We ordered our Thanksgiving dinner from Tin Star and we're thrilled with our food. The turkey was moist and lightly smoked, but was not overpowering or overly salty. The green bean casserole was made with fresh green beans that had a nice snap. The dressing was a cornbread dressing that was lightly sweet. The cranberry sauce has a bit of a jalapeno kick and paired nicely with the other food. The gravy was perfectly seasoned and was not overly salty. We had five people for dinner and have more than half the food leftover. read more

Only giving 4 out of 5 cause the portion sizes are tiny, especially for trying to feed 2 people. Got the 2 meat plate w/2 sides & the sides VERY small. The Mac & cheese is to DIE for though and the rest of the food is SO well cooked, will be coming back again for the mac & cheese. But the price is high for the sizes you get, disappointed with that. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - 2 Meat Plate w/2 sides - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

The owner is a really nice guy. I've been multiple times and tried most everything. Rib tips excellent, three meat combo all really good, last I got a rack a baby backs amazing so meaty and delicious. Would recommend trying if you've never been read more

Always start by saying something nice, right? Well, the lemonade is great. Full disclosure: I'm a Texas boy and BBQ snob. I have very rarely been happy with CO BBQ. I have often been disappointed. Today was the most disappointed I have ever been. The menu sounds good. The presentation is perfect. The meat is truly terrible. Gray, dry, and devoid of flavor. The pulled pork and the brisket are indistinguishable. There's some kind of dry rub sprinkled on top that does nothing to help. I ate most of the cole slaw. The weird, green chili beans and the destroyed meat went into the trash. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - Great presentation. Truly horrible food. - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

Rib Tips are similar to Burnt Ends. In my experience they come in fatty or dry. This wasn't a choice here with their Rib Tips. So it was dry. Saving grace was their cute sweet potatoes. It was in the form of little balls all fried and crunchy outside but it retained the sweetness and softness inside. The Hush Puppies were unfortunately dry as well. One little thing about Tin Can is they don't saturate their BBQ with sauces. So because of this I am going back to try their other dishes. The place is sparsely decorated and just have the basic. I like that. Located in what looks like a sketchy part of town. Although cops seem to like this place and stop there frequently. Bonus! Lovingly managed by the proud owner and son combo. Attentive service and quick with suggestions. read more

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Had wanted to try this place for a long time. Worth the stop! We popped in and got The Cluck and The Big Tex. The sweet potato tots are really tasty. Great slaw and pickles. BBQ we will be back for. No pictures because it was so good we ate everything. read more

Very disappointing visit today as I was expecting better based on the Yelp rating. I ordered the 3 rib/1 meet combo with brisket, potato salad and fresh chips as the sides. The good news is that the chips were fresh and very good and the potato salad was good. The brisket didn't look or taste smoked - it seemed like the always unwanted crock pot barbecue that some places try to pass off as the real thing. That said, the brisket was okay, although they did sprinkle some seasoning on it after putting it on the plate. That's kind of strange. Worst was the ribs - so tough that i could barely pull them apart. They didn't taste terrible, and if they weren't so poorly cooked they may have even been good, but as they were, awful. I won't be going back. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

Best brisket sandwich in the US. (Sorry North Carolina--you don't even come close). First time in years that I've been back and so glad I did. read more

This place is absolutely amazing!!! By far the best BBQ around. Not only the best food but the service is amazing with only 2 dudes there. Maybe some of the other restaurants in and around town can come here and learn some hospitality! Anyone that didn't like the food just don't like real BBQ. BBQ is supposed to have smoke flavor and Tin Star packs it in perfectly, AND that guy that said "fake smoke"... at you blind there are 2 smokers (smoking) in the parking lot!!! Cmon Man!!!!!! Do yourself a favor and eat here it's sooooo good!!!! read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

Service was friendly and the place was packed. No seating during then lunch hour mid week. The place was clean and service was slow but we weren't in a hurry. The onion rings were standard and hot, good overall. The sweet potato tots were round fried hush puppies. More batter than anything else. The beef tips plate was too big for one but they were very fatty. Not recommended. In general a good bbq place but I don't think we ordered the best dish. read more

Their Groupon was a great deal and staff was friendly! It's a nice budget friendly stop in Golden

3 St. Louis Ribs and Brisket and Hot Link plate. Double order of Green Chili Mac and Cheese. Texas Toast and pickles. $19. Used a $10 Groupon though. read more

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This BBQ Joint is the real deal. I've never had a bad meal there. The brisket is amazing, the hot links are fantastic, and the hush puppies are fried to perfection. The dining area is clean and the decorations (especially the unique Denver Broncos collection) are really cool. If you're in the mood for some great BBQ, head into Golden and help support your local restauranteur!! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Got the Big Tex Brisket Sandwich! Meat was moist and flavorful with excellent spicy or regular sauce. The slaw on top was juicy and tangy! Got the beans for a side which had a nice spicy green chili kick. I'll be back soon to try the other tasty options. Talked to the owner for a bit and had a nice conversation. Be patient when they are busy. Good help is hard to find these days. read more

One of my biggest issues with BBQ is when it isn't flavorful. Bland sides and tame sauces, insufficient spices and meat that doesn't wow, these are the things that keep me up at night. Tin Star Smokehouse took this problem beat the sh*t out of it and then covered it in they own special pepper sauce. Paul, the owner of Tin Star took time out of his day to talk to us about our experience, tell us about the local area and even gave us some sauce to take back home. It's this attention to service and style that makes this little smokehouse a 5 star establishment. I ordered the St. Louis ribs and of course they were fall of the bone good. I also ordered the Hot Link sandwich because it got great reviews and it also did not disappoint. All the meats and sauces had such an interesting blend of spice and flavor that I had to take time and drink between alternating bites so as not to miss anything. Another great suggestion is their speciality side, the green chili mac and cheese. This is another exams of attention to detail and flavor delivered. You can get all this with a little heat to it, which I did, or if you have a more temperate palate you can get the standard sauce and not lose anything in regards to flavor. Prices are a little higher than the BBQ chain establishments, but the quality and experience more than makes up for those extra dollars well spent. It's a small and cozy environment, but very clean and extremely welcoming. They also have some homemade desserts, but if you can finish your food and still have room for dessert, you're a healthier eater than I am. This was the Colorado experience I was hoping for and I'm so happy Paul and Tin Star Smokehouse made it happen. read more

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Great food, and kid friendly. We stopped in here for lunch and are glad we did. Tried the pulled pork sandwich and the brisket sandwich. Both are good. Our kids got burgers, all came with homemade pickles! The homemade chips and hush puppies are both good options for sides, as is the green chile Mac and cheese. They have a selection of bottled beers along with 2 local Golden brews on tap. read more

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Service was ok the lady behind the counter was kind of coarse but not in a way I could have lived with if the food was good I had the Big Tex - the meat was dry and tasted like it had been boiled in a crock pot not cooked in a smoker The coleslaw was very good BBQ sauces tasted more like ketchup than BBQ Sauce read more

I'm torn on giving Tin Star a 5 star rating on the first visit but if I could give a half star it is definitely 4 1/2 stars! The lunch special was rib tips, chipotle honey or dry. I went with the chipotle, really good flavor. I read earlier comments about the sides so I went with the hush puppies and green chili mac and cheese. I could just eat a big ol' bowl of that mac and cheese. Nice bite. The hush puppies were very fresh and the spicy sauce was perfect for dipping them in. I do want to come back and try some of the sandwiches, so I'll be back. Not sure what the seating limit is but it is quaint so if you have a group, go early. read more

We found this BBQ spot on Yelp and decided to try it out. As we walked in we were greeted with the delicious smell of smoking meat! We ordered a pulled pork sandwich, a beef brisket sandwich, and half a rack of dry rubbed ribs. Pulled pork was out of this world! Brisket was on the line of being too dry. Ribs didn't last a chance with my husband. Best he EVER had! Also got a slice of key lime pie to go. It was good. Nothing extraordinary. read more

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I truly hope we just caught Tin Star Smokehouse on a _really_ bad day, but our experience was disappointing. My partner stopped here for a late lunch. His ribs had an OK bark on one side - but the other side of the rib was mush - as if it had been sitting in water or over steam. The brisket was dry and flavorless. He liked the pulled pork because it had a nice, smoky flavor - and brought some home along with some smoked chicken. The pulled pork put into the carryout container bore absolutely no resemblance to what he had in the restaurant. It was dry, flavorless, and had only a hint of smoke flavor. The chicken, on the other hand, was super smoky but was so salty it was inedible and had the texture of a rubber band - it wasn't even chewable! We, admittedly, are a bit picky about our BBQ. However, I've had better pulled pork out of a crock pot, and I cannot believe that Tin Star actually packaged the chicken in that state - it was pulled, so SOMEONE in the kitchen knew just how awful the texture was. If you're not willing to serve it to customers in your restaurant, it sure as heck doesn't belong in a carryout order where you do not have an opportunity to "fix" a bad serving. Smoked meat should not have to be sauced to death to be edible. And there is no excuse for rubber chicken. Get your act together, Tin Star. You have potential. You are not living up to it. read more

Owner acts like he hates being there and is about as rude as they come. Food is average but they are nearby and sell BBQ so I go there. Nothing special though. read more

Came here with a co-worker for lunch a few weeks ago, first time. I got the two meat sandwich with chicken and sausage with a side of sweet potato hush puppies. No fries are served at this BBQ spot. My total for the sandwich, drink, and hush puppies was around $13. My co-worker and I ate at the restaurant, with my first bite I quickly discovered the meat in the sandwich was not warm at all. Nothing worse than biting into a cool sandwich.... borderline gross. The sandwiches are nothing more than a bunch of meat slapped in a bun, no cheese, tomatoes, or any frills. A cold meat sandwich without any fixings just really isn't my thing. Pro? The hush puppies were amazing. However for the price I have definitely had better Barbecue elsewhere. read more

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The food was excellent. My son and I both got the 3 rib and 1 meat meal. Our choice in meat was pulled pork and the two sides we got were bbq beans and mac and cheese. We both got drinks. This place would be a solid 5 star if it wasn't so expensive. After tax and 15% tip it was $51.55. I will repeat though, it was really good. From my experience it's hard to find BBQ in Colorado that is both good and affordable. I was spoiled in Florida. read more

Wasn't expecting much as we just happened by this place while getting our clothes washed at laundry next door. Ignore the strip mall look! Once u r inside u get treated to great BBQ and friendly service. Had the rib tips which I never heard of before. Bother the dry rub and sauces were awesome and the always important baked beans are legit - 4.5 stars which is typically as high as I go read more

Five stars for our hostess/server, four stars for the sides, and 3.5 stars for the smoked meats. The hostess was super friendly, attentive, and showed that she really enjoyed her job. We came with a group of 9 and before we even all got through the door she was combining tables. The hush puppies, sweet potato tots, and green chili mac n' cheese are all must have sides. The green chili mac has perfect heat with the rich and creamy cheese. The smoked meats were good, but nothing off the charts. I thought they were a bit over cooked, but others in our group thought that they were great. We'll definitely go back when we're in Golden again and you should too. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - 3-Meat platter, green chili Mac n cheese, sweet potato tots.. - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

This is the second time ordering food for a family gathering. Customer service was great and food was packaged well for travel. The food especially the Hot links were mouth watering. Thanks again Tinstar! read more

Pretty decent for Colorado BBQ. We each had the pig pile sandwich, pulled pork and coleslaw on a bun, I got hush puppies and he got the chile mac n cheese (which we shared). The sides were fantastic- the hush puppies a tad over cooked but a great size and the corn hash on the inside was delicious and sweet. The chile mac n cheese was the star- homemade, not overdone on the chile, but very flavorful. The only thing on the sandwich that wasn't homemade was the bun- pickles, slaw, and of course the BBQ sauce and the meat were all prepped in house. The pickles were awesome and you should ask for extra- sweet and tasting a little cucumbery still. The BBQ sauce was available in spicy and regular but the regular had better flavor-not much spice in the spicey one. The meat was a tad dry but with the BBQ sauce and the cole slaw it was delicious. The outside can be a little off-putting, as it's next to a 7-11 but the food makes it worth it for sure. read more

Just like all barbecue I've had in Colorado. It's overdone and well over dressed. They put Cajun seasoning on all things including the barbecue and slaw. The hush puppies looked delicious and properly cooked but when I bit into the hush puppy it looked a lot like corn pudding. I rate it a 2 star food experience based off the nicely done cucumber pickles and the Colorado Native beer by Coors. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

Don't bother! Showed up for an early supper and they had no ribs and no chicken. The sweet potato tots tasted like they were fried in old motor oil or at least frier oil that has not been changed in a long, long time lots of funny tastes in them. The pork was dry and the bark was bland. The brisket was also bland but at least it was moist. read more

Tried this outstanding BBQ place with family Groupon and loved it; have used it for Lunch and Learn presentations and will continue to support them for years to come due to their fabulous smoked meat flavors and fantastic side dishes read more

Disappointing. Ordered half-pound of brisket and got a box full of dry, chopped brisket. Who the hell chops their brisket?! People who aren't proud of their brisket, that's who. read more

Hidden Gem! When I learned how long the the wait for the Coors tour would be I said "hey, let's get some BBQ instead!" Great stuff, cool little place with nice folks and delicious BBQ. Check it out! You'll be glad you did! read more

I had the "big pile" bbq sandwich. It was a little on the dry side and came without barbecue sauce. Two choices of sauce were available: spicy and not spicy. Both were flavorful and the spicy had just a mild kick to it. I ordered the sweet potato fries as a side and they turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. They're the size of golf balls - crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. The only reasons I'm not giving 5 stars are 1. there was a large chunk of unpulled meat in the pile 2. the pile was only luke warm and 3. it seemed like it took a long time to get the food considering how few people were there. These are minor issues and would not stop me from returning. It's a cute and cozy restaurant and the service was great. read more

Tin Star Smokehouse - The Big Pile Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Golden, Colorado

Delicious! We were in Colorado for a week and had ribs from this place twice! Seasoning and bbq sauce spot in. Mac and cheese is the best but small side order. Person taking phone order was nice. read more

We were very dissatisfied with the service, as the owner blew up and called us impatient and rude for asking one question, so we asked for a refund before he had even started preparing our food, but he refused. So, we left having paid $20 each, with no food. Edit: he reversed my charge after the fact. Thank you for making this right. My review stands at 1 star though; I still feel the way he reacted to us was extremely poor customer service and unacceptable, regardless of whether we were right or wrong. read more

very good! served fast and delicious! The mac and cheese is so good!

Worth the visit. A small, hole in the wall place. Good home made food. The only "complaint" was our waitress was also the catering manager and was returning phone calls in the dining area. IMO those calls should have been returned in private. read more

This BBQ joint is AWESOME! Delicious pork, chicken, and beef brisket! Authentic BBQ flavor served up family style with delicious regular, spicy, and mustard BBQ sauces - all on the side. The homemade pickles are a great touch and add just the right amount of crunch to your sandwich. The slaw is a great compliment to the meat. Beans are a little spicy and are a combo of baked beans and black beans which is a nice different touch. Maybe the best for last - the Mac and cheese doesn't disappoint like most other BBQ places. It is well executed and created with care and a dose of green chili added for complexity. Absolutely delicious! Maybe the happiest part of the experience of customer service doled out by Anna, the front counter/server. She is absolutely amazing and makes you forget all the ills of the day! read more

Have been twice and both times the food has been below average. Smoked meats were dry and the chicken contained lots of tendons that needed to be pulled out. read more

The rub is extremely assertive, flavored with I think rosemary, among other herbs. Just WAY too over powering. The ribs were moist for the most part, but for me the rub rendered them inedible. They also had NO smoke. Mine isn't the only review to mention this. Dear owner: fix this, or people won't return. Your meat HAS to have good smoke. However...THE SIDES. On the day we popped in Mac-n-Cheese was on special so we tried it. Wowza, it was good---and I told the owner that directly. They need to put that side on the regular everyday menu. Hush puppies were yummy too. The cue sauces were just ok...need to finesse them a bit to have them be truly special. I want this place to succeed, I really do. There's potential here. But the owner needs to TRULY smoke his ribs and seriously ditch the rub. The latter is just BAD. read more