Smokin Yard's BBQ

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25 to 8.5/10 and Yes. This is the original location, with a second located in Denver. Situated right off the exit for Idaho Springs, Smokin' Yards is a nice little pit stop either going to or coming back from the mountains. Situated along Clear Creek and the main drag in Idaho Springs, the place was pretty full when we walked in following a hike with our dogs. As soon as you enter, you place your order at the front counter and take a seat in the front, or you can head to the back if you want your dogs to join along. In terms of the food, everything we had was pretty tasty overall, with a solid floor but also a lower ceiling on the flavors. That said, it was certainly busy and popular with the locals for a reason, and is a safe and reliable BBQ option for anyone traveling through. Worth making a stop if in the area and craving some smoked meats. Full review at The House Of Salt & Smoke

Place is super Cozy and well all LOVED the food here. Felt well made and very local. Staff was friendly parking available and prices are good for what you get. Baby back ribs are great but my favorite was the pulled pork and add some of their BBQ which is AMAZING. Place feels a bit small but people come and go fast so you don’t have to wait much longer

Came here with my family and everyone loved it! Huge portions, fresh food, and authentic BBQ flavor. The staff made us feel welcome, and the food came out fast and hot. Absolutely delicious BBQ! The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, and the brisket was packed with smoky flavor. Portions are generous, sides are amazing, and the staff is super friendly. Hands down one of the best BBQ spots in the area. Highly recommend! 🔥🍖

Had Brisket and Half chicken, turkey was sold out by 6pm. Brisket a tad dry but good, the half chicken was very good. Sweet potato fries done well, spicy coleslaw is made with Sriracha, its good too. Beans good. The sauces were the disappointment. 3 on the table, 2 were liquid, and 1 on the saucy side was too sweet for me. Chipotle spicy was good.

I stop for barbecue whenever I get the chance. A friend told me about Smokin Yards, so my wife and I stopped enroute to Breckenridge. What a great find! My wife is not usually a barbeque fan, but she loved her pulled pork with fries. I had the chopped brisket with macaroni and cheese. On both sandwiches, the generous portions of meat were moist but not fatty. The meat had nice but not overpowering smoke. The fries were crisp and well seasoned. My macaroni was warm and creamy. The price for our meal was a bargain. The service was friendly and prompt. The dining room was small, so we're glad we arrived in the front end of the lunch rush. We'll be back!

What a cozy little mountain town! A local friend brought our group of 5 here on a Friday evening before we hit a hot spring. The atmosphere is cozy, staff were very sweet, service is quick. Food was delicious!! It was a great way to settle in our first evening of the trip in the mountains.

Favorite After Hike BBQ along I-70 Cooridor. Brisket is always delicious! Even my pitbull Sophia loves this place! Staff always greet her with love and treats. Dogs welcome on patio!

Stopped by Smokin Yards BBQ after an epic day of white water rafting to celebrate my birthday, and wow—what a flavor-packed feast! The smoky, tender ribs and juicy brisket hit the perfect note after all that adrenaline. Laid-back vibe, friendly crew, and the kind of BBQ that sticks with you—in the best way possible. If you’re craving authentic, mouthwatering BBQ after outdoor adventures, this local gem is the spot to fuel your fun and keep the good times rolling!

Smokin' Yard BBQ Delivers Big Time! If you're craving some of the best BBQ around, look no further than Smokin' Yard BBQ. I had the brisket and Mac & cheese, and let me tell you, it was next-level good. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just the right amount of smoky flavor. Perfectly seasoned, juicy, and with a beautiful bark, it's easily one of the best briskets I've ever had. And the Mac & cheese? Creamy, cheesy, and absolutely indulgent. It's that perfect comfort food you didn't know you needed to pair with BBQ. Together, it's a match made in BBQ heaven! The staff is friendly, and the laid-back atmosphere makes it the ideal spot to enjoy a good meal. Do yourself a favor and head over to Smokin' Yard BBQ--you won't be disappointed!

We stopped here on our drive from Denver to Steamboat Springs a big were we blown away! We enjoyed (read: devoured) the pulled pork sandwiches and my kids loved the Sloppy Joes. I really appreciated their variety of sides and that they had a salad option (this is so uncommon for a BBQ joint) to balance everything out. There is ample seating and we highly recommend the back porch! After eating, we walked down the steps to check out the river and dip our feet in. So serene!

Stopped here from my annual trip to the west coast to visit the sonic here and for sonic burrito week, also udaho springs, CO has multiple sonics :) The review is for the food as much as the service. The woman at the counter taking orders told me they had everything still available and when I asked about the here ends they said of course. So I'm waiting for my takeout order and in walks an Asian lady who looked grumpy and stupid. She asks for a recommendation and he recommends the burnt ends. She begins complaining anyway because they weren't wearing masks. None the less they still serve her and don't lose their temper. Apparently everybody can order burnt ends!? FYI, we ordered Fries, meat plate, and wings. All amazing along with the sauces. None of the people at the smoking yards bbq were wearing masks which pretty much tells you how MAGA this place is

Nice little spot if you are headed to the Mountains. Friendly service, full bar backed by some really good BBQ! I will make this a regular stop on the way home.

Great BBQ also great sides. Highly recommended for the ribs!! Wonderfully smoked and tasted perfect. Very small restaurant but great food.

Great BBQ place with counter service, bar, and patio. It was quite busy when we came for lunch but came back for dinner. Super surprised about the very reasonable prices, super tender and tasty meat, and friendly staff. Definitely would come back.

Normally when I drive by smoking yards there is a line out the door and the place is totally mobbed, but the weekend after Labor Day it was surprisingly dead so we decided to head in for lunch. Ordered the pulled chicken and pork along with a couple kids Mac and cheese and everything was great. Grabbed a table in the back on the patio and was shortly greeted with our refreshments. The buns on their sandwiches are large and soft which makes for a big meal when paired with a side. Always like to call out restaurants who take care of the kids and their Mac and cheeses were delicious. The back patio is dog friendly with only one confrontation occurring. Menu is typical to a BBQ place with a large selection of sides which the fried pickles were delicious.

This place is so popular, we got in a short line to order but when I turned around there was a long line behind us. The service was very good, order taken quickly & correctly. Sat down and food & drinks were delivered shortly. The staff were very efficient serving and cleaning as they go. Fortunately there are so many great BBQ places in Colorado. We tried the pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends & ribs with Mac & cheese, onion rings and coleslaw. All were good, my favorite was the burnt ends (always my favorite). The 3 sauces in the squeeze bottles tasted very similar & the bottle was more vinegar. I like the thicker BBQ sauces. Excellent service & clean environment for a very busy place serving inherently messy foods.

Holy cowwww the bbq slapped! My brother and I got the sliced beef brisket sandwiches, one with a side of Mac n cheese and another with a side of creamed corn. The sandwich was amazing. The bun was buttery and crispy, the brisket was flavorful and tender. There were 3 different sauces, either sweet, bold, or spicy. All of em were good. My family's favorite was the sweet sauce. Mac n cheese was okay, tasted kind of bland. The creamed corn was actually grinded down, which I've never seen before! The texture reminded me of grits, but it still had the same delicious flavor of creamed corn I've had before. Service was alright, nothing too special. Only time we really interacted was when we paid for the food and then when we had to ask for bread, pickles, and onions on the side for the pound of sliced beef brisket my mom and dad ordered. Not sure how people like to eat their bbq, but they were going to serve the meat just by itself. They provide very little portions of onions and pickles. Small parking lot in front! Wasn't too busy when we went.

Everyone is incredibly friendly you can even get a table overlooking the river. the food here is amazing as the value some of the best barbecue I've had. The ribs were delicious. The slow cooked pork fantastic baked beans. Tasty delicious the chicken great the sweet tea with a fresh squeeze. Lemon was really good . If you're in this area you Should definitely stop here.

You order when you walk up and then can take a seat. This made the ordering process super easy. You can choose where you sit and have option of inside or outside--the outside area was nice. We got the pulled pork sandwich and smoked hot wings and they were both sooooo good. You could tell the pork was crispy on the outside bits and was juicy. Had 3 options for bbq sauce. The wings are smoked so a little different but super flavorful and crisp. The mac n cheese was fine but nothing special. Overall, this place is a great spot to hit for quick, good food and will absolutely be back here!

This was a chance try while traveling on vacation. We were in the mood for meat and were not disappointed. The spicy slaw will make your nose run. Ribs were a bit dry but the biten bold sauce did the trick. We'll be back well worth the price and stop. Really friendly service and a mountain Cafe feel.

Stopped by this place with my family after a day in the mountains. We had a big crowd, and everyone was starving. With a mix of adults, teens, and kids everyone had no trouble finding something they loved on the menu. This place was the real deal when it came to BBQ. We are from out of town and loved how small and quaint the place was. We were treated like family from the time we stepped in the door. Service was fast and friendly, and the food was amazing. Authentic BBQ smoked and served fast and fresh. We got pulled pork, ribs, and pulled chicken and between our big group covered almost every side they served! Everything was delicious. I would not hesitate to stop here with a big group or solo. The food, service, and atmosphere will not disappoint!

Decent BBQ in the Denver area but I do love throwing the BBQ sauce on there to make it juicier. Got really fun vibes inside as well as a BBQ joint should. Like most BBQ places getting burnt ends is difficult /gotta be early for that.

I mean...it's aight. Admittedly I think I'm a little biased being from Kansas City and having so many outstanding bbq options. Compared to that, meh. Pork and brisket were fine. Ribs were a bit tough, and the sides weren't great. If you're hungry after a long day on the mountain sure. Wouldn't go outta my way tho. 3.1

This place was delicious! We loved the pulled pork sandwiches and our girls enjoyed their corn dogs. The service was fast and friendly. Very casual place, but an awesome spot!

Eh.... Maybe I'm just spoiled living in Texas. We tried the brisket, links, and pulled pork. The brisket had little to no smoke ring and the fat wasn't melt in your mouth succulent- kind of hanging on like a steak. The links didn't have the snap you'd expect from the casing, but the flavor was fine. The pulled pork was fine. The cream corn was different, more like a flash grind on the corn with some cream. Not bad, just kind of OK. I really liked the sauces, and the staff was very friendly, and the service was good. It may be good for Colorado, but this place would go out of business south of the red river.

I remember stopping here back in the 1970s, on our way back to the city from the slopes. It was always jammed but worth the wait. I'll get the negative part of my review out first: my friend ordered the baby back ribs and did not realize that she received the St. Louis ribs until she began eating. She was too embarrassed to say anything until we arrived home. Both her daughter and I ordered the Carolina pulled pork sandwiches with fried pickles. They were outstanding, way more food than I expected, however, I did not have a problem finishing most everything on my plate. Five stars for this dish! I was not impressed with my previous order a couple of months ago (a sliced brisket sandwich). The meat was tough and tasteless, even when I added their bbq sauce. Now I know what to and what not to order whenever I'm in the area. The dining area is small but clean.

Service was terrible. Waitress was rude off the bat and repeatedly ignored us. The bbq sandwich was good. It was really the bbq that made it delicious. The mac and cheese was very bland which was disappointing because it's supposed to be "southern". There is plenty of seating inside and the person tending the bar seemed nice, especially when she was going to help us out when she noticed our waitress was ignoring us. I'm not sure if I would give this place another try.

Rip off tourist trap !!! No locals in here only tourists. Fought with flies for the whole lunch. The light fixtures looked like a fly hatchery. The two meat and one side was exactly what you get and not much of it for $21.00 plus tax. I had to ask for bread and the waitress that looked like a bull dyke got rather nasty. The brisket and pulled pork were rather tasteless you could smell smoke outside but the smell didn't carry over to the meat or the portion was so small there was no flavor. Go somewhere else !!!

The overall 4.5 star reviews is why we chose this spot for lunch.....great service, but the food was sub par. If you like the taste of liquid smoke, this is your place. Ambiance, was good...rustic with picnic tables by the creek.

Food was fast and delicious. Service was great. Every person we encountered was friendly. Prime rib sandwich, sliced brisket and baked beans were the highlights. Definitely will be back.

I got the brisket, fried okra and spicy slaw. To be honest the brisket was a little dry for my taste but the BBQ sauces was good and the rest of it was good.

First: I am a full on Texas BBQ snob. Second: I am consistently disappointed by CO BBQ. Finally: This place is GREAT! The smoke wings are OH-mazing!! Best BBQ beans and spicy slaw anywhere! Good ribs, descent brisket (which, from me, is high praise). On off days the meats can be dry, but still passable.

All of the visit to this place which is new to us, was phenomenal! There was a really long line when entering however, the wait might have been only about 5 mins! The people are lovely and the food is AMAZING! Also in my opinion, the ribs are perfectly cooked!

Barbecue is one of my favorite go-to meals when dining out, and being from KC, I've had my share of BBQ. Smokin' Yards definitely rivals some of my KC go-to's in Idaho Springs. The chicken was smoked and cooked juicy and tasty and the St. Louis style ribs are mouth watering. I tried the potato salad, baked beans, Mac 'n Cheese, and sweet potato fries sides and they were all very good. Order when you come in, find a seat and get ready for some good eating. I'll be back!

Pretty cute place with league average BBQ. Got a good Carolina BBQ sandy and a couple decent sides. Nothing amazing but left satisfied. 3 star food, 4 star vibe/location

Love this place. I enjoyed the back patio on the river. Food is great, and one of the only places I've found in CO that serves fried okra. And the Mac n cheese is also fantastic!

I'm going to give this place a two review only because it has such high reviews, which I don't agree with. The food is fine. The service is awful. Took a long time for my brisket sandwich to come out and people are very grumpy that worked there. Should be called. In particular there was this one lady I think her name was Lolita or Maria and she was just a snarl just a grouchy bee probably won't go back. Definitely not the best barbecue I've ever had certainly not the best experience I've ever had 1450 for a sandwich go somewhere else

Their BBQ has a nice smoked flavor. It was a bit dry but still good. The pulled pork sandwich was definitely lean. Some places chop up the fat into it and the bark and you get a lot of undesirable bites. Their pulled pork sandwich didn't have any of that filler. It was lean with a nice smoked flavor. The fried catfish wasn't as crispy as I like but that's a personal preference. The catfish wasn't fishy but actually didn't have much flavor. Their French fries are good. I preferred them over the sweet potato fries and it's usually the opposite for me. Their baked beans are tasty. Best of the sides we ordered. Their cole slaw was yummy with enough dressing on it but not overdressed as some cole slaws. It was seasoned well. The potato salad was too creamy for my taste. It needed more mustard and/or salt. We ordered ribs, chicken and sliced brisket. The ribs were good but not juicy. The brisket was the same way. The chicken was the highlight of these 3 protein selections. Overall, the meats had a delicious smoked flavor. Assortment of sides to choose from was good. Many of the sides were a tasty accompaniment to the meals. The woman at the front counter was polite. For as much as we ordered, it came out in a timely manner. Definitely recommend this restaurant and I would go back.

This place has a ton of reviews and that's how you know a good BBQ joint, along from the long-ish line around 3pm. I came here before going to the Indian Hot Springs and it was great! The lady at the front was super welcoming and helped me pick something good for me. I ordered the pork brisket and pulled pork with chili and green beans on the side. I think they purposely don't add much salt to things so you can add it to taste yourself, so beware. The BBQ sauces were delicious and the meats were tender and great. Next time I'd love to try the BBQ ribs. I also wish they had a smaller platter where you got to try it all out a little bit.

For what seems like the middle of nowhere, there's a pretty darn good BBQ joint. The restaurant is deceptively big with a large patio dining area out in the back. The service is quick and our food came out pretty quickly. For two hungry dudes, we split a four meats, three sides combination and I thought that might've been too much food. The brisket was super tender and probably my favorite meat. The ribs (St Louis and Baby Back) were good but I didn't think it was the best I've ever had; not all of the ribs came right off the bone. The sides were your typical sides. If you get fries, it comes with a pretty large portion. The mac n cheese was probably my favorite side. As you're driving through Idaho Springs and want to grab a bite to eat, Smokin' Yards is a great option.

A classic BBQ spot. I stopped here on a Wednesday evening and it was not crowded at all. The pork was dry for my liking. Not cooked wrong, I just prefer a juicier version, the yummy sauces helped.

Everything about this BBQ joint is outstanding. The service was amazing and the baked beans were the best I've ever had. We're so thankful we happened upon Smokin Yards BBQ. We highly recommend the pulled port and ribs.

HOLY SMOKES (literally)! We were recommended to come here after our whitewater rafting trip in Idaho springs. It DID NOT disappoint! We ordered an array of things based upon the gentleman taking our order. The pics don't do it justice and all the sauces were great as well! The baked beans, probably the best I've had... also the wings!! And I don't even eat chicken wings

A small mountain town favorite for locals but for out of towners a disappointment to the pallet. After a ski trip we stopped by to get some food for our ride home. The staff was kind, friendly and accommodating and took our orders swiftly. We found a table in the modestly decorated interior that seemed low budget. The food came out warm and smelt deceptively delicious. I had the brisket sandwich with mac and cheese. The brisket was dry and empty of seasoning, flavor, and enjoyment. The condition of the brisket couldn't be remedied by any amount of BBQ sauce. The bread of the sandwich was basic and not in much better condition of the brisket. The only saving grace of the meal was the mac n' cheese and its mediocrity. Maybe I got a bad brisket section or should have ordered something else, but the fact was that is place was a mountain of disappointment and I recommend others to ride the slopes to a better place to eat.

D; Some of the best bbq In Colorado all with great personal service. This place is a must come. T; Absoluty amazing, you will be impresses with the careful arangment and mix of flavors, even the spicy coleslaw raised my eyebrows, These guys know their bbq......a must visit!

We went here while waiting for our Argo mine tour. We are from NC so we know BBQ. It smelled good the moment we pulled up. The pulled pork was nice and juicy. The hot links were great, not too spicy. I wish they would have had sloppy Joe's this day. They didn't have the Carolina mustard sauce out. I should have asked to try it. As for the sides, the cream corn was very good. Also enjoyed the fried pickles. Great BBQ for the CO mountains.

AMAZING!! We picked our meals but the cashier told us how the smoked prime rib so we both changed and got prime rib. The Mac and cheese was amazing. The prime rib was perfect. The slaw was fresh. Trying to plan our trip to have SMOKIN YARD again.

On the road and this is the place for great BBQ. My brother that lives in Colorado recommended and I love it.

Great BBQ! We always stop by Smokin Yards on the way home from the mountains. Service is great and the food is awesome!

We ordered two meat one side. We asked if we could substitute a side for onion rings. Gal said yes for an up charge. Gal rang up the onion rings for the same cost as a basket of rings. I said that up charge is the same as the basket. She said that is how it works. I was baffled. Why not allow rings for a small upcharge covering the difference of a substitution?

Amazingly delicious food! Highly recommend upgrading to baby back ribs. Wife and I (and almost 3 year old son) split a 4 meat combo. Added side of fried pickles on top. Finished it all! Great place to stop by on the way to / from vail area.

Stopped into this restaurant for a quick lunch and was blown away! Probably the best BBQ I've ever had. Had the pulled pork sandwich with fried okra and baked beans. It was all amazing. Oh and the sweet tea was awesome too. Wish I had room in my stomach to try more. Oh and the staff was all super friendly. If I'm ever back in the area I will make a point to stop here!

The food is okay, great fried pickles, okra, Mac and cheese. Usually out of chopped beef early.

Beat BBQ I've had in a long time, anywhere. We tried the half slab of ribs & a Carolina pork sandwich. Both were phenomenal.

Great BBQ in the Mountains! Great Service. Get the Fried Okra and Mac and cheese with your moist Brisket! You will not be disappointed!

If you're looking for something quick this will do. Sweet tea was very sweet. Chicken and brisket was decent but not much of a smoke flavor to it. Green beans were a little heavy on the butter. Sauce was good. Excellent t service and food came out quick and hot.

Best brisket I've had outside of Texas! Everyone enjoyed their items on the back patio.