great one. I tried the pulled pork dog and the pork plate with the mashed potatoes and beans. The pulled pork dog was basically a big pile of pulled pork on a hotdog bun served with a good sized tub of bbq sauce. The porknplatebwas 3 thinly sliced pieces of bone in pork that were grilled up, dipped in sauce and tossed on a plate. Mashed potatoes were flavorful red potatoes with the skin still in the mash. The only part that didn't seem home made was the beans, those were basically pork n beans.

Ok I do not like to leave bad reviews but was here on business from KC area and gotta tell you I was extremely disappointed with the Ribs !! Maybe they have other options that are better!

If you're looking for something off the highway, this is perfect. So good I would drive far to eat here!! Had the brisket plate and could not have been more happy! Great color! Had the medium sauce and it was wonderful!! Seriously wonderful! Portion size was perfect. Sides were amazing. Don't pass up the beans even if you don't typically get beans. My SO got the pulled pork plate and was really happy.

The ribs are out of this world!!!! Best place in BG. Large portions. Not a large selection of sides but what they offer is delicious

Family style BBQ. Best pulled pork and sauce I have had. Read reviews for days before picking this for dinner. My family and I all thought this was on point and is a MUST STOP if you are anywhere in the southern KY region. Employees were friendly and helpful, a line was formed and in place the entire time we were dining. Thank you for a wonderful experience, best dinner we had the entire vacation. Wish we lived closer than six hours away.

There's no question you have to stop at a restaurant offering the "best bar-b-q around." Knowing that every state offers a variation on barbecue, we were curious to learn what made Kentucky's worth eating. Driving up to a very small, dive-ish joint is always a great sign - they surely are cooking something great inside. The order window is just that: A window. There's not a ton on the menu. In our opinion, that's a good sign. Focus on doing what you do well and leave the fancy cooking to the other restaurants. You're a barbecue joint. I ordered the pulled pig sandwich with slaw and mac and cheese. The pork was tender and slightly vinegary - the same was true for the slaw. The mac was basic and unfancy. Good all around. My husband ordered the ribs with a side of beans and potato salad. The sides were standard - nothing special to report there. The ribs, however, were WOW. He hit the barbecue jackpot - tender rib meat, tasty sauce. Winner, winner, winner.

They're not allowing you to dine in at the current time but that's fine. They're doing what they need to do in order to stay open during this time. They give you plenty of food for the price and it's solid. They give it to you fast too, not much of a wait time. The name of the place is kind of iffy but it definitely is Smokey. The whole area is encased in smoke and you see shooting out of the building.