You have to go here. Not suggesting it, commanding it. You'll thank me. You absolutely know when the outside of a building looks like this, you're about to get the best effing food of your life. We got ribs, green beans, baked beans and fries. *chefs kiss*. Oh, check in with Yelp and you'll get a pig bumper sticker too. Bonus points if you mix lemonade and unsweet tea together. read more

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Great food, long wait but worth it. They forgot my 2 banana puddings and I didn't realize it was missing until I got home. The wait was about 30 minutes to get the food so at that point I forgot what I'd ordered so I didn't even think about them. Tried calling to tell them but they were so busy no one was answering the phone that day and the next. I would still recommend you eat there, good food and service, every business gets busy and things get looked over it's part of it. read more

This was absolutely delicious. The reason for the four stars is the ribs were a bit overcooked to the point you could not chew the end rib. The brisket was a bit dry. The cheese grits were good even from this northern person and the other sides were all delicious. They were also a bunch of nice people in there. I would come back again! read more

Delicious and fast! Stayed and ate there with friends and still had plenty to take home. Will go back next time in Lexington.

I've been here several times so I think this review is informed. Whoever makes the sauces is great. But good bbq shouldn't need covered up with sauce. I've also paid extra for the 2 meat paltter and got less food than I would get at a fast-food drive through. The sides are ok. The corn pudding tastes like a can of creamed corn in some Jiffy cornbread mix and the beer cheese grits are just that. I paid extra for the wings and got 3 tiny wings for the extra money. Go and see for yourselves. read more

Not even worthy of 1 star (I'd give it negative stars if that were possible)!! I love bbq, ribs, and brisket and I've had it all around the world - from Beijing to Memphis and St. Louis, prepared a hundred different ways. Most recently I had eaten at Sugar Fire in O'Fallon Ill and at Martin's BBQ in Nashville and they were both AMAZING. I recently moved to the Lexington area so I was looking for a good BBQ place. I had tried City BBQ on Harrodsburg Rd and that was pretty good, but after reading all the reviews about Red State I had high expectations and I had been anticipating the trip for weeks. I finally made it to the restaurant this week and WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!! The place is a dump, service was bad, and the food even worse. We ordered the ribs as well as a 2 meat plate. The ribs were BY FAR the worst ribs I've ever had! Little meat and so dry I couldn't chew it! We threw away half of the rack and barely stomached the other half because we were hungry. The taste was OK, but the quality of the ribs was below anything I had ever seen or thought a restaurant would serve. The 2 meat plate was brisket and pulled pork. The portions were ridiculously small - it should be called a "sampler" not a plate! From a quality perspective, neither one stood out. The brisket was among the worst I've ever had - it was fatty and greasy because it was served almost cold. The pork was OK. City BBQ in Lexington is MUCH better than this place! There are many great bbq joints in this country but this ain't one of them! read more

Was determined to try some good Kentucky BBQ before heading north to Michigan. Chose Red State because of Yelp reviews. Great choice! Pulled pork plate was delicious, tender--perfect for my taste. Tried all the sauces & settled on the Kentucky Small Batch--yeah, I'll be taking some of this home! Sides were yummy: I chose coleslaw and corn pudding--is my mom back in the kitchen?!?! A bit out of the way, limited parking--a challenge if towing a trailer (I was). Are you visiting the KY Horse Park? Treat yourself to Red State BBQ! read more

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Absolutely delicious. Everything I tried was incredible. I highly recommend that you go here if you find yourself in the Lexington area! They were also very friendly there read more

Red State BBQ - Delicious Lunch stop before going to the airport! Perfect way to end our trip in Lexington - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Tried to order here on Saturday night (at 630p) but the phone system wouldn't even slow them to answer the phone saying they were not taking any orders at that time, I'd rather have spoken to someone and been told we could pick up food in 30 minutes (or even more) than not be allowed at all. Disappointed. read more

Absolutely do not be deterred by the location or what it looks like from the road, this place has some straight up delicious BBQ. The staff were super friendly and very helpful/understanding in regards to my wife's food allergies. The price was super reasonable and the variety of home made sauces at the table was awesome too. My only regret was that I wish I had room for some of the dessert options they had! read more

We came here after hearing great things . The bbq was cold and so was the brisket . Def not top notch bbq. The sweet tea was old. Disappointed after reading good review. read more

The food here is really the star. Everything they make is worth a try from the deserts to the smoked meats. The BBQ egg rolls are some of my favorite appetizers I've ever had bar none. The service is friendly and what is needed for such a busy place. I've never had an issue or seen an issue arise from their service. The place has a charm about the interior that puts me and many others at ease. The checkered table clothes and the wall to wall graffiti from past customers makes this place a physical testament to its style and success. read more

Great smoked meats. They offer multiple flavors of BBQ sauce. We really liked the Memphis style.

Stopped in Lexington on our way to Nashville and were lucky enough to find this gem. Absolutely the best double smoked brisket I've ever had, it practically melts in your mouth. The pulled pork was almost as good. Staff was friendly, atmosphere is what I would expect from the best BBQ joints: hole in the wall off a busy road with red/white plastic tablecloths. If you love BBQ, don't miss this one! read more

Red State BBQ - Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I went to Lexington for a music festival and tried out Red State BBQ. It was a recommendation from and friend, and I'm so happy I listened to her. The brisket was so tender and not too fatty. The Mac and cheese was super creamy. Greens were good too, but I like mine with a little more kick. The building is stationed in front of a motel, and the inside is covered in writing. Do not let those things detour you from stopping for some grub! read more

Red State BBQ - Brisket with greens and mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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We couldn't get a seat, so we took ours to go. The pulled pork and brisket sandwiches were great. The banana pudding was amazing. I just hate they were sold out of chocolate peanut butter cakes. read more

I'm officially hooked on BBQ. That said, I don't know how I can be a vegetarian again. Yikes! I've tried Red State's BBQ from their food truck at a local festival several months ago but I wanted to wait until I visited this establishment before forming an opinion. Uhm... YUM. Red State BBQ is easy to spot as you're driving on 25 between Georgetown and Lexington, but it's also an odd location -- between trailer parks and a motel near the road. That doesn't seem to stop people from coming here, though. We came here on a sunny, warm February Sunday afternoon after church with some friends of ours; the place was crowded but there was still a table available with no wait -- which we snagged. Whew. We were immediately handed menus and ordered drinks (sodas, domestics, and crafts/imports to choose from). Our server happened to be from northern Illinois, just like us, so it was kind of fun. (I kind of hope he's always our server when we go back in the future.) Anyway, on the menu, Red State BBQ offers pulled pork, pulled chicken, sliced brisket, beer cheese, and sausage in BBQ sandwiches and BBQ plate meals. You can also choose from ribs, sides, and desserts. For an appetizer, we ordered Frickles (fried pickles) with Texas Ranch Dip. They were soooo good! I even liked the dip - and I don't normally like ranch! Everyone at my table ordered meal plates with two sides, but I had a pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries. The sauces are awesome. I'm an idiot and forgot to put the sauce on for the first few bites of my pulled pork sandwich (I'm a BBQ newbie, I mean, I didn't eat meat for years)... but once I did, YUM! There's several different sauces to pick from: Memphis Sweet, Texas Spicy, South Carolina Mustard, North Carolina Spicy Vinegar, Kentucky Small Batch, Buffalo Sauce, and Alabama Show Horse (upon request). I tried four or five of the sauces on different parts of my sandwich (not all are available at the table). My favorite is the Kentucky Small Batch sauce. Sooooo good. Mmmm. ..... I'm drooling now just thinking about it. Mmmmmmm...... Soooo happy we finally tried Red State BBQ. Not a meal I'll be having often (after all, I'm trying to cut back on the meat again) but a treat to have occasionally, and with out-of-town guests. read more

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Simply amazing food served on paper plates with plastic silverware. Ribs are to die for. They just fall off the bone as every smoked rib should. read more

Definitely not fancy. Graffiti all over walls from previous guests. Who cares? The food came fast and was good! Prices are also good

This is a very local BBQ joint that has some decent food. The BBQ egg rolls were surprisingly good and very filling, and I typically don't even eat fried food. Ribs were a bit dry, but with sauce it's not that bad. Cold slaw was way too creamy, so not as refreshing as I hope. I appreciated the collard greens not being seasoned. After eating meat after meat, the greens are very neutralizing and refreshing. They do have a picnic area, so you can eat outside and with your dogs. read more

Red State BBQ - Three meat plates - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I want to start this review by saying the food at Red State Bbq is amazing , but going here whether you eat in or take home is an experience and getting in and out of their parking lot can be a challenge. I wish it was in a better location and there were more tables on the inside . Always a lot of people sitting around waiting on orders whether it be delivery or take out . Just not a fun environment. read more

The pros: Chicken wings--sooo saucy and good!! Cornbread pudding rocked my world. Most sauces were good, liked the beans. Quick service. Employees wearing masks. The cons: It's a hole in the wall...not super clean or cute, but I guess it's BBQ, so we forgive that. With Covid I'm not sure eating inside at questionably clean tables is advised. The Alabama sauce was WEIRD. But so are most Alabamians. The beer cheese grits were not good. Maybe that's a Kentucky thing? I like my grits dripping in butter, not sour beer. Some patrons weren't wearing masks in line. Two of our items were missing/wrong. read more

I don't know if Red State or the Catering service takes tips ( I am sure they do) but they sure as hell don't give them to people who help service them. I helped them out with some products for their catering which was several hundreds of dollars and showed them the invoice where we had not taken any gratuity out. They did even care to look I was even doing this while my shift was technically over and using my own gas and vehicle I can honestly say one of the worst experiences I have ever had with a local to local business. I will literally tell everyone I know how much of a bunch cheap goons your are. read more

Woah!! The second best bbq I have ever had. The only place that is ahead is Franklin from Austin TX. I got the smoked brisket and it was fabulous. It had the correct amount of bark on the outside and was moist on the inside. It fell apart as you ate it and I felt my portion came from the point of the brisket. I got fries and Mac and cheese. The fries were pretty good, but enhanced by the sauces. The Mac and cheese was great, I would suggest a little more spice or flavor be added to the Mac and cheese. The sauces were amazing. They really tied the meal together. My favorite was the Kentucky Bourbon sauce followed by the NC Mustard, Memphis Sweet and Texas Spice. All sauces were great and had specific flavors that enhanced the various meats. Of course we had to have a half sweet half unsweetened tea. It was awesome to compliment the flavors of the food. I plan on coming here on every trip I take on I 75. read more

What a gem! We found this place while we were in Lexington area for soccer. Not much to look at but wow how satisfied my palette is!!! read more

Red State BBQ - Dining area - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great Food, always a line but very gast They know what they are doing in ALL departments! Jerky is good too. read more

Great local BBQ. Located in Georgetown in a small older building with tight parking on the right side of the building along with a few spots on the left. We visited around 6 on a Saturday and lucky to find a seat rather quickly. The server was friendly and attentive to our needs. We ordered the smoked wings, which is under the appetizers. Side note: they would make a great meal option with a few sides but who am I. We also ordered a whole slab of ribs with greens, mac n cheese and potato salad. The wings had a smoked taste that feel off the bone and were mouth watering. It was served with a large bowl of your choice of blue cheese or ranch. Awesome it wasn't a small ramekin of sauce but a large bowl so I could get in there. Ha. The ribs were smothered with a crusty dry rub. The ribs were meaty and hearty. Pick one of the 6 BBQ sauce flavors and bam, delicious! I am a hot sauce kinda girl and I didn't find any of the sauces have a kick like I wanted. Definitely warm but not hot. Maybe a habanero flavor would have kicked my fancy. The greens were slightly salty and kinda bland. The potato salad was the right amount of creamy and chunky. Slightly too many red onions in my servering. The mac n cheese was perfectly boiled and cooked. Filled me up for sure. I would highly recommend this place and wish we didn't live out of town since I would come here weekly. Great prices too. read more

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Walking in and getting hit in the face with the smell of smoked BBQ and I knew immediately we chose the right place. It's in a shady spot but definitely a hidden gem. The food was FANTASTIC!! read more

Great BBQ. This place is off the beaten path, but well worth the beautiful drive to check it out. The food is quality and the staff is too.

I really hope that this is not indicative of bar b q in the Lexington area. It was highly rated but oh so average. The meat was dry and without flavor. The sauces are abundant but just so so. I tried a couple of the sides and just wasn't impressed at all. My waitress was very friendly and attentive. This is kinda in the middle of nowhere which is kinda my go to type of place but not worth the journey. read more

RAVE REVIEW for Red State BBQ. yesterday, I ate at a bbq joint, and finished because I paid for it. Today, at Red State, I ate every bite because it was so excellent, I couldn't stop. Not one thing bad to find. And if you go there, Get the wings and the double smoked brisket. Geeewdd laaawwwd, they were great! This is the place you want to find when getting bbq, a little red painted spot on a country road, off from town and away from the Foo Foo crowd. read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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We stumbled across this hidden gem and turned out to be a tasty experience we still reminisce over. If your looking for a local, mom & pop style BBQ restaurant, this is your place! Service was quick and meat was smoked to perfection. Highly recommend this to BBQ connoisseur's. If your traveling and want a local, authentic Kentucky eatery, I urge you to give this a try! read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

We went here because it seemed to have good reviews, but I would not recommend. I ordered the sliced brisket sandwich with beer cheese and potato salad. The cheese was honestly gross and I scraped it off to eat my sandwich. The meat was fine. Dry, not flavorful, nothing special. The potato salad was not good. Its only flavor was onion, which is not what I am looking for in potato salad. Not all of it was gross. The Mac and cheese was okay and the fried pickles were pretty good. The ambiance was promising and service was good. But my sandwich left me feeling nasty. I would not go back. read more

Awesome service with beyond the best bbq we've had!! I always order chicken and regret it at a bbq place. Not here! Totally moist and large portions! Their baked beans are amazing, too. Full of shredded pork and onion . read more

Best BBQ on Kentucky!!! Brisket sandwich was amazing and I am really happy we went in! read more

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Always excellent...youd never know it by looking in from the outside...go in n order Youll be HAPPY!!!!

Food is amazing there brisket and there smoked wings are great there new apple bourbon sauce is good and there Buffalo wings are excellent the blue cheese dressing is great wish I could buy it by the gallon read more

The pulled pork was under seasoned, the fries were limp, the greens were overpowering with mustard. The sauces all had a mustard base. If you like mustard then this is the place for you! The service was fast and friendly. The ambiance wasn't too pleasing. And trying to enter and exit the parking lot was death defying! We definitely will go elsewhere in the future! read more

Made a pit stop on a road trip, absolutely delicious. Great selection of sauces and the fries are crispy. Stay away from the potato salad tho read more

We came here after I read this was one of the top spots in the state for BBQ. I really hope not. The ribs were some of the worst I've ever had. They were so dry and tough, and the end parts were inedible. The brisket and pulled pork were dry as well. You had to slather everything in sauce to make it taste ok. Fortunately, the sauces were good. The green beans, beer cheddar grits, and baked beans were the highlights. The mac and cheese tasted like gloopy pepper. The food came out really quickly despite how busy they were. read more