The Smokin Birds

Ok, you come here for the brisket but I have to say...the fries are hands down the best I've ever had! This is just one of those places that you have to visit if you're in the area. The moment you roll in you're greeted with the succulent smell of smokers going full tilt to cook up that delicious brisket. There's plenty of room to sit and even though their lot is a tad small, there is plenty of parking all around. Staff are great and happy to accommodate any requests. My wife likes her brisket a little less fatty and they had no problem doing that for her. The food isn't cheap but the portions are decent and the quality is well worth the price. They also make their own juices that are amazing. My only suggestion to them would be to switch to a more moist type of bun. Potato buns would be great! Although I loved the sandwich, it was surprisingly the fries that got me. They were so delicious that I had to ask their secret. Turns out they are fried in beef tallow! Overall this is simply one of those places that you just have to stop and try if you're in the area.

**UPDATE** October 22, 2025: Thank you for your quick reply. I have received the refund, & very impressed with your response and would like to say thank you for your apology and the refund & accept your apology. I have to say with the quick response, refund & apology, you turned my opinion around to having a positive outcome! I’m actually so impressed that you found the order and refunded the money so quickly, as you had a high volume of customers that day & to refund the money to the correct person!! My experience now has left me feeling you have great customer service & very professional! Thank you!! I have updated the service to 5 stars! You went above & beyond with your customer service! Thank you again!!! Review written: October 18, 2025: purchased 3 burgers, 2 Fries, 3 diet cokes, for the family. My 1st burger was raw. I returned it and they gave me a new burger (2nd burger) and I asked for it to be well done. When it was ready they called me and said the edges of the burger would be pink from the smoker. My 2nd burger was raw, you can see the grain of fat (white fat grains in the meat. This was not cooked at all. This could make someone very sick. Money should be returned.

What can I say, everything tasted amazing! Pulled pork ✅ pulled lamb ✅ beef brisket ✅. They seriously know to to properly cook meat 🍖. The exposed bedrock by the tables adds to the nice outdoor atmosphere. Could not have asked for a better meal after a long day of motorcycle 🏍️💨 riding of the Southwood trail.

When you make the patties from high-quality house-smoked meat, then you get a burger that is full of flavour, super tasty, and at the same time very juicy. This is what we experienced at The Smokin Birds, a place we discovered by accident, and we will definitely go back during our next trip to Muskoka. Keep up the good food!

Had lunch there today with the family. We had a pulled pork sandwich, Plane Jane burger and the DK burger with crinkle cut fries. It was delicious! Well worth the money spent. Wecame back in 2025: ordered, brisket sandwiches, crinkle cut fries and a raspberry lemonade. Prices have gone up. Still delicious and worth it!

I came specifically to try the brisket and it absolutely did not disappoint. Hands down, one of the best briskets I’ve ever had. The meat was perfectly smoked, tender, and packed with flavor in every bite. The seasoning was spot-on, and the texture was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. You can tell a lot of care and time went into making it. If you’re a brisket lover, this place should be on your must-visit list. I’ll definitely be coming back for more!

Better than expected! Their aesthetic isn’t exactly wonderful, in that you’re literally sitting in a gravel parking lot with cars coming and going. Additionally, although it’s great to see them smoking their products close by, it’s not ideal for you to have seating only available beside a smoker on a hot day. That being said, the food is actually quite good, if not inexpensive. Specifically, I had the deluxe hamburger and french fries, which came to over $25, which I consider on the high side for this kind of set up. However, both the hamburger and to a lesser extent, the french fries were quite enjoyable. What was most memorable about the hamburger, is the combination of flavours, including relish ☝️, which I historically have never enjoyed, were balanced to perfection. Even the bun which had plenty of dough in it, didn’t bother me, whereas most do (ie I hollow them out typically). The fries were apparently cooked in beef fat, but were not overly flavourful. The best thing about it all, was after feeling quite full after this lunch, I got no gut rot, which would often be the case with this kind of food (i.e. hamburger and fries) generally 👌!

Awesome place at the side of the road in a beautiful setting. I had the brisket sandwich and fries and my wife had the salad with brisket. Both of us were blown away by the quality and taste. If you like good food I highly recommend this spot. I would actually do a day trip from Toronto just for this meal.

I spend a lot of time on the road and when I smelt the smoke I had to stop! I have had BBQ from Teaxas through the midwest and all across Canada. The Brisket sandwich here is by for the best I have had the pleasure to eat and believe me this meal was a pleasure. If you are running through the town of Bala in Muskoka make a point of eating at "The Smokin Birds"! A new must in Muskoka!

Looking for the best smoked beef brisket? You'll find it at Smokin' Birds. This casual, outdoor picnic table or take away only eatery has perfected the most tender and juicy beef brisket. While waiting for your order, you'll often be treated to a front row seat to their smokers that are cooking constantly. You get the full sensory experience. Though it's a bit on the pricier side (beef is expensive!), this is a must stop in Bala.

A perfect hiking day ended with dinner at The Smokin Birds. We had the beef brisket, ribs, sausage, and chicken--everything was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Their BBQ is top-notch, and every bite was delicious. The restaurant is near the train station, and we even saw a train pass by while we were there. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. I'd definitely return next time I'm in the area!

The food is good. To order and wait for a brisket sandwich, a premade beat salad in styrofoam container, and a small bottle of juice will cost you $28.59. To come and get your own food after a substantial wait, you get asked for a tip, and you get to sit at outdoor picnic tables, only two of four which with umbrellas, so that babies were out in the sun. I didn't see, but don't think there were bathroom facilities. Even if this average size brisket sandwich was good, I find the price and the tip request for services rendered offensive. Actually there's just no excuse. I had a friend call me after the fact to ask me if I paid $30 like him. I hadn't been wearing my glasses. That's when I checked. I wouldn't have imagined it costing more than $15 for what we got.

Best smoke meat up in Muskoka. Wow!!! The briskets was awesome at lunch. Thinking about when to return after the first bite.

For our 40th anniversary meal, we considered quite a few places in Bala. In the end, Smokin' Birds Barbeque got the nod, and I'm glad we nodded in that direction. The DK Burger that I had there was unquestionably the tastiest burger I've ever eaten. The sides I chose --beet salad and a delightful cole slaw containing pineapple-- were also superb. What makes the DK Burger so great is a 2 ounce slab of easily-the-best beef brisket that's ever entered my mouth. BTW, the guy manning the smoker does his magic May to October in Bala; the remainder of the year he lives in Austin, Texas, although he grew up with pulled pork barbecue in the Carolinas. He has mastered brisket, and his pulled pork and smoked turkey also looked scrumptious. If you're ever in Bala, plan to visit The Smokin' Birds! You'll thank me later.

Best burger in Bala, bar none! Add a rice pudding to your order as well. Only open seasonally.

Best real barbecue I've found in cottage country. Brisket is moist, not overwhelmed by smoke and the sauce is light and an excellent accompaniment.