
4.3
343 of 4,190 Restaurants in Dallas

IF YOU ENJOY THIS REVIEW, PLEASE LEAVE ME A HELPFUL VOTE. THANK YOU! First-ever visit to Smokey John's on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. They serve buffet style and there was a line of about 20 people in front of me when I got there. Good sign, I thought. The next thing I noticed was what gave this review its title. In a corner of the restaurant on a makeshift stage was a gospel singing group, and they were REALLY good! After a few songs one of the singers offered praise and prayer. Then after a few more songs, a preacher got up there and gave a full sermon. Then more singing, praise and prayer. And on and on. These folks are very talented and very, very good! I don't know that I want that going on when I'm enjoying good barbecue, but today it made for an unforgettable and very pleasant experience. OK, on to THE FOOD: Smokey John's serves very good barbecue with a very, very strong smoky aroma and flavor. I've only encountered this much smoke one time before. I liked it very much, but any more smoke would have been too much. BRISKET: The brisket is above average and delicious. It is imbued with seemingly as much smoke as a brisket is capable of absorbing while still having a big, beefy flavor. The brisket has a black bark, dark smoke ring, and a trace of pink left in the middle of the point. I enjoyed it very much, though I gently suggest it be taken off the smoker one hour earlier. PORK RIBS: The pork ribs are moist, full of flavor, and delicious. They have a much smokier flavor than most others serve, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ribs. SAUSAGE: The sausage has a good snap to it and a fine combination of flavor and spice. The house barbecue sauce complements it very well. WILD CARD: Smokey John's has a soul food side to it. Today they had a special offering of baked chicken with rice and gravy. Sides of greens and mac and cheese too. Holy Moly did it look good! I would've ordered it for sure if I wasn't already there for the barbecue. But I will go back on another Tuesday just to try it. OVERALL: Folks, this ain't Franklin's or Terry Black's, but it's not far off either. Smokey John's is easily the finest barbecue I've had in the DFW area. I recommend you give it a try. This is The Church of Barbecue! The food will raise your spirits. And the gospel singers will send it into the stratosphere! And after you hear that preacher preach, you'll want to stand up and cheer with every fiber of your being. You might never want to leave. But we gotta get back to work, don't we? I'll be back, so maybe I'll see you there!

This place is over rated. The owners need to give it some TLC quick. I'm a native Dallasite eating BBQ for decades. This was very disappointing.

Wow, was this place delicious! We just gorged ourselves at lunch and agreed it was one of the best barbeques we have ever eaten. They gave us samples of the brisket and the ribs, and it was difficult to pick between them. The brisket was tender and so flavorful, but we picked the ribs. They were meaty, tender and smoked to perfection. I love fresh vegetables so I had the vegetable plate. The vegetables were all cooked the Southern way--seasoned with meat and just the right spices. We also had the mac and cheese. It was just like my mother used to make. This is a very clean and bright restaurant. The staff was very friendly with lots of smiles. There is plenty of parking, too, as it's in a small strip center that has a large lot. Highly recommended.

Ample parking, decent decor and atmosphere, and what we ordered was the greatest - brisket, pork ribs, turkey breast, and sides of fried okra and cornbread - were all perfectly seasoned and cooked. (Baked beans were ordinary, but so what?) We shared a 3 meat combo, and even being hungry, couldn't finish it all. Great value here, good BBQ isn't cheap. There even is a drive through for take home, hope it's as good as dine in. The house sauce is mild, and can be spiced up with different bottled hot sauces on the table. Hey, if the BBQ meats are ordinary, the sauce won't help much. Eat here, and you'll never go again to a local chain BBQ place.

I have been supporting black owned restaurants on a weekly basis and had read great reviews and wanted to see if they lived up to the hype. We ordered a variety of meats, ribs, sausage, catfish and brisket. The meats were tender and flavorful. The sides were ok, I was disappointed in the greens. They did not seem fresh, tasted like they came from a can. The portions were a good size. My daughter raved about the catfish. Not impressed with the peach cobbler. Next time I hope to dine in versus taking it home.

I would recommend a visit to Smokey John's Bar-B-Que & Home Cooking for a tasty meal. I had the brisket & sausage Po Boy sandwich; brisket was flavorful and tender and sausage not too salty. And the catfish plate with Mac & Cheese and greens; the mac and cheese was ok and the catfish and greens were good. Orders come with your choice of Texas toast (buttery goodness) and cornbread ( was a little dry) and standard tarter sauce for the catfish and BBQ sauce for the po boy sandwich, which were both good. I would visit again to try more options.

I've been going here for many years - going back to when they were closer to Love Field. Our office so it had been a while since I visited. Nice to see a new fresh face on the strip center and new more open and painted inside the restaurant too. Two-meat combo is what I go with - brisket and hot link is my go-to. Baked beans and then all the standard BBQ sides, but they also have plenty of home-style greens and other sides. Friendly staff, always there to keep things moving and help out. They could have swapped the tables and chairs along with the remodel - they are getting a little old, but no problem - just an improvement, I'll keep coming back when able.

We had 10 in our party. I had the Big Smoke with ribs, brisket, turkey. I wish there was one of these in Colorado! I might have to go back before I leave town. 😊

Had the brisket, ribs, and sausage with beans and mac n cheese. The BBQ sauce is incredibly left pretty satisfies. they also have plenty of home-style greens and other sides. Friendly staff, always there to keep things moving and help out. I'm sure dining in would be a better experience.

This is a good place to get BBQ. The staff are friendly and kind. The portions are fair and the price os good. The desserts are good too

Stopped here after flying into Love field. Very close.very clean, plenty of parking and very nice staff. Food was excellent. Ribs very good, brisket sausage po boy was outstanding. Mac and cheese very good. Portions very large. Service very fast.

When my family was in town from Iowa. They asked to go to a BBQ joint so we brought them to Smokey John's. Now those from Iowa can tell you - we know our meat and we are not easily entertained. Pork paid for my college. My uncle asked the owner if he could buy some sauce to take back. The answer was we don't have our sauce for sale yet. But what happened next was amazing. He went behind the counter and GAVE my uncle a bottle. You better believe when the visited next my aunt and uncle wanted to go back. Good food is easy to come by in Dallas. Amazing service is not. In response to earlier reviews. Be sure to check back. The owners have been putting a lot of money and effort into upgrading the facility and the food. Huge chances have been made since Brent won Deep Fried Masters.

If u can appreciate a good piece of BBQ don’t go here ………only go if you want great BBQ! It was absolutely phenomenal. I’m from the bbq capital of the world HOUSTON Tx and I must say our little brother Dallas has something very special with smokey Johns!!!!!!!! The Brisket the Ribs the Sausage did I mention the Brisket and ribs!!!!!!! The homemade baked mac and cheese with the old school big elbow noodle will make u stop and just look at it……….so good!!!!!!! They also do a fried catfish plate but I was getting bbq……I asked if they had a catfish sandwich and they said no they don’t have that on the menu but guess what…….they went in the back and made me one with lettuce tomatoes and probably the best tartar sauce in the world I literally mean the best tartar sauce in the world the crispy catfish was firm but delicate and fried with sooooo crispy something special !!!!!homemade tartar sauce say it two times homemade tartar sauce. Greens Yams cornbread at a bbq joint I finished this experience with lemonade that had four ingredients lemons water sugar and love….I know because I asked and yes the lemonade alone is worth the trip …….remember only go here if you want the greatest bbq experience ever

One of the best BBQ that I have had in a very long time. We actually got to meet the owner and his two sons as well. Nice restaurant feeling and comfortable knowing that they are family owned and operated.

Smokey John's was a quick carry-out diner during a cold, dreery night in Dallas and I was amazingly surprised. Smelled great as I entered and was greeted by a friendly meat cutter. We had ribs and brisket with several delicious sides. Ribs were super tender and tasty. Juicy flavorful meat with very little fat. The BBQ suave was delicious. Not too sweet and hot but just perfect. The brisket was tender, juice and super flavorful with a perfect smoke ring. John's smoked meats are among the best I've every had and believe me this Texan has eaten a lot of barbecue. I'll be eating more Smokey John's BBQ real soon. Oh yeah... the peach cobbler was to die for. Thanks Smokey John's, my new Dallas BBQ spot.

It was good to me but that's only my opinion. Ive definitely had better. I ordered the Big John's plate w/ 3 meats. I got hotlinks, pork, and sliced brisket. The brisket was very dry with little to know seasoning. I know that some people like to taste just the meat but not me lol. I want to at least taste the rub that was used. I don't even think that would have helped though because of how dry it was. The links were okay. Nothing to blog about. The pork was the highlight to me. It complimented the barbque sauce. It had a nice smoke taste to it. You can't go wrong with that as an option. For my sides I ordered the sweet potatoes and Mac & cheese. The sweet potatoes were sweet as the should have been. The mac was more sauce than cheese. A little runny for my liking but hey thats my opinion.

A family favorite. Great brisket. Great ribs. Great sauce. Brent and Juan will take good care of you. A Dallas favorite. Large choice of sides. Family owned. You will be happy eating there.

Liked: AWESOME ribs, our family tried several different types of meats & sides, all were very good to excellent; to die for Mac-n-cheese; southern hospitality from ALL of their staff. We made a low-key birthday comment & the entire staff wished our family member a happy birthday & later without asking, they all brought her a cake & sang to her. I can't say enough about how nice their staff is. Cons: NOTHING!

Tasty BBQ with decent sized portions. Staff is super friendly and happy to help you with suggestions and maybe even a sample :) The brisket is so flavorful and melts in your mouth. Finish it all off with the Banana pudding.

Excellent BBQ pork, chicken, turkey, but the sausage was absolutely delicious! Food is cafeteria style, nothing fancy, but it's all cooked with LOVE! The sides were really good too, the Mac and cheese, and greens were superb. The staff is especially friendly, and helpful with questions. You can sample some if you need to decide between selections. Like I said, it's not fancy, and doesn't intend to be, but one thing for sure, they know how to cook, and that counts to me! And by the way, they ship too!!!

If you like bbq, this is the place for you. Good, seasoned, quality bbq, brisket is my favorite and they got it right! Also, the homemade sides are delicious and if you want to turn it up a notch, try their different types of sausage but beware the spicy sausage are spicy!!! We actually had to request mild. They also let you sample items before your purchase. This is a great place for family, friends or couples, really great bbq.

Surprisingly enough they have an excellent cheeseburger. Also the barbecue is simply awesome get the big smoke which is the sampler platter and you get four different meats and you can add your sides to that. Macaroni and cheese is awesome and finally they sell these little individual size cakes. The lemon butter cream cake is the best thing going I said about six. And that’s six for just me.

We thought the jalapeño sausage was the best thing here! This was a different kind of bbq that was more vinegar based? Not 100% sure. It was MUCH different than pecan lodge for instance though. You go up to a counter to order and you can see the meat right there. They let us try a small piece of sausage to make sure it wasn’t going to be too hot for us.

Was in Dallas on business. Looked for a local spot to experience Texas BBQ. Decided on Smokey John's. Had the brisket, ribs, and sausage with beans and mac n cheese. The meat was delicious, especially loved the ribs. The BBQ sauce is incredible - wish I could have flown some home with me. I did buy some rub from the chef, which I have since used at home. From the outside, it looks like a run of the mill strip mall joint. Once I walked inside, I knew I made the right choice. It was busy enough with a steady stream of customers, many who seemed to know the staff personally.

Got there late and got the order in before kitchen closed. The brisket and ribs were very tasty along with some good sides. The desert (Irish Cream type with oreo crust) was huge (one of the biggest I have ever seen, and had to be shared. It was as good as it looked...!!! Bartender was very friendly and helpful with details of the local scene. He had his Dallas Cowboy gear on, but had to let him know I am a big Patriots fan...Go Pats...!!!

Came here for the first time with my wife. It doesn't seem like much from the outside and not much better when first walking in, but the food is worth it. Nice size portions, and fair variety of meats and sides, few deserts. Very busy, and food was excellent. Staff were both friendly and fun. The price wasn't bad.

This place does not look much from the outside, but the service and food are excellent. Had the two meat plate (ribs and sausage) and left pretty satisfies. Portions are tasty and large. Cheers!

This is a nice new place with good BBQ and I enjoyed my sides. The brisket was just ok a little on the dry side and the sausage was nothing special but the pork ribs were fall off the bone and delicious. Great little place to hit while waiting for a flight at love field.

All the BBQ options you want. Some items like the brisket and the ribs were good. Side dishes are inconsistent depending when you go. Not the cleanest place, but have tasty food.

On any day in Dallas, you can stop by Smokey John’s for the best meal and a lift to your soul. This fine place near Love Field has some of the best fried catfish and home cooked veggies you’ll eat. The service is top-notch...the staff makes its’ aim to encourage every customer. So this is a place for great food and great food for the soul. It’s a must-dine place in Dallas.

The best BBQ we had in a long time. We ordered brisket and ribs. The sides are good too. It's so good, we ordered more to take home and enjoy later.

I was staying at the Candlewood Suites just down the street for the night and was needing dinner. Lots of places I wanted to go but didn't want to drive far and was cautious in these times of Uber or a cab. In my search, this BBQ joint came up as a nearby option. I've driven by a hundred times but never tried it. Delicious. The brisket was tender with a heavy smoke ring, excellent. Topped it off with some greens and cornbread and baked beans. Thank you.

nice location. the building is rich in details but the food was not. their BBQ chicken was way too salty! the brisket was amazing and so were their rolls! nothing spectacular about the mac'cheese or bake beans. their sweet tea was terrible. if you go there do not use their restrooms; its dirty and yucky! hope this is not the same restroom their employees uses!!!! the walls of the booth had sause splatter. the place just felt dingy but my bff and were tired of flipping through reviews and driving so we settled on this place. the staff and service was slightly above average. do yourself a favor and dine some place else for BBQ!

We went here because it was close to our hotel. I am so glad we found this gem! The food was amazing and the workers made us feel as though we were personal guests in their home. Service like this is rare and we would go again without hesitation next time we are in the area. Also, the prices were reasonable, ranging from 9-15 dollars for dinner plates. Our favorites were the ribs, the cucumbers. the green beans, the Mac/cheese and the Texas toast.

Southern BBQ is always a must in a southern state! Smokey John's definitely hit the taste buds just right. They give you pretty good portions for your options along with the sides you are able to choose with you meal. Definitely stop here if you're wanting some food BBQ to eat!

We were treated to a catered lunch by Smokey John's. I had the turkey which was smoked and seasoned well, moist not dry Mac & cheese tasted like a box brand, it was not good. Green beans, they were average tasting not seasoned enough the baked beans, bland needed more seasoning Peach cobbler, great flaky crust, sweet and good. I'm sure dining in would be a better experience.

Tasty and plentiful. I had the baked potato, it was very good. The place seems a little worn but had character. It wasn't terribly busy at 5pm on a weekday. They had no problem accommodating a group of about 15. They offered a selection of carbonated beverages, water, tea, and lemonade. Prices seemed comparable.
Absolutely delicious BBQ that you must try!
Very delicious. You can actually taste the well seasoned and smoke in the ribs and brisket. The okra, French fries and mashed potatoes were delicious. My son enjoyed his cheese burger.