Me and some pals decided to try this place after seeing it multiple times driving by. I don't know why there aren't people lining out the door for this food. I paid $12 for a thanksgiving dinner for 10. The ranch is nearly drinkable, and the brisket deserves a medal of honor. This place is the second coming of Jesus Christ. I've never once eaten food and felt the need to write a yelp review. Thank you smokin' Jacks. read more

This used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington but unfortunately it's going bad in my opinion. I got take out this afternoon and the young man who waited me was rude, unfriendly and acted like it was a burdon on him to help with my order. This not the first I've experienced this behavior from him. Never smiles and you have to repeat everything to him 2-3 times. He acts like he's in LA LA land. If you're trying to drive customers away he's your man. The food has also gotten worse in the last 3-4 months. The last 3 times I've ordered catfish it's actually been burnt like the cook isn't paying attention and doesn't care. But the biggest complaint is the young man that waits on folks at the drive thru. I was there at 2:00pm at 4/29 and had called in beef brisket. The bun was hard as a rock it was so stale. I'm really disappointed in Smokin Jacks. read more

SO GOOD! Don't know how it's taken me so long to get here, but today was a first. Stopped for a quick lunch to go and had a discount coupon via the Hooked app. Had the smoked ham sandwich and woooooow! The cornbread salad on the side was equally awesome. There was so much food I didn't quite finish it all but it defiantly was for all the best reasons. I can't wait go back, I want to try the smoked turkey, BBQ, chickennnn... It all looked, smelled, and sounded AMAZING! *** Update, made us back to try the pulled pork, also awesome! Still prefer the ham but am dying to try the smoked turkey... Will keep you posted! read more

Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

2/20/21 We Purchased 2 pork rib top dinners $22.?? (for both) The Meat was burnt,dry,& tough !!!! Greens was slimy,Potato Salad very unusual in which equaled out Very Bad Dinners read more

We have eaten at this restaurant for years and really enjoyed it. The food was excellent and plentiful. However, since opening again after Covid the quality has of food and service has really taken a dive. Our last meal tough and dry. My chicken breast was almost inedible. We tried to phone in an order and they never picked up. So we went to pick it up there was only a couple of people in the whole place. Will not be going back soon if at all. read more

Received ribs instead of chicken. Requested blue cheese for wing dip; got ranch. Put in special instructions Asking for no tomatoes on salad; got tomatoes. read more

Smokin jacks is a hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint about a half mile west of the stadium. It is THE best place to get food on wednesdays in Bloomington due to their "dollar a bone" deal. No where else can you get a full slab of delicious ribs for under $10. Their house sauce is my favorite but they feature a Jamaican jerk, a spicy BBQ and other sauces as well. The interior is very rustic and contains wooden furniture creating a cozy southern feel. Only downside is the sides aren't anything special and the vegetables are pretty bad. But, the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork sandwich are all top notch. read more

Great Cole slaw and great barbecue. This place is a keeper.. Had barbecue turkey and it was really moist and great smoke flavor.

2.5 stars. Glad to have had some BBQ in Bloomington, which I thought was a BBQ-free zone, but beyond hitting the spot just because I was desperate for some pulled pork, Smokin' Jack's wasn't too thrilling. Got pulled pork with both mac and cheese and green beans. Only comes with one side, but it's pretty cheap so I decided to get two just to try as much as possible. Both sides were underwhelming. Green beans didn't really taste much different from regular old canned beans, and mac and cheese was alright but not impressive in comparison with mac and cheese at many BBQ places. The pulled pork itself was similarly "just okay," hard to screw up BBQ sauce but it wasn't good enough to stand out to me or make me want to return. I think I'll just stick to having BBQ when I'm home from school. One big plus: the cornbread was KILLER! read more

Ribs and French fries! I had their chicken fingers and the bbq sandwich! That was pretty good!

I've been here several times and I just realized that I have never finished and posted a review! I keep going back to Smokin' Jack's for the atmosphere. Most of the food is average...the cornbread is OUTSTANDING...the price you pay for the quantity you get is a good deal. My go-to entree is the pulled pork with either the green beans or the collard greens. read more

Tried the burger, and was amazed with the taste. Again, same as with the brisket sandwich, toasting the bun away from perfection. The burger patties have great taste, seasoned perfectly, nice and juicy. But by the time you get through it, the bun is soggy. Toasting the bun would propel it to greatness. I'm going to keep coming because the taste is there! read more

Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack - 1/4 lb beef brisket sandwich with fries. - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Very disappointing for vegetarians. Yes your are a BBQ joint. But there is a large percent of the population who is veggie. You have missed out on multiple catering opportunities frome bc you have 0 veggie options. To the non-veggie, i bet it is ok. It looks very amateur from the outside. read more

This place is very average but I'm not at all mad I tried it. I ordered a brisket sandwich with mac n cheese and greens. (I'd skip the greens if you are expecting them to be homemade because they are not homemade) The Mac n cheese was pretty good and my sandwich had a good amount of meat.. it must've been my lucky day because I got a side of cornbread for free which was good! The prices are decent, not bad for college students looking for a quick bite to eat. I'm giving 3 stars only because the food was average in my opinion... all of my food had little flavor so it tasted really bland BUT like I said it wasn't bad.. I'm glad I gave it a try. The staff was friendly as well. All in all not a bad experience. read more

Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack - Brisket sandwich with Mac n cheese, greens, and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Delicious catfish sandwich and dollar rib Wednesday's! Eat here once a week, best value in bloomington

This establishment is absolutely phenomenal. I saw some of the negative reviews and was slightly hesitant, but after eating there this evening, I am convinced that those reviews were bots. I ordered the 1/4 lb pulled pork, 8 BBQ Wings, and a side of mac & cheese. All three things made my taste buds orgasm. I had set the standards high based on some pictures and the standards were well surpassed. I am upset that I hadn't tried this place sooner. If you are in Bloomington, Smokin Jacks will not disappoint. read more

Smokin jacks and I won't be back. To start with the ribs were like pork jerky and pretty flavorless. The fries were probably the best part and even they weren't the greatest. read more

We ate here last weekend while visiting dear friends who had just moved to Bloomington from Michigan. We ordered ribs, greens, mac & cheese, and Jamaican jerk chicken wings. The jerk wings were excellent: smoky, juicy, spicy, and delicious. The greens, while not world-class (I am originally from the south, so I know world-class greens), were above average, though the serving size was small. The mac & cheese side was similar: a solid grade of B, in a small dish. The ribs were the highlight: huge, meaty (they came with the rib tips attached), smoky, and succulent, with a dark, dry-smoked bark. These are not your average slathered-in-sauce ribs; the sauce, though very good, is probably unnecessary on these rich, smoky slabs of porky goodness. The quarter-slab (3 bones) was more than I could eat. Five stars for the ribs and wings, minus one for the smallish sides and the slightly disinterested service. Check it out and see how good slow-smoked ribs and wings can really be. read more

This is my first time coming to Smokin jacks why because everyone always says that this isn't a very good place to eat so being adventurous I decided to stop by since I haven't ate all day I myself don't eat pork I know a lot of people like it and that's fine but I'm not one of them so for me to come to a place and then have nothing but pork available for me to eat and I got stuck with having to get chicken which is not what I was in the mood for however like I said I haven't ate all day so I went ahead and got it then I get to my car and my bag bust open and my sausage fell out I did not want to go back inside to get replacement sauces because that is just too much work so I probably won't be going back to Smokin Jacks Rib Shack read more

Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack - VERY DISAPPOINTED - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Ordered rib dinners which were dry and overcooked. Came with one side each, fries were good but the coleslaw was the skimpiest portion I've seen. It was disappointing, probably won't go back. read more

This place was great! Was driving only about a mile out from my place and saw this (mostly) unobtrusive BBQ restaurant out of the corner of my eye. Out of curiosity I went in, ordered a pulled pork sandwich along with their sweet BBQ sauce with a side of mac n cheese and string beans. Cost me about 10 dollars total and i could not be more impressed, the pulled pork sandwich was amazing along with the string beans. The mac n cheese was a bit less than i had hoped for but was still amazing. You can not beat this bang for buck when it comes to Bloomington, simply delicious. I will be coming back for continued patronage, this place definitely deserves your money, any naysayers are just snobby wannabe food critics, this place is the bees knees. If you want a great BBQ meal that wont break the bank, this is your place! Update: Just went again, got the same thing, and man this Mac n' cheese is way better than the first time (so first time was most likely a fluke), i have no reason but to give this place 5 stars. read more

If you've never been to Smokin' Jack's before, it's important to remember seven words - "don't judge a book by its cover." From the outside, the restaurant isn't the most visually appealing establishment. In my opinion though, the character of a restaurant is much more important. Smokin' Jack's has a reputation as a hometown favorite. From the perspective of a college student, it isn't your "typical college town restaurant." Most of the customers walking in the doors are not college students, but I think this adds to the charm of the place. Smokin' Jack's is one of those classic hole-in-the-wall establishments that may be hard to find, but offers some of the best food in town. I would put Smokin' Jack's in an elite group of hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Bloomington including the Azteca Market, Lucky Express, and Wee Willie's (Note: be on the lookout for future blog posts about these places!). During my visit to Smokin' Jack's this weekend, I was accompanied with two of my roommates. The special for the day was a pulled pork sandwich with one side for $6. I ordered the special with macaroni and cheese as the side and my roommates ordered a full rack of ribs to share, along with a side of potato salad and green beans. I've had the ribs at Smokin' Jack's before, and they are amazing, but I was equally impressed with the pulled pork sandwich. It comes with pickles and onion (I think the pickles are a great compliment, however I don't really care for the onion) and the macaroni was a perfect side for the sandwich. My roommates said they would prefer baby back ribs to the type of ribs Smokin' Jacks has to offer because baby back ribs are smaller and not as tender, but it's all a matter of personal preference! In summary, I think Smokin' Jacks is a place all residents of Bloomington should try at least once in their life. The food is great, the staff is friendly, and its a nice change of pace from most restaurants near campus. If you find yourself at Smokin' Jacks, I would recommend the ribs or the pulled pork. But before you walk in, just remember - "don't judge a book by its cover." read more

Dollar rib wednesdays. Nuff said. Awesome cornbread. Bbq sauce is amazing as well. People that work there are really cool. Bbq shwag all over the place read more

The ribs had no flavor at all. I think Smokin Jack's equates "fall-off-the-bone" with good ribs, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I bet they boil the ribs to get them to fall off the bone. Then they slather them in (weak) BBQ sauce to hide the fact that they boiled all the flavor out of the meat. Not even a touch of smoke. These are like the ribs you get at the church picnic. The sides (green beans, cole slaw, corn, macaroni & cheese, etc.) all taste like they came straight out of the can/box. The TVs were playing some Disney cartoon which was a little weird. You expect to hear some rock or blues at a BBQ joint, not a cartoon bird screaming. read more

I know this is going to sound bad, but I've lived in Bloomington for YEARS and today was my first trip ever to Smokin' Jacks. Boy did I feel embarrassed when I went in and had to scour the menu and ask a ton of questions. When it comes to Smokin' Jack's you can basically order one of two ways: you choose a meal (which will either consist of a sandwich and side or something like 1/2 rack of ribs and and chicken) or purchase meat by the pound and add your sides. Since it was a family visit we decided to go with the latter to satiate our salivating tastebuds. We ordered some pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, mac and cheese, cole slaw, and fries. I am happy to say that everything was DELICIOUS. I was a big fan of the pulled pork - even without any BBQ sauce it had plenty of smoky flavor. The brisket had a deep smokiness as well, but not as up front as the pork. Of all the sides I'd have to say that the baked beans were the best. They had their own smoky flavor, all while being sweet. Now I like my baked beans thick, and Smokin' Jack's really delivered here. I am telling you - I WILL come back just to get baked beans and cornbread for an entire meal. It's delicious. Don't judge me. The wait staff was very patient and helpful, answering each question I had without any judgment. I noticed a couple of the reviews mention the interior - I would say the building is a bit bigger than the staff have the manpower for, only because it's a "come up, order, sit down" sort of place. They don't have regular waiters or waitresses, though that didn't stop staff from checking on us. We were quite comfortable during our dine. In regards to portion sizes, I am not too sure what other reviewers have in mind when they think of "generous portions". For me, being a bigger guy and someone who is used to eating BBQ in Texas, the portion sizes were a bit small to share. For a single person, though, the sides were enough, and you can order larger sides by the pound. I will definitely come back, and am sad I waited so long! read more

Smokin' Jack's is a Bloomington staple. You come here and you know what you're going to get. Smoky barbecue, ribs that fall apart, pulled pork dripping with sauce. I've never come here and left disappointed. I'm a huge fan. Add to that their great prices and tasty sides (if you ask for cornbread, that's basically a meal in and of itself), and there really isn't anything to complain about here. It's also only one of maybe a couple bbq places in town, which adds to its appeal. The parking is easy, service is good, decor is fitting. Seriously guys, Smokin' Jack's is just solid. Always worth a visit. read more

Pretty OK, pulled pork served on a cold bun. Mac and cheese could have been much better. Apparent food service cole slaw. Ribs OK I guess. Sweet tea was very good. read more

Best barbecue in Bloomington. Perfect for pregame or post game meal. Had the pulled pork meal, can't go wrong.

I have to say that my pulled pork was a bit dry and tasteless, but everyone else in the party raved about the ribs, the mac n cheese, and particularly the corn bread (where one party member went back for 2nd's on that). Busy place - clearly a local favorite! read more

Big servings of good food. We are never disappointed. We love that the barbecue is never too salty. The brisket, catfish, greens, and red beans & rice are our favorites! Every time we are in town, we have to have some Smokin' Jack's. read more

By far the best barbecue in Bloomington hands down. I was at the NAPA across the street and could smell the food, I had to try it.The food was beyond excellent and fairly priced, the service was amazing. The employees are so friendly! The ribs were immaculate and the side of Mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Q I will be there every week! Don't waste your time with other BBQ places in Bloomington, smokin jacks puts them to shame! read more

My order was canceled after the driver called and ask what I wanted to substitute for. I told her pork was fine and she said nothing. After still not hearing anything for an additional 20 seconds, I decided to hang up. Then it got canceled. Very disappointed. I'm in town for business and was looking forward to tasting some local staples. Guess not. read more

You can't miss Smokin Jacks: a pink building with ceramic pigs out front. I've often gotten it to go in the past, but with COVID19 I've been utilizing their drive thru. I was in and out in less than 5 minutes! My go to has always been the 1/4lb pulled pork sandwich with cornbread as the side. The sandwich comes with sauce on the side, so you control the quantity. Pickles and onions also come on the side. I almost wish there were more meat on the sandwich, but we can't have it all. I swear the portions used to be larger, but maybe I'm just not remembering correctly. The cornbread tho... oh man it's the best. Dense, but also kind of crumbly like you want in cornbread. Sweet but not too sweet. Mmm a lil stack of heaven. read more

It's been a while since I've enjoyed a restaurant experience so much! Smokin' Jacks is everything a BBQ join should be. Dark, a little dingy,a little mysterious. I liked the vibe a LOT. The ribs were OUTSTANDING. Nicely cooked and seasoned with a variety of sauces. Fries were outstanding as well ,and they had something called cornbread salad, which I'd never heard of. I gave it a try...and it was simply delicious. I'd not hesitate to order it again. The iced tea is brewed on site and is also fantastic! Staff was courteous and friendly, and knew the menu inside out. Even though we're 90 minutes away, we'll return. read more

This place is delicious. It's in a bit of a difficult location so I think that's why it's not well known, because trust me - everything is incredible! The workers are super awesome, too. It all just makes for a great environment. There's the inside that's decorated and full of history, but they also have a drive-through which is incredibly convenient. My favorites were the pulled pork and pulled chicken (usually get a heaping carry-out order of each to take home), but anytime someone else got ribs and were kind enough to share, they were absolutely delicious. read more

This place has gone downhill throughout the decades. When Jack was here it was outstanding but sadly we've found it to be a toss up as to how our food would be prepared. At times, the pork sandwiches had a finer shred and would be almost mushy to easy to larger chunks with lots of gristle. And always now, we find the buns are cold and almost like they slapped the meat on a bun from the fridge. They're always hard, almost stale like. So disappointing as we used to come here almost weekly since 2001. read more

This place has gone downhill. #1. call in order for pick-up. Call back to add item. Phone rings/rings GOES TO VOICEMAIL ! ----UNACCEPTABLE, there were over 4 employees. When I went inside I saw 3 guys, and 2 girls -up front and I heard some in back. What a joke, they were LITERALLY chasing ea other and talking like this was their basement party. Now I know why phone went to voice. # 2. I paid and then waited for order. order ready, I ask, "is all of it here"?. The girl said "oh, yes". I said I needed to check anyway. NOT COMPLETE !!!!!!!!!!! She says "oh, I didnt pack it". ** how do you tell someone its all there and you didnt pack it ??? **** EVERY place I have ordered take-out from has missing items and NOW I check every order. #3. FOOD- pulled chicken =good. pulled pork= umm really dark color. Did not look like pork I have previous. Corn bread= different. just ok. The side baked beans looked/tasted like a can was opened and that was that. For a BBQ place that to serve baked beans and NO fatback or onions or anything added to a can is unheard of. $2.50 for roughly the size of a mayo lid def not worth it. These were also cold and I was thinking they prob ran out and just opened can. Cobbler= def NOT what I have had before. We will not be returning. I threw out pork from Jack's because the color was weird grey/dark. Did not taste spoiled, but I wasnt taking chance. There were ZERO in dining room and I was ONLY pick up inside. The lack of customers on a Saturday night says it all. ***Go to Butcher Block **** === for pulled pork !!. We were disappointed in Jacks compared to Butcher Block. read more

We tried this place after an IU win and was NOT disappointed. The ribs, chicken, cornbread, mac and cheese were delicious. The friendly staff and atmosphere only add to the delicious meal. We will definitely be back. read more

I get that a bbq place can have a rundown vibe that is charming because of the wonderful food. But, this ain't that! It's just filthy and rundown. The ribs were smoky. That was fine. Sauce was like syrup and way too much slathered on. The chicken had a texture that was a mystery. It was mealy. Very weird. The "cornbread" was cake. And cold. Greens were ok. Likely canned. Mac n cheese not the worst I've had. Slaw was ok. A tad on the sweet side but many like it that way. Oh yeah. Here's a first: when a young woman came over to check on our table we mentioned the chicken and she said, "I don't know. I just work here." Then she went back and told a male worker about our issue and he laughed out loud. No one came over after that. Yeah, we won't be putting any more money toward this place. read more

I went to Smokin' Jack's the other night with my boyfriend after the two of us got out of class. It's the only barbecue option in town, so it has the market cornered. The prices are great, I ordered a half chicken meal with green beans and mac and cheese and my boyfriend had rib tips with greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread. The chicken was very tender and served very hot, not warm like at some places. The sauce is a bit sweeter than my preference, but it wasn't a problem to just pull the skin back. The mac and cheese is pretty standard southern style mac and cheese, it isn't baked, but it's tasty and the green beans were good. My boyfriend's meal was great, his rib tips were tasty and the greens were amazing. The corn bread is delicious. It was about $18 for the two of us to eat and we had enough food for leftovers (1/4 chicken) for lunch the next day. We'll definitely be back. read more