Those who know BBQ often say, "For best BBQ in Alabama, go to Big Bob's." It's not just the best, but also the inventor's of Alabama Style BBQ, which is particularly notable for the white sauce that's served here and was invented by Big Bob. Big Bob founded the spot back in 1925 and only recently passed away, giving the business to his children. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is an institution of the state and is packed on weekends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Prices are from an era that's now long gone, making this not only incredible BBQ, but also a steal for the money. I mean, who sells a BBQ pork sandwich for under $5 in 2026? Many staff working here clearly have been around for a long, long time. So, one might ask, what should I get at Big Bob's? For starters, the chicken wings. Likely the best smoked wings to be had anywhere: just the right amount of smokey profile while being tender and juicy. True perfection in something that's hard to master. Next, one of the samplers is not a bad idea. Pulled pork is truly state of the art, winning many competitions around the South. Ribs are fall off the bone and delicious. Brisket is good, but a low fat version that might or might not be to someone's taste. Hand cut French fries and baked beans as a side, and finally, life is all set. Sure, if one gets more adventure, the ice box cakes are wonderful also, with the coconut varietal being a standout. Stop by, enjoy and leave with bragging rights for having tried something truly one of a kind. read more

See all

Big Bob Gibson is known for winning the Memphis in May BBQ contest. 5 Grand Championship trophies and more than 13 first place finishes for pork shoulder. I have been eating Big Bob's BBQ my whole life. The quality and taste of the pork shoulder, smoked chicken, and Brunswick stew I recently purchased was very very disappointing. We ordered 2 pounds of pork shoulder. The meat had no taste. I couldn't detect hickory smoke. The pork was burnt and very fatty. The accompanying vinegar based sauce was not seasoned like previous times. Basically it was vinegar with little seasoning. 1/5 The smoked chicken, my favorite, was dry. I wondered if it was leftover from the previous day. The seasoning wasn't very good. 2/5 The Brunswick stew was not good. The recipe has changed. It tasted sweet which was off putting. I do not remember Brunswick stew tasting sweet. The quart of stew had 10 tiny pieces of potato and a few corn kernels. I saw some pork meat floating in a strange red colored broth. I remember when stewed tomatoes were in the stew. Not anymore. The soupy stew did not taste very good. 2/5 The potato with pulled pork was ok. The sauce given was a thin vinegar base that had little seasoning. The potato was the best thing I ate from Big Bob's. 3/5 I am thoroughly disappointed with the quality and taste of Big Bob's pulled pork, smoked chicken and Brunswick stew. I will return again. It will be a while though. I can't get this visit out of my head. This feels like a bad Twilight Zone episode. I really have enjoyed the foods from here in the past. Sadly, not this time. 2/5 read more

See all

I just wanted to say thank you for donating lunch our unit at DHR! Most people don't know that March is Social Work Appreciation month. We are often left out when it comes to discounts and appreciation, but not today! Lunch was awesome and one less thing to worry about today! :) :) :) read more

They created white sauce here. There is a family tradition here. We were waited on by a very friendly waitress who gave us some time to study the menu. We settled on a sampling of chicken wings, brisket, turkey and ribs. Which we paired with potato salad, Mac n. Cheese, greens and green beans; served with a roll and whipped spread. I'll say the ribs were outstanding as were the wings; packed with flavor and smoked to perfection. Kudos. The turkey was also good. The brisket I would pass on. I even tried the sauces to see if that helped. It was oddly dried out. The sauces were all delicious but didn't really stick to the meat. The outstanding side was the Mac and cheese. Just the right balance between cheese and flavor. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The walls, vents and ceilings could use a good cleaning.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The pies looked great although I could eat one more bite super filling! read more

See all

I had read about this place for years and would always see it on Al.com when ranking the best bbq in Alabama. We were in the area and finally got to try it. I was slightly lost that you have to get a menu from where you pay before seating yourself but after that we were off to the races. The waitress was good and checked on us several times. The food came out quickly and it was just as advertised as great bbq. I enjoyed the ribs and pulled pork more than the chicken. I really liked the potato salad. I'm not sure how this place has such a bad rating on Yelp after having had it. My biggest regret was being too full to order a piece of pie to go. Would definitely go again if in the area. read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Little Bob Gibson Sampler - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

Parking was easy. Service was prompt. Many trophies from Memphis bbq cook off. Prices are fair. We ordered: Sweet tea $2.69 Brunswick stew $5.99 5 piece spicy wings $8.69 BBQ pulled pork platter with Mac & cheese plus French fries $9.59 Slice of chocolate pie $3.79 I thought the pulled pork was a bit on the lean/dry side. My husband enjoyed it. I thought the Mac & cheese was excellent. Brunswick stew was okay/barely warm; I wouldn't order it again. Wings were good Definitely worth checking out if you're near by! read more

See all

The food was delicious! Our server was very nice and did a great job! The homemade chocolate pie was perfect! Family friendly for sure!

Big Bob Gibsons is a bbq institution in my opinion. Is it the best? Not even close, but it's consistently very good and I think their white sauce stands out from the others. My go to is the brisket and pulled pork smothered in white and regular sauce. Brunswick stew is my favorite side. read more

I have had this place bookmarked for more than a decade now. These folks have won Memphis in May Grand Champion more times than anyone else that I have ever heard of. Anyone can win once as a fluke I suppose, but ten or more is something you pay attention to. I got really stoked when the stars aligned just right for us to have lunch here. Giddy kind of vibes, man. Walk in to a slight wait. Grumpy old ladies at the front are just perfect. They have probably worked here as long as I have been alive. Love at first sight!! Our server was great. She was also an old timer by all appearances and did all the things like a true champ. She knew the menu well and made the day even better with her personality. Her name was Adrian R. You should ask for her! I ordered a medley of smoked meats and the wifey got the White BBQ 1/4 chicken. She had slaw and beans. I had the mac & cheese with beans with my meat extravaganza. What arrived was simply marvelous. My meats included pulled pork, sliced brisket, sliced turkey breast, and spare ribs. Every single bite I took was perfect. Out of four meats I expected one of them to be deficient or off in some way. Hell, I would have just not said anything if it had happened. It was all perfect. I even liked all of the sauces, but that vinegar sauce is freaking fire! Seventy-six more adjectives could be typed, but no, I will not put you through that. The sides were just there, who cares. Some parts (the really kinda charred area) of the Mac were really tasty. Beans were pretty good I would say. C had the slaw and we still can't figure it out. I don't eat that mess so I didn't try it. It looked like ground celery drowned in vinegar. I have no idea, but she said she liked it. The meats are where it's at folks. I cannot wait to come back as soon as possible!!!!! I love you Big Bob Gibson!!! '25 - 38/111 read more

See all

Was in town for the weekend and decided to try BBQ! Went on a Sunday at lunch time and waited a little bit. For three, we shared the Rib & Meat Combo + sides and Coconut cream pie + lemon icebox pie for desserts. Not my favorite BBQ but I enjoyed the sides, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance in the restaurant was fun[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the desserts were delicious! Attached to a parking lot, service is pretty quick. read more

See all

Great value! Excellent turkey especially with the AL white sauce. Ribs were tender but not very smoky. Generous portions and friendly staff. I expected to try some pie but couldn't even finish the two meat combo. read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Big Bob combo: Ribs, smoked turkey, potato salad, side salad. - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

Went in on a Tuesday night, 45 minutes prior to close, after having driven from Springfield, Missouri for work. Host warmly greeted me, and the server treated me as if I were the first guest of the day. Recommended spare ribs, I added pulled pork, along with baked beans and Mac and cheese. Outstanding bbq, and that white sauce?!? MONEY! The coconut cream pie set it off. So refreshing to be back in the south, where hospitality is still something to strive for. Even at the end of the evening, I was treated like I mattered. Great job! read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Bbq trophies galore - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

See all

everything was DRY except the turkey, guess that's why they serve a great sauce. Sides were good too but sides aren't Q

came to decatur for a friend's wedding and the recommendation they had was Big Bob's for BBQ! on our way back we decided to step inside and we were greeted kindly and told to sit wherever. when you first come in you are also greeted by the staggering amount of awards Big Bob's has so this raises expectations. service was kind and quick. my partner ordered the brisket and i ordered the pork shoulder which has won numerous accolades including best at the memphis BBQ awards this year in 2025. the collard greens were delicious, the sweet tea was sweet, the potato salad was delicious, and the homemade sauces were great too. the pork shoulder was FANTASTIC! i couldn't get it down my piehole fast enough. i wasn't sure why my boyfriend ordered the brisket since alabama isn't known for brisket as far as i'm aware, he said he's had better and i'm not a brisket girl so i didn't touch it. he said he loved the ribs so that was a plus. we pretty much rolled out of big bob's. [[HIGHLIGHT]]we had a great time and it's pretty casual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]we came during church time on a sunday and it got pretty busy past church time, say like 11:30 am.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] come quick! read more

See all

The food was ok our server Amanda was covering have the restaurant she definitely deserves a raise there severely understaffed so the food wasn't as good as it should be and [[HIGHLIGHT]]there was no music[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Now, I'm probably biased coming from Texas. The coleslaw is a completely different style from the usual cabbage type and wasn't my cup of tea, but tbf the waitress did warn me. Meat was tender but not the most flavorful. Staff were awesome. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Good is always good and service was good! Love the Sweet tea and coconut pie just tops it off!!!

While I have never actually ate here before we have got them to cater some of our lunches at work and I'll say they are pretty damn good. From the meats to the sides even the deserts are good. Can't comment on the prices because well I didn't pay for it. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food value and service: classic older style bbq with booth seating: excellent BarBQ with lots of smokiness ![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

Went through the drive through for some ribs, 2 racks was $70 for ribs so over cooked half was mush and each end of the rack was crunchy dry. Was so disappointed after they won last year I was atleast expecting properly cooked ribs. After driving over from Hsv I expected more. read more

Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, Alabama offers very good barbecue and homemade pies. The pulled pork is their best meat, but the ribs are also high quality. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is old school southern barbecue which has become rare.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would highly recommend the barbecue sandwich and a piece of peanut butter pie. read more

We had the brisket sandwich and chicken platter. The brisket was great. I really enjoyed the seasoning and the portion size was very generous. Ordered a side of fries and wish I hadn't. They were cold, under cooked, greasy and under seasoned. Honestly? The sandwich is so huge that you don't need anything else. Spouse got the 1/2 chicken platter with the "famous" white sauce. The chicken was smoked. They must be tiny chickens though because the portion size was small. The sides were also skimpy. About a cup of baked beans and a cup of coleslaw. I didn't like anything on that platter. Good thing it wasn't mine! lol the spouse liked it all. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is cramped. It's so crowded that we saw a child smack his head against the corner of a table because they're so close together[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Poor thing! It happened so fast that nobody could stop it. Not bad for a first visit, will try other things (and skip some next time). read more

Too much salt and pepper on ribs yesterday !!! Sunday 3 -8 -26 . It was almost ridiculous!!!! Not necessary!!! Thanks read more

Picked up a half pint of Brunswick Stew today. It was gross. I've had their stew before and it was ok, not great but worthy of another try. What I received was more like sludge than stew. Overly thick, like from the dregs of the pot, or someone put a stick blender in it and left it sitting out too long. Barely room temperature and way too salty. I know it's not stew season, but don't have it on the menu if that's what you're going to serve. Do better. read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Sludge stew. - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

This is not a review about the restaurant they r great I purchased a gift card on line for a friend it comes in email and u r supposed to get a scan bar I have written their corporate office for help as my 100 dollar gift card can't be use because she didn't get scan bar It now has been almost a month and they ask for a detail I respond and they dont respond I asked for a scan bar or a refund still No response read more

Worth a visit because the prices are modest and the food is of legend. The brisket and the smoked wings were my favorite and i tried everything read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Smoked Chicken Wing Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

See all

Looked for some hot chicken spots and this was the number one spot that came up! Here was our experience AMBIANCE: Parking: Plenty of parking. It has its own plaza with room for about 30 cars. Seating: Inside seating for about 80 people. Great for groups! Vibes: The area is a strip of other everyday stores but mainly restaurants and gas stations. The restaurant itself is pretty historic. The place prides itself rightfully with all of its rewards and longevity with its history. No music playing or anything just the comfort of the chatter and the hustle and bustle of the servers. Great for a family outing or food adventure. FOOD: Big Bob Gibson Combo (Recommend) St Louis ribs and choice of meat with add-on meats for an additional cost and then two sides and a roll. I got the beef brisket and pulled pork for this one, along with green beans and mac and cheese. This can last you two meals! The meats were delicious. The ribs fell off the bone, the brisket was juicy and well-seasoned, and the pulled pork was smoky. The sides complemented it well the green beans made things a bit healthy and the mac and cheese was cheesy and gooey. French Fries (Recommend) Crunchy, lightly seasoned, and salty. A good comforting side all around. Smoked Chicken Wings (Spicy) - (Recommend) It's saucy and charred appearance made it look aesthetically pleasing. Juicy, fresh and delicious! Sweet Tea (Recommend) Splendid. Your mild hint of bitter earthy tea but a nice balance of sugar makes this drink pleasant. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! As a visitor I felt the excellent Southern hospitality with a warm greeting and genuine patience as I needed help on deciding what to order. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Delicious food, great selections, reasonable prices, and a great atmosphere. What complements the food well is the service. This may be far from Birmingham but if you're in this neck of the woods, definitely worth trying, especially tasting flavors of history such as trying a place that created the "White BBQ sauce" TIPS: * Unsure what to get? Go with the combo plates! * Want more sauce, they sell them! * Curious about the bbq white sauce - it's a bit vinegary mixed with mayo. read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Wooo! - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

Not too long ago I found myself bored and with a bit of time on my hands, and it occurred to me that I was hungry and that I'd never been to Big Bob Gibson's BBQ which is famous for inventing Alabama white sauce. It stood to reason that I had to go there and so I did. There's a lot of seating. A lot. This place can accommodate your group for sure. It's got your classic bbq joint menu, all the meats, all the sides that you'd expect from an Alabama bbq spot. The prices are low, especially given the portions which are big enough to send you home with leftovers. I had the brisket, some mac & cheese, fries, bread and a rib of 2 for good measure. The brisket was cut thick, and relatively lean. I tend to prefer fattier brisket but this stuff was legit. The ribs fell off the bone and were loaded with flavor. The mac & cheese was above average. Would order it all again. In summary, it's worth the drive if you're thinking of giving it a try, and it's a no brainer if you're in the area. Give em a shot. You'll be glad you did. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]More bang for your buck here and everything is good!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Decatur, Al y'all got sumn special here!!!

I'm a lifelong resident of Alabama but had never tried the famous Big Bob Gibson BBQ, inventor of the Alabama White Sauce. In fact, I had only tried a copy of the white sauce once before today, so on our trip to Decatur, I was excited to try the OG. First impression: It's a typical BBQ joint, smells great soon as you pull up in the parking lot, and crowded! We were seated immediately & the server helped me decide what to order. I asked, "What can I order that will help me truly experience the famous white sauce?" She recommended the Turkey for sure and added that people often pair it with the chicken. So that's what I ordered: the Little Bob Gibson Sampler, with greens and chips for sides. My husband ordered the Rib and Meat Combo with smoked turkey, Mac n cheese, and fries. My food was great, though I was disappointed that the chips were a tiny bag of Lay's Classic. I think I was expecting homemade potato chips. (The menu doesn't say that, it was just my incorrect assumption) Turkey was great, especially with the white sauce and the greens with bits of meat were very good. The chicken leg quarter was also good. My husband was also happy with his plate. Oh & he raved about the Chocolate Pie. He usually doesn't care for meringue, but said the pie was so good "even with the abundance of fluffy stuff on top." Tip: the sauces are on the table and the rib sauce is vinegar based I'm so glad I tried the home of the Alabama White Sauce and I recommend it if you're in the Decatur area. read more

See all

I just happened to be in the area when this place opened, and I was happily surprised by their early hours. I ordered the Big Bob Gibson Combo. It came with ribs and I ordered pulled pork and brisket with greens and beans for the sides. My favorite meat was definitely the ribs, and for the sides, the beans hit the spot. To finish things off, the very nice waitress recommended the coconut cream pie. It was light and delicious, not too sweet. I really liked the toasted coconut flakes on top. All it all, I was greeted promptly, and my food was out on my table very quickly. It was enough food to take some home for dinner too. All in all, a pretty good bbq place. read more

See all

I have been on a search for the World's greatest bbq since I was 16. About 32 years ago I found Big Bob's and if it's not the world's greatest it will be in the top 5. I haven't tried it yet, but I've been told by my daughter that Terry Black's in Texas actually beats them out, but I don't know. I haven't been to Texas in a couple of decades. We'll see one day. [[HIGHLIGHT]]In order to just get in the restaurant one has to walk around gigantic trophies. I've heard Big Bob has won at least 10 world champion trophies. And hundreds of blue ribbons[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. With that said, everything I've had here is outstanding. And I've had everything. I learned I loved BBQ taters here a few years ago. I discovered bbq and salad are a solid combination. My wife had this meal tonight. I had a standard pulled pork plate. The meat was slow smoked in such a way my heart was dancing all by itself. I use the traditional sauce, because it just don't get any better. A meal at Big Bob's is life changing. I can not recommend this restaurant highly enough a 10/10 just isn't good enough! Thanks Big Bob! read more

See all

Big Bob's chicken is a legend and for a good reason: it is superb and unique. Known near and far as the creator of "Alabama White Sauce," this unusual concoction perfectly complements their smoked chicken, which is juicy, tender, and flavorful. I ordered the Big Bob Combo, which paired my bird with ribs, which were quite good. But it is the chicken that shines here. All three of us left full and with a bottle of the white sauce to take home. Service was friendly and sassy. A must if you find yourself in Northern Alabama. read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - A lot of delicious food. The chicken tastes much better than it looks - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

See all

Very good food and service. Had the brisket sandwich with potato salad and the side coleslaw.

Very very southern.Ribs were good. brisket and chicken was dry. fries were soggy and greasy. Sweet tea was very good. coleslaw not good. coleslaw was NOT good. mints cost $.25 each, but they were good.Do NOT get the kids grilled cheese,it was burnt and soggy. Pie was big. Ranch was mid. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Decent value. read more

The WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!! The BEST!!!!!!!! Worth it!!!!!!!! Smoked BBQ-sauced wings! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The bad lighting didn't hide the not so clean floors. But, the tables were clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The waitress was super nice & was alright attentive. Definitely will return & recommend to ALL read more

Best pork ribs we had throughout our bbq road trip so far!! We came in at 5pm and weirdly they only did take outs as they "had no waiters "(????) We ordered the wings, pork ribs plus 2 meats combo but they eventually forgot to put in the brisket (as it was takeout , we only found that at home ). Here's the food we had : 1) pork ribs - oh lord . So good . So juicy and flavourful . 6 stars 2) pulled pork - just ok. We had a better . A bit too dry . 3/5 3) wings - excellent . The sauce was so good , and the blue cheese dip was great. 4/5 They also forgot to put their famous white sauce . So disappointing . All together , the ribs were worth the drive read more

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Award Winning Bbq Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Decatur, Alabama

See all

The food is fantastic and the service is good. This was my 2nd time eating here and I look forward to eating here again when I'm in Decatur

Amazing food. The selection would please any palate. Our service was prompt and friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall good outing in a pleasant environment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Some of the best ribs I ever had I recommend big bob to anybody looking for a great meal with hospitality 10/10