Tom Jenkins BBQ

https://onthegrid.city/ft-lauderdale/ft-lauderdale/tom-jenkins-bbq

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On the Grid : Tom Jenkins' BBQ

"I have sat with complete strangers at this restaurant who literally smelled their way to the front door from their hotel. Every town has their signature bbq spot, Tom Jenkins' is the one in Fort Lauderdale. Order anything you want, then order some brisket to go." - Nick Rourke

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The 8 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County | Eater Miami

"Nestled just south of where Federal Highway and Davie Boulevard intersect, Tom Jenkins’ restaurant roots date back nearly 30 years. Its sauce has a nice little kick, and you can buy a bottle to take home. Accompany regular finds like pork spare ribs and chopped brisket with soul food sides like collard greens and Brunswick stew."

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Best Barbecue Restaurants in South Florida | Eater Miami

"Started by two friends who just wanted to create barbecue sauce, this South Florida restaurant quickly became one of the most beloved barbecue joints. Bring the family and order the sampler that feeds up to six people and offers just about every meat on the menu." - Eater Staff

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

18,031 Postcards · 836 Cities

"Tom Jenkins' BBQ, Ft Lauderdale by Nick Rourke. I have sat with complete strangers at this restaurant who literally smelled their way to the front door from their hotel. Every town has their signature bbq spot, Tom Jenkins' is the one in Fort Lauderdale. Order anything you want, then order some brisket to go."

Victor T.

Google

Tom Jenkins is a household name and undoubtedly has the best BBQ ribs, sandwiches, and BBQ chicken in South Florida. You will love their fresh, down-home sides like: baked beans, potato salad, and collard greens. It's a very small restaurant with a rustic, woodsy feel. Seating inside the restaurant is very limited with about 7-8 picnic style tables, so take out is ideal. There may be a slight wait during peak busy times but it's definitely worth it. Best BBQ and sides hands down! 💯

M A.

Google

Tables dirty and sticky service at counter was great friendly and very nice ribs were dry like they didn’t have any water in warmer so just drying them up definitely needed the bbq sauce but flavorful greens and potato salad were good

Jason B.

Google

I stopped in today for a final “farewell” lunch. I had the brisket with baked beans and it was amazing, the meat was tasty as were the baked beans. It was so busy I also bought a half rack meal for dinner. My lunch was AMAZING as I’m sure the ribs will be for dinner. I’ll miss this family run BBQ restaurant. Their food was always on point and their employees were always nice. Best wishes to the owners on their retirement.

Jeff M.

Google

Soo good. I was craving pulled pork but chopped pork worked out just fine. Generous portion and really good. The coleslaw was a little pickle heavy for my tastes but my wife liked it a lot. Beans were excellent, almost spicy but not quite

cleavroy T

Google

Good friendly place find off road side food little dry needs water in warmer very busy good for business no one wiped tables greens was cook nice

Ricardo

Google

I just ate here for the first time, got the spare ribs, with the dark chicken, and it was all very good. Thanks you sirs God bless

Sade E.

Google

Food was SO GOOD and FRESH! The brisket was nice and tender and customer service was supper amazing I love it here !

lonnell W.

Google

We arrived 30 min before closing, though they stopped serving and locked the doors 10 minutes after our arrival. They were out of all sides. They also had no sausage links. I did manage to get what they said was the last chicken Caesar salad. The chicken was tasty but the bed of lettuce had no Parmesan or croutons like most Caesar salads. It felt like the staff were trying to close down and get out on time. My friends ordered a pulled pork sandwich which they rated average. I don’t think it’s fair to rate their food based on this visit as most menu items were not available. The restaurant was very clean and the staff polite. Maybe I’ll give it another try someday..I’ll just make sure to arrive well before closing.

Ed P.

Yelp

Authentic soul food, I love the pulled pork, with the home made BBQ sauce, Mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread! Peach cobbler. Be prepared to gain a few pounds.

Bud B.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins was always my Go To place for BBQ and when I couldn't go to the restaurant I had their Classic BBQ Sauce in my kitchen! First it was Ernies Bimini Bread & Conch Chowder and now it's Tom Jenkins BBQ! The Horror of it All! I truly hope that their BBQ Sauce will live on! I only have 1/2 a bottle left and I need more! P-L-E-A-S-E tell me that I can, at the least, still get their BBQ Sauce! I am waiting and hoping that the Sauce turns up somewhere.. I mean they are retired but they could still hook us up with their Sauce! Hungrily Hoping, Bub B

Chris B.

Yelp

The death of a dynasty... Stop by to have my last meal at my favorite barbecue restaurant in SOFLO. The food was delicious. Unfortunately they are now closed. I stood in line for 1.5 hours for some : Husspuppies, half of chicken, cornbread, Mac n Cheese, and collard greens. : sweet potato pie How about I for got to take pics of my food. ‍‍. Just know it was delicious

Vicki M.

Yelp

Go to Tom Jenkins B-B-Q before this iconic Ft Lauderdale institution closes on Dec 21, 2025. I had to go before they closed. I went for an early dinner and clearly others had the same idea I did, there were 21 people in the small dining area waiting for their orders. They are only serving chicken and turkey so I opted for the half chicken meal which came with two sides and a corn muffin. Service was quick. The meal was big enough for two meals for me. Barbecue sauce is served on the side. The aroma of barbecue could be smelt outside from the large grills outback. It is sad to see places like this closing.

Karen N.

Yelp

You better hurry and get your BBQ fix! Just when you thought Tom Jenkins would outlive you, you get the shock of your life to learn they are closing the pit. I remember when they were cash only. It was only recently they took credit. I could never sit in the place because I would come out stinking like a pig. Their trademark is A Taste you will never forget. Ain't that the truth.

Nina T.

Yelp

This place permanently closed on 12/21/2025 and I am kicking myself that I did not eat here. I am not a fan of BBQ but I should have gone just because it was a local icon.

Melissa C.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins is a somewhat legendary bbq place in Fort Lauderdale. Because of that, the line is long so be prepared, and maybe have someone in your group grab a seat while the rest order. They have pretty classic bbq menu, with meat options by the pound and a few sides. I wanted to try different things since it was my first time there, so I got the two-meat dinner with brisket and chicken. It's a very good price for the amount and quality of food Everything was very good, fresh, and flavorful. My only thing is that the brisket was a little fatty for my taste-although I know that some people prefer it that way. Overall, it's a great, no-nonsense place with amazing food, and I believe it's family-owned.

Catherine G.

Yelp

PLEASE for the love of all things holy - bring back the soul music! Eating brisket with Adele screaming out of the dining room speaker is NOT the Jenkins' experience. Thanks for the tasty brisket!

Kimi Y.

Yelp

Stopped by Saturday dinner time, old decors, pictures were interesting to see while we were waiting food was ready. They took orders at counter and picked up at there. Dinner plate came with fries, corn muffin and two sides. Choose Cole slaw, baked beans, everything was so delicious, juicy, smoky, a large portion. Took home leftovers. Bbq sauce came with it, wondered if there was different sauce. It's a small restaurant but full of people.

Kathy G.

Yelp

Best BBQ in Fort Lauderdale! It's so nice when you get an airport return when TJ is open because it's on my way home! All ribs are great. Sauce is fantastic. Simple menu. Corn bread rolls could be bigger ;)

Rebecca C.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins BBQ is a community staple. Their meats are smoked to perfection which I love. It's a family owned business and they're always very accommodating when I come in. The only downside is they are really popular in the neighborhood so if you don't get there by 5p-6p some days then there's a high likelihood that they could be sold out of whatever it is you'd like to order especially ribs and chicken. My favorite dishes are their brisket and ribs. They're Mac n cheese , fries and corn bread muffins are

Anthony M.

Yelp

First time here recommended by co-worker. Small place with some inside seating. I order the ribs with 2 sides to choose. Ribs came off the bone so tender along with their sauce was so good with a touch of kick for those who want little spicy. Will be back to try their brisket that I saw one of the cooks chopping up.

Anthony C.

Yelp

Amazing food. Fall off the bone ribs. Order at the counter, and they'll put your order together to eat in the restaurant or take to go

Carol D.

Yelp

If I'm back in Lauderdale, this is a definite stop. It's a small typical BBQ joint. Great food, great sides. I like the two meat platter and two sides. The collard greens are perfectly cooked. Some places make the collard greens really salty or super spicy, but not this place. They are perfectly prepared. You can't go wrong with anything you get here.

J R.

Yelp

Best BBQ In south florida, there are a few close contenders but nobody can top Tom Jenkins. I've been coming here since a kid and my dad since they were in a food truck so safe to say this is our go to bbq joint.

Nadjia C.

Yelp

Coming in it was pretty crowded, so there was definitely a wait for food. We Really enjoyed the ribs more than the brisket. The barbecue sauce is really good. Surprisingly the corn bread was good as well!

Shawn A.

Yelp

Great Bbq, great service and reasonable prices. Came here for lunch today and had a great experience. The moment you pull into the parking lot the smells hit you and you know you're about to eat something great. I had the two meat combo dinner with Baby Back Ribs, Brisket, Mac and Cheese, and potato salad. The baby back ribs were definitely the star of the show here. They were sweet, smokey, and tender. The brisket was decent as well. Coming from Houston, I have pretty high standards on bbq and this place hit the spot.

Henry E.

Yelp

I have been eating at Tom Jenkins for decades and it is still the best food. I first was introduced to this restaurant when I was a teenager that was over fifty years ago!

Cristian ..

Yelp

Great experience at tom Jenkins. Staff were friendly and attentive. Restaurant was small but had a warm and rustic atmosphere. The food was good. When i went there was unfortunately no brisket so i got the sausage and baby back ribs with mac and cheese and coleslaw. Coleslaw did not hit as hard as I wanted it to but everything else was good. Their bbq dipping sauce and corn muffin were also good. My drink was the sweet tea. Solid sweet tea.

Aaron C.

Yelp

Good food always fire. Service is quick and the place looks fitting. Old school type place

Carol R.

Yelp

We were heading to another restaurant for lunch and for me to review it; but when we got there, it was closed. We were hungry. And I remembered that Tom Jenkins was nearby. Parking is tricky; it's on the south side of the restaurant and goes from the side into a back area. There are plenty of spots. This place often has lines out the door. But at lunchtime on a Wednesday, it was not a very long wait (about 10 minutes). However, there is a heavy business of take-out orders. The dining area is clean and neat and seats about 30. The clientele seemed to be mostly men having a hearty lunch. Service was quick, not particularly friendly, just businesslike. We got the slab of ribs with two sides--cole slaw and greens. The ribs were done just right, and they were meaty. The sauce, on the side, was good. The cole slaw was a bit sweet but tasty. The greens were just right. Not too salty. We got more food than we anticipated (about 12 ribs) and had enough leftovers for dinner. My absolute favorite was the corn muffin. Definitely made fresh, but it tasted like they made their own cornmeal. :-) I got an extra one for dessert. Our meal was $30.99 but there was a surcharge to use a credit card. With tax we spent a little under $35 but got lunch and dinner.

John R.

Yelp

The place has only been there for 30 years but it feels like it could be 50! However long, I don't think much has changed. Yeah, it's "crusty" inside and won't qualify for any cleanliness awards it's still clean, just not deep. It's hard to clean walls if the wall hanging have never been off the wall. The food is well-made and of excellent quality but the flavors are a little on the sweet side for me. I think their meat scale must be broke. I ordered a half rack of ribs and a half pound of chopped pork and there's just no way that was only a half pound! I think the sides probably got a little smaller and now it's ketchup packets but the bbq sauce is plentiful but on the thin side. The service is like you would expect at a small town southern joint - Slow, steady and a bit non-committal but polite. This is a place to eat or get takeout, not take a date unless it's a special kind of person!

Sherry P.

Yelp

The quality of food has gone down drastically over the past few months The staff is unprofessional especially the guy on the grill. But what it used to be something changed

Lisa J.

Yelp

Got takeout from me calling in ahead of time today. It worked out well. Seems like they are learning from the reviews that people give. Food was on point as usual.

Reyes N.

Yelp

Best bbq places near my job . Highly recommended. Brisket and turkey was so tasty . Place is always clean and inviting as well.

Kimberly R.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins is a Fort Lauderdale staple! Their bbq sauce is amazing! Portions are big and their sides are amazing! My favorite is the corn bread !

Garrett S.

Yelp

Some of the best BBQ I've had in this area. It was a fun throw back with lots of old pictures of Ft. Lauderdale inside. Only reason I couldn't give 5 stars today was the coleslaw seemed to be old. It was a little discolored and soggy, not bright and crisp. That being said, I would go back for the BBQ.

Salvatore M.

Yelp

First off. Awesome!! Atmosphere is busy. Old style feel. Truly great food being prepared here. The brisket was so tender. The bbq sauce had a nice little heat. Mac and cheese reminded me of just like home. Love the collard greens also. Overall 5 stars. Friendly employees. Thank you.

Emily F.

Yelp

LOVE Tom Jenkins. My husband and I drove down from Cocoa on a whim just to have it and then drove back.

Alejandro O.

Yelp

I've always passed by this place but never actually stopped by until last week. Since then, I've been twice and both times have been remarkable. We've tried out the brisket, baby back ribs, spare ribs, pulled pork, chicken, beans, mac & cheese, cornbread, and the lemonade. Out of everything we've tried, we've loved most of it. The only thing that could use some work is the brisket, not sure if it was just an off day but I'll give it another chance. My favorite items have been the baby back ribs, spare ribs, chicken, mac & cheese, beans, and pulled pork (in that order). Also worth mentioning, it's probably the best bbq sauce that I've tried in quite some time. Highly recommend it! Anyways, definitely will be back soon to continue trying out the menu and giving that brisket another chance. Come check it out today!

Patricia A.

Yelp

Today I visited for the millionth time this restaurant. It never disappoints, the ribs were perfect, the corn on the cob was great, the corn bread... is to die for... the baked beans are delicious . Go visit!!! They are closed Sundays and Mondays... plan! You won't be disappointed.

Ben S.

Yelp

The ribs were decent. The side, which were fantastic for years, are now lacking. No live there. The sauce is still great though. But, the service is atrocious. The first you should do is ask if they're out of anything. I'm usually given incorrect information and end up having to choose one or two other items instead because they are really out or there's a 45 minute wait for the next batch. Then there's the counter person who glares at you like she has a terrible headache or you're bothering her somehow. There's no professionalism, "thank you", no appreciation. Like I said, if you come to just get the food, just be glad if they have what you want. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR RECEIPT BECAUSE THEY SOMETIMES CHARGE YOU MORE THAN THE MENU SAYS. I assume they're outdated. Oh yeah, they have a big TIP JAR! NOPE.

Karen F.

Yelp

Grabbed take out for a quick dinner and was absolutely delighted with the food! Whether you eat in or out the quality is always great, total comfort food. We had a half chicken combo and chopped pork (yummy) with an extra side of collards, a must have! The sides are great and will satisfy everyone in your family and don't forget the cornbread. If you happen to have any room for dessert, it's a true treat. Service was quick and the dining room is always clean. Picnic tables and wall counters are available for eat in and you may make a new friend!

Night Ryder I.

Yelp

It's been a while since I last visited. The sides were delicious--creamy macaroni and cheese packed in the little cup, definitely need to upsize that portion and savory collard greens get no complaint. The corn muffin is sweet and still quite dense. I wanted catfish, but being none, I settled for half rack of pork spare ribs. They were okay, but about one quarter of them were the extremely charred ends that were not edible. The sauce lights up the taste of the meat. Next time, I'd get the baby back ribs. The lemonade was refreshing. Should have asked for a free refill awaiting my order.

Rod H.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins is a little piece of Authentic Ol School Southern BBQ Heaven. The Brisket, Ribs & Baked Beans are AWESOME !!! Staff is Sweet, Sassy & Fun... Definitely go check it out.

B. T.

Yelp

Great bbq, the Chopped Pork and the Baked Beans were so good. The Mac and Cheese not so much. Love the authentic feel of the place. Service was fast, parking was easy. They close at 7 pm, so go early if you are picking up dinner. Couldn't place an order over the phone, the number listed in Yelp is not working.

Florida Y.

Yelp

I went in to get some food, I'm used to a different style of barbecue, so I like how they have a very open policy about emailing them. If you have a concern . I think of more restaurants, especially small restaurants adapted this policy it would prevent a lot of restaurants from getting bad reviews. Everybody that works at the restaurant was very nice and hard-working, and the Restaurant seem to have a good flow of lunch eaters. Nice location in downtown Fort Lauderdale right across from Whole Foods near 17th St., Causeway very safe area. I recommend you go, check them out and try their food. See if it's your style of barbecue. I'm used to Sonny rib city or even Houston's baby back ribs style myself. This one is more authentic with the actual smoker.

Tiara S.

Yelp

I love this restaurant the food the service is always good whenever I order the waiter always suggest a menu items very clean very nice staff and food is delicious

Michelle R.

Yelp

Small place that is pretty old but the food is delicious and the sauce is amazing. Make sure you buy a bottle to take home. The only downside was the people behind the counter were not very personable.

Robert F.

Yelp

Hadn't been for a few months but wanted some good BBQ. Ordered a full rack of ribs , fries and beans. A few of the ribs tasted dried up and old and not really edible, a few were actually pretty good but it seemed like my rack of ribs came from two different places. For the giant price of $30.99 we got about 6 edible ribs? The fries were cold and limp so we returned them for new ones that they replaced with no question. I didn't want to make a scene but $30.99 for 6 edible ribs? They really need to have better quality control but after thinking about this meal my wife and I felt they intentionally used up an old half rack and supplemented with a fresh half rack? We have sent many folks here for bbq but that will now stop. We won't go back for a while at least because there's several other places with fresh made bbq that we can go to. My beans were fresh and really great but not great enough to make up for old dried up ribs. Jenkins used to really be the go to place for BBQ in Ft. Lauderdale and I believe they are taking their customers for granted when you sneak in old ribs with new at these super high prices.. I feel badly about this super honest review because my family's eaten here for many many years without this kind of issue.

Walter S.

Yelp

Had lunch here recently with friends. I had ribs, baked beans, collard greens, and iced tea. My friends had brisket and a chicken salad, and Mac and cheese. We all agreed the food was good but the service was not friendly. It wasn't what I expected or the business model I would prefer. You order at the counter and pick up the food there when it's ready. It's all packed up to go and if you eat there you use plastic silverware. I would prefer to sit down and be served on real plates and silverware at this price point. If you want take out or delivery maybe you won't mind.

Constance R.

Yelp

Tom Jenkins' BBQ has been in business for over 30 years. The food is still amazing after all this time and quite delicious. It takes me a while to travel the distance to the restaurant; But, it's worth the travel expense and quite refreshing to be surrounded by that old country & southern hospitality plus great food. I actually drive past several restaurants just to dine at Tom Jenkins where the freshness and quality of the food is only getting better with time. Constance Richardson

Robert K.

Yelp

I am so tired of driving to Tom Jenkins, only to find out they closed earlier than stated hours. This is 3rd and last time. I'm know they are proud people that think a lot of their food. But not good customer service.

Mark M.

Yelp

Now this is some amazing barbecue! Walking into this place it looks pretty tiny, rundown, and a bit chaotic with the long line. But, you're going to get some great tasting ribs! We ordered the baby back ribs along with the chicken breast and their coleslaw. The coleslaw was a bit too sweet, perhaps too much sugar, and the chicken breast was nothing to write home about, but the baby back ribs were pure five star! These ribs had an excellent bark on them with a nice smoked flavor and they fell right off the bone. Their homemade barbecue sauce is also very neat tasting and absolutely delicious, no wonder people were buying it by the bottle. One recommendation by the woman who served us at the counter, get here early, as things sell out towards closing time which is around 7 PM on a Saturday evening.

Benjamin L.

Yelp

Best bbq in Broward, and I've been going for thirty years. Really good collards, ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork.

alex n.

Yelp

The best barbecue in all Broward ! go there! Every time they are consistently delicious! Their baked beans are great!

adam ..

Yelp

Great experience and takeout packed perfectly. Been there several times and so good .

Claire S.

Yelp

Very friendly staff and quick take-out service! I ordered the half turkey, half brisket dish with collared greens and coleslaw. Both the turkey and the brisket were great, but the BBQ sauce is too sweet for me. However, I know that's just personal preference on my part. I have to say that the corn muffin was outstanding! So moist and delicious--I actually ate my husband's, as well. I definitely want to try the ribs on my next visit because they looked amazing! FYI- They are only open for takeout or pickup right now.

Adam B.

Yelp

Pretty tasty no frills BBQ. Travels very well for delivery. Generous portions, so great for leftovers. Full Slab Baby Back Ribs: A large portion of individually cut ribs. They weren't fall off the bone tender, but they were tender enough to easily bite off. Loved the smoky tones in the meat. Came with lots of BBQ sauce for dipping, which enhanced the experience even more! Half Pound Chopped Beef Brisket: Not sure why this was chopped rather than in large slices. Also firm, not falling apart, so slices would have been more appropriate. A little fatty in parts, but that's what brisket is. Also tasted amazing slathered in BBQ sauce. Though I think I prefer the ribs to the brisket here. Corn Muffins: Standard. Got a nice mealy texture from the corn meal. Would have been even better if they gave some butter with it. Macaroni and Cheese: Clumpy. Cheesy. The pasta is a bit softer than al dente. Fine as a BBQ side, but wouldn't get this as a main dish (since I prefer gooey with a crispy top). Baked Beans: Very homey. Lots of runny sauce. Super tender beans. Collard Greens: Didn't see any ham or bacon bits. So a bit plain, albeit with a subtle smoky aroma. Potato Salad: Big chunks of potato and lots of mayo based sauce. It was alright.

https://onthegrid.city/ft-lauderdale/ft-lauderdale/tom-jenkins-bbq

18,031 Postcards · 836 Cities

On the Grid : Tom Jenkins' BBQ

https://miami.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-fort-lauderdale-broward

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

The 8 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County | Eater Miami

https://miami.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-miami-south-florida-restaurants

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Best Barbecue Restaurants in South Florida | Eater Miami

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

18,031 Postcards · 836 Cities