It's been about a year and a half and I found myself near red oak and hungry. Than can only mean…read moreFranks in Ovilla. the building s till looks like its ready to fall down, but the brisket was just as moist and tender as I remember. This is a place not to be missed for some true Texas BBQ

Employees were nice here. Food wasn't quite what I expected it to be, a little disappointing. I got…read morea chicken and rib plate with Mac and cheese and Cole slaw. Mac and cheese was grainy & not very flavourful unfortunately. Chicken was dry :( however , ribs were really good !!

Best bbq in Texas and the staff is really nice I talked to the cashier I think his name was Ruben…read moreEvans he was the best

Me and my man just ordered a chopped and sliced beef sandwich and they are DRY AS FUCK! , my potato…read moresalad had clear wrapping instead of a top like the Mac & cheese we ordered. The packaging was 0/10. I grew up on Evan's and it was my man first time and this was a BIG disappointment.

We went to Smokey Joe's because it landed on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ list... and I'll say it…read morestraight, it earned every bit of that recognition. Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if it cracks the Top 10 next time around. This place is exactly what you want in a serious BBQ joint. Small. No frills. Tucked off I-35 in Oak Cliff. A handful of tables inside, a few more outside, and zero wasted energy on anything that doesn't involve the food. That's usually a good sign... and it was. I went all in with the Texas Trinity Plate. Brisket, pork ribs, jalapeño sausage. No regrets. The brisket was the star. Deep, dark bark with a heavy pepper kick that hit right away. Perfect smoke ring. Tender without falling apart. Juicy without being greasy. Every bite had that rich, smoky flavor that separates good BBQ from the real deal. The ribs were solid. Great flavor, nice bite, but leaned a little heavy on the smoke for me. Not a deal breaker, just noticeable. Still very good and worth ordering. The jalapeño cheddar sausage was a win. Juicy, packed with flavor, and just enough heat to keep things interesting without overpowering everything else. Then the surprise... the sweet potato casserole. That thing deserves its own review. Rich, slightly sweet, and those candied pecans on top took it to another level. Not an afterthought side, this was legit. Bottom line... Smokey Joe's is the kind of place BBQ people talk about when they say "you've gotta try this spot." It absolutely holds its own among the best in Texas, especially outside that elite Top 10 tier. If you're serious about BBQ, don't overthink it. Go.

I'm thrilled and surprised to say these are the best ribs I've had in 47 years of life! I read the…read moreample research of "Best BBQ" in Dallas and this comes up on top and everyone is right. Flavorful, melt in your mouth quality while still being lightly crispy skin on the outside. Perfect. I got the rib plate (3 big ribs) and got it with okra and beans, my friend got sweet potatoes and all the sides hit it out of the park also! Can't wait to come back!

I am only giving this restaurant a five-star review solely because of the outstanding customer…read moreservice provided by Manager Dorsey. During my visit on Juneteenth, I initially went through the drive-thru and experienced what I felt was rude and unprofessional behavior from one of the black male employees. Concerned by the interaction, I left the drive-thru line and went inside to speak with management. Dorsey immediately addressed my concerns with professionalism, patience, and courtesy. She took the time to listen, quickly de-escalated the situation, personally assisted with my order, and assured me that the matter would be addressed. Her prompt response and commitment to customer service completely changed my experience. While my initial interaction was disappointing, Dorsey's leadership, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring customer satisfaction are the reasons for this five-star review. She is a tremendous asset to the restaurant and should be recognized for her excellent customer service.

Hello Everyone, this is the absolute best BBQ ever (besides Mikes All Around Smoke). The food is…read morefresh, delicious, staff is courtesy, inside is clean, comfort. Thank you to the Chefs and all of the staff. Please keep up the good work. Texas Family

Went in search of food on Christmas Eve and wound up in Cedar Hill at Soul Man's as they were the…read moreonly ones open and not packed. The lobby had one family in there. Everything was clean and the atmosphere was light. The servers were friendly and fun to talk to. My daughter and I ordered two Loaded Tyler's and two chopped beef sandwiches with two drinks. The food, however, was bland. Everything was bland! Not a sprinkle of seasoning on anything. That's hard to do in Texas!! I was truly disappointed. I had to doctor on everything at home before I could eat anything. I, also, wish the option to add what meat that you want on the Tyler was there because I would have opted for chopped beef. I think there was ham and link sausage on it.

The food was absolutely horrible! We ordered the family meal through DoorDash from the FT Worth…read morelocation on 02/21/26. It cost $110, and it was a waste of money! The ribs, which we paid extra for, were extra dry, and the sausage had no color to it, as if it was not even cooked. About the only halfway edible was the brisket, which is all we could eat. The sides lacked flavor, seasoning, whichever, and the fries were dripping with oil, so that even the container they came in was soaked. How can you live in Texas, call your establishment a barbecue place, and not know how to cook barbecue?

I was pleasantly surprised by my recent visit. This was only my second time here. The first being…read moreabout 15 years ago when I initially moved to Dallas. During lunch, I ordered the smoked turkey and also sampled the sliced brisket. Both were excellent, and I realized I've been overlooking this spot. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and happy to offer samples before ordering, which I appreciated. The atmosphere is well-suited for enjoying quality barbecue with good company. I look forward to returning to try more items on the menu and would highly recommend giving them a visit.

Finally! 15 years after the highly anticipated opening I made It! But hold on,let's not celebrate…read moreyet. For those sitting in the car trying to decide or others looking for BBQ in the area,my recommendation is go elsewhere. I have a very good reason for this and it's disappointment. Don't get me wrong,there was a lot to like about the place. Walking in the door into the dining full bar area,we were cheerfully greated by the bartend-ress on protocol. 48 hours into this review and I'm just at 3 paragraphs and deciding how long or not this is going to be. Texas barbecue is so dear to my heart I'm feeling an extensive review coming on. Let me finish this paragraph by mentioning a significant historical fact regarding bbq just a few blocks from here. " The" king of Dallas barbeque started not far from here. In 1935 Red Bryan started a BBQ business and became a legend. Passing the torch to his son Sonny Bryan who solidified the elevated smoking of brisket in Dallas. That era has passed and now.... We have a new movement. With the price of beef,personnel retention,operating expenses,it's gotta be one of the hardest operations in food service. But,Red,Sonny and others did it and the bar is raised for anyone else who expects you to patronize their establishment and pay today's prices. I was very disappointed in the brisket here. I should have taken it back but,wasn't in the mood. While the owners may be connected to Lockhart Texas BBQ royalty,you can't rest on your laurels. Let's give them some time to tweek the operation before we try again. At this time it's a no go.

Did a too good to go order - no this isn't sponsored! But it was a surprise meal of 1 meat and 2…read morerandom sides. It was a little difficult to find but when I walked in it was empty. But there's plenty of seating for small or large parties. Tonight must've been a slow night because after this review, I'm going back! Meat chicken quarter 8/10: nice flavor, cooked perfectly. The bbq sauce was decent too. Sweet potatoes 9/10: these were some of the best sweet potatoes I've ever had. If they made this a pie, I'd buy one every week! Flavor was on point, not too sweet or overly cooked. Greens 7/10: these had good flavor too. My only gripe is I wish they had less stems but I'd get these again too. I did doctor them up when I got home but that was just a preference not a must. Looking forward to trying the bbq next time.

When they 1st came to Cedar Hill, they literally lived up to the name, WINNERS!!! I was visiting…read morethe location twice a week, TWICE A WEEK!! Lately they slowly fell off in consistency. You may or may not have a good food experience. Yesterday, I did not. These ribs are DRY and HARD!! Bake potato use to be my go to. Today I just wanted my money back. I just want them to go back to whatever the magic was before and be consistent with it. Definitely wasn't an $18 plate today but if you go tomorrow (consistency is a must!!)

Excellent ribs, ya'll! And the beans and potato salad are off-the-chain!!read more

I live within walking distance of this place and have never been. My family and I decided to try it…read moreon June teenth. BIG mistake. We spent close to $100 and out of the 4 of us NO ONE enjoyed it or finished their meal. I actually went to another place and bought food for the family. Not trying to shade the ppl who like this place but maybe you should get out more.