10 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Sep 20, 2019 at 5:41 pm

The Queen City has plenty to offer when it comes to superb smoked meats. Some may be off the beaten path or lesser-known gems loved by true barbecue connoisseurs — one thing's for sure, these local spots are smoking some damn good meat.

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13 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try

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Buck’s Barbecue

462 Old Kellogg Road, Anderson
Open Wednesday through Sunday, Buck’s Barbecue started as a vendor at Over-the-Rhine’s Findlay Market and later opened a location on the East Side. The exterior of the restaurant looks more like a house, allowing guests to feel right at home. Classic dishes are offered, such as the expected pulled pork, baby back ribs and beef brisket. Buck’s tries to add their own flair to the menu with dishes like maple-glazed carrots and their “Barnyard” burger — a burger topped with pulled pork and chicken.
Photo: Adam Doty

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Ollie’s Trolley

1607 Central Ave., West End
Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in the Cincinnati area. The eatery serves a variety of smoked pork including ribs, rib tips and pulled pork, plus plenty of sides like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. Other local favorites include their smoked turkey plate, “Big Ollie” burger and hot dogs.
Photo via Facebook/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati

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Alabama Que

2733 Vine St., Corryville
Alabama Que proudly boasts on their website that they are the “home of the turkey tips.” This restaurant was founded by Dwan Ward in 2008, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. An Alabama native, Ward’s restaurant oozes Southern charm and a food truck was added to the business to keep up with growing demand. Every menu item consists of meat, sauce, one side, bread and a small beverage. Some meat options include smoked chicken, beef ribs, smoked salmon and, of course, the famous turkey tips.
Photo via Alabama Que Facebook

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C&M BBQ Grill

6457 Kennedy Ave., Kennedy Heights
C&M BBQ Grill offers many combo dishes, including their curried chicken, pork chop, baby back ribs and catfish dinner combos, all served with two sides of your choice. They also serve sandwiches, wings and more. Perhaps most interestingly, C&M serves Jamacian sodas.
Photo via Image from Google Maps

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Mck’s Chicks

11 W. Seventh St., Covington
With their mascot being a chicken holding a thumbs-up, Mck’s Chicks is confident about their menu. Taking barbecue and adding a contemporary twist, Mck’s Chicks has the option to put barbecue into tacos, offering smoked chicken, pulled pork and brisket. They also offer nachos and sliders with a variety of meats. Other notable mentions include their shark taco, brisket chili, bacon-wrapped baby backs and chicken chorizo burritos.
Photo via Facebook/Mckschicks

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Midwest Best BBQ and Creamery

663 Justice Court, Loveland
Midwest Best BBQ and Creamery proves the slogan on their website — “fast food is not good, and good food is not fast” — to be true. Founded in 2009 to sell their MB Simply Sweet BBQ sauce, Midwest Best BBQ quickly evolved into a popular restaurant. Their menu boasts entrees including a chopped chicken sandwich, a smoked turkey wrap, smoke-fried wings, “sweet-n-smoky” ribs and more. They also serve delicious sides like creamy slaw and baked beans. They like to pair their barbecue with ice cream, offering scoops, milk-shakes and malts, sundaes and more.
Photo via Facebook/MidwestBestBBQ

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Pickles & Bones

1149 OH-131, Milford
Pickles & Bones is a carry-out and catering establishment located in Milford. They offer traditional barbecue plates, sandwich meals, meat by the pound and scratch-made sides. Notable barbecue dishes include rib tips, hot link sausages, pulled pork sandwiches and pulled amish chicken.
Photo via Facebook/PicklesandBones

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Sweets & Meats BBQ

2249 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington
Sweets & Meats is a food truck-turned-brick and mortar in Cincinnati that offers carry-out and catering. Their menu features smoked meats options including a pulled pork sandwich and baby-back ribs all the way to homemade sides like sweet potato casserole and loaded baked potato salad. There are family-sized options as well so you can share some of that sweet, smoked goodness with the whole crew.
Photo via Facebook/SweetsandMeats

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Smoked Out Cincy

5800 Creek Road, Blue Ash
As the official food provider for Fretboard Brewing Company, Smoked Out Cincy pairs their sandwiches with Fretboard’s beers for an interesting menu. For example, their Philly Brisket sandwich is paired with Fretboard’s Vlad and their Flying Pig is paired with Reba. Aside from their sandwiches, Smoked Out Cincy also offers mac and cheese rolls, smoked wings, spicy bacon cheese fries and more.
Photo via Facebook/SmokedOutCincy

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Harmon’s Barbeque

3481 Valley Plaza Parkway, Fort Wright
From the picnic-style tables to the animal skulls on the walls, everything about Harmon’s screams American barbecue. The restaurant oozes with Southern charm. Harmon’s offers a wide variety of smoked meats, from briskets to sausage to turkey breast. If that’s not your thing, they also offer sandwiches, a wide-variety of potatoes (whether they come mashed, baked or fried) and more. They also offer desserts, including banana pudding and brookies.
Photo via Facebook/Harmonbbq

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