Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday to check out this place while in town. The place is clean, the staff friendly, and the location convenient. Ordered the meat sampler, baked beans, Mac n cheese, cole slaw, green beans, smoked wings, and hot link. The smoked wings arrived first with a side of ranch sauce. We ordered plain rub style. Our initial take on them was that they were overcooked. The skin was hard and heavily seasoned. Yet, with all that, we kept coming back to them again and again. They seemed to grow on us as we ate more and more. Don't know if they are normally cooked so crispy, so may need to come back and try again. The meats we got in the sampler were all decent. Ribs were well seasoned, nicely cooked and we loved the rub! They came un-sauced, which is the preferred way. The pulled pork, brisket, and pulled chicken were all tender and decent. The real star of the meat show was the hot link. Deliciously smokey, tender and just wonderful. They offer two sauces, one regular and one spicy. The sauces were thin and tasty, a good complement to the meats. The Mac-n-cheese was good, but the real treat was the crumbled homemade tortilla chips on top. Could have used a lot more of those! The green beans were kind of a disappointment, but the other sides shined well enough to where it didn't bother us. Wouldn't get the green beans again. The cole slaw was wonderfully tangy and perfectly balanced. Really appreciated the effort put in that recipe. The baked beans were fantastically sweet and chock full of meat chunks. Outstanding. Bottom line: we'll be back whenever we're in town. It's worth a stop! read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Meat sampler, green beans, cole slaw, Mac n cheese, baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Rudy's is the best barbecue in Valpo. We normally get the fried chicken (if it's in the menu) or wings, but we tried the brunch this time and it was fantastic! Highly recommend going on a Sunday morning, grabbing a mimosa and trying all of their brunch items. read more

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Another five star visit! The server was busy but right on point. Kitchen did good too! Food was fresh and hot. I always pick the fried lake perch dinner and it was on point as always. Bar was clean and so was the bathroom. read more

Worst BBQ I've ever had in my life. I was plucking multiple bits of feathers off of my chicken wings. Then we got some extra dry, overcooked ribs. I can't believe this place serves such low quality food. Paid $90 for this experience, also we were never asked once how our food was or if we were enjoying our meal. I think even the waitress new we were served trash. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Dry, overcooked ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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I was highly recommended to try there BBQ it was ok I expected more. I will try them again .

Worst freaking bbq i have ever had in my life. The Mac and cheese was worse than Kraft and the brisket was terrible!

Great service and price was outstanding. Menu had so many options, it was hard to pick. Will be back soon. The restaurant was very clean.

Spent a LOT of time trying to find good barbecue in the area, and Rudy's is literally the ONLY one I will even consider eating at again. The food is beyond amazing every time, the staff provides a comfortable and home style feel. I love spending time at the big, beautiful park across the street to build an appetite before getting the best BBQ you will find in NWI. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I am sad to give this review. But, I feel I must share. The staff nice and helpful. The ambiance was good. The food in my opinion was average. All main dishes were À la carte 1 pound of ribs (6 or 7) $27. Add French fries for another $5.75. Wife had a pulled chicken sandwich with tater tots. I had a Pepsi she had a wine cooler or something similar to that. Total bill was $62. The meal was not worth this extremely high price. I have read some of the other reviews and they clearly have a different opinion. I cannot justify that kind of money for the meal such as this. read more

I saw Rudy's during my 1st visit to Valparaiso. Since I live here now, I had to put it on my list of places to try. First of all, they have sweet tea. That should make it an automatic 5! My first visit,, I went with the Rowdy hog which came with ribs, pulled pork, rib tips, pork belly, and hot links.  The ribs were hands down the best of the bunch.  They had an excellent rub and were cooked to the point that they were easy to chew but you had to tear it off the bone.  Pulled pork was seasoned well and tender.  The hot links was a solid sausage.  Some of the rib tips were cooked just right and some were cooked too much.  The pork belly was fried and decent.  The last piece I had was fried too much. My 2nd visit, I had the brisket and mountain beans. The brisket is the best meat they serve. It is moist and fatty with a good crust of black pepper. I have had 2 sides so far - slaw and mountain beans. The slaw was ok but the mountain beans were phenomenal. They were meaty with some kind of BBQ conglomeration. No beans out of a can here! There are 2 sauces - both vinegar based. There is the regular and the spicy.  The spicy is a 2 on a heat scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being mild.  Personally, I thought the sauces needed a little more punch. The dessert option is homemade cheesecake from a place down the road that they buy from. The cheesecake was good but I bet it was cheaper down the road. Overall, Rudy's is a good BBQ joint. read more

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Brunch was amazing! Delicious food and mimosas. Such a fun experience to try here especially for a barbecue place !! Service was very good too read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Bacon jam goat cheese crostini - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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This is one of those places that you aren't too sure about when you pull up out front but once you get inside, you are so glad you stopped. There isn't anything fancy...it's just good bbq! Our server was very friendly and attentive. The vibe was very low key and comfortable. The bbq sauces were yummy...especially the zippy one! Don't miss out on this one; great food, reasonable prices and a easy going spot for bbq. read more

Food is great! Mac and Meat and the Ruebans are family favorites. Oh! And the Buffalo chicken fries. So good. The service is spot on and we have been there enough for the waitress to remember what we typically order. The only thing that's not my favorite is that the tables are sticky. The place is always clean.. it's not dirty tables.. I think it is the finish of the tables. It's not so bad to lower the score to 4 stars but it is definitely something I hope they consider fixing. read more

The food here is amazing. Great ambiance and tunes. And the service was fast, friendly and top notch. Definitely worth checking out if you're travel to or through Valpo. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Rowdy Hog Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

They have a new owner, Kate from KupKates, and she has upscaled the menu with better quality meats and some new sides and options. The food was delicious and the service great. A perfect option for a quick delicious lunch or dinner with friends! read more

Rudy's is the best bbq in the area. When you first pull up to the building it looks average but walking inside, the atmosphere is very cool. The waitress was seriously the nicest person and made sure we always had full drinks and that everything was to our liking. The amount of food you get is well worth the price of it and the brisket nachos were OMG good. We got the brisket, pork belly, spicy sausage and it all literally just melts in your mouth, you can tell it's been cooking for hours and hours. The sides were very good, I got the pasta salad and it was delicious, the fries were your average French fries but still were crispy and went well with the bbq. We will definitely be back! read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Brisket nachos - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Great place, staff attentive, food is edible, best place to go during COVID, they seem to enforce rules where other venues don't. Small tap selection, but top shelf in my opinion. Rib tips and smoked chicken can use a whew bit more flavor, but that's not real breaker. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Our party of five liked Rudy's. The restaurant is small but they do carry outs too. The menu had quite a bit to offer. I personally had the rib tips and fries with a beer. All very good. They also run daily specials, so look them up on social media to catch those. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The restaurant could use some updating and a deep clean. It's an old building that hasn't been kept up well. But for some good BBQ and friendly service, this is a good place to hit. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

The food was amazing! This is my new favorite BBQ joint. The service was fast and friendly!

Awesome food, cold beer, fantastic server (James). My son wanted BBQ and we were just coming through town. Ribs were fantastic. Falling off the bone and great flavor. Pulled pork and pork belly were awesome also. Loved the sauces too. read more

He was right I will be going back soo yummy I got rib tips pork belly and pastrami beef

Drove by this place for years. Finally gave it a shot. Have to say this is one of the best (if you don't come up calumet often) secrets in Valpo. Best smoked bbq I've had in a long time. If you like bbq etc this is the place. read more

Delicious boneless rib sandwich with green bean side. My wife had a pulled pork sandwich which was also very good. She got the fries for a side, which were very tasty. Very friendly and helpful service. read more

Omg their pulled pork nachos are delicious and you have to try the Mac n cheese continue doing an awesome job guys and girls....

First of all, my server was very nice. She was an excellent server Second, very disappointed at the food. There was three of us and it ran $100 with tip. Tipped our server 22%. It's not her fault the food wasn't HOT. Not even warm! My slab of ribs were COOL and very dry. My wife's 1/2 chicken was lukewarm and dry. My son's panini was warm and not very tasteful. Two BBQ sauces? Not even good sauces. I am not a rib connoisseur, but I know what is good and what is bad. I expected a lot more from Rudy's. I will not go back. read more

Very good. Very fast. Nice atmosphere. The smell of the food smoking when u walk in makes your mouth start to water right away. The ribs were delicious. The brisket was amazing. We will be going back again and again. Best BBQ in NW Indiana. read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - These nachos with the pulled pork and brisket are amazing. A definite must have. - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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First of all, my server was very nice. Second, very disappointed at the food. There was three of us and it ran $100 with tip. Tipped our server 22%. It's not her fault the food wasn't HOT. Not even warm! My slab of ribs were COOL and very dry. My wife's 1/2 chicken was lukewarm and dry. My son's panini was warm and not very tasteful. I expected a lot more from Rudy's. I will not go back read more

Surprisingly good BBQ. The ribs were good and so was the brisket. I have been here several times and was satisfied each time.

We found a wonderful BBQ place .Food was delicious and sides amazing Many food choices available.Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff.We talked with Rudy and had a great dining experience.Thank you for the complimentary brisket barley soup which was yummy! read more

We called in carry out order last week and had no complaints. Food was hot and ready when I picked it up within promised time frame. The food: Cuban sandwich - excellent! Maybe one of the better ones I've ever eaten! I'm sure we'll be back next time I have a craving for one! Nachos with pulled pork - excellent appetizer. Brisket sandwich - very good (per my husband) Mac cheese side - meh. Brings back memories of the Kraft blue box from childhood. read more

I hate giving bad reviews, but. This was highly recommended third hand. Worst bbq I've ever had. Mac n cheese had less cheese than a box mix. Sauces too 'fruity'. Cherry & prune? Meat tasted like cooked over lighter fluid starter. read more

Where to begin??? 1) I would rename it Rudy's hipster hangout. This is not a BBQ SHACK. The inside is clean and modern, which is great...but not for a BBQ shack. 2) The menu is layed out poorly and I think they are missing some key menu items for a BBQ restaurant. 3) They are waaaay overpriced for a BBQ restaurant and the food taste is mediocre. The smoke flavor was not prevalent enough. 4) The service was friendly. A little unprofessional, servers not wearing actual uniforms. 5) Bottom line, I would not return. read more

So I thought that Dickey's was the worst BBQ I've ever had, I was sorely mistaken. Got a meat plate of pulled chicken and "brisket" ($18) which does not include anything, no sides, no drink, not even a piece of white bread. Then macaroni ($3) and a bun $(1.00), all of which was near flavorless even with their "spicy" sauce. So all in all I spent about $24, which is ridiculous considering Pappy's in St.Louis(my hometown) was $18 for pulled chicken/brisket, and two incredibly delicious sides and a drink and nearly twice the portions. That is a MICHELINE STARRED RESTAURANT AND IT IS CHEAPER THAN THIS PLACE! Chicken was so I dry I coughed cause it got caught in my throat while eating it, and the "brisket" which is literally huge pieces of fat with a sliver of beef on it. Somehow they made flavorless pieces of fat get the title of brisket and it's utterly insulting to anyone who has had actual BBQ. This place is just simply the worst, I honestly feel bad if people in Indiana think that is what BBQ is supposed to taste like, it is highly overpriced and near flavorless. Oh not to mention, they have two sauces, who in their right mind thinks TWO sauces is enough variety for a BBQ joint. Avoid this place like the plague on BBQ that it is. read more

I'm a BBQ fanatic. I've eaten it across the country. The place has a fun clean feel. The BBQ is just mediocre. We had the onion rings for an appetizer which were obviously Brew City brand from GFS. The brisket smoke ring was decent but it was obviously pre sliced and kept warming in a broth bath. The flavor of the brisket was no longer there. The pork in the beans was kind of funky tasting. The ribs had a good tasting rub and a nice smoke ring. But they too tasted like they were reheated or sitting for a while. The fries were basic and were not salted. If you only eat BBQ a couple times a year it may be up your alley. But if it's in your DNA, you might be disappointed. read more

My son and I ate here and we were very impressed with the quality and generous portions! Everything we had was excellent! Will definitely be back! read more

Another BBQ place making big claims. I enjoyed it. The meats are really good, and their sauces are good too. I had their brisket, rib tips, pulled pork and I felt that they were smoked perfectly. The brisket is kinda how I measure BBQ and it's spot on, just the right amount of flavor. The sides that I've had are the mac and cheese, beans, coleslaw- well they were OK. Nothing special about with the sides and the beans kinda took me by surprise, it tasted like chili and baked beans mixed. But overall I would go back and try everything on the menu, and the place is cool. read more

The food and atmosphere was good and we had really good service. The barbecue was above average on the day that we visited here. We had the sampler and a sausage link, which is my usual when comparing barbecue places. It is better than any of the chains in Valpo! read more

The place is clean and nice also fantastic workers but the food was just ok and ribs were very very tough and took me over 10 minutes trying to chew through the rough ass meat , maybe they didn't tenderize the meat long enough but if you are going to charge an arm and a leg then I would like it to be tenderize and easy not freaking tough ass old socks. Secondly the food as another viewer mentioned was way over priced . Needless to say I will not recommend this place nor ever returning . Great place if you just want to drink but stay away from the prison tough and rough meat. read more

Excellent service! Great food! Comfortable atmosphere! Great place for an evening with friends! read more

Rudy's BBQ Shack - Great place to gather with friends and have great food! Our waitress, Natalie, was awesome! Service was quick, food great! - Barbeque Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Food was awesome boneless rib sandwich smoked chicken pasta salad Mac n chz brisket panini and more. Server was a 100 percent. Friendly knowledgeable attentive read more