The Smoke

I cannot say enough about the wonderful experience my family and I had at this location. We visited Finn Hall as part of our Reunion group tour on a rainy Friday afternoon. It was awesome!! I chose Finn Hall because I saw the amazing videos of this BBQ, and it did not disappoint. The staff was extremely friendly, helping us order and even coming out to share all the amazing things they are doing around the area. (i.e. food trucks, and catering opportunities) My son (8 y.o.) is a self proclaimed brisket judge. Like most kids his age he does not forget to share when he dislikes a place. Well no worries here, He LOVED his brisket sandwich, even using his own money to pay for it. (all parents know how big that is) I had to stop him from bringing one home, I let him know we could come back anytime! What more can I say except see you soon!! Get the brisket ready!! Check out some photos of this happy staff, and my son & I placing our order!

This was THE Best food I’ve had in a long time! The chef greeted us as we walked up, and assured that we would love whatever we chose. He told the truth!! The lady working the front was very helpful in making our decision and the food did NOT disappoint!! So tender and delicious!! 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend!! The next time we’re in the Houston area we will definitely be back!

I tried the pork ribs, and they were excellent—smoky, tender, and full of flavor. The portion was generous, and there are plenty of sides to choose from, I opted for the salad. The server was friendly and attentive, even offering complimentary drinks while we waited for our food. Overall, it was a satisfying meal with good service and hearty portions.

This is definitely a spot to keep your eye on! The staff, including the owner, will go out of their way to make sure every patron has an exceptional experience. They are especially helpful when it comes to dietary restrictions. All the flavors are unique and delicious, and every bite was a new adventure. My top two favorite items were the mac and cheese and the peach cobbler, with the loaded fries a close third. My best friend, a fellow Memphis transplant, loved the sausage and slaw most. Truly, there is an abundance of delicious options to choose from. I look forward to seeing how the flavors and offerings expand and develop! There's no way this place can't succeed! *Heads up - this is inside Finn Hall, so there is no direct parking closeby*

Not only was the food amazing, the customer service was amazing! I had no idea what I wanted the server and the cook help us out. They were very friendly and honestly I’m debating about coming back tomorrow! I had the chicken loaded fries. Amazing!! Oh yeah with a mango lemonade, made by the cook, he was amazing!

Came in with pretty low expectations considering it was a food court, but ended up having some of the best Texas BBQ I've ever had. The brisket was good but the fall-off-the-bone pork ribs were divine! Not just the meat but the simple sides tasted great too! The beans and spaghetti specifically 👌 Edit: We came back a second time and the ribs were very mediocre, I think a lack of consistency is an issue.

🔥 The Smoke BBQ at the Farmers Market - a pop-up gem! 🔥 Missing that classic storefront? No worries! The Smoke is still bringing Texas BBQ heat, popping up at markets around Houston. Caught them at the Farmers Market in The Heights, 714 Yale Ave, and wow—this is a BBQ experience not to miss! 🥩 Brisket: Perfectly smoked with rich flavor in every bite. 🍖 Ribs: Tender to the point they practically fall off the bone. 🍗 Chicken Wings: Beyond amazing—crispy, juicy, and packed with smoky goodness. If you’re in Houston, hunt them down at the next market stop. It’s worth it!

Was in town for a baseball game and stopped at this local BBQ place for lunch and it did not disappoint. The amount of flavor and juiciness to the meat was insane. The owner was there and he was very helpful with the menu items and what tasted good! Definitely recommend stopping here if you get a chance!

We stayed in the hotel across the street from Finn Hall and I really wanted some bbq. So when I looked it up I was excited it was near. As I stood in line, the girl next to me asked this guy is the food any good? And he said yes, I'm from Memphis lol When asked we did not know he was the owner. We asked him his favs/recs. He said the pulled pork was really good and one of his favorites. I asked how's the Mac and cheese...he said you mean smack and cheese lol I said ok let's do that. So I ordered the 2 meats/2 sides. I got pulled pork and brisket, with Mac and cheese and baked beans. He was 100% correct on the pulled pork. Mac and cheese was really smack and cheese. And I'm picky about that lol the brisket was also really tender and flavorful. Overall the food was really good. So if you're ever at Finn Hall, you should visit the nice and funny owner with the great food!

It's Memphis BBQ. This is something I had to keep telling myself as I consumed my food because my Texan expectations didn't always align with what was presented. I ordered the Memphis Nachos as they were recommended over the loaded fries by the staff. My initial reaction when I saw it was- ok this will be interesting. I've never had pickles with nachos. Also, in a city known for Mexican food, I was disappointed to be served what looks like standard food court tortilla chips (e.g. Tostitos) but I was hoping that the meat and other flavors would make it better. The cheese and crema overpowered most of the dish and I didn't get any discernible flavor from the chicken. At first glance I was concerned about the amount of protein in the serving, but because I didn't eat all the chips, I was able to have chicken with most every bite/chip. Smoke Dust Wings - If I recall correctly, Memphis is known for dry rub, so this was important when it came to the wings. I wanted to give the wings a fair tasting before trying them with any sauce. While there was certainly a lot of what appeared to be seasoning on there, I couldn't call out any spice or flavor -- therefore I added the sauces. The server gave me two to try because I wasn't certain about the 22K - here's where her recommendation hit home - the 22K is the way to go. I was on the fence because it was more mustard-based but it was definitely the more satisfying and complimentary to the chicken compared to the other BBQ flavor. I'm not a big bread eater so I didn't even taste the toast that accompanied the wings -nor the pickles that were provided because of sodium-intake restrictions. Strawberry Lemonade - This is a good sized portion of lemonade and I can see why this flavor was apparently more popular. It's sweet but fair warning, a few sips and it wipes out every other taste from the food. I appreciated how nice the staff were and that for a very small team they churned out orders as quickly as they could.

Tried their 2 meat plate with one side at the local farmers market. Wrong on so many levels. The "best damn everything"? More like the worst damn everything. First of all, I had to go back because they only gave us half of our order. Second of all, there was a hair in the food. Now for the food, boudain was dry as hell, burnt and lacked flavor. The beans container had a hole in it so it spilled all over the bag. The "brisket" didn't taste like brisket at all. It was not fall off the bone, lacked flavor and it tasted more like a chewy steak. It is beyond me how they stay in business at Finn Hall. Maybe they are serving leftovers at the market? For $37 you can go elsewhere for better boudain and brisket. For brisket or any type of BBQ, the Truth BBQ actually has the best damn everything. For boudain, go to Triple J Smokehouse. I do appreciate the energy they brought to the farmers market and my fiance and I did appreciate the free samples. The chef gave out some pretty good samples of rib but everything else was subpar. The samples brought us in but we ended up disappointed in the end. If you don't season your food when cooking, you might like it.

Dear people, I walked into this place originally going to Carol Kay Cafe and had a change of mind. I decided to order something at The Smoke. Soon as I walked to the counter a woman greeted me hyping the food up. She gave advice on what food to get and how good the brisket and mamas spaghetti was. So I decided to get 2 meats and 2 sides, the presentation was horrible. The food was just left on a tray with small cartons used for the sides. The food was a disappointment! It was cold , the spaghetti was dry and seasoned with hella Italian seasoning , the meat was chopped up in little tiny baby bites (not tender at all). The side toast was hard and covered with Italian seasoning. The wings were dry and tough. The only thing that was somewhat decent was the baked beans and the pickled onions and cucumbers (which also had a lot Italian seasoning on it). I met the owner, but we have to do better in holding people accountable. He can do way better than what he's giving us people. At least warm up the food.

Holy Toledo! It's some of the best BBQ I've had in a while. We tried the brisket eggrolls (done to a crispy perfection), chopped brisket (just the right amount of fat), the ribs (nice texture), the jalapeño sausage (perfectly cooked and the mac n' cheese which was packed with flavor. The meats already had an amazing taste on their own, but there was an added seasoning on them (magic pixie BBQ dust?) That brought the flavor to another level. I'm going back again for sure! Thanks for the yummy BBQ!

I was in Houston for a work conference and our hotel was next to Finn Hall. It was an impressive food court but we passed some folks who had food from The Smoke, saying we should definitely try the brisket, and I said well, while in Texas... I decided on a lighter fare and got the brisket with a side of Mac. The brisket was delicious. Juicy, tender and full of flavor. I don't have much to compare it by, but I liked it. The mac and cheese was okay. It came with pickles that were also really good. The brisket portion wasn't too big so if you're hungry, get a few sides. Or get two meat options. Staff were efficient and food came out quickly. You bus your own tables. It is a little loud and echo-y in the food court with all the other places preparing food and nothing to absorb noise. Seems like a place business people go during their lunch breaks and the rest people staying in surrounding hotels. Definitely recommend the smoke.

Respectfully, no! My coworker and I ran into the owner the first week of opening. I didn't feel like bbq then and didn't yesterday but since we said we'd try it out, we went in Finn Hall. This the second time FH has let me down. The first time I got raw chicken from The Craft. Both of y'all get somebody else to do it cause I can't. I got 2 meat / 2 sides $22 and barely ate half. Meats: brisket (dry and tiny chopped like in a sammich ) and the smoked wings (just overcooked and dry for no reason, that bird didn't deserve that fate). The recommended sides were spaghetti (too sweet for my taste) and mac & cheese which was the only thing kinda decent except for that green seasoning on top, I mean why? My coworker got some $16 potato and it came with bbq sauce already on it as well some Carolina gold type bbq sauce which she did not like. I'd recommend not saucing potatoes, serve on the side as most restaurants. Overall

the Blue Lemonade is amazing, the brisket is well seasoned. the customer service is great. Penelope is cool

The food itself; fantastic! Really great and friendly service by Chef Reginald! Had the smoked chicken salad and Chef offered me a free side of Mac with my meal! Would get again!

The best bbq in Houston, they also have the best pickled onions and pickles. Highly recommend visiting if you are in the downtown Houston area.

Not sure how to rate this one. The website is a bit deceiving. Don't expect a down home southern BBQ restaurant. This place is in a food court and the prices are skyyyy high. I drive 30 minutes to get to it and was turned off as soon as I saw the place. I guess I should have scoped out the location. It's located downtown and you will have to pay for parking. In fairness I can't comment on the food. I was looking for Texas BBQ and saw this place and decided to pass and try the Mexican spot next to it.

I found "The Smoke" by using the Yelp app. Definitely worth the 1/2 mile walk from my hotel. The barbeque was Memphis barbeque and very, very good! I had brisket and one side (Mac & Cheese) and it was enough to satisfy a big guy (6-3, 250!). My order was ready in a couple of minutes! The Smoke is co-located with other food vendors and a small bar set up. It had a bit of a 'mall food-court' kinda feel, but a lot nicer ambiance. It seemed like a place where 20 to 40 year olds would hang out before hopping on the downtown trolley to head home (the trolley runs right past the location). I asked the security guard and I think the entire location is called the Finn Building, but I could be wrong about that. If you're in downtown Houston and looking for a quick and very tasty meal, I would recommend The Smoke. Five Stars!

Best dam bbq I've had and I eat bbq 2-3 times a week. Chef Reginald knows his stuff and if you want the best you have to give this place a shot Brisket was super tender and perfectly smoked, fries were awesome and the spaghetti was crazy good! 10/10 highly recommend

freaking delicious!!! staff was super friendly and the food came out really fast! we're visiting, but will definitely coming back before we leave!

Worst BBQ in Texas. The Brisket was dry nasty and tasted like week old bad pot roast! The pork ribs had no flavor and the sauce was bland. The two ladies working did care about the food or service.

Kevin and the crew at The Smoke serve an excellent barbecue sandwich with great service! Both their pork and brisket sandwiches were top notch, up there with many larger restaurants. The sauces were homemade recipes of the co-founder. Though the sandwiches were a little on the expensive side they were good values for the portion size. There was a lot more meat than on a lot of barbecue sandwichs. They were served with your choice of sauces including a traditional sweet barbecue sauce or a mustard-based North Carolina sauce along with homemade pickles or marinated cucumbers. Service was excellent, and when we accidentally ended up with two brisket sandwiches instead of a brisket and a pork Kevin had one of the security guards chase us down and give us a pork sandwich as well wanting to make sure we "got our pork sandwich". Food courts can be hit or miss but this one was excellent with a lot of options, clean restrooms, and a polite unobtrusive security guard presence to prevent any problems. Great job Kevin and crew!

This place is located in a food court. The food definitely did not disappoint! The smoked wings were amazing!! They cover it in smoke dust and give you some of bluff city and 22k gold sauce on the side. The brisket was good. They only had chopped brisket available, but it was still good. The Mac and cheese was some of the best I've had in a while!! It was so cheesy!! And they put their smoke dust on top. It was really good!!

Loaded fries with brisket Wings Pickles Boudin Peach lemonade Chef Reginald and team exude joy in the food & hospitality.

Don't eat here food is wack the guy doesn't wear gloves I usually don't care but nasty ass downtown grabbing door handles and stuff. Maybe i had a bad experience cause he was about to pack up but whatever the case may be i was left very unhappy

Great food and customer service! I've come twice and had the pleasure of receiving great service from both Chef Reginald and Chef Pete! I've enjoyed the Bluff City, the curry cabbage, smoke sausage, and the Mac and cheese. EVERYTHING was good! So happy to have Memphis styled bbq in Houston!

If you happen to be at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market, don't miss the opportunity to savor Reggie's barbecue delights. From the first bite to the last, you'll be treated to an explosion of flavors that will leave you craving more. Reggie's presence at the market is a culinary treasure, and I can't wait for my next visit to indulge in his barbecue mastery. Five stars simply don't do justice to the exceptional experience that Reggie brings to the Urban Harvest Farmers Market!

Really great brisket. I had the sliced brisket and a side of spaghetti, and both were excellent. Other menu items I saw looked good, too. It's inside the Finn Hall food court. Cool place.

I've been hearing great things on instagram about this place and since I work downtown, been wanting to give this place a try. I went around lunch time of course and it was busy but not too much. The owner seemed a little off when I first walked up. He started playing music and finally started to talk to customers in line. He gave out some samples of his peach punch....it was nasty! I ordered the Memphis nachos with pulled pork ($13) and it wasn't worth the money. I don't mind supporting black owned businesses, but this wasn't what I expected. The pulled pork was good, but everything was not. My tortilla chips were soggy the moment I opened the container and took the first bite, and the cheese doesn't taste all that great either. I wasn't impressed to say the least. Would I try them again? Probably not.

The food , atmosphere, and Chef Reginald Scott were wonderful! He called me MS Delta my entire visit. His personality was only surpassed by his black eyed peas and smoked chicken!

Excellent customer service and food! We had the three meat and two sides. We orders chicken wings, moist brisket, and chicken boudin with some delicious mac & cheese and Moma's spaghetti (just your typical spaghetti, but still tasty). We will definitely be back!

food was very good, i love the location as well it is in the heart of downtown! the person who took our order was extremely sweet and I would recommend this place to anyone walking by!

Fast service in the food mall right off Main St in downtown. Got the 1 meat plate with brisket and Mac and cheese. Meat was average (fatty and lots of burnt small pieces. Saw someone else with the sausage and it looked awesome. Wish I had done that instead. Mac and cheese was very good. They didn't have any diet colas and no salt and pepper although the seasoning they put in the Mac was good.

Fiiiireee Just touched down in Houston and found this Black Owned business. It's the real deal. Great smoke taste Mac and Cheese like Grandmas Pulled Pork Sandwich has a ton of flavor

This is easily the best barbecue experience I've had while I was visiting Houston. I ordered the brisket and it was cooked low and slow to perfection. Their service is outstanding and chef Reginald goes above and beyond to make sure every customer's order is perfect.

Highly recommend eating here - Chef Reginald and his staff are the most courteous and helpful. We had the 1/4 ribs and smoked wings and they were the best I've had. I want to try the brisket but all the March Madness fans cleaned him out. I know it's just as good.

Firstly I loved the collaborative atmosphere of several black businesses. The food was incredible. The service was Amazing. Friendly and engaging. I wish I could bring The Smoke and the Concept to San Diego. I had the wings with the 22K Gold Sauce (GET IT!!!!!!). Reginald 5Star+ CJ from San Diego

The customer service was great, and that's about it. I got a 2 meat plate with 2 sides. Brisket was dry and chopped to ground beef pieces. Smoked chicken was alright. Mac and cheese BLEHHHH, and cabbage gross.

I mean, it's not like I expected a food court BBQ spot to be in the top ten or anything like that. But, this? I love all kinds of BBQ, and Texas style is my favorite. There's lots of great BBQ in Texas. I'm more familiar with the Austin spots, but I know Houston's got great BBQ to offer too. "The Smoke" counter is not it. I ordered brisket with beans and slaw, and the brisket is literally the *worst* brisket I have ever had. Ever. It was chopped into little tiny quarter-inch cubes, more fat than meat, and even the fat somehow failed to be tender. This is *not* the Texas brisket I'm used to. The brisket came with a couple of sauces, both just so-so, and some soggy, thin, small toast (pretty much the opposite of Texas-sized). The beans were gooey, gloppy, and pasty with no real flavor except "sweet". I will say: the cole slaw was actually pretty good. Nice balance of sweet and sour, with a good peppery flavor. If only the rest of the meal had been up to that standard. Giving the shop the benefit of the doubt, maybe they have some other stuff that's okay. I didn't get to try the pork or other meats. And maybe I was there the day the head chef (do they even have a pitmaster?) had the day off or something. But personally, any place that wants to claim they are selling BBQ anywhere, never mind in Texas, has to do *way* better than the practically inedible pile of food-like particles masquerading as brisket here. Yuck!

Smoke chicken wings with Mac n Cheese was fire and love Peyton's pickles just enough spice and tang!!! Oh the owner greeting us with a sample of a whole wing was the selling point like Lays once you have one you can't stop!

ALLL the smoke. Bomb crew, and bomber brisket. Find your self in downtown Houston - do yourself a favor and take a smoke break.

Amazing BBQ. Chef Reginald is a real one who knows how to treat his customers as well. Besides the 11/10 customer service the food was delicious and the ribs fell right off the bone. For sides the BBQ Baked Beans and Mac & Cheese are a MUST. Recommending to any of my friends visiting Houston from now on.

I would post a picture but I ate it all! This place is 5 stars all the way! Love the Bible verse on the screen !! Food is blessed for sure !

Went during regular lunch hours (12-2ish) and NOTHING but sliced brisket and fries were available. Which was wild in itself, then the man working was rude as could be about it, literally talking to customers crazy and just repeating how he's the best BBQ around... so we dipped out. No thanks man.

The food was great to go along with the owner's customer service. The wings are the best I had in a long time smoked to perfection!

The Brisket Loving Texan Sandwich was soooo good! Their brisket and bar-b-que sauces have such a delicious and unique flavor. Really go get you one!

Horrible service chef p is rude and nasty

Very disappointing, out of brisket and pull pork on a Saturday during lunch time. Offered smoked wings and boudin. New establishment need to be better prepared to service the Houston downtown patrons..

Awesome Downtown Houston barbeque. We had brisket, pork, and smoked wings. All were delicious. Highly recommend. Staff friendly and owner was there and very helpful.

I will DEFINITELY be back! The Smoke was delicious. I ordered the Smokey Bowl with pulled pork. AMAZING! We met Chef Reginald who invited us back to try the turkey "off the leg", which is right up my alley. Great customer service, awesome food, highly recommend.