Food (I had brisket) was delicious and service was quick and friendly. Streetside parking was easy. I'd go back here again.

Wow, what a find! I stopped her randomly as I was cruising the Blue Ridge parkway, looking at the leaves, mountains and everything in-between. I got hungry and decided to head to the closet town to me, and happened upon this place after getting some gas and snacks at a gas station heading into town. My girlfriend is not from North Carolina, so I wanted to give her some NC BBQ experience, and this place DID not disappoint, in fact, they inspired me to smoke my own baked potatoes at home, who knew the smoker could make a mean baked potato? Well, these guys (and gals) apparently. The inside is a typical NC BBQ joint - old cigarette advertisements, as well as Pepsi, metallic sculptures, folk art and the like. We both got sandwiches, as it was just lunch and we had a nice dinner at home planned, so I got the brisket sandwich, and she got the pulled pork, both were good, but we both really enjoyed the brisket. The sauces on offer were also great, I tried them all, as a few were to spicy for her, but none the less, they all had great flavor and depth, and even the spicy ones had different elements other than "heat". The star of the show was the "Smoked mashed potatoes" they potatoes on the smoker and smoke them for a few hours and then turn them into mash with butter, some cream and garlic and onion power, topped with cheese these mashed potatoes changed my world. As I said at the start of this review, I will be copying this idea at home, very shamelessly. I am glad I spotted them, and even happier that our lovely waitress told me they were life changing. read more

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Growing up near Lexington NC, I am used to BBQ being a quick, affordable, and tasty meal option. When we made a trip to Galax for the High Country Lights, I of course turned to Yelp to find dinner and was confident that a modestly reviewed BBQ joint would be a good quick meal. And boy howdy, was I wrong. Right from the front door, The Galax Smokehouse makes a bad impression. The level of smoke inside is a visible cloud you'd expect in a billiards hall three decades ago. I'm not sure how such poor ventilation has not led to health code violations, but I spent the entirety of our visit with a burning nose and throat, and the children with me coughing. I believe their interpretation of "Smokehouse" is different from that of the general public. The place was not especially busy, with quite a few open tables when we arrived. I noticed pretty quickly there were lots of staff members briskly running around, and yet they didn't seem to accomplish anything productive. Almost all of the staff members had AirPods in, fumbled and dropped objects like it was their first day, and were surprisingly inattentive to patrons. Our waitress spoke - no, yelled - at us with such a volume that I can only assume the music in her ear was blasting. Service was abysmally slow. From arrival to drinks took 15 minutes, and from arrival to receiving our food took 58 minutes (I know this because I took a picture when we walked in the door, and a picture when my food arrived.) We were offered drink refills, once, when we were presented the check, an hour and 20 minutes into our visit. The kitchen staff were visible (also wearing AirPods), and moved at a glacial pace. To pass the time, I started timing intervals between orders leaving the kitchen, and it ranged from 4-6 minutes per order. Mind you, this is a menu consisting almost entirely of pre-cooked meats and sides being served out of warmers, so I can't fathom how it takes so long to serve then - especially considering the poor presentation. Hygiene for the kitchen was concerning, because on two different occasions I watched them drop utensils on the floor, pick them up, and continue using them. For over 30 minutes, I watched someone wear the same pair of gloves as they touched every surface and food offering in the kitchen, never changing gloves or washing hands. They also had no hair coverings, despite long hair and beards. As for the food - I have nothing good to say. We got the BBQ Nachos, which were a pile of Tostitos chips (I saw the bag they dumped from), some generic nacho sauce, and a scoop of pork. That's it. No attempt at presentation, not even a drizzle of sauce or a handful of onions to spruce it up. They were not good, and I would not order them again. The kids got the "Piglet Portions" which is a small serving of meat, a side item, a drink, and a dessert item. I will admit the hushpuppies were good, but that's all I've got to offer positive there. Both the pork and brisket (they got one of each) were dry and bland. The dessert was a cookie or banana pudding - We opted for cookies because my experience suggested banana pudding would take another 45 minutes to be scooped. I got the "Loaded Smokin Potato with Pork." It was a potato likely baked early that morning based on the taste and texture, with a pad of butter, a bit of cheese, and a scoop of that signature dry bland pork. It was not appetizing, but after an hour of waiting and now running late for the event we came to town for, I ate what I could to quench the hunger. I have not had such a resoundingly disappointing dining experience in a while. After the first 45 minutes of waiting for food, we discussed walking out. Had we not been hungry and crunched for time, it would have been our best option. read more

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The bbq is amazing, I've been here twice now. I had the ribs the first time and brisket n chicken the second time. This restaurant and the outstanding server, Anthony, is excellent. I can't wait for my next visit read more

Anthony is an awesome server, second time being here. The food is great, ribs are awesome.

Ribs good but sides weren't. Everything served on plastic with plastic forks. Definitely nothing special

I am a BBQ snob, Anthony's pulled pork was not too wet and not too dry. It was just right. Check him out if you are ever in the area, you will not be disappointed! Hank says so. read more

We loved the Galax Smokehouse! We were made to feel right at home. Food was wonderful.

What a pleasant surprise. After a very tedious day traveling to Virginia it was so nice to find a place with such well prepared food. The BBQ was excellent, service was great and prices were fair. Good stop if you're in the area. read more

The service was so good and attentive. Smoked mashed potatoes were amazing. Hush puppies were hot and fresh. Sauces were varied and yummy. Hours open were very reasonable as weary travelers passing through. We had a nice big group and we arrived at 8 pm and the staff in no way hurried us. Very friendly service. Wish the portions sizes were a little bigger but overall, it was a good local spot to try. read more

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Nice little small town feel. Excellent service, some of the best I've ever had. Food was great! Prices might look a little high but totally worth it! First time there and can't wait to go back! read more

My husband said worst ribs he's ever had! Ribs did not have much meat on them. Lots of fat and gristle! Potato salad was more like mashed potato. Cole slaw ok. Hush puppies were good. Hard to cut apart ribs with plastic knife! Brunswick stew was not the best I have had. Shame for using all disposable products for serving! read more

Great barbecue! Wonderful service. Fantastic atmosphere- love looking at all the old pictures.

Service was efficient and very friendly. Food was delicious. I would definitely come back if I'm in Galax again. The corn nuggets were fantastic. Then we tried them with the butter. So much better. Everything was outstanding. read more

We had a party of 4 and between us we tried the brisket, pulled pork BBQ, baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies, smoked mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. Both the brisket and pulled pork had no seasoning. The brisket was tough and the pulled pork had no flavor. Their homemade sauces is the only reason it was edible. All sides that were supposed to be warm were cold. The potatoes were tasteless, the Mac and cheese tasted like Stouffer's, and the baked beans had to come out of a can. The hush puppies and coleslaw were ok. The beer was warm and flat. We were all disappointed by the food, service was average. The service is the only reason this place isn't getting 1 star. The trophy on display inside the restaurant has to be fake. There's no way that meat has won any kind of award for the meat we were served. read more

Best Brunswick stew I've ever eaten. The building was an old drugstore in a past life which was very recognizable still. There was a BBQ festival/ contest going on when we were there. If you're traveling to or thru Galax is is a must stop for lunch or dinner. read more

The Galax Smokehouse - The original soda fountain! - Barbeque Near Me - Galax, Virginia

Delicious food, great atmosphere and friendly staff. What more could you ask for? Well, let me tell you. The location is picture perfect. Located basically in the heart of this wonderful small town. Don't let the size fool you though, there's lots going on. After a wonderful meal here, you can walk it off along the sidewalks taking in the other local businesses. The owners are such a delight. Very pleasant and enjoy small talk with the regulars and new customers alike. It's like going to a family meal only better. It's a must to see and experience. read more

Possibly the worst BBQ I've ever tried to eat. I ordered a two meat combo with Texas brisket and ribs. The brisket was poorly seasoned, no discernible smoke flavor and dry as a bone. I think it was several days old as it had a weird orangey-brown-grey color. The ribs were dry with very little smoke flavor. I really wanted to like this place as it had a kitschy vibe and very friendly servers. Only three other tables with people on a Friday night should have been a clue. Serving BBQ this bad in south central VA is a crime. The sides (hush puppies, potato salad and baked beans) were just ok. read more

Nice staff and a lovely place. I come from a place of understanding because brisket is very tricky to smoke, but this brisket was pretty undercooked. It had absolutely no bend or tenderness. Could have just been a bad day, I know brisket can be like that sometimes! I'd recommend them cook it a little Longer or maybe use foil when they wrap. I'll be back, but next time I'll try the pork. read more

The Galax Smokehouse - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Galax, Virginia

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The establishment was clean and had plenty of seating. The staff was friendly and inviting. We ordered the rack of ribs and the platter that had ribs, chicken, and smoked sausage. The ribs were cut up for you - which I prefer not to be cut as they lose their juiciness. Because they were pre-cut and then smoked they were dry. Certainly not the best ribs I've had and were quite disappointing. Maybe ask them not cut them?? The smoked sausage wasn't as flavorful as I had expected for smoked sausage. They were fatty and just not that good. The beans were good which had chunks of meat. If back in the area we probably wouldn't go back--not because of the environment or the friendliness, but because the food was not as good as we hoped for or expected for a bbq restaurant. They had a variety of sauces which was nice. We had to use a lot of it to enjoy the food. The sweet sauce was sweet with a little spiciness which we did enjoy. read more

Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. I had brisket and ribs with bbq beans, corn nuggets, hushpuppies and bread. Brisket and ribs were tender, and beans were good. A lady in our group got the slaw, and she said it was just okay, with too much liquid. Service was good. read more

This might be my new favorite barbecue place, which is somewhat unfortunate since it's about six hours away from where I live. What's most noteworthy is that they really won that distinction with the sides. The barbecue itself was plenty good, don't get me wrong, but I was so hungry when I arrived that it didn't last long enough for me to honestly say whether it's the best I've had. It probably doesn't beat what I had in Kansas, but it's at least comparable to the best I've had in Ohio, so it gets my approval there. The sides, though... I got the barbecue baked potato, which is basically a loaded baked potato, but loaded with barbecue. As well as the corn nuggets. Corn nuggets! Why aren't these more commonly available? I thought maybe it was because I'm from the north, but I'd never seen them in my visits to NC, and while I was eating an older couple arrived, and the man mentioned to his server that they wanted the corn nuggets because they were hard to find elsewhere. And yet I could have eaten dozens of them. Fundamentally it's kind of like deep-fried creamed corn, but it sure works well. Maybe deep frying + vegetables is just a good combination - deep-fried green beans were last year's discovery - but the Galax Smokehouse does their corn nuggets right. They also do their Brunswick Stew right. I'd never had this before (it is Southern), but I was seriously tempted to go back the next day to order it again. A stew with tomatoes, pork, lima beans, corn, and a couple other items, they suggest adding one of their barbecue sauces to it (the sweet and spicy I think?), and when you do it's divine. If I hadn't arrived in town by bicycle, I likely would have bought a bottle of the sauce just so I could try to re-create their Brunswick Stew at home. Service was also quite good. A friendly guy who'd been working there for something like 12 years. He said he'd been working there long enough that he didn't even smell the barbecue anymore... how unfortunate! As a newcomer, I could tell it was going to be delicious as soon as I stepped in the door. It's *definitely* worth the drive off of US-58 if you're driving through town. read more

I was in the area for a work trip, and was recommended to try this place. They were very welcoming and made you feel like family right when you walked through the door. Amazing BBQ and the banana pudding was far better than I've had at high end restaurants. Will be back each time I'm in the area! read more

To feed 14 people in a short amount of time is no easy feat. To satisfy them is even tougher. Galax Smokehouse did both! Even with a couple vegetarians in the group, everyone left satisfied. Of course the corn nuggets were a huge hit with everyone. Hush puppies were sweet and yummy. Green beans were tastier than I've ever had. Would go again - all the time! Service was great - restaurant was clean. Even bought some bbq sauce to take home. Everyone should go there! UPDATE- returned a year later with a new group of students and had another great experience. Sweet tea to start - great. Green beans were good again. One of our group got ribs and finished them quickly. Tried the banana pudding - with whipped cream on top - amazing. Highly recommend. read more

This place isn't TRUE BBQ!!! If you want TRUE BBQ you should go to North Carolina where TRUE BBQ is sold!!!! All that is here is overpriced pulled pork sandwiches and dinners with pulled pork on them!!! TRUE BBQ is smoked in a pit for 18 to 24hrs with a vinegar based sauce to flavor the meat. Also...does a restaurant REALLY need to be piping out loud 1950s & 60's Doo wop & beach music from a loud speaker in & outside of their establishment? read more

We're Galax locals, and the Smokehouse always hits the spot! Unpretentious, great people, and amazing food! Try the loaded smokin' potato with Mountain Sauce, you won't be disappointed! My son's favorite is the Brisket and Gravy, and my husband always goes for the boneless rib tips...and don't forget the cinnamon roll cake, it is a southern classic!!! read more

Superb barbeque in a small town soda-shop-made-pit stop. Great smoked meats (tender, smoky brisket and rich tender pork) and great sides (smoked mashed potatoes, where have you been all my life?) With a charming interior and great waitstaff, your quick and inexpensive road trip lunch is served. P.s. I neglected to try the banana pudding and I guess that was a mistake, so save room for dessert! read more

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I love Eastern North Carolina smoked pork bbq, as I was raised there. The Smokehouse bbq reminds me of that delicious home bbq taste, because they also use vinegar instead of sauce. I recommend the food, if you want bbq. read more

I've been to a heck of a lot of BBQ spots across the US. All the best over the last decade. My visit to Galax Smokehouse came in spring of 2013 as we were in town filming a fishing video at a nearby stream. In fact, we were there when news broke of the Boston Marathon bombing. Locals swore by Galax Smokehouse and if you are somehow cruising through Galax, it's a great place to try and brings much local flare. It's as far from a chain experience as you can get. If you've been to Dreamland in Alabama, Jim N Nick's any of the popular Memphis/KC BBQ spots, Galax is a notch down from them, but it's much, much better than places like Dickey's BBQ Pit. In fact, some of the sauces were so tasty I bought a box of them and brought them back to CA to share with friends. They continue to ask my when I'm driving through Galax so I can replenish their depleted stash. I can't speak for anything other than the pork and chicken, both of which were good. The pork came cooked with excellent taste as did the chicken and add the flavor of their local sauces to them and it's a sure winner. My friend is from Cadillac, Michigan and couldn't stop eating, as the BBQ here was the best he'd had, to date. Personally, he enjoyed the corn nuggets and Brunswick stew. Even if you've been to one of the Travel Channel's best BBQ spots, you won't be disappointed with the experience here. And, it blows away the platter of fast food spots available within minutes of the interstate. read more

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I have never been disappointed with the service or food here! The bbq is on point and they have various options for sauces. read more

This little gem was phenomenal! We ordered the family meal and got pulled pork and brisket. We added some chicken and mashed potatoes to the order; it comes with beans and cole slaw. Y'all - these beans were, hands down, the best beans we've ever eaten! The cole slaw was nice and creamy and the brisket melted like butter on the tongue. As an added bonus, we had the banana pudding...it was "slap yo momma" good! Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in or near Galax, Va. Thanks to the crew there for a great dining experience. Sincerely, The Damn Yankees from Long Island read more

Great sauces! A nice variety of meats (ribs and brisket for me). Friendly, attentive staff as well. Oh, and the sweet corn nuggets are awesome. read more

Good food. Come here every time I drive through Galax.The ribs, brisket and pulled pork are my favorites. read more

Tried the ribs they were flavorless and super tough, tried a burger another time it was like sawdust, then tried the chili dog it was literally cold. It's pretty hard to screw up a hotdog read more

I use Yelp and rely on it to take me to places I would miss otherwise. I would have NEVER had the opportunity to drive through the town of Galax, VA and therefore would have missed a wonderful meal at a great local family BBQ restaurant. Every bit of meat was wonderful, the side dishes decadent and, well, the banana pudding dessert could only be better if I made it myself. So when you're driving down interstate 77 through that part of VA take the detour into Galax and be prepared to leave happy and full. It's well worth the effort. read more

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Food Negs: BBQ nachos were soft like they had been sitting in the cheese for a while. They were ok..Coleslaw is runny/watery. Food Positives: BBQ sandwich is very tasty and not dry. Baked beans have pieces of pork in it and were delicious! The fried potatoes are a must if you go there. They do serve alcohol here and have beers in mason jars. They have dessert options and other beverages like a signature coffee drink. Overall, take time to look over their menu combinations it was good food the only real negatives was some customer service and watery Cole slaw and the sub par nachos. One waitress was super. The other younger one needed an attitude adjustment. Beware when you go here to pay with cash or they charge a card fee. Could be cleaner. read more

The Galax Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Galax, Virginia

Server was VERY friendly....Our Smoked Chicken was tough to pull off the bone and not cooked enough. The sauces were good as was the Brunswick Stew. Told server - he alerted the owner to check the chicken being served. She walked right by our table and told the server 'it's perfect''. The server came to our table to reiterate what we had overheard. She cashed us out and did not acknowledge our issue. Obviously will not go back. read more

This restaurant is closed. Yelp said it was open until 9 but it's clear looking in the window it looks like it has been closed for sometime. Info needs updating. read more

Stopped here while driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and it ended up being one of our most memorable meals yet! This little joint in Galax has a great atmosphere (super casual, you can roll in with hiking clothes no worries), great service (super friendly folks), great food and insanely cheap. We especially liked the rib tips, pulled pork, hush puppies, Cole slaw and beans.... so just about everything. Portion sizes were perfect for one hungry person, which is refreshing in comparison to the massive servings of many other BBQ joints. Can't say enough good things, come come come eat here or you'll regret it. One note is that as of June 5 they have no alcohol due to ABC issues but they said the issue would likely be resolved in the next few days. read more

The decor is reminiscent of the old pharmacy of yesteryear. The waitress was very polite and professional. The pricing is about average for this kind of restaurant. The food is good. My only bad thought is about a quarter of the sandwich was a big chunk of fat that simply was not something that I would not eat. They could use larger restrooms considering the volume of people they seem to serve. read more