Ole Rudy&#x27;s Bar-B-Que

Some restaurants are old…read more Fresh Air Barbecue in Jackson, Georgia has been serving customers since 1929. When you walk inside, it doesn't feel like a place that's trying to look old. It feels like a place that simply never stopped being what it has always been. The old pit, the brick walls, the long tables, the signs on the walls, and the simple serving line all remind you that Fresh Air has been doing this for a very long time. One thing worth knowing before you arrive: this is Carolina-style pulled pork with a vinegar-forward sauce. If you're expecting sweet barbecue sauce, reset your expectations before that first bite. This is a different barbecue tradition, and that's part of what makes the experience interesting. We ordered the Deluxe Plate, which comes with pulled pork, Carolina barbecue sauce, homemade Brunswick stew, homemade coleslaw, a dill pickle spear, and two slices of plain white bread wrapped in plain white paper. That little package of white bread may not sound like much, but it perfectly fits the restaurant. Nothing here is trying to be fancy. The focus is on the food and the tradition behind it. The lady who took our order was very nice and a wonderful example of Southern hospitality. She patiently answered our questions, helped explain the menu, and recommended the lemonade. She told me it was excellent, and she was right. My cousin said the Brunswick stew may be the best she has ever had. I'll let that statement speak for itself. Fresh Air Barbecue has been serving barbecue for nearly a century. Looking around the dining room, enjoying the food, and talking with the people who work there, it is easy to understand why people keep coming back. Some restaurants serve food. Others become part of a state's history. Fresh Air Barbecue is one of those places.

I can't think of how to describe the BBQ here except as baby food…read more The service and space are fine but, the food just didn't cut it for us. Friends who grew up in the area told me that they'd never recommend it to me. I wish I'd spoken to them beforehand. We shall not return.

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Blind Pig BBQ

4.2(92 reviews)

13.7 mi

We have eaten here for the last 10 yrs and I have never had a bad experience. The food is always…read moregood, the service is great and the beer is ice cold! I have always loved the way the building seems like a smokehouse and smells like it when you go in. I also have never witnessed anyone unhappy with their visit. I don't know how it's not more busy than it is. "Fresh air what???" Blind pig blows them out of the water from their pulled pork to the ribs and especially the stew!

First time eating a blind pig was a real treat, I got to talk to the owner and for me that they had…read moredesserts, but they were out of one of the desserts that I like which was a chocolate pow cake, but that's okay. I had the full rack of ribs, okra coleslaw and Brunswick still and it was absolutely amazing. So if you're down in Jackson, you need to go Uber to blind pig with gosh, they have really good barbecue.

Dining room

Lunch special with Pulled Turkey sandwich and side of Brunswick stew

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Smokehouse feel.

Buckner's Family Restaurant

4.5(301 reviews)

0.4 mi

Never been to a place quite like this. You don't even order. You go in and pay and they bring…read moreeverything out in dishes and place it on a lazy Susan on your table. They bring you one of everything. I had Mac and cheese, black eyed peas, green beans, corn bread, fried chicken, cream corn, rolls and cornbread. Pulled pork, stewed tomatoes and a homemade coleslaw. We topped it off with sweet tea and peach cobbler.

We are local so we visit Buckners every chance we get. It is and always has been a treat going to…read moreBuckners. Almost 40 years ago when we started taking our young family there was a treat and now all these years later it's a treat taking our grandkids. Same polite service with great home style cooking today as it was then. Try it and I promise you will look forward to going back :)

Front Desk

Takeout with 1 meat (pork loin Thursday), 3 sides (green beans, blackberry cobbler, and mashed potatoes), and roll

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Wall Art across the room

O Rudy's Rib Shack

3.3(13 reviews)

0.0 mi

"I was very disappointed with my meal at Rudy's Rib Shack. The potato salad was horrible, and the…read morebaked beans tasted like plain canned pork and beans with very little flavor. Overall, the food did not meet my expectations, and it was not worth the money. Unfortunately, I won't be eating here again."

So I was coming from near India Springs state park and needed to charge my car and Rudy's a small…read morelittle place on the side of the road with a ton of semi trucks in the lot. If truckers were eating the barbecue I knew it had to be good. My wife and I got the brisket and wings and they were superb with the sauce on the side. The baked beans were okay I just like mine thicker. This will definitely be a must visit whenever we are on the south side. Don't be put off by the appearance, the food speaks volumes.

Yum yum:-)

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Big parking lot.

Cook's Lunchroom

4.6(8 reviews)

8.4 mi

Soothing ambiance? Nope. Organic tofu? Nope. Gluten free flatbread? Nope. Low carb anything? Nope…read more But if you want a killer hamburger or dog, I highly recommend Cooks. We are newly local & love it (in moderation). It's legendary!

Best Slaw dogs ever. Friendly, Great service, good environment. Locals hidden jewel. This is a…read moremust.

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Store front

Soul BBQ & Seafood

3.0(1 review)

8.2 mi

Little bbq joint in Jackson-stopped in to grab takeout and was surprised they weren't in Yelp…read more Service was a little slow for the only being one person in front of me-20 minutes for a veggie plate is a little much...but the lady behind the counter was super sweet. Food: Collards were perfect-peppery and salty and had little bit of pork mixed in-solid effort Cornbread was sweet and moist Yams were cooked well, but they're cinnamon and brown sugar heavy-if that's your thing. Okra-generic freezer bag variety-fried and nothing more. Mac&Cheese-it was a little underwhelming. It was heavy on the butter and it had separated in the container so it made for an oily mix. The rest was just cheese and noodles. No egg, no roux and little seasoning other than pepper. I will say I've had a lot worse attempts at Soul food/Southern food...the meal was decent and I'd eat the collard any day of the week and be perfectly happy.

Veggie plate-Togo

Menu

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Sign out front

Hunter's Cafe

4.1(34 reviews)

8.8 mi

I love coming to Hunters because it's a nice group of people and a family environment. The home…read morecooked food is always good and this visit was no exception. We had the salmon patties with tomato gravy, scrambled eggs with cheese grits and red links. I don't normally drink tea but their sweet tea with a splash of lemonade is a good combo. If you live in Jackson and have never been here you are missing out!

Their buffet style food is delicious. All handmade and great selection. The employees are sweet and…read moreinside is nice for dining in. You can also order to go.

Pancakes scramble eggs with onion and cheese and two salmon cakes

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Hunter's cafe near Lake Jackson

Lady & The Beastt Bbq

4.5(4 reviews)

8.4 mi

When they're open the food is good just hard trying to catch open. Food is good the jenkinsburg…read morestew is fire

Just Wow! They catered our apartment pool party today. They served cheeseburgers with all the…read morefixings, pulled pork, ribs, Mac and cheese, potato salad and corn on the cob. I got ribs, Mac and corn....it was absolutely delicious! The ribs slid off the bone, the Mac had all the right cheese and seasoned exactly right and the sweet corn was cooked to perfection...not mushy. I highly recommend them for your family or office functions...you won't be disappointed!!!

Dorian's Autumn affection.

Customer review

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Hotdogs

Mandarin Garden Restaurant

3.1(26 reviews)

8.8 mi

Extremely delicious and extremely inexpensive American Chinese food that's much better than most of…read morewhat you you can find even in Atlanta. I've heard stupid jokes around Jackson about why the food is so cheap, but such racist jibes do an awful disservice to the lovely Malaysian family who run this restaurant. They use extremely fresh ingredients and prepare everything from scratch every day, so you're never going to be served anything that's been refrigerated or microwaved. The restaurant is cheap because its owners manage it well and do steady business. The General Tsao Chicken is especially good, with spicy sauce and huge helpings of fresh sweet green peppers, but my favorite dish is the Happy Family, which combines every possible ingredient and shouldn't work but somehow magically does. The pot stickers (deep-fried pork dumplings) are divine, and the eggrolls are a perfect mixture of crunchy and chewy. All of the soups are competent and served with surpringly delicate fried egg noodle crispies, which I could eat by the bagful. The hot jasmine tea they serve is refreshing and subtly fragrant. And finally, don't be afraid to try the seafood dishes! The restaurant decor is retro and charming, and the service is attentive and friendly. These guys are really great with large groups. The drive-thru take-out line can sometimes take a while, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, so it's better to call ahead and go inside to pick up your food.

When you drive by or walk into this restaurant, you'll probably think the food is whack and…read morehonestly if you blink, you might miss the whole place. But we made a Togo order tonight and it was quoted 10 minutes until pick up. And they were right on time. The sweet and sour chicken was heavenly. The sauce was thick and sweet and came with lots of pineapple, peppers and onions. The wonton soup with the wonton crackers was so well made and tasted great. Tip: ask for extra wonton strips! They're so good with the soup. The crab Rangoons were great and you could tell they're handmade and not frozen. I will say that while everything mentioned was amazing, the fried rice was not up to par. The rice was dry and wasn't very good. That won't stop us from ordering again! We spent about $19 and it fed two of us with plenty of leftovers!

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Wing Depot

3.4(14 reviews)

8.2 mi

The chicken fingers were good; I got them with sweet and sour sauce (I think it's different flavor,…read morebut it's still good). The onion rings would have been good if they weren't burned and overcooked. I actually ordered the same meal on Saturday and ordered it again today because I really wanted onion rings and wanted to give it another chance. Unfortunately, they were overcooked both times. I would suggest doing a quality check soon. Also, the portions of fries and onion rings are pretty small for the price, especially since I paid extra to substitute the fries for onion rings. Cake is ok; I would order it again

Went in for wings, small and the mild sauce was very vinegary. The wings being so small not worth…read morethe price They changed their location , the new location is large but no decorations and felt very unwelcoming

Strawberry Cake Slice

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Lemon pepper wings only

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Kim A.

Elite 23

222

306

2218

8 years ago

This is a food-truck *restaurant* for truckers with nearby overnight big rig parking for a dinner purchase & $10.00 *donation.* I was driving by & (being that I was still trying to get another bad bbq experience out of my mouth) decided to try it. Even though it's technically outdoors (with plenty of covered & uncovered picnic tables), there's also a climate-controlled indoor dining area with a TV playing. I ordered a pork & chicken dinner with Cole slaw & fries & ice tea. The pork was pretty good, but I got full & had to take the chicken home for leftovers. I loved the coleslaw - which is closer to California style with thicker pieces & a little heavier on the dressing - & the thick crinkle cut fries were crispy & delicious. You get one free refill on drinks, which I used as an opportunity to give a little more tip, since the meal was way larger & way better than I was expecting. If you don't mind hanging out with a bunch of tired truck drivers, this is really not a bad spot for "Q." read more

Johnnie V.

213

29

10

11 months ago

I ordered a Half Rack of Ribs, Beans, Rudy's BBQ Sauce and a Lemonade and I had zero complaints. I rolled up around 10pm in a semi thinking it was a fueling station and was impressed by the two older women seemingly killing it for Ole Rudy. The register lady was cleaning the outdoor patios seating area and hustled inside at the sight of me walking up from a distance and helped me and another customer quickly, and the food was ready, hot, and delicious by the time I returned from the restroom. read more

Mary K.

0

1

0

11 years ago

We we're here last yr. and the bbq was so awsome. We were coming up I-75 from Fla. and when we crossed into Ga. I told my b/f who is an OTR truck driver and knowing we can park there we both said Ole Rudys. He just loves the brisket, and I love the ribs and pork. So tender they melt in your mouth. We've eaten a lot of BBQ but trust me this is the best and well worth the stop. Almost forgot about the yummy sides....delicious. read more

Rolando M.

0

1

0

10 years ago

The food is delicious and very cheap. I have a big appetite, but when I was done, I was full. They give you lots of food. Two people can eat from one of their servings. I thought the parking was for an hour or two while I ate, but I come to find out its for the night, a bargain. Every time I'm around here, I'll be coming here in my rig. read more

Joe F.

0

1

0

11 years ago

As a truck driver this is a must stop place. Good parking lot and overnight as well. The BBQ is awesome and with Rudy's signature barbecue sauce makes it even better. It has a inside and outside tables with the inside one with tv. Staff is always friendly. I will always stop here on my way through read more

Emmett M.

0

1

0

11 years ago

Great bbq. When we where there Rudy was cooking and making sure every meal was up to his standards. My wife had the chicken sandwich and is actually a half a chicken with a couple pieces of bread. Absolutely amazing. I had the ribs and are top notch. read more

Steven S.

0

1

0

5 years ago

Mediocre reheated in micro wave food with bizarre parking lot attendant with know one in charge or wanting to be bothered by complaints. And you pay or have to buy large sum of money for the privalege of lousy employees and food in order to park read more

Matt R.

0

1

0

11 years ago

Rudy is quite hospitable and has the best bbq sauce I have ever tasted! Pulled pork and Brunswick stew were outstanding as well. What a great find, we will be back!!!! read more

Rosie H.

0

1

0

11 years ago

Best BBQ in Georgia! Pulled pork sandwich was awesome! Service was spectacular!! Sauce is phenomenal, can't get enough! Make sure you check them out!!!!!! read more

Kali H.

135

40

1

8 years ago

Only reason for the 4 instead of 5 star was all I tried was the ribs. But they were delicious! Will definitely be back

Ole Rudy's Bar-B-Que - bbq - Updated September 2026

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Some restaurants are old…read more Fresh Air Barbecue in Jackson, Georgia has been serving customers since 1929. When you walk inside, it doesn't feel like a place that's trying to look old. It feels like a place that simply never stopped being what it has always been. The old pit, the brick walls, the long tables, the signs on the walls, and the simple serving line all remind you that Fresh Air has been doing this for a very long time. One thing worth knowing before you arrive: this is Carolina-style pulled pork with a vinegar-forward sauce. If you're expecting sweet barbecue sauce, reset your expectations before that first bite. This is a different barbecue tradition, and that's part of what makes the experience interesting. We ordered the Deluxe Plate, which comes with pulled pork, Carolina barbecue sauce, homemade Brunswick stew, homemade coleslaw, a dill pickle spear, and two slices of plain white bread wrapped in plain white paper. That little package of white bread may not sound like much, but it perfectly fits the restaurant. Nothing here is trying to be fancy. The focus is on the food and the tradition behind it. The lady who took our order was very nice and a wonderful example of Southern hospitality. She patiently answered our questions, helped explain the menu, and recommended the lemonade. She told me it was excellent, and she was right. My cousin said the Brunswick stew may be the best she has ever had. I'll let that statement speak for itself. Fresh Air Barbecue has been serving barbecue for nearly a century. Looking around the dining room, enjoying the food, and talking with the people who work there, it is easy to understand why people keep coming back. Some restaurants serve food. Others become part of a state's history. Fresh Air Barbecue is one of those places.

I can't think of how to describe the BBQ here except as baby food…read more The service and space are fine but, the food just didn't cut it for us. Friends who grew up in the area told me that they'd never recommend it to me. I wish I'd spoken to them beforehand. We shall not return.

Blind Pig BBQ

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We have eaten here for the last 10 yrs and I have never had a bad experience. The food is always…read moregood, the service is great and the beer is ice cold! I have always loved the way the building seems like a smokehouse and smells like it when you go in. I also have never witnessed anyone unhappy with their visit. I don't know how it's not more busy than it is. "Fresh air what???" Blind pig blows them out of the water from their pulled pork to the ribs and especially the stew!

First time eating a blind pig was a real treat, I got to talk to the owner and for me that they had…read moredesserts, but they were out of one of the desserts that I like which was a chocolate pow cake, but that's okay. I had the full rack of ribs, okra coleslaw and Brunswick still and it was absolutely amazing. So if you're down in Jackson, you need to go Uber to blind pig with gosh, they have really good barbecue.

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I love their slaw and barbecue and bake beans skins ribs tender with great sauce to eat with them…read morethe fries are my favorite potato fries reminds me of homemade great parking out of the road nice clean parking lot they acknowledge you have pulled up quickly to take your order and get your order to you in a great time nice staff very helpful if you need napkins any thing to make sure your order is fresh hot and freshly made best place to visit

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McGhin's Southern Pit Bar-B-Que

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My Brother and Sister...Alfred n Annette were there…read moreSaturday morning , very tasty Delicious food, We Highly recommend, you try this Restaurant, Small train above, goes around on the track , while you are eating, great atmosphere .

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