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

After a week of craving ribs, I finally caved in and decided to indulge in some good ol' fashioned southern BBQ at Smokin' Jacks. Bloomington isn't exactly a hotspot for traditional barbeque, but Smokin' Jacks had always seemed to leave me stuffed and satisfied in the past. However, this time, upon ordering, I had to deal with not one, but two, extremely rude waitresses. They acted like it was a HUGE inconvenience that my friend and I came in to eat, and made us feel extremely unwelcome. While we initially shrugged off the poor service knowing we would receive a tasty meal, we were very surprised once we were brought our food. The ribs we had ordered were lukewarm at best. They were not served on the bone, and were so fatty that they were almost unedible. It was clear that the french fries we were served were an old batch, as they were soggy and cold. After all of that, when we asked for a refill, the waitress was extremely rude even after we thanked her. I give this two stars because i have had a decent meal here in the past. However, after this visit I can guarantee that I will not be going back there anytime soon. Chains like Friday's and Chili's offer better ribs than those that I had tonight, and serve up their food with a much friendlier face. read more

Huge portions, nice staff. I'm not going to get into the whole BBQ holy wars thing, they have some decent pulled pork, ribs, 1/2 and 1/4 portions of chicken, etc. Typically you get some giant serving of meat, a bunch of steak fries (my favorite), some cornbread, slaw and other stuff. You will probably have leftovers, unless you are a competitive eater or something. read more

I have to vote 3.5 stars, mostly because it is the only barbecue spot in Bloomington, and probably the only one within 30 miles at least. I will give it points for the authenticity of the building, seating yourself, ordering at the counter, and the rolls of very necessary paper towels standing at each table. The food is average as far as barbecue goes, but the ribs are far better than anything else I've found in Btown. Giant, tender, succulent ribs piled high on a paper plate? How can you go wrong? The chicken is very average. They just grill it and throw some barbecue sauce on it, no real attempt to flavor the actual meat, or cook it long and slow enough so the meat is tender. I've had real barbecue chicken, even smoked chicken, at BBQ joints before, and I feel I could get this chicken anywhere else in town. Finally, the sides are relatively inadequate. The baked beans leave somthing to be desired, and I wish the cornbread came standard with a meal instead of the piece of wonder bread they plop on top of the food. The cornbread salad is delicious, though, and I was told the green beans and other veggies were good (I think they were swimming in butter, so how could they not be?), and besides, how do you screw up veggies? read more

I like this place, the food is filling, service is quick. and there is plenty of space in the dining room. Plus i get a kick out of the life size pink pigs sculptures out front. I'm not a barbecue kind of person so I've never had the sandwiches or ribs, but I love the chicken wings. The wings are really big, meaty and five is more than enough to fill me up. You can pick from 4 or so sauces that are barbecue based and on the sweeter side. The sides also make this place surprisingly vegetarian friendly....if I'm not in the mood for chicken, a side of potato salad, mac and cheese and cornbread (all for $1.49 each) makes a great meal. read more

Being from the South, I'm very picky on my 'que. Thought the que here was ok, but probably good for the area. I would have liked a bit more smokiness to it and the BBQ sauce was weak. Again, not saying it's bad by any stretch, just not what we have down south. It is definitely worth stopping by if you want que though. They get good props for having decent sweet tea too. read more

Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack - 1/2 Chicken and 1/2 ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I've been wanting to try this place for a while. I always pass it on 17th and it seems like such a genuine, local, hole-in-the-wall ish dive. Boy was I RIGHT! The BBQ pulled pork sandwich that just graced my taste buds was ~euphoric~ and the mac n cheese was cooked to godly perfection. I have never written a review before but I just had to for this place. If you're thinking about trying it, stop thinking and just drive there already. read more

Huge portions at this restaurant. You definitely get what you pay for here. Food was good, cornbread I got was cold so I wasn't too happy about that but the green beans they make here are awesome. Pulled pork was good too. Good service, great on getting you what you need. Def might check it out another time I'm down here. Wanna try the ribs...... read more

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

This is one of my favorite places to eat in town. My wife and I have been coming here fairly frequently for the last four years and have rarely been disappointed. The Sweet sauce is fantastic and goes really well with their steak fries, and the combination of table serve and self-serve make you feel comfortable and in control - no worrying about refills or getting enough sauce when you need it. I'd recommend this to anyone in Bloomington. read more

Pretty average barbecue, but good prices. During the pandemic we have tried on at least 4-5 occasions to prefer take out from here. They mess something up on the order every time. Every. Single . Time. read more

I went to Smokin Jack's last night for the first time. I got the pulled chicken sandwich and fries. Very quick and polite service. Nice atmosphere. Food was delicious. I especially loved the fries! I also got a side of corn bread, Mac & Cheese, coleslaw, and potato salad to go. All of which were also yummy I will be back. read more

Best BBQ north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Don't judge the place by its shack looks. The food is delicious. Portions are huge; definitely one serving nets you two separate meals. The service is great and the price is right. read more

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

Delicious! I went to Smokin' Jacks with a group. It was great fun. I tried the pulled pork sandwich- yum! I washed this down with sweet tea (oh, how I love sweet tea) and peach cobbler. The cobbler was so-so. I was really full after that, but had to sample items on friends' plates. Their fries were amazing (and I wished I had ordered them). The cornbread was good--sweet and fluffy. Smokin' Jacks is great for an evening of gluttony. If the weather is nice, it's great to sit on the porch outside--you feel like you're in someone's home! read more

Decent BBQ at alright prices. I got the pulled pork and ribs. The ribs were smoked for so long that the bone was soft. I only know this because I accidentally ate the end of it. Yeah I was sort of disgusted, but hey, the meat was tender! I was there for lunch and it seems to be the place to be for all the local blue collar workers. This isn't a bad thing. Overall, it's nice to go to a place with some good tasting food that won't cost a ton (as BBQ sometimes can). I would go back. read more

Never been disappointed. Sides are delicious. Corn bread is 2 huge pieces and like a fluffy cake. Quite possibly the greatest promotion on Wednesdays with $1 ribs. They are unsauced, complete with tips. If you take a slab home it could and should last you 3-4 meals if you break them up ribs and tips. I love the hot BBQ. I mix it with the original. Trying the jerk wings for the first time. They look delicious. Basket is 10 wings for 7$ great value. read more

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

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Ok this place isn't bad, but it's not great. The selling point here is the price. I paid $16 for 5 ribs, a pulled pork sandwich and a brisket sandwich. Everything was extremely tender, but it seemed more like it was braised instead of smoked. I am giving this three stars because it didn't seem like it was true smoked BBQ at all (lack of a smoke ring on anything, boiled complexion to the meat), but it was still good tasting food. If you are really fiending for some ribs and you don't have many other options in Bloomington, don't be afraid to go here, just don't expect competition grade BBQ. PS...stay away form the pulled pork. IT looked as though it had been putthrough a blender too many times. It was the one dish that I completely left sitting there, and I hate to waste food, even if it's mediocre. read more

This is my first Yelp review and how strongly I feel about Smokin Jacks. Hands down best value + quality of meal in campus-area Bloomington. In college, I came here for the student discount for my best meal of the week too many times. Just came back 4 years later to sell my younger brother on coming to IU and it's as good as I remember, if not better read more

Amazing BBQ!!! Huge sandwiches. Best fries in town! Can't wait to go again to try more! read more

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

Stopped here for lunch my first time, my companion's 5th....thus why I found myself there enjoying a very good pulled pork sandwich...very generous proportion of meat on that bun. Slaw was good, baked beans were average, meal rounded off with chips and pickle. Would definitely stop here again if in the area. read more

Tenderloin tasted good. Maybe it tasted bad. I don't know. Go figure it out. Free refills.

Clean atmosphere, woodsy and laid back. Speedy fast super friendly ! service. Sweet tea n sweet potatoe pie...on point (:. Had Thursday lunch special. Italian sausage and a side. Mac n cheese not bad. Opted for additional potatoe salad. Not frozen tasting. Bonus. Two plain pieces of white bread were added. Seemed way out of place. Cornbread or rolls guys? Would have still been hungry if hadn't added second side (like 6 months ago) seemed much bigger. Overall more food would have made me happier. 12$ total, fair value. I'll be back, couple months for sure. read more

We were starving for some BBQ after being on the boat all day. We found this hole in the wall on yelp, and it exceeded our expectations by far. Amazing BBQ, the original BBQ sauce had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend this cute little place of your craving some BBQ! read more

A family favorite! Wonderful barbecue - especially love their ribs! Great atmosphere, friendly staff!

Do yourself a favor and stay away. The only pros were the speedy service, portion sizes, and cute decor inside. My boyfriend and I got the chicken and ribs. It's hard to explain the texture and flavor of our food. The closest I can come up with is "powdery." Most of my ribs were ligaments and fat, and the rest turned to ash in my mouth. The portions were huge, but I couldn't even finish one rib. I loved the Mac and cheese and cornbread, but they weren't good enough to return. read more

Cornbread salad!! Sounds weird but is amazingly delicious! So is the 1/4 lb cheeseburger. I should have ordered a large cornbread salad....just saying........ read more

I love this place. Everything I have had I loved. The prices are good too. I really like the ribs and the chicken wings. Also, they have amazing for bread. read more

Best BBQ place in Bloomington! I usually get their hamburger, but the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches are also great. Sides are delicious!! You can also call ahead and order pick-up, which isn't advertised heavily, so just FYI! read more

We did a large order for a work event and ordered 6 lbs of mac n' cheese and we got approximately 3lbs. They would not give us anymore. The container was barely full and everyone could not have mac n' cheese. read more

Authentic BBQ! I left my phone on my table last night and didn't discover it until late. They are closed on Sundays, but we drove by on our way out of town anyway just to see if maybe the cleaning crew or someone might be there. At 8AM on a Sunday morning there was a guy smoking the meats for Mondays food orders and graciously let me come in and call my phone. Lucky for me it was on the desk in the office; saving me a trip from Indy on Monday! Thank you again! We go to Smokin Jacks frequently and get their pulled pork sandwich special with their awesome red potato salad! Great food! read more

I'm from Texas. Service was great. Mac and cheese great. Cornbread was great. Ribs were awful.

This place is a very good BBQ joint that has offered me great service throughout the many times I have been there. The sweet tea is made fresh and is some of the best if you like it extra sweet. Can't go wrong with the rib tip dinner or pulled pork sandwich. Dessert portions could be bigger. Sides could be bigger. My only two complaints. read more

Low quality everything, pork is definetly not smoked and not the least bit tender, portions are large but in my opinion not worth the price. Good just isn't the same with jack gone. read more

Sooo good and bring ur quarters to win a pig in their claw machine!!! I got bbq and fries and it was to die for 10/10 would most definitely recommend. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the hours. read more

Disclosures first: I am a barbecue nut. But I try very hard not to be a barbecue snob, because that would kill the joy of barbecue. My particular brand of barbecue fanaticism has a whole lot to do with North Carolina piedmont barbecue, which is to say that I like hickory-smoked pulled pork, especially the outside brown, and I like a dip/sauce that is vinegary and hot. That said, I have discovered that if I order Smokin' Jack's *ribs* WITHOUT the sauce (which is that Kansas City sweet stuff, which frankly, I cannot abide) and bring my own or use some Tapatio, Cholula, Tabasco, or Texas Pete's, I will be happy as a clam. Why? Because the meat does have a pretty nice flavor-- I can taste smoke. Happy. This place is fine, it's here, and I'm not complaining. But I DO need to make a road trip to Carolina. Now, if YOU like thick sweetish sauce, and fatty-but-not-super-fatty ribs, knock yourself out and don't fuss your order. On the other hand, if you're particular about your pulled pork, be cautious. Cake-like cornbread (my baby *loves* it), OK greens and sweet potato pie. The kids who work the counter are nice. read more

This is the most awesome run place I have ben! I could not believe that I didn't not know this place exist until now! Must try!

On 4/28/2018 I visited Jack's for the first time. I ordered the half chicken dinner. When it was brought to my table it consisted of 2 drumsticks with attached thighs. Having ordered many half chickens in my life I have never seen one like Jack's served. I asked one of the employees about it as I had ordered the half chicken specifically to get the breast meat. I was told that they had ran out of the chicken breasts. I felt is was poor customer service to allow a customer to order a meal expecting to be served that meal and then providing something that wasn't on the menu. If I had been told when I ordered the meal I would have ordered something else. I did eat he dinner as I didn't want to wait for another order to be prepared. I felt the food was pretty average. You do get a large order of corn bread that will feed 2 people. Because of the poor customer service I will not be back to Jacks' again. read more

Great BBQ. Their beef brisket was fantastic, delicious sauce. Every side is incredible, from the corn bread to the mac n cheese, you can't go wrong. You get your food practically before you sit down. Great-sized portions as well, and nice staff. read more

I've stopped in a few times over the last two months. The pulled pork sandwich is pretty good. Nice flavor and a good sized portion. The second time I had the brisket sandwich and it was excellent! Great flavor and just the right amount of marveling in the meat. Potato salad was good as was the coleslaw. I'll go back again next time I'm in town. read more

Smokin' Jack's is one of Bloomington's greatest restaurants. Their prices are so cheap and the food is great. About the only thing in the restaurant that isn't homemade is their French fries, but oh well. I'd highly recommend the 1/4 chicken dinner or the pull-out pork sandwich. Smokin' Jack's could charge so much more for their food. read more

Went there for lunch was awesome. You can smell it just walking up. Got the pork tenderloin sandwich... Was amazing