Best. Dang. BBQ. After living north of the Mason-Dixon Line for the past three years, I've been craving some true Southern comfort food. I stopped here on my way to Lexington, and O. M. G.--this place exceeded every expectation. The brisket was unbelievably tender and practically melted in my mouth. All four barbecue sauces were delicious, but the Kansas City sauce was my absolute favorite. The mac and cheese and potato salad tasted like the kind of homemade sides you'd find at a Texas backyard barbecue. They were the perfect complement to the meal. And don't even get me started on the pecan pie--it is an absolute must-try! It was rich, sweet, and the perfect way to end the meal. I joked that I was going to slip into a sugar coma after finishing it, but it was worth every bite. If you're looking for authentic, mouthwatering BBQ with incredible sides and desserts, do yourself a favor and stop here. You won't regret it! read more

Save your money eating at Buc-ee's. Come to Smiley's instead! Great food cooked a couple times a day pending customer orders. When I went I noticed the Mac and cheese tray was empty, I ordered it anyway and I got first serve of the new tray. This place has it going on! Food is delicious, and from memory I want to say my order was less than $12. You can order from the kiosk if you like. I prefer it. They have combos and family packs and single items and that whole place smelled terrific! I had just been hiking. I was starving! I ordered 1 fried chicken breast, 1 Mac and cheese. 1 baked beans. 1 onion rings. 1 Dr. Pepper. I dont even care...it was SO good!! I would most definitely come back! I most definitely recommend! read more

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This is a truck stop. The bbq was closed this morning so wasn't able to get it. But did get fuel and went to restroom. Big selection of junk food for those late night hungries. The outside of the building and lawns was well maintained. The biggest issue was the very dirty men's bathroom. Clerk working at night was cordial. read more

The brisket was like uncooked bacon. It was sitting in dirty water in the takeout container. Absolutely inedible. It was so disgusting I threw it away before even leaving the parking lot. read more

BEST DANG BBQ FOR REAL!! Great prices. I don't eat pork, so I opted for the pulled chicken bbq sandwich and it was the best I've ever had. Hands down. Fried chicken was also good and the fries were superrrr good. Everything was fresh and hot will be stopping everytime I drive through here. It also took no time after placing our order before we got the food. read more

Needed gas while traveling on I-81 today. Pulled off at the interchange in Raphine and saw at least gas stations on the east side. Two had gas advertised for $3.59/gal for regular, but the Valero sign advertised regular at $3.15/gal, and that was the credit card price. Pretty easy decision. read more

The bbq plate was pretty tasty. A half pound of bbq. 1 bun so you can add as much or as little as you want. Probably ask for a 2nd bun next time...I opted for the Texas style not the Carolina. It still had a vinegar flavor,with a hint of smoke and a tangy taste which I did enjoy. The Broccoli and Cheese- Rice was a nice change and my peach pie wasn't bad either. I'm a tough reviewer but I'm honest. Always!! That being said I really was pleased with the amount of food,and the overall quality of the BBQ. The sides were a pleasant surprise. I did get a piece of Fried Chicken on the side. Wow!! That was off the charts. Overall I'd say it's above average but I can't say it was spectacular. For the most part I'd say if you're in the area,it's certainly a nice change from the same ol same ol mainstream garbage you are used to. As a trucker they actually charge us $20 overnight to park there,or buy $20 worth of food etc. Which makes more sense. That's easier and more justified. Can't speak for anyone else or anything else,but I would definitely come back. Maybe try some ribs or a burger next time. Safe travels yall. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - About a half pound of chopped 'Texas' lol bbq. Broccoli casserole and Peach Pie!!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

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I happened to be driving home one day and needed some lunch and took the exit to just look around and didn't see anything I liked so I thought I'd get some gas when I look over and it says "best dang bbq in VA". I took it as a challenge and was quite hungry and very pleasantly surprised when I found that they had the best brisket I have tasted in all of America. If you had a bad situation, it may have just been a bad day for them. I have been there four other times and every single time it's great. Tell your friends and give them a chance because you'll be pleasantly surprised. read more

I can't say anything about the food, but the sports bar was surprising active with reasonably priced drinks. If you're looking for a wine and martini place... well Raphine probably isn't for you. But Smiley's floors are not sticky the bartenders are friendly so if you want a drink it's worth stopping in. read more

A sign on 81 caught our eye and led us to Smiley's BBQ for lunch today. We both got brisket sandwiches and potato wedges. The brisket was great slathered with some BBQ sauce. There were three sauces to choose from - we tried all three and found one we really like. Not sure which one it was though. I personally would have liked some onion and maybe a few pickles, but I didn't think to ask. The potato wedges were not bad. We sat and ate at the picnic table under the big sign out front- it wasn't hot and there was a nice breeze, so it was a pretty perfect little picnic. We would definitely stop there for a quick lunch on our next road trip through the area. read more

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Friendly place, nice people, cold beverages. Nice bar. Will go again. Good music too.

Chelsea gave great customer service...food awesome ...u gotta try the sweet potato casserole..

The location was a last resort driving and everything was closed. After the third location not being open. We wound up in a Gas/ BBQ place. It was full of life and local characters. The food was spicy and the pull pork was not bad. The Nachos interesting. read more

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A quick stop for gas on our road trip and so glad we stopped here. Crispy fried chicken is fantastic! And if they have the sweet potato casserole it's a must have! No photos because we ate it too quickly. :) Wonderful friendly service too! It's on the list to stop again if we are ever in the area! read more

You have got to stop here. Awesome food. Great people. OMG I am so full. We had leftovers, and took that to go. It's at the Valero at exit 205. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Ribs, chicken, hush puppies, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, baked Mac and Cheese... and a cheeseburger. - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

April 16, 2025 - It's supposed to be opened for 24hours! My husband snd I drove 5 hours and made it there at 9:30pm. We called around 7:30pm to see if they were serving the fried chicken that they're famous for. When we got there, there was no food to be found at all except brisket under a heating lamp! I was shocked! Been there many times at different hours including nights! The lame excuse? The young man said he was left alone because someone called in sick so HE decides to stop cooking early! Really? I told him I called earlier but the phone was down. He said it's been down for 3 days!!! What kind of a business that caters to themselves and not the paying customers and stops cooking early because he was by himself at a 24 hour Bar B Q ??? So he stands around getting paid to do nothing! Plus no phones for 3 days??? It's 2025! How is that happening today with a service oriented business??? DON'T BOTHER TO GO! They are unreliable and do not care about the paying customers! Stopping cooking at a 24 hour BAR B Q is unacceptable just because you were by yourself! You're supposed to cook all day and night! PERIOD! I won't be going back and you should stay away! They will probably have a lame excuse as to why there's no food! read more

GREAT BRISKET AND PULLED PORK SANDWICHES! Feeling peckish as we cruised by and decided to give it a try and gas up at the same time. I got some slaw for my pulled pork and it was just ok. I prefer a shredded slaw so it sticks on the meat better. You cannot go wrong stopping here!!! The fried chicken looked pretty good too. Oh and their restrooms are nice too. read more

Management has recently changed. Only one bartender. When she is not there they are closed. As a retired self employed person, when staff is not there YOU step up to the plate. Cook staff is always changing therefore food quality is always different. What once was a great place for great food and drinks is now suffering from poor management. read more

We have been coming here for years and the service is always great and the employees are great people!!

Best pull pork sandwich and baked beans we've had in a long while, meat is so tender it almost melts in your mouth. Staff friendly and helpful. Smiley's BBQ is a Truck Drivers good mind. Yummy! read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Pulled pork & baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

had the best experience... the young lady chelsey was awesome.. she went above & beyond just to satisfy our little group... this world needs more chelsey's... smiley's should be proud too have her as an employee. read more

Stopped in to watch the last quarter of the Super Bowl. Fun place. Food was great, service was great. Really enjoyed it.

The brisket was tender and moist however it didn't have much flavor. Kinda bland. The broccoli rice side was excellent. I would return for that. I will have to try a different meat next time. read more

Most disgusting BBQ I've ever tried. The meat smelled rotten. Everything was over cooked mush with no flavor. We threw $40 worth of brisket, pulled pork & all the sides where it belongs. in the trash. read more

I should have known better, DONT EAT at the Gas Station !!! Especially if they are advertising that they are the best in the State of Virginia. This was not a truck stop style gas station so It was not large, it was very compact. We had a total of 3 booths and the open window to order at with the menu above the window billboard style. It was standing room only but still more room than in our Ford Escape with 4 adults and luggage galore..so we grabbed a dirty booth as soon as someone got up. My daughter cleaned it while I waited in line. Just about everything we asked for was sold out..so apparently a lot of peeps were seeing that billboard on the highway!!! so we opted for some pulled pork in a plate to share with my hubby with some sweet potato casserole and mac n cheese. The sauce containers were empty and no napkins. The meat was dry and lack luster but the sweet potatoe casserole was cold but sweet and pretty tasty. I cant even tell you what my daughter and her boyfriend got but it wasn't what they wanted. Lesson learned don't go to a gas station for BBQ read more

Good spot for bbq off the Highway. Got the pulled pork and it was pretty good. The drinks are super cheap and also decent. Would definitely drop by here if I'm in the area. read more

I'm surprised at the number of great reviews. It was walkup service with a long wait for below average BBQ. The counter area was kind of gross. You could take your food into the bar, which was clean, but there were no paper plates--just at out of our paper bags. Had the brisket which was tender but lacking in flavor. Sweet potato casserole was overly sweet for me and my husband described the coleslaw as boring. read more

The food here is atrocious and there is religious junk everywhere. The place is clean and the sweet tea is good but that's all it has going for it. read more

Quck stop, no frills, establishment with decent food, and exactly what we wanted. I had the garden salad with Carolina pulled pork, and my husband had the fried chicken salad. They have other BBQ plates and sides to choose from. We had our choice of packaged Newman's dressings, and all salad ingredients were fresh. Our salads were served in take out boxes. Two 2-person tables inside and 2 booths that seat up to 4 persons each in a covered area outside near the gas pumps. The business is located inside a mini mart, so a large selection of drinks and add ons if desired. The total cost for our meal was around $18. read more

Dang good pork BBQ, truck driver size portions. Better food & service than outside appearance. First experience over 10 years of driving I-81. Look fwd to having brisket on my next trip. read more

This place is so good! First timer and a happy one! Quarter rack of ribs, baked beans, potato salad, sweet potato casserole and apple crisp. Yes, I couldn't help myself order all this food, but it looked and smelled so wonderful! Thankful that I have a refrigerator on my truck! Leftovers for later! Yum!!! read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - My delicious dinner and then some - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

My favorite favorite spot to stop in Virginia. Service is quick, the food is SOOO GOOD. I hope to gain lots of weight here read more

So we stopped to get gas and I wanted bbq. I'm so glad we stopped because this was the best bbq I've ever had. The brisket sandwich/meat melts in your mouth, and the sauce just adds the perfect flavor. We ate 3 brisket sandwiches and went back for ribs and chicken. While eating the ribs the bones were just falling off. The ribs rub was awesome not too spicy just the right amount and the fried chicken had the perfect amount of seasonings too. Smiley's definitely deserves read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Outside Smiley's - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

So, in an effort to satisfy hunger pains, I knew I wanted to stop to a place that I couldn't find back home. Saw the name Smileys BBQ and I decided to get off the highway. I was not expecting it to be inside a gas station and walking up to the door, I held my breath. However, it's a little, but functioning kitchen pumping out good food. We ordered: 1/2 lb Brisket. Mac n Cheese. Green bean casserole Sweet potato casserole Baked beans Chicken wings It was really good. I mean the brisket had great flavor. Melted practically. Mac n cheese was good, but for me the green bean casserole and baked beans were the money makers. Random, yes I know. Wow. So glad I forced my sister to go here instead of some place we see all the time. Try them out if you are in the ares. read more

Yeah, I fell for the sign too. "Best Dang BBQ in VA" ? Well, the fact that Smiley's was located inside of a GAS STATION didn't scare me off, I was hungry and wanted to see if the BBQ lived up to that sign. And as far as I was concerned, it did. Ordered the half-rack of ribs platter (which I considered to be a FULL rack, more then I thought I was going to receive). Meat was moist and fell off the bone, very good. The Cattleman sauce was very good also. I liked the sides too -- the Sweet Potato Fries and the Mac & Cheese -- both were excellent. So if you're looking to sit down in a nice restaurant, then Smiley's is not your place. But they do serve up some outstanding BBQ. Just be prepared to wait in line behind people pre-paying for their gas when you pay for your food. The place is filled with Truckers, but I've come to find out that they know where the best food can be found when exiting the highway. read more

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The brisket is damn good, really damn good. The portion on the sandwich is generous and it needs no sauce. The sauces do not ad to the flavor because the brisket needs nothing. read more

the bar are closed the doors 2 hours early after I put 150.00 into the slots they have in bar. an employee went behind me to try and hit behind me while I was going to atm to get more cash. they closed early and the employees went to try and hit big on the machines. employee kept walking and watching me play was acting real suspicious. I looked through window and he was sat down playing on the same machine I was on after saying they closed early read more

Never had bbq in a gas station before and the food here is quite awesome! We got Carolina style pulled pork sandwich, which tastes ok--the sauce tastes a little bit sour somehow but the meat was good (a good balance of fat and lean pork). The sliced brisket sandwich was great though. The meat was nicely cooked and has a perfect balance of chewy fat part on the rims and lean meat in the center, hubby and I both loved it! We also tried their fried chicken, which was a little bit salty but fried ok. Price seems reasonable, get two same sandwiches will save you a couple of dollars. Overall, nice place for a quite bite if you are not interested in chain restaurants. Lots of truck drivers seem to like the place! read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Carolina style pulled pork sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

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The food and the service was horrible. I couldn't locate anyone that work there for about 10 minutes. Finally, someone come out of the back ares to take my order. I order the ribs, at least so I thought. The ribs looked like a pork chop. The meat had no seasoning and it was boiled, not grilled on the pit. Worst experience ever. read more

We pass by Smiley's on I-81 in both directions several times each year. I can't resist trying barbecue every chance I get, anywhere I am, and this time the timing worked for lunch while headed west. Smiley's is mainly carryout, being located in the convenience store at the gas station, but they have a few tables, so we were able to eat there. They serve pork in two styles. Ms T ordered Texas style and I ordered Carolina style. I don't know what Texas style means, having never run into it in Texas. Apparently, Virginia doesn't have its own style. Nevertheless, both sandwiches were pretty good. Ms T liked hers which was sauced with a red sauce, that was not overly sweet. Mine was pure pulled pork. It was a mix of some chopped and a largish hunk. The chopped was delicious, moist and tender. The hunk was outside meat and was dry and chewy. You can see the difference in the photo. You can also see that I could have used some more slaw. The slaw was very good with it, but must be terribly expensive in these parts, so they dole it out sparingly. I added a little Texas Pete to keep with the non-Virginia theme. The meat was not sauced with much if any NC vinegar. I also ordered a quarter rack of ribs, which was a generous quarter. I am like a broken record. This part of the world does not do ribs. To start, with the cut. I guess you would call these spare ribs, because they have the gummy-worms attached which grosses Ms T out completely and they have the outside cross muscle which is usually dried out and tough. They appear to be the waste after cutting out back ribs or St Louis ribs. They were not really smoky but were extremely done, cooked to mush underneath that chewy outside. I liked that they were not served drowned in sauce, but the deal breaker was that they were over-seasoned with herbs, mainly thyme. The heavy-handed herb rub would prevent me from ordering these again. But , I would definitely stop again for pork if the timing is right and hope for that tender chopped meat that made up half of my sandwich. I would also get a side of slaw to be sure I had plenty. I'm sure Ms T would go along with me for the Texas style. read more

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