We searched the area for the best rated BBQ and JD's smokehouse is what we found. We found the place to be a nice and local restaurant (early what we wanted to since we don't like the typical big chains when we travel). The layout was spacious. You order at the counter and then they seat you. The young ladies were patient with us since it took us a while to decide. We went with the traditional dishes. The food came out quickly and the young lady who was waiting our area was always checking our drinks. Honestly the food was so so and we weren't too impressed. I'm glad we shared our meal and didn't go all out. Overall we felt it was so so. I did get a souvenir t-shirt. Wish I had a better review to post. Overall it's an okay spot and hope it was just an isolated incident. read more

JDs Smokehouse - Pulled Pork with sweet potatoes and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

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Love the brisket and my hubby loves the pork. Nice wood flavor without being overpowering. read more

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Wow! This place blew my socks off. Wasn't expecting much from this bbq joint in a small town in NC but it was amazing. If you're in the area go! Make the drive!! No wait the day we came. You order at the counter and then have a server for drink refills and such. We tried the ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The ribs literally fell off the bone - delicious - the highlight. Pulled pork was good, add one of their four bbq sauces to it, I liked the vinaigrette or yellow bbq sauce on with it. The brisket wasn't bad against TX brisket. Sides, we did grits, beans, mac and cobbler for dessert - all delicious. Really couldn't fault the place! Cool old skool country vibes going on inside too. Oh the rolls - amazing - beat Texas Roadhouse, hands down! No onions, only pickles. read more

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The food is fantastic, the employees have a smile that greets you from beginning to end! Great food and great service!

Everything was Fantastic! Chopped Chicken was not overly smoked and not dry at all. Brisket was moist perfect amount of fattiness. Green bean casserole was so tasty Mac n Cheese Creamy like I like it! Jalapeño Grits was out of this world and I'm sorry I'm not even a grit girl. Roll was so fresh and soft They have all 3 NC BBQ SAUCES mustard, ketchup and vinegar based. Service was very friendly and FAST! Highly Recommend for NORTH CAROLINA BBQ JOIN!!!!! read more

JDs Smokehouse - Chopped Chicken and Brisket Combo - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

I wasn't expecting much from this bbq jt in the middle of nowhere, but go here. The bbq was amazing. Great fall of the bone ribs, rivals Kansas City ribs. The brisket put up a fair fight against Texas brisket - but you can't beat TX brisket unfortunately! Pulled pork was tasty, enjoyed trying all the different sauces on it. The dinner rolls - amazing! The sides we tried were all great! I don't know when I'll ever be back in the area again, but would definitely go back and recommend to anyone in going to the area!! Service was good, you order at the counter and then have a server for drinks, a little odd but I think its the Carolinas way. Ambiance was cool. read more

We were looking for a BBQ place as we travelled and this came up with good reviews. It's easy to find. You need to turn onto the side street and then make an immediate left into the parking lot. The entrance can get crowded if more than one vehicle is entering at the same time and you might not be able to get completely off the main road while you are waiting. All parking is across a traffic lane. There was one vehicle parked next to the building but I could not tell if that was actually a marked space. There was one handicapped space on the end as you enter the lot. The main lot near the building is paved with a gravel side lot further out. On entering, there is a counter straight ahead. We placed our order there and were given the order ticket. We were told to sit anywhere, and a waitress would find us. Our waitress came by almost immediately for our drink order and then took the ticket to the kitchen. Seating in the front part by the counter is a row of booths, but all are up a step. It can also get a bit loud here when they are busy. The rear seating area is a mix of booths and tables and is much quieter. There is no step getting to this area, but you do need to walk farther. Our food took less than 10 minutes to arrive. The pork plate comes with two sides. I chose the red slaw and the loaded potato casserole. My dining partner chose the chicken with fries and mud pudding as sides. The pork was moist without being mushy and had a great flavor. I used a combination of their regular and spicy sauces for a great taste addition. The red slaw was outstanding. There is a decent amount of spiciness (even more than the spicy bbq sauce). The loaded potato casserole was fine. My dining partner appreciated the chicken was cut into cubes and said the flavor was excellent. The sauce of choice was the mustard-based. The fries were quite good, crispy outside and tender inside. The mud pudding was finished before the meal was even started on. This is a definite must try, at least as a side of not a separate dessert. In addition, the service was outstanding. Our waitress was attentive without being intrusive and was cheerful and a real pleasure to talk to. We were very pleased with our meal at JD's Smokehouse. There was a lot of very good food for a more than reasonable price. We would be regulars if we lived closer but will certainly add it as a must stop whenever we travel through the area. read more

JDs Smokehouse - Pork with red slaw and loaded potato casserole. - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

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We ordered pick up. This is the first time I've had food from here. The food was really great. We ordered the half chicken, brisket, and some ribs. The brisket fell apart. The sauces were delicious. Got a couple of the sides, and do yourself a favor and get the peach cobbler! I couldn't even get a picture of it before my husband ate it. read more

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Bbq joints shouldn't look or feel pretentious. They should feel comfortable and inviting. JD's didn't disappoint. You know you are in a good spot when you can't find a spot to park. From the moment we walked in we knew it would be good. There is a dead end hallway to your left that the locals go down and form the line. We followed them in like ducks and got in line. I assumed it was for takeout but no. This place has one stop shop for order and pay. After they hand you your drinks they send you with a ticket to be seated. Brilliant. This cuts down on people sitting at tables waiting to order. Increases their table turns and you never have to wait for a bill. Service was excellent. 4 different people filled my tea and another 2 helped us with our food. Chicken, brisket and pork were all a touch overcooked but tasty. Mac and cheese was good but again overcooked pasta. Green bean casserole was just as it should be at any southern bbq. We aren't locals but we will stop by again when in the area. Glad we stopped. read more

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I love JD's Smokehouse! I only live a few miles, at the most from the restaurant! They're only open on Thursday, Friday Saturday, and Sundays and they're closed Monday-Wednesday. read more

This is the place to go for great smoked BBQ! The pork plate is the best deal with two sides! All the sides delicious! I usually go for green bean casserole and Brunswick stew for sides. Cheesy grits and cucumber salad are also good. Get there early or wait til around 7:30 to avoid a long line. read more

This place was great. No photos because we locked our fingers clean. We had a party of ten. The food, the space, the staff, the ambience.... A great family friendly place. Something on the menu for everyone. If you're traveling through or live near by ... this place needs to be on your list read more

Waitress was nice The only thing that I can complain about was the brisket that my husband and his friend had was almost all fat... Didn't have much meat just fat.. Was disappointed and I told the waitress also... And she said it has been that way with the brisket all day read more

My husband was craving brisket. I checked Yelp and decided on JDs. This place is on point! The brisket, about $15 with fries. It was fabulous. Also got fried okra. All served piping hot and very delicious. The staff were extremely friendly and always checking in on us, refilling our iced tea and even asked if we needed fresh ice. This is an informal, casual restaurant and cute signs as decor. I highly recommend. read more

We have been going to JD's for years. We live about an hour away and if we are passing through the area we will stop and dine in or get takeout. On Sat. 2/28/26 we did take out. Generally JD's is excellent. However, today was a miss. The brisket was flavorless and dry. The ribs were over cooked and dry. The rub on the ribs was tasteless. The pork was OK but nothing better that I could get at any other BBQ restaurant or even fast food BBQ. All the meats were just favorless. No smoke flavor or anything. Don't you think a place with Smokehouse in its name would have a little smoke flavor to its food. The side dishes were spot on. The jalapeno grits never miss. We did try something new the loaded mashed potatoes and they were outstanding. Probably not very healthy, but very tasty. The green bean casserole was good as it always it. We have never really had a miss like this at JD's, but this time it was $100 wasted. It will be some time before I give JD's another chance. Too many other options in the area. read more

JDs is awesome! I came on a Saturday afternoon around 1pm and there was no line to order. It's similar to a fast casual setup where you order at the counter as you walk in the door, then find a table and the food is then brought out to you. I got a pork / brisket / ribs combo with cole slaw and Brunswick stew. The pulled pork was excellent - very smoky, flavorful, tender, and moist. It is more coarsely pulled, which was fine by me. Really the highlight for me was the vinegar sauce. It was on point - just the right amount of acid, heat, and sweetness that paired perfectly with the pulled pork. Really good stuff. The ribs were fall off the bone and very tender, with a good barbecue flavor. It paired well with their sweet / spicy barbecue sauce, and was my 2nd favorite meat. The brisket was just ok - it was on a drier side and really needed extra barbecue sauce to carry it. The Brunswick stew had a generous amount of meat and vegetables, making it a really hearty stew. It had a nice spicy tomato flavor to it as well. The cole slaw was pretty standard - I tried the mayo-based slaw but I'll definitely try the vinegar-based red slaw next time. The service was very friendly and very fast (we got our food in what seemed like 2 minutes). There is ample seating and the space is nice and clean. I will plan to be back! read more

JDs Smokehouse - Pork, brisket, and ribs combo plate with cole slaw, Brunswick stew, and a roll - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

Visiting and took my brother out for the combo platter of pork, ribs and brisket. Outstanding! All our sides were on point. Excellent, friendly service. Great sauces and a super clean place. Loved the signage. read more

When you see a long line, it tells you the place is legit. Food was delicious and portions are generous. We were hungry but not starving, so we shared a platter. It was just right. The food was tender, fresh and the sides were delicious too. While its not quite waitress services, the person who attended to us topped off our drinks, provided any condiments that weren't already on the table, and stopped to see if we needed anything. The place is jammed packed, and parking was the only thing which made this a 5 star. I think I just created any old spot in the back, hoping it was legit. read more

Food was delicious and an everyone very nice there. Definitely a place we will frequent.

Great bbq, food, portion, service and pricing. Would go to again as I live close by. Some companies also cater from them during holidays as well. read more

Favorite barbecue in the area, everything from the brisket and ribs and all the sides including the jalapeño cheese grits and sweet potato crunch are awesome, I go at least once a month. read more

Stopped by otw home from mountains. Brisket and ribs were delicious and the grits were too. Great environment and everyone very friendly and hard working. read more

It's just the Best food in this local! My favorites are the sides that are homemade in the restaurant. It's all delicious.

My sweet family and I went to lunch at JD's BBQ in Rutherford College yesterday. Everything we ordered was delicious. You need to try the brisket! It was so tender and moist. Best I ever had! The only thing that is sad is that they are only open 3 days a week . read more

JDs Smokehouse has great food and great service.Everything is delicious. I especially liked the jalapeño grits.

I'm not sure which one of you Yelpers told me to bookmark this place but I made it happen today and it was awesome. JDs is not far from I-40 so you really don't have any excuse if you're making your way along the third longest Interstate that travels 2,555 miles between Barstow, California and Wilmington, North Carolina. Welcomed at the counter where I placed an order and then seated at a table in the back, my lunch did not take very long at all. Three minutes, tops. I tried the table sauces and they were all good (the spicy was my favorite) but not really needed with pulled pork that was this moist. Most of the sides are rather carb heavy, so I stuck to my keto diet with a double cole slaw. I did not eat the little dinner roll that came with the meal. Good fast service, a great portion of pulled pork that was tasty. Five stars. [Review 15885 overall - 3101 in North Carolina - 1390 of 2021.] read more

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This was literally the best bbq I've ever eaten! Service was ridiculously fast (I'm talking faster than fast food drive throughs) and friendly! The food was fresh and delicious! I want more read more

JDs Smokehouse - Brisket sandwich and jalapeño grits, SO good!! - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

The absolute best barbecue, I've eaten in the mountains... This place is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday... It's worth planning a trip here. The pork is amazing. The chicken is incredibly tender. All the sides are amazing... The service is second to none... Seems like everybody has a smile here... If I were eating this barbecue every day, I would have a smile on my face to it's straight up country environment... Perfect for a barbecue place read more

JDs Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

When I say this is some of the best BBQ I've ever had in my life the staff were so kind. This was our first time and definitely will not be our last 10/10 hands down! Best mac and cheese BBQ is absolutely amazing, potato salad sooo good!! Chicken tenders are cooked to perfection! Would highly recommend!! read more

JDs Smokehouse - Chicken tender, Fries, mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

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I've never had BETTER brisket that at JD's Smokehouse. Truly my FAVORITE place to eat.

Phenomenal Brisket. If you are reading this review, then I would stop right here and head that way. I would say this is probably the best restaurant within 15 miles at least, easily. A real diamond in the rough. The parking lot is busy for a good reason, but they had great service and turned us around real fast. The green bean casserole and sweet potato crunch were both really really good. Can't wait to come back! read more

JDs Smokehouse - Brisket, sweet potato crunch and green bean casserole - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

Stopped here and saw a long line. Order and pay up front then get sat. Fastest ive ever been sat and fed in my life. Great service, AMAZING food. Couldn't stop smiling, very cute and southern environment read more

Best bbq I've ever had! And I've had a lot! And every side we've tried has been amazing! Our favorites are the jalapeño cheese grits, green bean casserole (cheesy!) and the smoked corn on the cob (only available in the summer). They have four sauces - vinegar-based, ketchup-based. Mustard-based, and a sweet and spicy peppery sauce (my favorite). They're only open Thurs/Fri/Sat, and plan to wait in line for a few minutes because folks come from all around! Service is very good and very quick, so tables open up fairly quickly. Decor is clean, woodsy, and country! It's a no-frills-with-great-food kind of place! read more

JDs Smokehouse - Pulled chicken, green bean casserole, and smoked corn on the cob (get it!!) and a yeast roll - Barbeque Near Me - Rutherford College, North Carolina

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No complaints whatsoever! Food was delicious, service was great, nice atmosphere, very clean, and the manager was very nice! I love eating at JD's Smokehouse! read more

We were just driving through and found this joint w/ great reviews. Who doesn't like BBQ, so we thought we'd try it. It was delish and so far my best meal!!! The food is delish and the staff amazing! The only downside I'd do differently is skip the loaded mashed potatoes...meh....i should have tried the Jalapeño cheese grits instead. Do as the locals do, eh? Definitely make this a stop on your NC agenda! read more

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I was disappointed that they added fat to the meat at carry out. So disgusting,Why? I also went in and ate after a period time and had the brisket. As my husband said when he went, we both agreed that it was boring. Had no flavor no rub it was just blah! I know that there's a difference in the kind of food people like around here, but this cannot even hold a candle to Florida barbecue or Georgia! On the proside, the survice was good. The way you order and then sit down and they deliver your food ok; the con part about this is, the line goes outside and if it's cold too bad. I would like to have a good experience there but I haven't had one yet. Everyone raves about this place but like I said they haven't had good barbecue. I think Hog Wild is better! As far as the ambience, it was fine. It was cute and it was in a country setting. read more

I don't love bbq but this place is an exception. The cheesy grits are possibly the best item ever.

We love the new JDs located in Gamewell on highway 64 near Lenoir. Same great BBQ as the Rutherford College location, but so much larger Restaurant. The que line is always long, but moves fast. The service and food is great all the time, and my favorites are the jalapeño grits and pork ribs. read more

The ribs were amazing! Everything else was good too, but if I went back I would just get the ribs.

Fantastic dinner! I just love their 1/2 smoked chicken!! Nice and moist; yum! I do wish they had a few more sides that were a little lower in calories like green beans cooked with bacon for example! read more