I've been here 3 or 4 times. The service is always good. I've had the pulled chicken a few times. It is moist and tender with the right amount of smoke. I've enjoyed the pies for dessert. Good size slices and yummy. This is a good place to stop for decent BBQ. read more

It's more than just a restaurant--it's a true family tradition. For over four generations, this has been a staple in my family, and it's easy to see why. Every visit delivers that perfect, smoky flavor that keeps you coming back for more. The barbecue is consistently outstanding, from the tender meats to the perfectly seasoned sides. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it feel like home every time you walk through the door. Couch's BBQ isn't just a meal--it's a cherished experience, and I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone looking for authentic, mouthwatering barbecue with a legacy that speaks for itself. read more

I love to stop by for fav cheeseburger; fries, hot slaw, a bottle coke, and best homemade chocolate pie! Always 10/10! Great customer service & friendly staff! read more

Service 5+++ Ambiance-exactly what you would expect from a good Southern restaurant that's been in business for 64yrs! Plenty of seating and windows. Clean restrooms. Wheelchair accessible. Ribs were tender and great. With sauce-not dry. Pork was shaved very thin-not pulled. A bit dry but sauce at the table to add your own. Chicken was good but nothing special as far as flavor-add sauce at table. All meats were tendee. Hot slaw is Hot! And vinegar based. As well as the regular slaw. Potato salad had a bit of sweet taste but enjoyed it. Okra was crisp! Rolls were ok. Chess pie was yummy. Pumpkin (cream cheese) pie had whipped cream on top and was good considering I don't really care for pumpkin pie. For all the food and extras plus the pies (and tip) it was 68.00. Plenty of parking read more

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We were looking for a lunch spot on our way to GA and found this on Yelp. It was 11:45 and there were already several cars in the parking area. Not to worry though because there were plenty of empty tables. We seated ourselves per the sign when we walked in. We opted to split the barbecue plate with 3 sides. (2 coleslaws and beans)We also ordered a cup of their Brunswick stew. The barbecue pork was interesting because it was shaved. It was very tasty with their Signature Sauce. (They have a sweet sauce and a hotter sauce on the table). The coleslaw was very good and not too much mayonnaise. The beans were also flavorful. We highly recommend this little gem. The inside is decorated nicely with old pics of the area. This place looks to be a favorite with the locals, too. As we were paying we saw the dessert carousel and couldn't resist ordering a lemon meringue pie slice to go! Oh man, was it delicious!! read more

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Me and my girlfriend went there because we'd just moved nearby and thought "hey let's give this place a shot" Well the food tasted and presented as though they'd bought deli meat from walmart, shaved it up and tossed it in a hot pan. You couldn't pay us to return. It's not BBQ, and it's certainly not good food. read more

The food is excellent. Great atmosphere. Desserts are amazing. The staff is very friendly. The place has a family feel. You won't be disappointed. read more

Vintage family diner facing Lee Highway -- open since 1946 -- much of the design & decor is still in place from the earlier years. Food quality was pretty good -- my mom ordered the Brunswick Stew and liked it -- my wife order the BBQ sandwich -- which was shaved meat -- unusual but good -- and I had the hand made cheeseburger which tasted pretty good as well. Service was good. Our server was pleasant, patient and attentive. The locals know the place well and made up the majority of the diners on Saturday. The location is only a few miles from the major chain restaurants you find right off the interstate & quite frankly was a pleasant change of pace. Parking is right in front of the diner as well as an attached lot adjacent to the building. Not fancy but definitely worth the trip. read more

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Worst barbeque pork I've ever had. Their pork is "shaved" into pieces about the size and thickness of onion skin, leaving it dry and mostly tasteless. read more

Just tried Couch's BBQ for the first time. This is the worst BBQ I have ever had. I had the chicken. It was dry and unseasoned. Our server did not follow up. The prices were too high for the quality of the food. Will not be going back. and do not recommend!! read more

I would have never found Couch's unless for finding it on "Southern Homes and Gardens Top 50 BBQ Joints." I would say that it is not close to my top 50 but it is a solid BBQ joint. Couch's has been open since 1946 and the decor inside shows it with tile floors, old time tables, and even an old time bar with stools and a mirror. But it has had really could care put into it. It was very clean. What I read and from help of my waitress, was to eat the BBQ pork sandwich. I wanted more than that so I went with a rib plate too. The BBQ pork sandwich comes on a bun that had been toasted and pressed. The sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and slaw and I wonder why would anyone ruin a BBQ pork sandwich with 3 of those items? The only acceptable choice was the slaw. The slaw comes in mild, medium, and hot. I chose hot. I was disappointed to see that there was very little slaw on my sandwich. What sticks out about the sandwich is the pork is sliced really thin but had a peppery seasoning to it. I thought the sandwich was disappointing. On the other hand, the rib plate was under-rated. The ribs were smaller but O was given 6 for a half rack plate. The ribs had a peppery dry rub and were cooked just right. They were not fall off the bone but also not overcooked. My 2 sides were slaw and beans. The slaw is a vinegar and lightly mayo with no sugar added. I liked the way it was cut...diced! The beans were very good because they were not Bush beans from a can. They had peppers and onions mixed in and had like the open fire camp out taste to them. 2 sauces - signature and sweet - both ketchup base - neither were hot or spicy - the sweet was a little bit thicker and probably had honey - the signature was a mild, tangy tomato. Both were very good but did not really stand apart from other BBQ joints. Sweet tea was refreshingly sweet and brewed fresh! Couch is a solid choice for BBQ. The rib plate was $14.99 and the sandwich was $4.50. Now to be fair, Southern Homes and Gardens did rank it #49 but that is still high for me. Maybe top 300 for me and I have ate probably close to 400 places. read more

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Amazing , Amazing, Amazing!!! I've tried everything on this menu and I keep coming back . Customer service was amazing, when I'm tell you amazing it's for a reason . Never was a fan of ribs till now and the desserts . I'm from Texas and moved from Oklahoma recently and the BBQ here is different. read more

I have eaten at Couch's for a long time. This weekend my wife and I went there and I decided to change from my usual. Wanting something different, decided on chicken stuffed potato, it's good. Here's the kicker, I asked about the ribs,Sarah said she still had some left. Apparently they run out on weekends and this was close to closing time on a gloomy Saturday. Got a rack for Sunday lunch. Wow they were awesome. They hit the spot. read more

Service excellent. Food, not so much. Pork bbq is tender but oversmoked and otherwise tasteless. The "hot slaw" is ok, but a good tangy slaw to us is more complimentary. The sorry lettuce & tomato was just strange and unnecessary. The fried okra was fresh tasting but several pieces were tough & stringy. The baked beans were ordinary out-of-a-can and didn't seem to be "baked" or have any pork product taste such as bacon or leftover bbq. Ambiance is not a big deal at a bbq place, but taste, value & satisfaction is. Couch's, to us, sadly missed the mark. read more

This place is always busy and the food is delicious! Their service is also a 10/10. I had the chicken plate and I will definitely be back for it. read more

Kind of off the main drag and away from major highways. I stumbled upon this place a few years ago and stop in from time to time. Just average BBQ. Good pulled pork. But really nothing sets them above all the rest. Every town has one of these. Some have several. After hitting about all of the BBQ joints in Bradley and Hamilton counties, I would just day this place is average. The hungrier the more you will like it. The other issue is its really out of the way to find it. And since it's nothing special there is no need to waste gas finding it with other options around. You must really want the BBQ to drive out of the way to get it here. But if your in the area you can add to the bucket list. read more

I rarely give a 5 stars but Couch's earned every one! Friendly staff and great food! And the pie, come for the pie! The barbecue is first rate and family recipes. I recommend getting off the highway and taking a break at this family owned restaurant. Brisket or the best ribs will have your mouth watering. The half slab of ribs was a nice amount of meat for me, about 6 ribs. Parking is easy, nice! read more

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I love their BBQ ribs and banana pudding. These are both served on Fridays. The banana pudding goes quickly; so, get there early. The servers are fast, friendly and efficient. It's a good place to take your family. read more

Good bar b q restaurant. I will becoming back. Their food even besides bar b q is all good no matter what you get. It is kind of a Ooltewah's as well as Collegedale's hidden gym of Bar B Q. You got to try it. We have been here numerous times and as Arnold would say " I'll b back". Service is always fast and friendly as it is a Southern Hospitality restaurant. read more

Couch's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

The amount of food for the money is out of whack. The sides are bigger than the meats. The St.Louis baby back ribs were as long as my little finger (only get 3 with the BBQ sampler). The shaved brisket is very very well cooked but the amount was for a small child. Paying $13.99 for this was about $3-4 over the top. The secret house sauce is a dead ringer for HP sauce from the UK - no kidding. At this price point I won't be back anytime soon. read more

Amazing bbq dishes. The barbecue salad is my absolute favorite. It's a hole in the wall with kind service. Their southern sides compliments the bbq so well. read more

Excellent BBQ Pork and Ribs. Delicious desserts made daily in house. Not fan of couple sides but have found my go to favs, okra and fries. You won't be disappointed. Good prices and excellent service. Clean read more

If you love BBQ RUN!!! Stay away, the ribs and pork absolutely SUCKED! I will have to schedule a dentist appointment to get the strands of glass rib that went into my teeth trying to eat one. I've had beef jerky with more moisture, and I mean I have no reason to hate this place great owner and good server, just horrible food! read more

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Couch's was recommended to me by a coworker. I was looking forward to the visit but was disappointed by the food and service. I ordered the salad with bbq pork. It arrived quickly but the pork looked like sliced deli meat. It was cold and flavorless. The waitress was barely friendly and seemed put off that she had to take my order. Looks like they're having trouble finding wait staff and the attitude shows. I really had high hopes for this place. They appear to have regular customers so perhaps I didn't order the right thing. Still, not tempted enough to try again. read more

My family has been going to this place for years. It's a little too far to go more than about once a month, but it's worth the drive (just outside of Chattanooga, TN) when you do go. Some of us get the baked potato stuffed with any type of BBQ meat. I always get 2 sliced pork sandwiches with hot slaw, lettuce, and tomato. Usually, I don't put any sauce on it because the taste of the meet is great by itself. They also do great turkeys and hams during the holiday season. read more

I just don't get it. I came two times before the review as I had heard so many good things here. It's just very average and I don't see the lure. The building is old the food was fair. There are several bbq places I prefer in Chattanooga. read more

Couch's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

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It's was good not the best but still good but it was the end of the day so I wanna give it another try earlier in the day because I always hear great things about it. read more

Outstanding service and the food was great. I'm going to go back for lunch and have a Couch's loaded potato with pork.

Amazing bbq. I highly recommend the pork sandwich with the top secret recipes for cole slaw on it. It was amazing! What was even more amazing was that the prices are insanely cheap, especially for the quality of the bbq you've receiving. No wonder it was on Southern Living's list of best bbq! read more

Best BBQ in the country. Love the thinly shaved pork sandwich. So freaking good and unique. Love the hot slaw on the sandwiches!!! read more

We have been going here since 1979 and our Family LOVES Couch's BBQ. Almost everyone of us go in and order a HOT one, fries and sweet tea. Their homemade hot slaw added to the sliced bbq is the BEST EVER!!!!!! Typically when we go, there are at least 15-20 of us and they are so accommodating and friendly! We HIGHLY recommend Couch's ~ The Harvey Family read more

Worst BBQ ever! I don't even know if one can actually call it BBQ. It was shaved like someone ordered it up in a deli. Beans tasted like they were out of a can. Cornbread...bleh. Atmosphere felt like that of a hospital waiting room. I honestly don't know how this place stays in business. Old folks seem to like it...so, there's that. Definitely NOT going back. All the people giving rave reviews obviously have never had real BBQ. read more

we passed the road and stopped for a coffee .... and ordered a tart. it was written that he was famous. I loved the pie and the service. family environment. Clean , speed e perfect for fun. we were passing the road and unintentionally stopped for a coffee. our food lady good. I ate a coconut pie ... and I ate so fast that I did not have time for the photo. very good service and family atmosphere. clean place ... a very special little corner. read more

Couch's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Slight hangover + exhaustion + horrific wreck and therefore traffic on 75N = a very cranky Kiki in need of barbeque lovin'. I was hoping for some lipsmacking good stuff but was disappointed. The meat was alright but kind of dry in spots and I'm not sure if the bun was just over-toasted or hella stale. Either way, not good. Also, I've never had lettuce and tomato on my pork sandwich and I don't think I like it. Sides were all pretty lackluster and seemed like afterthoughts, which would be fine if the meat had held it's own. But, for $3.50/sandwich and given the circumstances, I'd do it all over again. This spot is certainly far superior to my typical drive-through road trip eats, and you know, I'm kind of a fan of supporting the little guys. Even if their 'cue leaves me a little sad inside. read more

Let me assure you that Couch's Barbecue is some of the best in the South. That should be all you need to know. However, let me also note that Couch's specializes in a sliced pork sandwich. Nearly all the low marks on here came from folks who confused Couch's with Arby's and got beef, see barbecue as revolving around sauces, or thought ribs to somehow be the best option. No fault to them for their choices, but let's look at what really counts, the pork. The pork barbecue sandwich at Couch's is fantastic. While very different than say, your pulled pork barbecue across the mountains in Murphy, or the Georgia pork shoulder, sliced pork, smoked to perfection is what they do here. Take that beautifully thin, sliced goodness, throw it on top of a cheap, lightly toasted white bun, add your choice of slaw, a slice of tomato, and a slice of lettuce, and it cannot be beat. Sure, sliced pork isn't for everyone. I get that, lots of people aren't a fan of the texture and whatnot. I've had friends come with me to Ootlewah and make a remark along the lines of "this is actually really good; it's just not something I like." This may be the case for you, but don't get beef or ribs, get the crown jewel, savor it, enjoy it, and thank me later. read more

Must be a local thing is all I can say. Not overly impressed with anything except the sweet tea. I did as locals recommended and got the pork sandwich w/ toppings. Just ok, nothing large by any means. Fries good but small portion as well. Thought they could redeem themselves with a piece of coconut cream pie. Display pies in case are twice the size of what you actually get. Won't be back after a $16 lunch. Oh don't forget the 4% service charge for cardsFood in picture is smaller than it appears. read more

Couch's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Not bad at all. Unfortunately, the locals build-it-up to be more than it is. Despite what you hear, this is not the best bbq on the planet. It is good and it is very reasonably priced. I had a pork sandwich. It came thinly sliced, which was nice for a change from pulled pork. The medium sauce was quite tasty and the cheese sticks came with bbq sauce, which was different but good. Nice, small/quaint atmosphere. One of those small locally-owned places that you could quickly get to know the staff/owner(s) if you went on a consistent basis. Will definitely be back in the future. (Don't let my three-star review persuade you from going -- almost no one is good enough to get five stars, so my three star review is probably the next guy's four star review...) read more

Hands down my favorite place to eat (for years)...there is a lot of Bbq out there but the thin sliced pork served here is impossible to beat..a pork sandwich with some hot slaw and a side of fries always hits the spot. Their signature and sweet sauce is better than any Bbq sauce I've had as well. I drive 20 miles one way just to eat here (usually once a week). The service is always good and friendly as well. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Disappointed -looked so cute from outside. Everything was store bought including the stale buns. Service was slow and the box mashed potatoes were terrible. The facility was a bit dirty. The sauces -only two -were sweet and house nothing out of the ordinary and especially not worth yer time. Skip this try something else.....wish we had. read more

In Ooltewah on business and was looking for a local taste for dinner. Couch's fits the bill. Old building that was probably built in the 1960s and visited by a cast of regulars. For the quick summary, solid BBQ and worth a visit. I went for the half rack of ribs with fried okra and BBQ beans. First, the okra was as it is pretty much anywhere you get fried okra, so no surprises there. The sauce for the beans was different than I expected; a bit more savory than sweet. I liked it pretty well. The BBQ sauce is quite good. A hit of sweet with a nice touch of spicy. Not too thick, not too runny. The thickness was just right. This is a good sauce and would work well with either beef or pork. Don't know about chicken. The ribs were a bit dry, but I think that is on purpose. They have a good flavor to them, such that you don't need the sauce except to moisten them up a bit, but the sauce is good. Cooked to the point that the meat came off of the bone easily, but it didn't fall off. Suffice to say, not disappointed. The reason I gave this a 3 instead of a 4 is based on the fact that it was only my first trip to the restaurant and it didn't blow me away. I've certainly had better BBQ; a place in West Jefferson, NC (the name of which escapes me) comes to mind. However, this was pretty solid. If I could give half stars, it would get a 3.5. It was good enough that I'd try it again; I'd go with a beef BBQ plate next time to mix it up a bit. Oh, and it you don't like lettuce and tomato on a BBQ sandwich, I'd suggest asking for cole slaw instead. That's a BBQ sandwich topping, for sure. Also, I hit up two other BBQ places while in town: 58 Bar-B-Q Too and General's Smokehouse. Check out my reviews of those places before making up your mind. read more