Get the smoked wings with no sauce. Their rub is a fantastic Nashville hot rub, so sweet and savory with great skin. They had a lot of other great looking things on the menu, but I just kept it simple. Smoked chicken wings is a very underrated barbecue dish. Brisket and pulled pork usually receive all the height, but you can't go wrong with a good smoked wing. read more

This is the definition of elevated barbecue. There are a host of options downtown and I believe this restaurant is from the same folks that did Chivo and Stock and Barrel which are two of my faves here in town. We had been meaning to try Humble Hog as I'm a huge fan of smoked bologna so I was disappointed to find that is only served at lunch. Our server was attentive and super sweet. She made some solid recommendations and we took her up on them. We opted instead for a few small plates and my wife and I shared the brisket. We opened with lobster hush puppies and burnt ends. The burnt ends were terrific, well seasoned, wonderfully smoked and a fair portion size. The hush puppies lacked lobster but were still tasty and cooked made to order. From there we indulged in the chipotle smoke Mac and cheese, brisket and corn pone. The brisket was terrific and tender and well smoked, the Mac and cheese was SUPERB and definitely had a spicy little kick but the corn pone was awful. I understand that it's essentially cornbread pancakes but there was zero flavor and they were almost cold. I was looking forward to these because you don't see them on the menu many places abut they were not good. Cornbread served like this should be made to order and served hot and fresh. We finished with the banana pudding which was excellent and I think the finish the top with marshmallow fluff that they torch to give it a smoky taste. So when you head down to humble hog go at lunch and try the bologna, I bet it's amazing...and skip the corn pone. read more

The Humble Hog - Chipotle smoky Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

I want to say great things about Humble Hog. I just haven't tried the things I want on the menu because they aren't available or have changed since the menu was printed. The pulled pork was good but the cornpone replacement for the brioche bun was disappointing. On a high note, the sticky ribs and chipotle mac&cheese were both great. So there's that. read more

Back for a return visit and happy to report it was better than last time - food came out hot and to order, the staff was quick on service and nice, and the inside was clean. They worked with us to get the food timely before a show - always a plus in my book. Will be back. read more

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Something the note is they have separate lunch menu & dinner menus. I've seen other people talk about this place and I was looking forward to trying specific menu items. I got the sticky ribs and chipotle Mac and cheese! Both were delicious. My friend and I got there right at 12 and there was a crowd waiting to come in. One waitress was working in the entire place and she was doing well attending to everyone. 10/10 read more

The Humble Hog - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We had a reservation and were seated promptly. Checked out the menu before we booked and it looked good. Interior reminiscent of a modern BBQ joint. We ordered local beers as we were sitting right beside the draft list. Took a while to get them and we were sitting right by the bar. We ordered the lobster hush puppies to start. They didn't show up. We got our entrees and still no starter. I had the pulled pork on the corn pones (even though the menu said Brioche bun). The corn pones had no flavor so I just ended up eating the pork which required a lot of the table BBQ sauce to make it palatable. The chipotle sauce was delightful so try that! My husband had the brisket, which was mediocre. We finally got the hush puppies for dessert. They were hot and crunchy when they came out but the dipping sauce was blah and was there any lobster? I hate to leave a negative review but I would not return to this restaurant. They did readily admit they had staff shortages. read more

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Came here with the family for a late Father's Day lunch. Awesome location, super clean on the inside. Staff was great, we were seated right away and they promptly grabbed us high chairs for the little ones. Each table is adorned with 3 different types of BBQ sauce - mild, chipotle (my fave), and habanero. There was a lot we wanted to try, so we decided on "The Works" with a handful of sides to all split between us. All the meat was juicy, tender and cooked to perfection. My top picks had to be the fried pickles, pulled pork sliders, brisket, ribs, pit beans, and corn pone. I absolutely stuffed myself but didn't want to stop eating. Highly recommend! read more

I was on the hunt for BBQ on a Sunday on Knoxville. It was pretty tough as several BBQ joints are closed on a Sunday. That led me to The Humble Hog. First of all, be prepared to search for parking but I found a parking garage about a block away. I walked in and was greeted by a very friendly bartender who made a good bit of conversation with me. I appreciated that and he recommended the wings. I wish I had taken him up on the wings. More on that in a moment. I felt like pulled pork though so I went with the sandwich and Chipotle mac and cheese. The pulled pork was tender, seasoned well, and went well with all the sauces. I never had Chipotle mac and cheese as it was a little spicy but oh so creamy and cheesy! There are 4 sauces - 3 on the table that are tomato base (mild, Chipotle, and Habanero) and the Alabama white you have to request. The Alabama White was my favorite as it was very black peppery. And that is why I should have taken the bartender up on the wings because that sauce with the wings would have been amazing. The other 3 sauces were thick and rich. My sweet tea was refreshingly sweet! Very good BBQ overall though it is limited and pricey and worth a visit to downtown Knoxville. read more

The Humble Hog - Pulled pork sandwich and Chipotle mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Really great food. Love the ambience and the location. Almost the entire menu is gluten free and it was so amazing, even my husband who doesn't eat gluten free loved it all. The Mac n cheese was the best I've ever had. The Brussels are glorious and the fried pickles are the best ever. Truly great food. read more

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Was not able to really try their food since they don't start serving dinner till 4 pm

Strong smell of a dirty dishwasher when you walk in, and our seats were dirty. The chicken livers were very overcooked. The rest of our food was fine. Our server was great. read more

After exploring downtown Knoxville we needed some food to recharge and chose The Humble Hog for lunch. We ordered: the ribs, delicious flavor but small portion, the special chicken wings, lively toppings and flavor profile. The salad was light and refreshing with the most amazing vinaigrette, the hush puppies were extra hot (temperature) and perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The Reuben and Pulled Pork sandwich - the pulled pork was good (I'd give it a 3) but the Reuben was the star. The banana pudding was also yummy but lacked a crunch of a cookie!! The staff were helpful and knowledgeable, super positive! Plenty of seats available and no wait to be seated. read more

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Food and staff were amazing! Our server went into detail on the menu and gave perfect recommendations. We will definitely be back! read more

The Humble Hog - Brisket with coleslaw, burnt ends, and lobster hush puppies - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Super nice place to grab a bite. We had burnt ends, and macaroni and cheese. The meet was tender and flavorful, the Mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy. I liked the quality of the cheese. The service was super friendly, and the atmosphere was fun. We had a great time and will be back! read more

The Humble Hog - Macaroni and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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For lunch, we had the sticky ribs, which were good, if a little dry/hard at the edges. They didn't need it, but to be honest, I couldn't tell the difference between the 3 barbeque sauces on the table apart from the labels. Maybe that's just me though. Fries were good; very seasoned, and served with ketchup on the side. Coleslaw was okay, obviously house made, mild, vinegar based with a subtle flavor that I couldn't identify. The Pork Burger Banh Mi sandwich was fairly simple as regards fillings, and on a brioche roll rather than the more traditional baguette, but it was tasty. A little on the spicy side, but not overwhelmingly so. The Banana pudding was above the more typical offerings, having banana bread in it as well as the usual fresh banana slices, custard and whipped cream topping. No vanilla wafers though. Service was pleasant and appropriate, and although extra napkins were provided, they lack finger bowls, dampened cloths or even packaged wipes for adequate clean-up after holding the sticky ribs. Also, no toothpicks. A BBQ place without toothpicks !? The only other "fly in the ointment" was my wine, which turned out to be $13 a glass (not shown on the (minimal) wine list). To add insult to injury, the wine wasn't very good and was only a 5 oz pour. We'll probably go back, but not in any hurry. read more

Met a friend someplace else down the road and realized I was so close to The Humble Hog I had to check it out since I was close. I've seen it come up on a lot of lists for places for gluten free folks to visit and I can see why now. They take their food safety seriously and there is no flour in their kitchen. The only things not safe are their regular buns, but a gf bun can easily be subbed. The service was amazing. I asked to clarify that everything was indeed gf and they were so kind and understood my concern. Food came out quickly and hot. I was not patient enough and bit into my fried pickle way too fast and burnt the heck out of my tongue - but that is 1000% on me. They just smelled so good and I couldn't resist. There were also some onion slices mixed in with the pickles à la a blooming onion and that was a nice addition. I also got the pork burger banh mi. It was delicious. Everything was. Thrilled with the whole experience but worried for my budget now that I know it's there. read more

Food was amazing tried the ribs, lobster fries, chicken nuggets, all were super good. Service was also great would 100% come again if in Knoxville! read more

I came across the review for the humble hog online and we made a stop and try some of the unique menu items. Did not disappoint. The staff was very friendly. They had a full bar and the food was amazing. Everything we had was perfect! located on the unique Gay Street. It was just a short walk to more stores, bars and restaurants. Super glad we stopped in here. Definitely will be going back to try the sticky ribs and the Reuben. Great experience! read more

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Nice atmosphere. Our waitress was polite. First order: Half chicken with house pickles and coleslaw. The chicken was moist and easy to pull off the bone. The skin was soft, rubbery, and inedible. As a result, the skin was removed leaving the chicken bland since all the seasoning was rubbed on the skin. Need to add sodium to the rub and place it between the protein and the skin. No mouthwatering experience with the barbecue sauces, needs acidity. The coleslaw dressing tasted like watered down mustard. The house pickles are soft (mush) and not pleasant. Second order: pulled pork on a brioche bun with house pickles and fries. Fries needed sodium. The pulled pork was fatty. There was no brioche bun; however, it came with two flat pancakes that lacked flavor, dense, and chewy. There is no drink menu for local served beers. Menu needs to be descriptive: (example 'pit beans', barbecue beans, pork, brisket). Overall, not a good dining experience where the food is concerned. read more

Humble hog has great food. Their dry rub is fantastic. Smoked wings are perfectly done. Burnt ends were delicious & they did the sides right too, which is normally lacking in most bbq places. So much flavor. Also, the banana pudding is something special! They use some sort of spice cake, which really levels up this dessert. The service is excellent, food comes out extremely fast! The owner is such a nice, down to earth guy, who really seems to love what he does. Highly recommend! read more

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Nice place. I visited here twice during my week-long visit to Knoxville. I tried Bahn-Mi for lunch and brisket + kimchi Brussels sprout + banana pudding for dinner. Servers were kind, and helped me with choosing the right menu. I highly recommend this place. read more

The contrast of the grits with the bahn mi meat was perfect. And the additional greens and pickled egg...exciting flavors. read more

The Humble Hog - Bahn mi meat over grits with greens and a pickled egg. Such a wonderful blend of flavors. - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Stopped back again, 2 more times, and The Humble Hog was awesome yet again!! Tried the Mussels and Sausage and absolutely loved the flavors. But the best of the best, and it is only available at lunch!! The Smoked Bologna sandwich!! If you enjoy a great fried bologna sandwich, try this behemoth topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato!! read more

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The service was mediocre but the reason we will not be returning is the food isn't very good. I didn't know you could make bad BBQ but I realize now that I am wrong. SweetP's is in the same area and serves far superior food. read more

Overpriced. 2 Cu-cumberland cocktail and fried pickles $50. I found only 5 pieces of cucumber pickles, others were mostly red peppers and cauliflowers. read more

The Humble Hog - Fried "pickles"(!) & ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Super cool place! Food is inexpensive and top notch, keeps me coming back. Service was also terrific, with the sweetest waitress one can meet. read more

My family and I had half rack of spare ribs, rib tips, brisket, ad the lobster fries. The main entree does not come with any traditional sides, so you will have to add these separately. The food quality is good and the menu is very simple. The spare ribs and rib tips were tender, with a dry rub, and well seasoned with some spicy cayenne heat like flavor. The brisket was extremely tender and maybe the best I ever tasted. They make there own BBQ sauce both sweet spicy and sweet mild. The prices are what you would expect for the city, overly expensive, but we spent about $100 before the gratuity was added. The service was fast once we placed our order, but it took a while to be seated because the front of the house is fairly small. As you might expect there is going to be a wait list if you don't have reservations. It took us 30 mins to get seated. We went during Father's day and the place was moderately packed with no line at the door. I would recommend giving it a visit if you're into BBQ, but the sides and dessert menu are not as satisfying as the main courses. read more

There are several local BBQ places in Knoxville. This one is the best hands down. The menu is simple with classic offerings plus a few signature dishes. They are all delicious. They make their own pickled vegetables and they are fantastic. Highly recommend the fried pickle starter. It's pickled cucumbers, peppers, cauliflower, and onions. Not overly breaded. Just fantastic. The green bean starter is also smashing. Their pulled pork and brisket are both great. The phat grits are also delicious. The real home run is the beef rib which is massive and delicious. The side dishes are also great. The kimchi brussel sprouts are savory, spicy, and awesome. The Mac and cheese is also smashing. I could go on about how good the food is. The staff is always friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly and is reasonably priced. The atmosphere of the restaurant is like many of the downtown restaurants. Plenty of seating in a long dining room. The window tables offer some pretty solid people watching. The bar menu looked pretty robust though we don't drink so take that with a grain of salt. There are NA beer offerings which is nice. All around great spot. We've found our go-to bbq spot and look forward to our next visit. read more

Many missteps on this occasion, starting with the pompous host on arrival. Had made an early reservation (5:15) and had requested a table in the front of the restaurant by the window. When we arrived, I inquired and was told that these were ALL reserved for larger parties (2 of these tables had place settings for only 2) We have dined here on two previous occasions with mostly very positive experiences. However, after being sat at a tiny table in the back right next to the restroom, things got worse. The Burt Ends, which on the 2 previous meals were outstanding, were extremely dry and tough. We ordered a Full Slab of Ribs which were also on the slightly overcooked and dry side. But the worst thing of all was the Corn Pone...what we were served were 4 bone dry AND cold and stale tasting Pancakes. We informed the server who said "I'll let the kitchen know" Meanwhile. As our dishes were hanging off the edge of our tiny table, the server came back and I said that we were done with this dry cold pancakes and please clear them to give us some more room (98% of them remained on the plate). When the bill came ($85 with no alcohol), the Corn Pone was still on the Bill. Outrageous that this was not removed from the bill at the very least! Needless to say, this will be our last visit here. Such a shame as we were hoping this would be a new go to BBQ spot for us... read more

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I came for a quick bite to eat and got the burnt ends. First time trying burnt ends and they were tasty! Good size for appetizer or meal. Service was great and multiple people checked on me. Large bar! Can't wait to try more. read more

The Humble Hog - Burnt Ends - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Food was amazing. Staff were beyond friendly and knowledgeable about menu. Vibes were immaculate. Came during game night and there was plenty of seating. From photos I've seen it looks like they don't have much seating at all but that definitely wasn't the case. The sticky ribs, hush puppies, and grits were all ordered and everything was amazing. Oh and the banana pudding was sooooo good and the reason why a photo was not taken. Old fashion was yum too. Came with my sister with celiac disease and she felt very comfortable eating here given that only one item ( a specific bun) was not celiac friendly and again the staff were very knowledgeable. Would recommend if in the area. Parked at the promenade garage and it was super close** read more

The Humble Hog - Grits. - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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I finally got to go to Humble Hog after following it since it opened. Traveling back and forth between two states made it difficult to get here, but it was worth the wait. The restaurant gives you that old TN vibe but the food makes you think of think of flavor technique from a big city. My party and I were treated by a friendly waiter who explained the menu with knowledge. I ordered the Pork burger Banh Mi and was surprised at how flavored the burger was. The fresh hand cut veggies with the soft briocheI made the burger taste like a real Banh Mi. I had accompanied the burger with kimchee Brussel sprouts that were more sweet than spiced, but worked well with the pork. I ordered the chicken livers and I could not believe how smooth and crispy they were. I could tell that the chef knew how to cook organ meat by the delicate texture of the livers. They served it with a ranch and a chipotle sauce. I preferred the ranch, but the chipotle was tasty. My friend had the pulled pork and he said it was delicious and cooked proper with warm flavoring. My special surprise was the chicken wings that they comped us because of a misfire. They were actually the best part of the meal and one of the reasons I am coming back for dinner. The first part of the bite met with the gentle crack of the sweet savory glaze that made way for the smoky flavor that hit the roof of my mouth to only finish the bite with the warm juices of cooked meat. I had to save some wings for my wife and because of that she is demanding that I take her to the Hh for dinner. What took her over the edge was the banana pudding I brought home. So smooth and satisfying with layers of gluten free banana bread snuggled inside. It was covered with marshmallow made from scratch and scorched on the top. One of the best puddings I have had. My only sadness was that the Pudding is so good it took the sweet potato cake with Vietnamese Coffee sauce. Though I didn't get any cocktails they had a menu that my wife and I will definitely try when we go for dinner, the seasonal drinks are on the top of our list. Before I left the waiter gave me a mysterious red envelope that said The humble Hog $10,000 Holiday give away.It says you cant open it until you come back. This built such excitement because it reminded me of the Chinese new year tradition of the red envelope. I'll post what we got and another review of the dinner menu. 2025 is going to be so good at the Hh! read more

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Let me start by saying I'm a Texas native, so my expectations for BBQ are already pretty high. Which is why my wife and I have been trying for years to find a great BBQ place in Knoxville, but haven't found anything worth writing home about...until now. The Humble Hog is not just your run of the mill Tennessee BBQ joint. What kind of BBQ place serves Lobster Fries, Kimchi Brussels Sprouts, and a Pork Burger Bahn Mi? I don't know, but we need more places like this in Knoxville. Places that take risks and aren't afraid to push the boundaries of familiar food. Don't get me wrong; the pulled pork sandwich, sticky ribs, and brisket were all great, so they're still nailing the basics. But what makes HH stand out is the creativity that can be found all over their menu. Especially the menu items you've never heard of before. Which brings me to the desserts. I know this a strong statement in the South, but the best Banana Pudding I've. EVER. Had. Is at the Humble Hog. I won't bother trying to describe it to you, because you've just gotta experience it, but I will say there's banana bread in it, which is just brilliant. My wife and I recently tried their Carrot Cake Ice Cream Sandwich with pineapple caramel, and we went back two days later to order it again. Oh, and did I mention this was all gluten-free? HH is still a fairly new restaurant in town, and I'm not saying that everything on their menu is going to blow your socks off. But they're doing things that few restaurants even dare to do around here, and that alone should be supported. Give them a try today! read more

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Immediately upon arrival we were greeted and allowed to choose our table. The atmosphere was charming. Both my husband and I ordered the pulled pork sandwich we also ordered the fries and the coleslaw. The fries were seasoned with a smoky bbq salt and the slaw was dressed in a vinegar dressing. Each sandwich had an ample serving of pulled pork which was very delicious and moist. The Humble Hog offers 3 bbq sauces which are made in house. My favorite was the habanero, hot but not too hot. We will definitely come back next time we are in town. read more

I'd give the concept a solid 5 stars, and really hope this place makes it. Yes, it's a "barbecue" place, but I think even vegetarians could find a decent meal here. And definitely you don't need to have a hankering for a big slab of meat to enjoy it. We loved the small plates, and our meal consisted of several of those, including burnt ends, lobster hush puppies, brussel sprouts with kimchi, Mac&cheese, and one or two I forgot! Also the sweet potato cake. Oddly, my wife who loves sweet potatoes didn't like it, whereas I generally don't like them (or sweet potato fries, etc.) loved it-- the cake, the coffee cream sauce, and all. There were many other dishes I'd have loved to try and hope to get the chance next time. Some of the dishes were better in name than in taste. The lobster hush puppies were delicious, but they were basically just good hush puppies to our taste-- no pieces of lobster, no real taste of it that we noticed. The brussel sprouts were good but NOT ENOUGH of the kimchi mixed in or the taste. Lastly, the burnt ends were OK but a bit dry, it seemed (admittedly however, I am a BBQ snob of the worst sort. I rarely will eat BBQ around Knoxville). Good selection of local beers; waitress said they hope to have alcohol license soon to offer cocktails, which would be a big step. PLease remember 4 stars means a very good place...so don't berate me for not giving that final star. read more

The Humble Hog - Fried pickles/veggies, burnt ends, Mac/cheese and brussel sprouts. MMM. - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Laid back vibe with great food and friendly service. Save room for the banana pudding!

Was really looking forward to this meal, that didn't last long! Decent, casual atmosphere but I despise sitting in front of the toilet, (MOOD KILLER) you could literally see, hear & God forbid smell it from our table. No establishment should have seating that close! Firm believer in attention to detail, granted this isn't a high-end place but cocktails should be served with the proper garnish, how hard is a lime? The food was lukewarm, overcooked, tough & sent back. Second round was an improvement. I was told the 1 item i wanted was sold out but as we were about to leave a party was seated beside us, lo and behold....they served them my "sold out" item!! Not good value, overall better experience at Buddy's BBQ. read more

The smoked lobster hushpuppies were very overcooked, hard, dry, and devoid of lobster, smoke, or flavor. The remoulade was very spicy -- too spicy for me. I ordered the pulled pork on a brioche bun and asked for the slaw on the side. It arrived on the sandwich. The moment I picked up said sandwich, oil poured over my hands. Yet somehow, the pork was dry and flavorless. The slaw was bland, too. I could not take more than two bites in the sandwich form -- the grease was -- well, it was a lot; I used up all my paper napkins trying to sop up the oil. So I took the [obviously high quality] top bun off and tried to eat the pork with a fork. The barbecue sauce was tasty, but it just couldn't make up for the flavorless, greasy meat. Husband got the brisket and enjoyed it, but the beans were very dry & gummy, and the turnip greens, he said, were bland like my sandwich. My Diet Coke was flat. Service was OK. I'm so disappointed, and that was an expensive meal to be so very below standard. Husband asked if we should try again in six months. I guess? I'm not really looking forward to it. OH -- one last thing. For some reason, when the restaurant ran the debit card, they neglected to take out the tip for the waitress. Husband went back to the restaurant several days later, found the same server, and handed her the tip in cash. read more

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Stopped by for lunch passing thru the NC. The pulled pork sandwich was the bomb. I rarely enjoy pulled pork because dry but this was juicy and tender. Husband lived the chicken livers. Greens were meh. Server was friendly. read more

Oh my! Where to start?! First of all, I really want to move into this place. Love the brick and the ambiance is relaxed and comfortable. The bahn mi sandwich is amazing. The sticky ribs are so tender. I went with my husband and I don't even know what he had ..I was just focused on this plate of loveliness. Weait staff are helpful and quick. read more