Tried this BBQ spot for the first time and it was honestly AMAZING. The food was so good, especially the mac and cheese and the baked beans -- both were packed with flavor and tasted homemade. Everything came out fresh and delicious. Also have to shout out the cashier because she made the whole experience even better. She was super attentive, patient, and helped walk us through the menu since it was our first time there. You can tell she actually cares about the customers and wants people to enjoy their food. Definitely coming back again. read more

Southern Luv - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Went in for lunch and left pretty disappointed with the overall experience at Southern Luv BBQ. It's a walk-up setup where you place your order at the counter and they bring the food out to you, which was fine. But the first thing that surprised us was there wasn't even a smoker on site. For a BBQ place, that immediately raised questions. Then we actually watched part of the food prep being done in a microwave, which honestly killed the whole "fresh BBQ" vibe. We ordered the brisket and sausage platter. The brisket is listed around $18 per half pound and sausages are about $5 per link on the menu, so for those prices we expected a lot better quality. Unfortunately, both meats were average at best. The brisket lacked that fresh-smoked flavor and texture you expect from legit BBQ, and the sausage was nothing memorable either. Overall, it felt more reheated than freshly smoked. The staff was polite enough, but the food just didn't live up to the expectations or the pricing. Sadly not a spot we'd rush back to. read more

My office needed lunch for a meeting, and my boss suggested here, so I took everyone's order, then easily placed our order over the phone the day before. I was advised to pick up at 11:45 am, since they had a large order going out at 11:30 am; no problem, I appreciated that heads up. The order wasn't quite ready when I arrived, but I did not have to wait too long and I was on my way. Side note: I loved that the man running the store (the Owner?) thanked the employees for rocking the orders out - that's a class move. Back at the office, I was pleased to see that everyone's order was correct. I went with the smoked chicken platter with 2 sides: mac and cheese and baked beans. The chicken was tender and flavorful, although I could have wished for a bit more. The beans had way too much garlic in them, so those went uneaten. The mac and cheese was great, and I would get this side again. A positive experience and great food means that our office will definitely order from here again. read more

Southern Luv - Smoked chicken platter with Mac and cheese and baked beans. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

My boyfriend and I visited Southern Luv BBQ for the first time, and we were immediately impressed. The atmosphere was warm, friendly, and welcoming from the moment we walked in. The owner was working incredibly hard, taking care of customers while still greeting us with a genuine smile and helping us with our order. We both ordered the 3 meats with 2 sides. My boyfriend chose mac and cheese, and I went with the BBQ beans. Everything was absolutely delicious--we honestly had a hard time stopping! The coleslaw tasted fresh and crisp, and the beans had a nice sweetness with a little kick. I also tried my boyfriend's mac and cheese, which had the perfect balance of seasoning, pasta, and cheese. The owner noticed we weren't locals, and we ended up having such a nice conversation. He also gave us some desert which was also delicious. That personal touch made the experience even more special. We loved everything, even though we couldn't finish it all. The next day, we turned the leftovers into a pulled pork sandwich--and it was just as amazing. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Amazing service and delicious food. I savored every bite of the nachos and my partner couldn't even finish the cuban. Ambiance is chill side of the road hot spot. Music playing and a decent amount of seating for the time of day. read more

Southern Luv - Nachos and brisket cubans - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The food is always amazing when we visit. Their new wings are heavenly and flavorful! The restaurant is always so clean and management interacts with each guest with a smile! You know a business is committed when they have a pig Mini Cooper in the parking lot. read more

Southern Luv - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

WOW! The smoked meats were fantastic, the Mac n Cheese was some of the best I've ever had, but the star of the show... The service! Bri and J were super friendly, professional, and answered all of our questions! I HIGHLY recommend checking out this spot! read more

Southern Luv - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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BBQ is usually one of my absolute favorite types of food, so I was really looking forward to trying this place ,especially after seeing all the positive reviews. Unfortunately, our experience didn't quite live up to the hype. The barbecue just wasn't what we expected. The meat didn't have that classic BBQ flavor or aroma, and it was heavily covered in sauce, which overpowered the taste. Even my teenager commented that it was hard to tell what the actual meat tasted like. The side dishes also had an unusual taste almost like a chemical or cleaning product which made me hesitant to serve any of it to my toddler.We also waited over an hour and a half for our food, and during that time, several DoorDash drivers came in but had to leave because the order wasn't ready. By the time we finally got our food, it had gone cold. I really wanted to like this place, especially being so close to home, and I can see that others may have had better experiences, but for us it just missed the mark. Hopefully, it was just an off day. read more

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I forgot to get a picture of the food but it was amazing. I got the Alabama sandwich and potato salad. The meat was tender and fresh. The sausage sliced thin and soft enough to easily bite through. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I could really tell they cared about their craft. read more

Don't over look Southern Luv BBQ in Citrus Park, FL. The hospitality was great, the owner checked on every guest as the food is prepared by order. Totally blew me away with there 2 items for $20. Went with ribs and Jalapeño Sausage. My sides were Mac & Cheese and Coleslaw and it did not disappoint! Flavor 10 on the meats! The BBQ sauce they use on those ribs had a nice smoke taste. Mac & Cheese a 6, I like the cheese to be a little thicker, coleslaw 9. read more

Southern Luv - Ribs, Jalapeño Sausage, Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Awesome service. Super friendly staff were very helpful in selecting the right thing! Almost inhaled the Carolina chicken sandwich. So good. Get the extra sauce, because why not? Good beans, stellar ribs (came right off the bone). Will definitely get the Nachos and try the Cuban Sammie next trip. read more

Bri was so friendly, kind, and welcoming! She greeted us with a smile, worked hard behind the counter, and provided excellent customer service. She made our visit even better. Southern Luv is lucky to have her! read more

Amazing brisket and Mac and cheese! It is award winning for a reason! Ordered the HOT Texan. Not too much heat! Just perfect read more

Southern Luv - Hot Texan! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

It's a tiny restaurant sandwiched in strip malls in Citrus Park. It's easy to drive right past if you aren't paying attention. But if you do? You'll be missing out. The service is amazing. A friendly, kind man runs this place and he's working his tail off to make delicious barbecue while making sure you're taken care of. All the food is made from scratch and it smells SO good. The smoked meats were delicious and the bread on the sandwiches is fresh. I had the Alabama Slamma and the sauce is amazing, the perfect level of sweet without that overpowering sugar taste so many sauces have. Even the BBQ potato chips are house made. I'm glad they're near my office because I'll definitely be back. read more

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Food was Amazing Bri and Kelly was Amazing !!! Will be back this weekend! Very clean and service was excellent!!

Great spot for casual meals. Food was satisfying and the ambiance was calm and enjoyable.

Essi is back with a phenomenal new BBQ spot. I told him my only complaint is that the prices are way too low. This is some the best BBQ you're going to find in Florida. My favorite item of the day was the $3 cornbread, easily 10/10. It is drenched in honey and tastes so good. It definitely reminds me of being back in Indiana. The $12 Hot Texan (brisket sandwich) was my 2nd favorite, and also 10/10 for flavor. The brisket is soft, moist, not chewy, and goes so well with all of the other toppings. The $8.50 Carolina (pulled pork sandwich) is amazing. Once again the pulled pork is soft, moist, and right on point. Up next the $5.99 sweet heat beef jerkey tasted great. It's way better than the original flavor (don't order). The $7.99 meat sticks were basically Slim Jim's. And lastly, the $3 BBQ Beans were excellent. I spent $50 here for lunch and I ate all of it. The food here is really good. And as always Essi is friendly and always attentive to your needs. Unless you're going to fly to Texas and go to Terry Black's then this is your best bet for BBQ. read more

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Second review I'm leaving on this place cause it's fire. Food is amazing but the service is even better. My homeboy ain't bring his money with him and the owner said don't worry about it and said just pay the next time he sees him. 10/10 recommend everytime read more

I don't get the hype for this place unfortunately. We stopped by on a rainy Saturday and there were only 2 people on staff. A cook and then a girl at the register. The wait was long and they were clearly short staffed. The girl at the register was very nice though. The food was a little below average. The brisket was the best. Very tender. The chicken wasn't as tender as other bbq I've tried and a bit dry. The potato salad and bbq beans were not good. The beans were so sugary I barely could eat more than 1 bite. The potato salad was a bit sour in my opinion. Overpriced and below average food. I had high hopes for this place. Too bad. Unfortunately I won't be coming back. read more

Very friendly and helpful staff / owner here. Just after hurricane Milton, they were open as soon as they had power, and were giving away free pulled pork sandwiches and mac/cheese. It was good. Stopped in again, to try the Brisket sandwich. It was good... as was the potato salad. But a sandwich, drink and side was like $23. So not a inexpensive lunch, lol. The Bowls look like a good deal though... will try that next time. read more

Southern Luv - Texas Heat Brisket sandwich and tater salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This cute hole in the wall BBQ joint is slap yo mama good. My husband and I have been looking for a good bbq place and Southern Luv exceeded my expectations. The nachos were so good, all the different layers of pulled pork, chips, homemade cheese sauce and then baked, topped off with tomatoes onions and jalapeños for a fresh touch just made my mouth water. The baked beans were amazing, sweet and savory. My husband got the 3 meat with smoked ham, pulled pork, and jalapeño cheddar sausage. I got to try it and it was just amazing. My kid got the double bacon cheeseburger with their homemade cheese sauce and she killed it. The side of mac was a flavor bomb. We definitely will be back as to us it was worth the 30 minutes from Spring Hill. You should come and check it out. The owner is the nicest guy and even gave me a hug! So so good you will not be disappointed! read more

Have been here (and loved it), many times. Came back today cuz we needed to try their burger. Excellent choice. Might be the best I've ever had. Don't be afraid to get messy, impossible not to. The bun is like a cloud, and the toppings add to the experience. I got their coleslaw as a side and the hubs got potato salad. Everything is so fresh and delicious. Oh, almost forgot! They now have freshly made peanut and chocolate dipped ice cream cones, kind of like an old fashioned Nutty Buddy or Drumstick. The perfect end to a great meal! read more

So worth it!! The owner is committed and invested in quality and consistency. Great people who have a passion for what they serve and who they serve you. We'll be regulars!! read more

I don't know how to say this except to be blunt. This BBQ is not good. The service is friendly so it's hard to say that about friendly people but ultimately the food has to taste great, especially BBQ. I didn't enjoy the texture or the flavor of the meat. There was no bark at all. The place does not smell like BBQ so I don't know where they are cooking this food but it's not here with smoke that's for sure. The menu tries to be too fancy. I don't want all these sauces or toppings. I just want good meat when I'm craving BBQ. I'm not coming here again but I wish them luck. read more

I would give this 6 starts if possible! There was a little bit of a wait on our food but it was absolutely worth it. The Chef checked in on us multiple times and even gave us free drinks for the wait. I would return to this place based off of his professionalism and how much pride he takes in his food alone. We got the 3 meat platter with the nachos. Everything was perfect! Everything is made in house with no additives or preservatives, and you can definitely tell. This will be my go to BBQ spot going forward. read more

Staff was very nice and place is spotless. Food is at best so-so. Meat tasted like it was cooked days ago and without sauce is very very dry. Not sure where they smoke it as there is not a whiff of smoke or bbq inside or out. Mac and cheese while tasty clearly had just come out of microwave. Could even hear the beep since I was only customer. No fountain drinks but have the machine? No more tater tots but just overly suite bbq chips. All in all, it looks like they are trying and staff was excellent but need to up their game! read more

Southern Luv - Pork plate with Mac and cheese, chips - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We are visiting from out of state and decided to try this place! It did not disappoint. We were both very happy with our food. I ordered the Cuban sandwich which was awesome! It was such a great combination of meat and cheese with the pickle and mustard all wrapped into an amazing tasty sandwich! This sandwich won the award 2025 for best non-traditional Cuban sandwich! The bread is delivered fresh daily! read more

Southern Luv - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Brisket was fire, probably the best bbq around. Mac n cheese was really good too. I was immediately greeted by the chef and he was super nice, honestly would come back because service was so good and the place was pretty clean. read more

Wish we had a place this good in Seffner! We'll visit again when we're in the area. Service was great too.

Stopped by as my brother suggested to try it out and it was fantastic. I got the 3 meats plate and it was soo good. Everything had great texture and taste. I love BBQ and this is a top spot for me. When in in the area aguin I will stop by. read more

Southern Luv - 3 Meats Plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Great food. Service was also great. Sided were awesome. All meat was moist and tender. Definitely recommend.

The food at Southern Luv is consistently excellent! The Mac N Cheese is next level, and the Cuban is definitely the best I've ever had. The employees are always super sweet and personable, and the owner is one of the most genuinely kind people you could hope to meet. When we left the restaurant my daughter said "He made my day happier"!.... leaving with kids who are full and happy?! Definitely a win! read more

First and won't be last time. My first ever dining experiences was on their 20th anniversary. I had the Alabama slamma sandwich with bbq beans- THE BEST PULLED PORK AND BBQ BEANS I have ever had. I love food and bbq, and to hear they have been is business for 20 yrs and it's the first time I've tried them- it just makes me sad but glad that I know now and I will be a frequent visitor. read more

Amazing, just amazing food. I almost don't want to leave the review to keep the secret from getting out. Try the Carolina sandwich with brisket. And if you like tater tots , please order the "thotchos". 5 out of 5 for me, finally some good bbq on this side of town. read more

Amazing food & amazing owner/employees. My finance and I have been here twice now and we LOVE it here. They've also added some ice cream and deserts we cannot wait to try when we come back. read more

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Ordered a delicious Texas brisket sandwich and got a free hotdog. Everything was amazing. The hotdog was made in-house. Perfection.

The food was ok but there are better BBQ places around Tampa. They are also pricey for what you get. $40.00 for a slab of ribs without any sides is ridiculous. read more

This is my second time eating there. The food is excellent. I'm eating a barbecue brisket sandwich now. I'm not even halfway through and I'm doing a review. read more

Southern Luv - Brisket sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Southern Luv is a MUST TRY bbq joint in the Westchase/Citrus Park area! The food is spectacular- extremely fresh and authentic and made with love. Chef Essi is extremely kind, personable, and truly cares about serving the highest quality food to his customers. Couldn't recommend Southern Luv BBQ enough if you're looking for a new and fresh restaurant destination. read more

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The food was amazing. Everything was so fresh and tasty. The Mac and Cheese was stunning. This place is my new go to for BBQ. read more

Southern Luv - Smoked wings and Mac n Cheese. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida