BackYard Bar-B-Q

First time at saddleback and all I can say is it was excellent. Pulled pork smoked to perfection…read moreand not steamed in sauce all day. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be going back for seconds!

I was a little disappointed with a 4 star rating, the meat did not match up. I had the one meat…read moreplatter with brisket for an extra charge. Brisket was dry and just OK. The sides were beans and coleslaw, beans were tasty, slaw was mediocre.

Brisket

Pulled chicken, Mac n cheese, collard greens

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Get there early!! The place really fills up fast for lunch... but it is worth the wait :)

Valley Wings Okemos

4.9(24 reviews)

0.2 mi

Listen .... When I say these wings were seasoned to the gods and tender, juicy flavorful, leaves…read moreyou wanting more than a 10 pc I finally understand what being a big back btc feels like, hot honey was perfected

Drove by it a lot but I finally decided to stop in and I'm really glad I did. I got 15 wings with…read moremy son, sauce on the side. I got the Caribbean Jerk sauce. My son ate them without sauce, and they were amazing without it, but that jerk sauce was incredible! Their service was friendly and the food was made fresh but was still pretty quick. The place was empty but I was in there at an odd hour. This is a real gem people. Locally owned, great atmosphere, and incredible wings! Hopefully Okemos is stepping up and keeping these guys rolling! Stop and eat, trust me, you won't regret it!

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Come try our Valley Sauce and many other flavors. We put some LOVE in every drop!

Meat BBQ

4.3(837 reviews)

7.4 mi

Food and drinks great. Unique choices. Service excellent. Cool vibe in nice locationread more

The atmosphere here is like walking into an Old Western bar that happens to sell bbq. The dark…read morelighting very much has a candle light feel to it. I ordered the Logg Sampler Platter ($56). This comes with 4 meats, 4 sides, and 4 pieces of Cornbread. I got Pulled Pork, Brisket, Smoked Wings, and Ribs ($8 upcharge) for my meats. For the sides I got Mac N Cheese, Bbq Pit Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Spicy Creamed Corn. Overall everything was good and well cooked. From best to least it was Ribs, Brisket, Smoked Wings, and then the Pulled Pork. I would get the ribs and brisket again, but probably pass on the wings and pulled pork. The Bbq beans were only okay, oddly enough as cold leftovers they were much better. The Mac N Cheese was okay, but I wouldn't get it again. The Mashed Potatoes were very good. The spicy Cream Corn was excellent, they weren't lying it has a spicy kick! Funny enough the best thing was the Cornbread. It was fantastic, some of the best I've had. The worst thing? The sauces. They all were not good at all. The most tolerable one is their regular sauce, still a c minus. The service was good, but I was asked how I was doing about a hundred times. Still everyone was friendly. Overall a 4 star review. Would I return? If I was in Lansing then Yes. It is quality bbq cooked by someone with skill. I just might bring my own bbq sauce.

Bar seating

BBQ Nachos for dinner!!!

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Nachos

Johnny V's Smoke Shack

4.2(146 reviews)

15.1 mi

Heading east on 69 and we needed some gas and lunch. We yelp and lo and behold right across the…read morestreet is Johnny Vs! We see four star yelp reviews and we head over. You order at the counter and then select your seating. They have a nice selection of indoor seats- tables have cup holders to reduce your spillage. Two in our party today. We had the meat sampler and a pulled pork sandwich and both were fantastic. The ribs and chicken were a tie for first place. Followed closely by the pulled pork, candied bacon (omg) and brisket. Listen it was a meat paradise. Next time I'm passing this place it will be my destination. Good ass BBQ. Plus I love the funky murals!

You know the type of food that makes you do a little happy dance in your seat? That's Johnnys…read more Wonderful staff, friendly service. No frills- just dang good food. Romo's pro tip: the fries. Always get the loaded fries. They are a meal themselves!

Seating options- big booths, high tops and low tops

Baked beans, Mac & cheese, pulled pork

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Ladies RR mural

Saddleback BBQ

4.2(247 reviews)

6.5 mi

I have to preface this review by saying one thing: when Cutie wants barbecue, Cutie gets barbecue!…read moreSo that's exactly what we naturally did. I was down because I'll eat anywhere at any time with you, darling! We landed the Starship out front of Saddleback BBQ and I'll be honest, people, I was excited! We entered at an off hour as there were no other customers. After ordering, we sat down and eagerly awaited our food. Oh boy, did that food come fast!! Placed in front of me was my order of a pulled pork sandwich with the slaw on the side. My two sides were the obvious: macaroni and cheese, while my second was the deviled eggs as your boy has been straight HANKERING for some deviled eggs! Right off the rip, I had to try those eggs! Ooooh la laaaaaaa!! They may be deviled, but those eggs are straight from heaven! I'll take a dozen please, and that may even be too few! I'm not even being egg-stra when I say that either. After being delighted by my first side, I decided to dig right into that miggity miggity mac next! Let me tell you fine folks something! You think you know creamy, but this mac is supremely creamy! Love the noodle style and length too. A good hit of cheese soaked into the veins of each noodle. I'd say this macaroni will satisfy me any day of the week! The main event was my pulled pork sandwich, and boy, did they stack the kid up with the pork! I drenched it in their sweet and savory sauce and went to town. Love the seasoning and smoke on the meat. Tender and juicy, this is a good-tasting pig. Very soft bun too; I'll gladly eat a hefty sandwich of this. Good thing as the portion size is generous! This is the type of food I could eat daily and always be satisfied. Cutie agrees too! She ordered a pulled pork plate with Mac and cheese along with corn cakes! She was so kind to ask me to eat some which I was more than happy to! Those corn cakes are delectable! I've recently become a corn enthusiast, and these little cakes I must say are divine! Basically, what I'm saying is this: Saddleback does it nice, folks! Cannot wait to go back when we happen to be in the area! What a meal! Five sweet and savory stars out of five! See ya on the flippity!

Reliably good pulled pork and ribs. Great corn dish. Family likes the cole slaw. Vinegary sauce is…read moretops. This 5-5:30 visit made me think I was getting leftover ribs from the lunch. Might wait until later in the evening. Service: nothing for me to complain about. Friendly and helpful. In terms of ambience, great for conversations. No loud music. I like that.

Pork and brisket tacos.

Pork and chicken tacos.

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Two sides of corncake, and two orders of pulled pork

Capital City BBQ

4.1(177 reviews)

7.8 mi

The Pork and Chicken Banh MI sandwiches are the bomb! Best ever. Great experience and memories…read more Recommend to all who live in the Lansing area or are visiting. Can't miss!

Absolutely INCREDIBLE. Came here while in the area and ordered the Awesome Mess with macaroni salad…read moreand vegetarian egg rolls. The sandwich was amazing, BBQ sauce was delicious and the smoked pulled pork was cooked perfectly. The macaroni salad was really good. The egg rolls were great and the sweet chili sauce was the best I've ever had. I will absolutely be back next time I'm in the area.

Menu (Jul 2024)

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BBQ Menu

Gravity Smokehouse Brew & Que

3.7(71 reviews)

5.2 mi

Stopped here for lunch after church with my boyfriend. First off, great vibes. Sports bar feeling,…read morebut very family friendly. The servers were friendly and attentive. I got a Reuben sandwich and fries, and he got turkey breast, onion rings, and caramelized brussels sprouts. My sandwich was really good and hot, and the fries were actually some of the best I've had. My boyfriend's turkey was good, the onion rings were sooo crispy, and the brussels sprouts were glazed in a really yummy asian sauce. He said they were his favorite thing abt the meal. I plan to go back with my sister, maybe for karaoke night.

It's been awhile since we ate there the service was slow, the noise level was on the high side. We…read moreweren't pleased with the food. In Gravity defense it was busy and it was several months ago we ate there so things could have changed.

Sausage, Slaw, Fries

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Brisket, Mac, Onion Rings

Zynda BBQ and Smoke Shack

4.3(10 reviews)

3.3 mi

I couldn't deny my enthusiasm about this month's assignment being carnivore-friendly given our most…read morerecent review focused on vegetarian options, that while still very satisfying, still lacked the savory gratification of meat and more meat. Smoked, braised, grilled, roasted, or fried bring it on- either when I eat out or if I'm in my own personal happy place in front of my smoker. Enter Zynda's, a southwestern restaurant that now occupies the former Red Cedar Grill (one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the area) in Williamston. The venue has been nicely updated and far more open than I recalled its predecessor. There are several dining options including a nice bar serving craft cocktails, upscale booths for a special night, and the Chimney Room which can seat up to 50 guests. Billed as a barbecue restaurant on some food sites, Zynda's menu is part Tex-Mex, part New American, with some French, Asian, Cajun, and Mediterranean elements. I usually subscribe to the theory that restaurants that do a lot of everything rarely do anything exceptionally well. Zynda's had a lot of high notes, to be sure, but a lack of focus was evident on others. What's Really Good I'm a big fan of the ribeye when slathered in the bearnaise sauce. It was aromatic and rich, but not over-powering. Not as thick as most restaurants' ribeye, the steak was still cooked perfectly and paired well with the grilled asparagus. The smoked chicken atop the Baked "mac n cheese" with penne pasta was rich in smokiness. The dish had plenty of melty cheesy goodness and benefitted from both the creamy béchamel base and the crunch from panko crumbles. Likewise, the au gratin potatoes were rich and scrumptious with a nice kick from chiles. Can I get some more of this please? The onion rings were another hit, thick-cut and crispy, the batter was less greasy than some other area favorites. On lighter notes, the Michigan Springtime Salad with carrots, dried cranberries, walnuts, capers, and feta cheese and a red wine vinaigrette, and the Caesar Salad with a citrusy punch were both quite good. What's Just Ok The Smoked Chicken Quesadilla was solid, but not outstanding. The blending of Tex-Mex and slow smoking is a tricky matter, and the meat didn't shine like it did in the pasta. Further attention to detail could have been paid to several items: the corn chowder was missing the potato and bacon pictured on the menu; the coleslaw lacked creaminess and salt; and while the Southwest Pulled Pork Eggrolls, jam packed with black beans, corn, and green chiles, were an interesting way to enjoy Zynda's smoked delicacies, the smoked pork seemed at odds with everything else in each bite rather than enhanced by them. The dipping sauce added yet another layer of taste but offered a comforting cool to the Southwestern brawl. Best Bite A southwestern smokehouse will need to bring it in the flavor department when it comes to brisket. Zynda's Corned Beef Brisket was on point. Tender and juicy, the brisket was packed with a depth of flavor from both the corning and smoking processes. The flavor was ramped up a notch when coupled with either the AZ's Sweet & Savory sauce (closer to Kansas City-style tomato base and brown sugar) or the ZBQ sauce (a zestier, vinegar-based sauce akin to a Memphis-style sauce). Served with shoestring fries and a delightful jalapeño cornbread, this smokey and hearty plate is what I expect when I think of BBQ,

From our first greeting and the excellent waiter to the Easter entree of lamb it was a very…read moreenjoyable meal.

Corned beef brisket, fries, cornbread

Corn chowder

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Au gratin potatoes and corn chowder

Smokey Bones Lansing

2.9(185 reviews)

6.8 mi

Smokey Bones is a place I've been going to since I was a kid and it's definitely had its changes,…read morebut has also stayed the same in good ways! I love their ribs and burgers and especially their hot donuts! The quality of the food is always there but I will say the portions could be a bit better at times. As far as the inside goes, it's incredibly nice and very clean. I would not recommend doing take out for them because eating inside is a treat itself! Lastly, as far as the service goes, it can have its slow moments but is usually very friendly and efficient!

The atmosphere was pretty cool and the server we had was a hoot!…read more The food was great, as well! Loved the Smokey bones and the cornbread!

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Big Mom's House

4.9(17 reviews)

3.8 mi

This was my first foray into Korean Street food and was delicious! Service was friendly and quick…read more Cute little place on the inside as well. Will return!

Food was delicious and the woman working there was very nice! Recommend doing the 1/2 and 1/2!read more

Original

Potato & Crispy Ramen

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Chili Original & Sauces

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Stella R.

0

1

0

3 years ago

foods amazing , service was great friendly fast ........... I will be back and letting my friends and family know about this place

Nicole Z.

184

5

11

6 years ago

Reliable and flavorful! Legit smoked meats and locally owned. Great for lunches or takeout.

Sonny G.

0

3

0

9 years ago

Good food! Love hitting it for lunch! Staff is always very nice.

Adam K.

3

12

1

14 years ago

Not worth the money and the service was bad

BackYard Bar-B-Q - bbq - Updated August 2026

People who viewed BackYard Bar-B-Q also viewed

Saddleback BBQ

3.9

(92 reviews)

First time at saddleback and all I can say is it was excellent. Pulled pork smoked to perfection…read moreand not steamed in sauce all day. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be going back for seconds!

I was a little disappointed with a 4 star rating, the meat did not match up. I had the one meat…read moreplatter with brisket for an extra charge. Brisket was dry and just OK. The sides were beans and coleslaw, beans were tasty, slaw was mediocre.

Saddleback BBQ

(247 reviews)

I have to preface this review by saying one thing: when Cutie wants barbecue, Cutie gets barbecue!…read moreSo that's exactly what we naturally did. I was down because I'll eat anywhere at any time with you, darling! We landed the Starship out front of Saddleback BBQ and I'll be honest, people, I was excited! We entered at an off hour as there were no other customers. After ordering, we sat down and eagerly awaited our food. Oh boy, did that food come fast!! Placed in front of me was my order of a pulled pork sandwich with the slaw on the side. My two sides were the obvious: macaroni and cheese, while my second was the deviled eggs as your boy has been straight HANKERING for some deviled eggs! Right off the rip, I had to try those eggs! Ooooh la laaaaaaa!! They may be deviled, but those eggs are straight from heaven! I'll take a dozen please, and that may even be too few! I'm not even being egg-stra when I say that either. After being delighted by my first side, I decided to dig right into that miggity miggity mac next! Let me tell you fine folks something! You think you know creamy, but this mac is supremely creamy! Love the noodle style and length too. A good hit of cheese soaked into the veins of each noodle. I'd say this macaroni will satisfy me any day of the week! The main event was my pulled pork sandwich, and boy, did they stack the kid up with the pork! I drenched it in their sweet and savory sauce and went to town. Love the seasoning and smoke on the meat. Tender and juicy, this is a good-tasting pig. Very soft bun too; I'll gladly eat a hefty sandwich of this. Good thing as the portion size is generous! This is the type of food I could eat daily and always be satisfied. Cutie agrees too! She ordered a pulled pork plate with Mac and cheese along with corn cakes! She was so kind to ask me to eat some which I was more than happy to! Those corn cakes are delectable! I've recently become a corn enthusiast, and these little cakes I must say are divine! Basically, what I'm saying is this: Saddleback does it nice, folks! Cannot wait to go back when we happen to be in the area! What a meal! Five sweet and savory stars out of five! See ya on the flippity!

Reliably good pulled pork and ribs. Great corn dish. Family likes the cole slaw. Vinegary sauce is…read moretops. This 5-5:30 visit made me think I was getting leftover ribs from the lunch. Might wait until later in the evening. Service: nothing for me to complain about. Friendly and helpful. In terms of ambience, great for conversations. No loud music. I like that.

Gumps BBQ

(34 reviews)

Gumps is a truly hidden gem! Low key atmosphere but OMG the BBQ is superb. The guys running it are…read morevery welcoming and the service is fast and friendly. Today I had a brisket sandwich and the brisket was so tender and flavorful. My daughter got the Mac and Cheese and it was creamy cheese goodness with a touch of spice. For her the fries were a solid hit, said they were so good she didn't need to use ketchup or salt! You want the best BBQ in Lansing, Gumps is the place!

Chorizo and bacon burrito and me are forever! The best breakfast burrito in the 517! Gumps is top…read moretier.

The Whistlepig BBQ

(17 reviews)

Howdy y'all!! Anyone else been to The Whistlepig BBQ joint…read morein Charlotte?? I happened to be going next door to buy plywood at LL Johnson, when a freight train passed in front of me. Valuing my life I stopped to let it go, and as I waited, noticed some folks lining up at this former gas station, by the looks of it. I went and got my wood but, determined to stop for lunch before the 1.5 hr drive to my jobsite, I popped into the Whistlepig. Four people waited ahead of me, one with a family-sized order, and my wait was about seven or eight minutes. That's when I snapped the shots Being a cheapskate, I opted for the pork sandwich, jambalaya, and collards. The order was bagged and handed to me practically instantly. I turned around to face a self-serve bbq sauce bar featuring 1oz containers to fill with your choice of 5 different *homemade* sauces and three or four from sweet baby ray. I left the grocery-store stuff for the next guy and filled up on the unique ones. The jambalaya was nice spice level and flavorful with a fair amount of meat. The pork sandwich was good, except for the lump of crispy fat which was DELICIOUS!! I think I've had better collards, though these were alright. I ate my meal in their track-side picnic table pavilion. A freight went by and was quite loud. So, it was authentic whistlepig ambience. I'd do it again. Next time I'll try the brisket, coleslaw, and hopefully some smoked chicken. And I'll get the dessert. Maybe if I get back there in summer they'll have the peach crisp!! Extra points for very affordable prices and non-styrofoam packaging!

Perfectly average overall…read more I tried the brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, and cole slaw. Brisket was under-seasoned (bark didn't bite at all) and on the dryer side. Was probably sitting for quite awhile as service was super fast. Too fast honestly. Ribs - again, bland. Better cook on these than the brisket tho. Their sauces were the high point and elevated the meats from disappointing to average for the price which is quite cheap IMO. Mac and cheese and Cole slaw were just fine as well. I'd rather pay 2x the price at Meat BBQ when I'm in the mood for smoked meat.

Capital City BBQ

4.1

(177 reviews)

The Pork and Chicken Banh MI sandwiches are the bomb! Best ever. Great experience and memories…read more Recommend to all who live in the Lansing area or are visiting. Can't miss!

Absolutely INCREDIBLE. Came here while in the area and ordered the Awesome Mess with macaroni salad…read moreand vegetarian egg rolls. The sandwich was amazing, BBQ sauce was delicious and the smoked pulled pork was cooked perfectly. The macaroni salad was really good. The egg rolls were great and the sweet chili sauce was the best I've ever had. I will absolutely be back next time I'm in the area.

Zynda BBQ and Smoke Shack

4.3

(10 reviews)

I couldn't deny my enthusiasm about this month's assignment being carnivore-friendly given our most…read morerecent review focused on vegetarian options, that while still very satisfying, still lacked the savory gratification of meat and more meat. Smoked, braised, grilled, roasted, or fried bring it on- either when I eat out or if I'm in my own personal happy place in front of my smoker. Enter Zynda's, a southwestern restaurant that now occupies the former Red Cedar Grill (one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the area) in Williamston. The venue has been nicely updated and far more open than I recalled its predecessor. There are several dining options including a nice bar serving craft cocktails, upscale booths for a special night, and the Chimney Room which can seat up to 50 guests. Billed as a barbecue restaurant on some food sites, Zynda's menu is part Tex-Mex, part New American, with some French, Asian, Cajun, and Mediterranean elements. I usually subscribe to the theory that restaurants that do a lot of everything rarely do anything exceptionally well. Zynda's had a lot of high notes, to be sure, but a lack of focus was evident on others. What's Really Good I'm a big fan of the ribeye when slathered in the bearnaise sauce. It was aromatic and rich, but not over-powering. Not as thick as most restaurants' ribeye, the steak was still cooked perfectly and paired well with the grilled asparagus. The smoked chicken atop the Baked "mac n cheese" with penne pasta was rich in smokiness. The dish had plenty of melty cheesy goodness and benefitted from both the creamy béchamel base and the crunch from panko crumbles. Likewise, the au gratin potatoes were rich and scrumptious with a nice kick from chiles. Can I get some more of this please? The onion rings were another hit, thick-cut and crispy, the batter was less greasy than some other area favorites. On lighter notes, the Michigan Springtime Salad with carrots, dried cranberries, walnuts, capers, and feta cheese and a red wine vinaigrette, and the Caesar Salad with a citrusy punch were both quite good. What's Just Ok The Smoked Chicken Quesadilla was solid, but not outstanding. The blending of Tex-Mex and slow smoking is a tricky matter, and the meat didn't shine like it did in the pasta. Further attention to detail could have been paid to several items: the corn chowder was missing the potato and bacon pictured on the menu; the coleslaw lacked creaminess and salt; and while the Southwest Pulled Pork Eggrolls, jam packed with black beans, corn, and green chiles, were an interesting way to enjoy Zynda's smoked delicacies, the smoked pork seemed at odds with everything else in each bite rather than enhanced by them. The dipping sauce added yet another layer of taste but offered a comforting cool to the Southwestern brawl. Best Bite A southwestern smokehouse will need to bring it in the flavor department when it comes to brisket. Zynda's Corned Beef Brisket was on point. Tender and juicy, the brisket was packed with a depth of flavor from both the corning and smoking processes. The flavor was ramped up a notch when coupled with either the AZ's Sweet & Savory sauce (closer to Kansas City-style tomato base and brown sugar) or the ZBQ sauce (a zestier, vinegar-based sauce akin to a Memphis-style sauce). Served with shoestring fries and a delightful jalapeño cornbread, this smokey and hearty plate is what I expect when I think of BBQ,

From our first greeting and the excellent waiter to the Easter entree of lamb it was a very…read moreenjoyable meal.

King Of The Grill Express

4.3

(6 reviews)

The food was excellent! Highly recommend if you want good portions and better food! Service was…read morealso great staff were friendly and helpful! The space was clean and spacious!

Yum! The barbecue chicken and the brisket were both really…read moretasty! The coleslaw was a nice, light contrast to the cheesy potatoes. This is a neighborhood gem! I will definitely go back again. The staff told me exactly what they had and gave me a little sample of the chicken even though I ordered the brisket.

Johnny V's Smoke Shack

(146 reviews)

Heading east on 69 and we needed some gas and lunch. We yelp and lo and behold right across the…read morestreet is Johnny Vs! We see four star yelp reviews and we head over. You order at the counter and then select your seating. They have a nice selection of indoor seats- tables have cup holders to reduce your spillage. Two in our party today. We had the meat sampler and a pulled pork sandwich and both were fantastic. The ribs and chicken were a tie for first place. Followed closely by the pulled pork, candied bacon (omg) and brisket. Listen it was a meat paradise. Next time I'm passing this place it will be my destination. Good ass BBQ. Plus I love the funky murals!

You know the type of food that makes you do a little happy dance in your seat? That's Johnnys…read more Wonderful staff, friendly service. No frills- just dang good food. Romo's pro tip: the fries. Always get the loaded fries. They are a meal themselves!

Big Moe's Kitchen - Lansing, Mi

4.5

(18 reviews)

I love Big Moe's!! The food is so tasty and it's affordable. I stand 10 toes down for Moe's.read more

The killer brisket sandwich was so fresh and delicious. Great service…read more Would highly recommend.

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