Smoking Kow BBQ

Smoking Kow is a solid small “shack-style” BBQ spot in Alexandria, and honestly, it delivers. The cashier was super knowledgeable and gave great recommendations without making us feel like we were being up-sold — just genuine, helpful guidance. The brisket? So. Good. The bark is beautifully smoky with a touch of sweetness, and it melts just right. The ribs are also on point — tender, flavorful, and definitely not dry. Coleslaw is good (personally, I think it could use a little more salt), but the potato salad? Perfect. Doesn’t need a single thing. Highly recommend swinging by if you’re passing through or already in the area. Great BBQ, great service, and totally worth the stop.

Great and friendly staff with quick service. Dined in for lunch, and I ordered the pulled pork with Mac n cheese with corn bread. It's a big dish, but just enough that I didn't feel too full. Overall good quality BBQ, it is pretty small on the inside but when we went still had room for my party of 5.

We only ordered takeout, so I can’t comment on service or atmosphere. We loved the ribs and the turkey—delicious! However, the burnt ends were a HUGE disappointment. They were so gristle filled that we couldn’t even chew them—see pics. I would suggest not wasting your money on these, unfortunately.

There’s some REALLY GOOD BBQ here!! Stopped in for lunch and was surprised to see how many proteins they offered on their menu, it reminded me of a real TX smokehouse, with a chalkboard style offerings list and so many options… they had everything except beef ribs! So, I opted for a half pound each of turkey, pulled chicken, and brisket. Also got a side of Texas Caviar. The side was really good, it’s basically a cold bean salad with a smokey, spicy sauce. The brisket was decent, but they cut me some off the fatty, point side, which isn’t my fav, but it was definitely moist and tender. It just had way more fat than I wanted. But that pulled chicken was some of the best I’ve ever had! Tender and very nicely seasoned! The turkey was great! The only better turkey I’ve had was at La BBQ in Austin (and I’ve had smoked turkey at many places in TX and KS.). Their sauces were decent, but all three were heavy on the vinegar, lite on the tomato…. Still, nicely seasoned. Service was great and the place, including restroom was very clean. Highly recommend stopping in!

The brisket is to die for! The cornbread is moist and sweet. The baked beans a seasoned perfectly. After I left, I can still smell the smokiness in my shirt, it’s the best cologne ever lol. Honestly I’ve started coming here every weekend, my family loves it, I feel like I’m back in Texas!

It's quite easy to drive past this little place. The food is delicious. The smoked beef brisket and the pulled chicken are divine, seasoned perfectly and every bite melts in your mouth. Don't go there and not try the sweet potato mash! It is out-of-this-world good! Every bite had me wondering what makes it so irresistible!

The BBQ meat itself and sides were good! Though the sauce was a bit watered down and I've had higher quality bread at other BBQ places. Also the AC seemed to be broken when I visited and the place was very hot and humid.

11/7/2024 -Kind customer service -They close at 8pm which I wasn't aware; no close time on their door -brisket ribs collard greens & baked beans. Everything was delicious! Personally I would want a bit more seasoning on everything except the baked beans. Baked beans had a mix of what looked to be kidney beans. Collard greens had a bit too much vinegar for me. Brisket was tender. I dont think they removed the membrane on the ribs & they were a but too tough for me.

Stopped in for a quick bite while nearby taking kids to activities. Picked up a pulled pork platter with cole slaw and baked beans, and they loaded me up with some extra sides too. Pulled pork: as good as good gets. Moist, flavorful, tender, big chunks with great texture and just the right amount of fat and smoke. Yum. Baked beans: sweet, hearty, thick sauce, little spice around the edges. Great textures and tastes. Coleslaw: crunchy, a little mustard zing in the dressing, creamy and fresh. A nice balance to the other flavors in my meal. Cornbread: moist and sweet, sturdy. Sweet potatoes: these are buttery and sweet like dessert, super flavorful, could eat the whole dish they're so good. Some of the absolute best BBQ I've had locally. High praise for the food and the service.

On a hunt for burnt ends and found Smoking Kow! Food: ordered the Burnt End Platter, comes with two sides and a piece of bread. Burnt ends were flavorful and not too tough. Potato Salad is a red skin rendition which I love! Sweet potato mash was good not too sweet, basically a baked sweet potato with a little butter and hint of sugar. All the bbq sauces are vinegar forward. Carolina gold more vinegar and less sweet than I'm used too. But I fill dipped in all three (Carolina Gold, Original, Chipotle) FYI: The collard greens and baked beans are cooked with pork, and I don't eat pork. I don't recall seeing that on the website if you order so be aware. Ambiance: there are three picnic tables inside to sit. However on the hottest day in 8 years (100 degrees) it was inferno inside. Great service describing the menu and helpful!

I searched up brisket near me and this place popped up. I'm glad I came! Customer service was good, ambiance was good. The aroma in and around this place is amazing. Pulled chicken: 10/10 A little cold but full of flavor. Nice Smokey taste good seasoning Brisket: 9/10 a little dry but tender and well seasoned Potato salad: 9/10 different than most potato salads but I really liked it Beans: 8.3/10 more like a chili bean mix than a traditional baked beans, but still very good Mac and cheese: 7/10 very creamy but not baked like I prefer. I could see someone rating a 10 Sauces Carolina gold: 9/10 more vinegar forward; not orange/gold like most are used to Overall 9/10 of experience. Will be returning!

Wow!!!! I takes a big set to open a bbq place so close to Rocklands but this place is amazing. We had the burnt ends and they were heavenly, no sauce needed, melt on your mouth kinda good. All the sides were delicious too and the service was top notch and super friendly. We will come back again!

Came here during our recent Virginia trip and was delighted to discover this place for a late lunch! We ordered a two meat platter with two sides. We ordered an extra side of sweet potato mash. The meats were flavorful and both sweet potatoes and coleslaw tasted freshly made. The cornbread and piece of toast were unfortunately dry but everything else was good! Even the array of sauces they have on the side!

Tried smoking kow with a coworker. We were left a little disappointed by the food - it smelled better from outside and we got our hopes up. The barbecue pork was a bit dry and sauces were not my favorite. The cornbread was lacking flavor and moisture. Mac and cheese was pretty good but nothing to rave about. The service was ok, not the most friendly but nothing outright wrong. I don't think I'll be recommending others to stop in any time soon, but it was decent.

I was a little disappointed about two things. The size of the brisket was only two and a half small slices. I smell the smoking favor from the brisket, but not as juicy as I expected. It was a little dry for me. Also, for $30 a meal, which is about right, but the portion was just too small. The side disks were ok. Since I ordered this during the weekday, so I don't know if the weekend will get a better service or not. Overall it was just ok for me.

Catered with this business for a graduation party. Everybody commented on how good the food was. Definitely recommend.

Ordered the ribs. Same spare ribs you get anywhere, not baby back ribs as advertised. Meat was tough. Had to tear it off then one with my teeth and then attempt to gnaw through it. Garbage. Sides were OK.

To find good BBQ, go outside D.C. into Riverdale (2Fiftys) or to Alexandria's Smoking Kow. After my daughter's swim lesson at nearby Goldfish, we picked up BBQ for our house. Ordering online, it www ready within 20 minutes on a Friday evening around 6:30 p.m. The platters are just under $20 but come with large portions and two sides. If you like crispy meat, try the burnt end platter. My housemate loved his brisket platter (ordered "moist") and my wife loved the pulled pork sandwich. The creamy mac and cheese with jalapeños were good but not spicy at all. The baked beans are untraditional but good. They have different BBQ sauces- original, chipotle, Carolina gold, and mumbo.

Too pricey, and the food is mediocre small portions. $18 for halfpound of burnt ends.

If I could leave more than 5 stars, I would! Not only was the inside clean and nicely decorated, the staff were welcoming and so friendly! The food was even better and considerably exceeded our expectations. Will definitely be making this a regular stop!!

We walked in and were greeted with super friendly staff who actually made us a small sampler to try a few things since we were here for our first time. Brisket was melt in your mouth, great Smokey flavor. Best grits I have EVER had, nice and cheesy and flavorful. Baked beans were my absolute favorite thing, not over cooked, not too sweet like some places do. The mix of beans was great, had a nice pop to them. SO glad we came, can't wait to come back!!

Food is amazing...however... tried to get information about catering or the food truck. We sent 4 emails and called 6 times, leaving three messages. Kept being told the owner would contact us... crickets.

I have to start by saying that I have not had the opportunity to taste the food here. With that, the customer service we have experienced has been awful. We ordered Brisket and a few other things on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We did this early, knowing they would sell out quickly for the holiday. We are also coming from Baltimore County, so we knew we had an hour drive to get there. They accepted our order and took our money. Hours later, we went to pick up our order to learn that a walk-in customer had come in and ordered all of their brisket (this is after they confirmed and took our money). We were disappointed that we had driven there to find out they had canceled our order. We did not receive a call, and they were actually about to close early. Had we arrived a few minutes later, the doors would have been locked, and we would have looked stupid. They told us that they would refund our money the next day. Okay, cool. We ended up finding another place that could accommodate us. It has officially been two weeks, and we have not received a refund. Someone has kept giving us the runaround with our refund hanging in the balance. We have been so disappointed with their customer service that there is no way we'll try the BBQ here.

Hi All- I'm giving this NC BBQ a five star rating. We carried out tonight. My daughter said when she was ordering at the counter, the young woman helping her was very professional and helpful and made good recommendations. What to order: Burnt ends were sold out by 6 pm. Order that, if you can. The beef brisket was awesome. If the burnt ends are out, then look at the brisket and the bbq chicken...and then the pulled pork. Brisket was really great so going all brisket is a smart move. Ribs were just okay. I'll probably skip the ribs next time. Sides: the caviar is great. Loved the spicy grits and the cornbread. The potato salad was great, with dill. Beans were great. The collards are nice and lots of vinegar. The Cole slaw is very tangy and vinegary. Yes. Go here. It's a great value. Hope my recommendations are helpful to you!

Just okay bbq. Brisket was dry, Mac n cheese lacked flavor. There are many better options for quality bbq.

Look at this sexy mfer. This was one of the options they offered at Snallygaster a couple of weekends ago, so both me and my boy got it. Brisket and macaroni and cheese (side note: theres a strong difference between macaroni and cheese and mac n cheese, and for the purposes of this review this is only at the level of macaroni and cheese). Two titans in the food game. Two trusted companions that have been battle tested and proven worthy of many bbqs and family gatherings. The macaroni and cheese was mid. Tasted like it came out of a box. BUT THAT BRISKET THO. The brisket transformed it from Kraft classic to moms secret recipe that you only get on special occasions. Not only did we praise it as we ate it, but we reminisced about it intermittently throughout the rest of the evening...like the deserts miss the rain, like fat kids love cake, like Kanye loves himself. I've only had smoking kow once before and I don't think that I got the brisket but oohwee, I know what im getting next when I go back.

A little hole in the wall that has good barbecue. I tried the pulled pork meal and I give it a thumbs up on taste. Not much in the way of parking spaces available in my opinion. Could use a slightly bigger parking lot for sure!!!!

After 30 years in the DMV, I'll wager Smoking Kow is one of the most authentic Texas-style BBQs in the DC metropolitan area. I would take Kow over Pork Barrel and Mission BBQ, the latter which I rate very highly. Sometimes, the difference between good and great is 10 degrees Fahrenheit. I had a decent experience last time even if the cool, tough ribs left me on the fence. But I knew there was something special about Smoking Kow - days after, my apartment still smelled like I'd been smoking meat myself! Even though I usually only eat BBQ once a year, and I was on my way to the auto shop to repair my busted window, I sat in ridiculous traffic to give it another shot three days later. What happened next was something you read about in business books. The owner recognized me after I ordered. Yes, I was that Yelp reviewer! She explained that the ribs I'd received last time had sat out by the cooling fan, and I could see on the table a large collection of paper cut-outs, which she explained were her introducing a new process with instructions for her staff in English and Spanish to ensure that sort of thing never happened again. As I ate, I overheard her coaching her staff about how to streamline the customer experience. This is the difference when an owner manages their business. Smoking Kow has been a neighborhood institution long before I came along. She could have easily disregarded my review, figured the ribs as a one-off accident. But she had the humility and initiative to turn feedback into immediate action. This is a deep lesson for me, and anyone else who also serves customers. As for today's visit - the brisket over mac was outstanding. It was once again incredibly smoky. In 30 years of living in the DMV, I've never had BBQ remotely like this. She pointed to the hickory logs outside and explained that they smoked their meat through and through, while most places grill or boil first, smoking only a bit to add flavor. My only quibble is the portion could've been a bit bigger - but I also get that actually smoking meat through takes much longer and is therefore more time/labor-intensive. Still - a bit more meat and I would've been absolutely over the moon. I hope my car gets fixed soon. If not, maybe I'll just walk the 30 min to Smoking Kow next time...

This is some of the best bbq I've ever had. Ribs were outstanding and sides were all a home run- especially the mac and cheese. Makes me want to move to Alexandria!

My experience at this restaurant was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I arrived until I left, I felt welcomed and pampered by the food and the service. Such a great bbq! I've been here twice, and both times were amazing. I love their smoked turkey and brisket. My favorite sides are their baked beans and sweet potato mash. And their cornbread is amazing. Everything I've gotten here has been great, and it's definitely somewhere I'd come back many times. I highly recommend it!

Tiny place but amazing BBQ. Can't go wrong with anything you order. If you want ribs and plain mac&cheese (only available on weekends) don't wait until the last minute. You can't expect them to throw great food away at the end of the day.

Great service. Great food. They even offered samples since I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to meat cuts. They are very nice, even speak spanish and the food is delicious. The ambiance is very clean and rustic but inside was a little bit hot. However, it is definitely worth and the price is absolutely reasonable.

New review: Sept. 29, 2023 HUGE thank you to Taylor, the smoke masters, and Diane of Smoking Kow! A friend of mine has a severe onion allergy, so I called ahead to see if there were any items she could have or should avoid. Taylor checked with the smoke masters in the kitchen (who are amazing as well) and determined they could accommodate the request. We had an amazing meal with delicious smoked meats and sides. It is such a treat to be able to come to places like this where folks like Taylor make such careful measures to assure an allergen-free dining experience. Thank you very much! And a heartfelt thank you to Diane who called later to follow up on my friend. We were happy to report that all was well and that we enjoyed our meal immensely. Smoking Kow and everyone who make it happen are outstanding professionals. Thank you!

I was introduced to this place on Friday have today (Monday) is my third time eating here. I fell in love with what I ordered- pulled chicken 9/10, cornbread 10/10, collard greens 8/10, baked beans 8/10, cheesy jalapeño grits 9/10 that I haven't ventured out more. But I've heard the brisket and Turkey are bomb as well. I highly recommend. Service was sweet and helpful too. Loved the food and the people.

I wish I could put 10 stars for this diamond. Stellar service and a genuine concern for the customer's experience. Not only did i love my order, I sampled the sides and meats my family ordered. All are 5 stars in my book!! Burnt ends Ribs Pulled Chicken Grit's perfection Mac and Cheese Collard Greens (and Im very particular) best and full of flavor Truly an exceptional place with exceptional staff. I'll be back!!!

We requested a delivery order to our Crystal City hotel... I ordered brisket (given lots of favorable reviews) with smoked turkey, sides of mac and cheese and the jalapeno grits. My wife opted for pulled pork, mac and cheese and cornbread. It was a disappointment. The brisket was not just dry, but large 1-1.5" hard, dry cubes that just tasted like dry overdone roast beef. The delivery order included just two forks, no knives (!) and two tiny half-full containers of a vinegary sauce. I could have made the brisket work if I could smother it in a heavier sauce, but with no sauce I finally gave up after eating maybe 1/3 of it. I cannot recommend the brisket and would not reorder it. OTOH, the smoked turkey breast was flavorful and tender and could be cut with a fork. By far the best thing we ordered, and the only thing that keeps it at three stars overall. My wife's pulled pork was moist but lacked seasoning, kind of meh. The cornbread was a sweet johnnycake version. The mac and cheese, as others have commented, is dominated not by cheese but by lots of garlic, and it still needed salt. The grits had a nice consistency, but were also heavily garlic-dominated with just faint nips of jalapeno pushing through. We did not finish any of the sides, except the cornbread. My advice: only order "moist" brisket for something edible, and don't order delivery from here! The lack of sauces gave no room for recovery. And... hope you like garlic!

After seeing this place as one of the top five BBQ places in the DMV, my husband knew he had to try! The place itself is small with little seating inside. We had our food for takeout any ways. But the interior isn't impressive. The BBQ and sides were pretty good. Their brisket was tender and the ribs had a good smoky flavor. Sauce was not needed for the meat. In terms of sides, I wasn't a fan of their collard greens. It had a bizarre sour taste, almost as if too much vinegar was added. I love their cornbread. It was crumbly and buttery. The mac & cheese was also good. I'm a fan of the cavatappi pasta shape.

Paid 21 bucks for this and must say it wasn't really worth it. In my experience burnt ends are supposed to be like meat candy, saucy, and falling, apart, tender! These on the other hand, we're very tough and chewy. The macaroni tasted like the cheese has curdled or maybe I just don't like the texture and how they make the mac & cheese. The collar greens were ok. Next time I'm just going to go to famous Dave's with the Burtons are way, better quality, and even cheaper.

I love their food, but had a frustrating experience today. I wouldn't recommend ordering delivery via Uber eats or other delivery companies. And before anyone says people shouldn't use these, some of us have small children and/or are sick. So, we don't have a choice. I searched the Alexandria curbside dining group to find the best suggestion for Carolina style bbq sauce. Multiple ppl suggested here. I've ordered from here many times so decided that was the answer to my craving. I'm sick and that was the only thing I could think of that sounded good. So I ordered. I ordered a platter and noted I would like the bbq that is vinegar based/Carolina style. I then put it in the general comments. I got no bbq sauce. Nothing against their meat, but part of enjoying bbq is the sauce. At least for me. So now I am making my own sauce. If they don't have bbq sauce anymore, then that would be weird. If you do, can you please add it to the online ordering menus. I don't mind paying, but also would have assumed a $21 platter Of meat would come with at least one kind of sauce.

Great BBQ in Alexandria! We got the moist brisket platter with Mexican street corn salad and beans, and a half rack of ribs with coleslaw and mac&cheese. Food was so quick to come out, and while we waited we were given a sample of the grits which were also SO good (will be ordering grits next time). The brisket was tender and paired well with the original and mambo bbq sauce. Ribs were also tender and seasoned well. Our favorite sides were the beans and street corn salad (seasonal). Coleslaw was also good. Mac and cheese was okay, but we didn't get the jalapeño mac&cheese so we'll try that next time. Portions were generous and we were super full by the end. Service was great and we will 100% be recommending Smoking Kow to our friends and family.

We ordered brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, greens, baked beans, potato salad and cornbread. The experience was very mixed. Pros: The meat was very good. Both the ribs and the brisket were flavorful and tender. Probably some of the better restaurant bbq meat I have had in awhile. In addition, the portions are generous. We ordered two platters and probably had enough for four people. Cons: The sides were pretty bad, especially if you have actually had good southern food. Everything had a strong vinegar taste. The greens were the worst, the vinegar taste was so overpowering they were almost inedible. The baked beans didn't taste like any beans I've had--the sauce they were cooked in had a charred vinegar taste. The potato salad also had a vinegar taste and the cornbread was dry and flavorless. The mac and cheese may have been the best part simply because it didn't taste like vinegar, but the quality of the cheese wasn't excellent. Bottom line: I liked the meat and would get it again. However, I would get takeout and just make my own sides at home.

Really enjoyed the smoked Turkey and brisket! Portions are definitely hefty. Excited to try the burnt ends next time, they water out when we stopped by

Excellent brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs! All of the sides are amazing, the grits being my favorite! The staff is friendly and accommodating and seating area is comfortable and clean. Well done Smoking Kow!

This hidden gem is a must-visit for all BBQ enthusiasts seeking affordability, friendly service, and most importantly, mouthwateringly seasoned meats. I ordered the Mac N' Meat - Pulled Chicken, while my boyfriend opted for the Platter - Brisket (Moist) accompanied by Texas Caviar (bean salad) and mac. The flavors that awaited us were absolutely delightful! The Mac N' Meat - Pulled Chicken was a true standout. The macaroni and cheese was rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. It perfectly complemented the tender, juicy pulled chicken. The portion size was so generous that I couldn't even finish my chicken--talk about value for money! My boyfriend's Platter - Brisket (Moist) was a true carnivorous delight. The brisket was beautifully smoked, resulting in a tender and succulent texture that practically melted in our mouths. The combination of the Texas Caviar and Mac as sides added a refreshing and satisfying touch to the platter. Every bite was a harmonious symphony of flavors. To top off our amazing meal, we couldn't resist trying the apple sodas, which were the perfect cherry on top. The refreshing and crisp taste of the apple soda provided a delightful contrast to the rich flavors of the barbecue. It was a refreshing and unique beverage choice that truly enhanced our dining experience. The friendly and welcoming staff made our visit all the more enjoyable. The girl who took our order was incredibly warm and hospitable, ensuring that we felt right at home. The exceptional customer service provided an added layer of satisfaction to an already fantastic meal.

Absolutely delicious and the service was amazing. Food came out quickly. They also support those who have served in the military with a nice discount. I'll definitely be coming back for more.

4/5 out of town. I had their fatty brisket and man, it was juicy, smoky with a crisp outside, and complimented with all the right flavors in their sauce variety. Stopped by here after wasting an hour of my life at the DMV across the street. It was such a pleasant surprise to discover this small but mighty BBQ spot; I forgot I had the life sucked out of me at the DMV. Corn bread was delicious and there Slaw was fresh and tasty. I hate slaw thats just drenched with heavy cream bases. Theirs was just right. Worth a visit.

. Went in around an hour and 30 mins after opening and they didn't have brisket in stock. I ended up optioning for burnt ends which when i opened my box, majority of the box was 3/4 fat. Paid $25 for mostly fat, macaroni soup, and some beans that i couldn't finish.

I felt like I was scammed... First, The waitress answered the phone with unbelievable indifferent tone of voice. Second, this place has moved, but their Yelp page for Arlington location is still working! After we realized that it's not where we always went to, we refer to the address on Yelp page and it directed us to a residential neighborhood, totally wrong address! What's more... when we called back, the line was never available! I called like 7 times... and they charge you in advance! Apparently things like this happen so often that they feel they have to secure the money in advance! But why don't you guys update your Yelp page, provide a correct address and remind your client over the phone upon ordering? Super disappointed, and now I even feel like I'm scammed!!!

I'm giving a 3 because I'm feeling generous. I'm really confused how all ratings are 5 stars: perhaps this is the best in the area? The ribs were ridiculously dry, like flaking off the bone dry in shreds, and flavorless. The brisket was like tough meat cubes, again, lacking flavor. The chicken was actually alright but nothing to write home about. The sides were just meh. Definitely not a place I'd come back to or recommend to friends. If you do decided to get food from here, they are sold out of most of their meats by 6pm.

This food was so so good and the best was so tender. Definitely the best bbq joint in town!

Came here with my 22 yr-old son on a Monday at 3pm. Ordered the Burnt Ends and Brisket platters that are each served on jalapeño Mac-n-cheese. The meats were mouth-watering tender and so flavorful and smoky, reeking of authentic pure barbecue cooking. Don't ruin your meat with adding sauce - that would be blasphemous! Real barbecue doesn't need sauce just so you know for you novices. Don't get me wrong, we tasted the sauces alone just to try them, and they were all very flavorful. We also ordered sides: potato salad, bbq beans, and sweet potato mash - all fresh, moist and delicious. If you are a meat eater, I would recommend ordering meat by the pound as the platter meals we ordered are not heavy on the meats. This is a mom and pop joint. There are three long picnic tables and one shorter one. You order your food at the register from a menu written on a blackboard. The gentlemen taking our order was so courteous and helpful I left wanting to give him a hug. The "napkins" are a role of paper towels that is at your table. The food is brought out to you in a metal tray with all the items in their respective paper containers. You have to get up and serve yourself the sauces and fetch your plastic utensils. The place is clean, simple and cozy. Drinks are bottled water, canned tea, juices and beer. The parking is somewhat cramped, but don't let that deter you. This place is definitely worth the visit!!!

Good flavor to the brisket. I prefer a slab of it. They gave chunks. The sample of grits & beans were good too. The mac Cheese was way to runny. Dining area needed tightened up. There were delivery boxes laying around. Staff was very friendly. Slaw was very good. So we're the homemade sauces.

The staff is super friendly and the food is tops. My new favorite spot for ribs. I'll have to come back with friends next time

We went for lunch to-go and surprisingly I disagree with a lot of the reviews below. I thought the sides were delicious. The cornbread was not dry at all and was sweet without being too overpowering. The grits were a little watery for my preference (I like them very sticky just for reference) but the taste was really good and a little spicy. I thought the collards were absolutely delicious. Slightly sweet but slightly tangy. I did grow up on more vinegar based collards so perhaps that's why but I didn't find them too vinegary at all. My husband's descriptive review of the coleslaw on his sandwich was that it "tasted like coleslaw" so sorry for no further descriptor on that. The brisket on the other hand was dry in my opinion. The pieces with the burnt ends were absolutely delicious and moist but few and far between, mostly dry. I was disappointed since I normally don't use bbq sauce, but used the ones provided and really liked the bbq sauce. Also felt like the proportions were good for the price. Would try again perhaps for one of the family packs.

Food - excellent - tried the ribs and burnt ends. Both were cooked /smoked just right. The meat was flavorful and you could pull it from the bone easily. The beans, potatoes and mac n cheese were also quite good. Limited quantities- recommend you go early. Coke products served. Service - friendly, professional and fast. Ambience - picknic table seating - you get the feeling you are at a backyard BBQ.

Get ready for some awesome meat sweats! We've been eyeing this place for a few years and finally decided to stop in for lunch. When we walked in we could smell the smoker, mmmmm. We got a couple of the platters with brisket, burnt ends and pulled pork. For the sides we got cornbread, tx caviar, jalapeño mac and cheese, baked beans, jalapeño cheese grits and collard greens. The food was AMAZING! I'm from the middle of the country and bbq is a serious business. I've never had bbq this good on the east coast. All the meats were extremely tender with a perfectly smoked flavor. The sides were super tasty. Best baked beans and grits I've had in a long time. Loved that we could eat inside, because it doesn't look like it from the road. Diane was super welcoming. Hats off to the Pit Master and the whole team. We will be making this our go-to BBQ joint. I would attach a picture but we ate it all, haha.

Wow! Smoking Kow BBQ is the real deal. This place is amazing and the team here makes you feel like home. Taylor took great care of us tonight . If you want the best BBQ you need to come to Smoking Kow BBQ in Alexandria.

awsome food and staff perfect located in alexandria near old town i will come back soon