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Holy Smoke Central Texas Barbecue is a no-nonsense BBQ spot focused squarely on the food. We ordered the jalapeño sausage, ribs, brisket, smoked turkey, cornbread, mac and cheese, and macaroni salad. The brisket was the standout -- tender, smoky, and clearly the star of the menu. The ribs were excellent, and the sausage had good flavor and heat. I also really enjoyed the cornbread, though I'll admit I'm a cornbread fan in general. This isn't a place built for ambience or long conversations. It's very much about eating -- people come in, order at the counter, sit down, and get to work. The vibe feels purposeful and efficient. Service was friendly and helpful, and ordering at the counter was smooth. Portions are generous and filling, making it easy to get good value for what you're paying. A solid choice in Richmond Hill if you're looking for serious barbecue without distractions.
We splurged on a huge platter of BBQ to go a couple weeks back. I originally just wanted a bit but my partner end up buying a rack of ribs, brisket, cornbread and beans. Hefty bill but it was so good and I do not regret! The ribs are AMAZING and the LOVE that they provided so many sauces for us to sample and try. The cornbread is just so good too. We occasionally make cornbread but this is so much better than ours that we want to know the secret recipe! The okay part now - the beans are a bit too sweet for my liking and the brisket I wish it was just a bit fattier but I guess that's okay better for my health if it's less fatty I suppose! Overall really enjoyed my meal!
Heard from a friend that the brisket here out beats Smoque n Bones by a far mile, and they were right! Holy Smoke has now become my go-to place for Southern BBQ. Their website menu has fewer items than their in-store menu - I was looking for the $32 brisket and rib combo (1/2 pound brisket, 1/2 pound baby back ribs, 2 regular sides, 2 sauces, pickles, and white bread) which I saw mentioned frequently in reviews. Three of us shared that as well as the $60 combo for two platter (1/2 pound brisket, 1/2 pound smoked turkey, 2 jalapeno sausages, 2 large sides, 2 sauces, pickles, and white bread). With the two platters we had a choice of four sides and four sauces: - Mac n cheese (better than KD but can get a bit soggy/bland) - Coleslaw (honestly so crunchy and refreshing #bless. better than any fast food chain for sure) - Baked beans (decent, not overseasoned, good with the bread) - Cornbread (perfect ratio of crumbly crust vs moist interiors. I was indifferent to the jalapeno part as it wasn't spicy at all) - Tangy Gold (mustard-based) - Nashville Hot sauce - Holy Smoke (tangy BBQ sauce) - Heavenly Espresso (coffee grounds added to the Holy Smoke sauce. It made it less acidic and more towards a Worcestershire flavour. I actually preferred this over the original BBQ one) Now onto the MEATS. Oh btw the service was really fast. We got our food minutes after the order. In terms of most liked I'd rate it from brisket - ribs - sausages - smoked turkey. The brisket is melt-in-your-mouth for the fattier cuts, and lean cuts are tender enough to be shredded with minimum resistance. The flavour was balanced in terms of smokiness, savory-ness, and saltiness, and so juicy. Ribs were well-seasoned and lean, a nice texture contrast to the brisket, requiring more hands on to get the meat off the bones. I was pleasantly surprised by the jalapeno cheddar sausage as it wasn't overly salty and was juicy and tender unlike literally most other places I've tried. I would for sure get it again. As for the turkey I would not get it again. It was too tender in that it felt like poached deli turkey, where the meat texture is more mushy than compact. I also got a bottle of their Stewart's black cherry cream soda to wash down the greasy ness of the meats. Honestly an amazing combination, I really recommend it. Price-wise, I think the prices here are really good value for what they have to offer. ~30$ a person to satisfy meat cravings with generous portions of mains and sides, with room for refreshing beverages. Really no complaints. Ambience-wise, the place was fairly empty when we dined-in. There were a lot of take-out orders from couriers running in and out. That made sense as the place is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods - this would be a perfect meal to have while watching a game/movie. I really like the hand-washing station that was smack in the middle of the restaurant - very no-frills and in your face (which is what I understand to inherently be the Texan style: simple and welcoming).
Ordered from Ubereats since they had a BOGO. Got the chicken and ribs combo and their tipsy Texan burger. They all came with a side and I chose the potato salad and macaroni salad. The ribs flavour was okay, the meat was not fall off the bone kind. The chicken wings were huge, but it didn't taste like smoked chicken wings, it was more like boiled chicken wings with sauce. The sides were meh, it was missing the creamy factor. The burger had three types of protein. There was turkey breast , jalapeño sausage, and brisket sandwiched into a burger bun. The brisket was a bit dry, the turkey breast was decent, but the jalapeño sausage was really good. Definitely needed to add bbq sauce to the burger.
Holy Smoke offers up a small taste of Texas with the classic Northern Texas style barbecue we have come to appreciate over the last few years! As one of the few Texas-style BBQ restaurants in the GTA, Holy Smoke lives up to its name for quality and service. The brisket is succulent with the right amount of spices and you don't even need a knife to cut through how tender the beef brisket is. The smoked turkey is juicy in every bite and pairs well with the housemade sauces to enjoy with. They offer classic side dishes such as homemade red potato salad and mac n cheese that offers a good balance with the BBQ meat. The owner is very friendly as he offers guests in line a sample of his creations to enjoy while we all look forward to enjoying a feast in the making. I can't wait for my next visit back!
If you are hungry and craving barbeque, you need to swing by! I stopped by with my brother and got the platter for two. This includes: - 1/2 lb brisket - 1/2 lb turkey - 2 Japaleno sausages - 2 large sides (we picked coleslaw + mac & cheese) We managed to finish it all thanks to the juicy and tender brisket, the delicious turkey slices, sausages with a nice spicy kick, all topped off with some killer sauces with that smoky flavour. I thought the sides were fairly average, though the sizes were quite big and definitely left me full. Tons of seating inside, parking outside and the staff were so friendly! They were surprised that we decided our order so quickly - though in all honesty it was already decided before we left the house!
We decided to try this place on Ubereats as there was a BOGO deal. Food was prepared and delivered in adequate time. Packaging was well done for minimal spillage/leak. Food: Pulled pork sandwich - there was lots of pulled pork sitting on a soft fluffy brioche bun. The pork seems to have been seasoned with a rub, slow cooked and then a nice sweet bbq sauce is mixed in. The amount of sauce was perfect, just the right flavor without all the liquidiness. The coleslaw inside and pickles helped to cut the fatty and savory pork. 5/5. Macaroni salad - the macaroni was cooked well without being mushy. There's a mix of onions, celery and other herbs mixed into the macaroni sauce to give it a freshness. 5/5. Coleslaw - nothing super special but it is done well. Lots of cabbage and celery with carrots in a sweet cream sauce. Not too sweet, great crunch. Definitely hits the spot for some fresh veges at a bbq. 4.5/5. Price: Regular price is 12$ for a pulled pork sandwich with a side which is a great deal for the amount of food and quality of bbq you're getting. Definitely will come back to try other items on the menu!
Says Texas, but no aesthetics resembling any texan style decor in the restaurant. I ordered the baby back ribs and it was charred and burnt, didn't taste good at all. I ordered a pecan pie as well and it tasted awful. The front door had a sign that said Legit Central Texas BBQ, but I have determined this is a lie. For service you order at the counter and then pick up the food and eat a table.
March 5, 2023 - went with some friends as I saw the reviews were very good. The restaurant is nice inside and has lots of seating and the stuff was nice. I'm not sure what platter my friends ordered, but we got pulled pork, turkey, brisket, coleslaw and macaroni salad. The meal came with two slices of bread, pickles and also some dips. The turkey and pulled pork was good. The brisket was soft and juicy but OVER SALTED! The sides were okay. Overall we said our experience was 2.5
Saw this place and decided to go in. Glad I did as the brisket was easily one of the best I've ever had. Smokes turkey was very good and the sausage was delicious. Overall beyond great. Servers were very nice as well.
New bbq place in town. I'm always one for good bbq but there just doesn't seem to be that many options in the GTA overall. Owner was saying they've been around for 3 months so still a very new shop. They do a great job of making you feel at home and helping you through the menu, even giving small samples to try before you order. Got the platter for two ($60) which included 1/2lb brisket, 1/2lb turkey, 2 jalapeno sausage links, 2 large sides and 2 sauces. For sides we got the coleslaw and mac n' cheese, and for sauces the holy smoke bbq and sweet honey. It's a tonnn of food and you're pretty much guaranteed to be full after. The sausage links were full of flavor, pretty spicy kick with the jalapeno but in a good way. The brisket and turkey were not really what I was expecting. They don't really marinate it all too much before hand and leave it up to the side sauces for the flavors. Eating it on it's own was pretty dry but once you dip it in their sauces it's a whole different story. The sweet honey sauce was definitely my preferred one over the more classic holy smoke sauce. It was rich, sweet, while somehow not making each bit very "heavy". Really great sauces and when paired with the soft brisket it is excellent. I didn't really like the turkey that much since it was pretty salty but it was decent enough. Sides were alright as well, deceivingly large portion for it's container but its your standard bbq sides that offer a nice break from the meat feast. I do quite like this place and it's prices are pretty fair for what you're getting. Great stuff!
I ordered the prime brisket and wings combo, which came with 1/4lb of brisket, 1/2lb of wings and 1 side. Brisket was dry and salty. Wings was bland with no smokey flavour. The only thing I enjoyed for the entire meal was the potato salad. Price was reasonable but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.
First time trying this place that we found it on UberEats. They had a bogo special for their prime brisket and wings combo that included a choice of side, I chose mac n cheese. The brisket was okay, not much flavour, kind of dry, and definitely needed sauce, which they do provide. The wings were big but also quite dry. The mac n cheese was too soft for my preference. Overall, I wouldn't order any of these items again.
Delicious food. I tried brisket, ribs, sausage and multiple sides. Different unique sides available too Love how juicy the briskets are. Delicious food. Good clean place for dine in too. Great customer service. Free parking available in front of the building. read more
Ive had takeout from here a few times before but this was my first time dining in. It was a bit busy when we went but there were a lot of tables available. You order at the counter and they cut the meats to order. All the meats were really good but the moist brisket was definitely the star of the show! Super convenient that there's a roll of paper towels at every table and a hand washing station available in the seating area. read more
Holy Smoke Central Texas Barbecue is a no-nonsense BBQ spot focused squarely on the food. We ordered the jalapeño sausage, ribs, brisket, smoked turkey, cornbread, mac and cheese, and macaroni salad. The brisket was the standout -- tender, smoky, and clearly the star of the menu. The ribs were excellent, and the sausage had good flavor and heat. I also really enjoyed the cornbread, though I'll admit I'm a cornbread fan in general. This isn't a place built for ambience or long conversations. It's very much about eating -- people come in, order at the counter, sit down, and get to work. The vibe feels purposeful and efficient. Service was friendly and helpful, and ordering at the counter was smooth. Portions are generous and filling, making it easy to get good value for what you're paying. A solid choice in Richmond Hill if you're looking for serious barbecue without distractions. read more
We splurged on a huge platter of BBQ to go a couple weeks back. I originally just wanted a bit but my partner end up buying a rack of ribs, brisket, cornbread and beans. Hefty bill but it was so good and I do not regret! The ribs are AMAZING and the LOVE that they provided so many sauces for us to sample and try. The cornbread is just so good too. We occasionally make cornbread but this is so much better than ours that we want to know the secret recipe! The okay part now - the beans are a bit too sweet for my liking and the brisket I wish it was just a bit fattier but I guess that's okay better for my health if it's less fatty I suppose! Overall really enjoyed my meal! read more
Heard from a friend that the brisket here out beats Smoque n Bones by a far mile, and they were right! Holy Smoke has now become my go-to place for Southern BBQ. Their website menu has fewer items than their in-store menu - I was looking for the $32 brisket and rib combo (1/2 pound brisket, 1/2 pound baby back ribs, 2 regular sides, 2 sauces, pickles, and white bread) which I saw mentioned frequently in reviews. Three of us shared that as well as the $60 combo for two platter (1/2 pound brisket, 1/2 pound smoked turkey, 2 jalapeno sausages, 2 large sides, 2 sauces, pickles, and white bread). With the two platters we had a choice of four sides and four sauces: - Mac n cheese (better than KD but can get a bit soggy/bland) - Coleslaw (honestly so crunchy and refreshing #bless. better than any fast food chain for sure) - Baked beans (decent, not overseasoned, good with the bread) - Cornbread (perfect ratio of crumbly crust vs moist interiors. I was indifferent to the jalapeno part as it wasn't spicy at all) - Tangy Gold (mustard-based) - Nashville Hot sauce - Holy Smoke (tangy BBQ sauce) - Heavenly Espresso (coffee grounds added to the Holy Smoke sauce. It made it less acidic and more towards a Worcestershire flavour. I actually preferred this over the original BBQ one) Now onto the MEATS. Oh btw the service was really fast. We got our food minutes after the order. In terms of most liked I'd rate it from brisket - ribs - sausages - smoked turkey. The brisket is melt-in-your-mouth for the fattier cuts, and lean cuts are tender enough to be shredded with minimum resistance. The flavour was balanced in terms of smokiness, savory-ness, and saltiness, and so juicy. Ribs were well-seasoned and lean, a nice texture contrast to the brisket, requiring more hands on to get the meat off the bones. I was pleasantly surprised by the jalapeno cheddar sausage as it wasn't overly salty and was juicy and tender unlike literally most other places I've tried. I would for sure get it again. As for the turkey I would not get it again. It was too tender in that it felt like poached deli turkey, where the meat texture is more mushy than compact. I also got a bottle of their Stewart's black cherry cream soda to wash down the greasy ness of the meats. Honestly an amazing combination, I really recommend it. Price-wise, I think the prices here are really good value for what they have to offer. ~30$ a person to satisfy meat cravings with generous portions of mains and sides, with room for refreshing beverages. Really no complaints. Ambience-wise, the place was fairly empty when we dined-in. There were a lot of take-out orders from couriers running in and out. That made sense as the place is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods - this would be a perfect meal to have while watching a game/movie. I really like the hand-washing station that was smack in the middle of the restaurant - very no-frills and in your face (which is what I understand to inherently be the Texan style: simple and welcoming). read more
3 years ago
Ordered from Ubereats since they had a BOGO. Got the chicken and ribs combo and their tipsy Texan burger. They all came with a side and I chose the potato salad and macaroni salad. The ribs flavour was okay, the meat was not fall off the bone kind. The chicken wings were huge, but it didn't taste like smoked chicken wings, it was more like boiled chicken wings with sauce. The sides were meh, it was missing the creamy factor. The burger had three types of protein. There was turkey breast , jalapeño sausage, and brisket sandwiched into a burger bun. The brisket was a bit dry, the turkey breast was decent, but the jalapeño sausage was really good. Definitely needed to add bbq sauce to the burger. read more
Holy Smoke offers up a small taste of Texas with the classic Northern Texas style barbecue we have come to appreciate over the last few years! As one of the few Texas-style BBQ restaurants in the GTA, Holy Smoke lives up to its name for quality and service. The brisket is succulent with the right amount of spices and you don't even need a knife to cut through how tender the beef brisket is. The smoked turkey is juicy in every bite and pairs well with the housemade sauces to enjoy with. They offer classic side dishes such as homemade red potato salad and mac n cheese that offers a good balance with the BBQ meat. The owner is very friendly as he offers guests in line a sample of his creations to enjoy while we all look forward to enjoying a feast in the making. I can't wait for my next visit back! read more
3 months ago
4 years ago
If you are hungry and craving barbeque, you need to swing by! I stopped by with my brother and got the platter for two. This includes: - 1/2 lb brisket - 1/2 lb turkey - 2 Japaleno sausages - 2 large sides (we picked coleslaw + mac & cheese) We managed to finish it all thanks to the juicy and tender brisket, the delicious turkey slices, sausages with a nice spicy kick, all topped off with some killer sauces with that smoky flavour. I thought the sides were fairly average, though the sizes were quite big and definitely left me full. Tons of seating inside, parking outside and the staff were so friendly! They were surprised that we decided our order so quickly - though in all honesty it was already decided before we left the house! read more
We decided to try this place on Ubereats as there was a BOGO deal. Food was prepared and delivered in adequate time. Packaging was well done for minimal spillage/leak. Food: Pulled pork sandwich - there was lots of pulled pork sitting on a soft fluffy brioche bun. The pork seems to have been seasoned with a rub, slow cooked and then a nice sweet bbq sauce is mixed in. The amount of sauce was perfect, just the right flavor without all the liquidiness. The coleslaw inside and pickles helped to cut the fatty and savory pork. 5/5. Macaroni salad - the macaroni was cooked well without being mushy. There's a mix of onions, celery and other herbs mixed into the macaroni sauce to give it a freshness. 5/5. Coleslaw - nothing super special but it is done well. Lots of cabbage and celery with carrots in a sweet cream sauce. Not too sweet, great crunch. Definitely hits the spot for some fresh veges at a bbq. 4.5/5. Price: Regular price is 12$ for a pulled pork sandwich with a side which is a great deal for the amount of food and quality of bbq you're getting. Definitely will come back to try other items on the menu! read more
Says Texas, but no aesthetics resembling any texan style decor in the restaurant. I ordered the baby back ribs and it was charred and burnt, didn't taste good at all. I ordered a pecan pie as well and it tasted awful. The front door had a sign that said Legit Central Texas BBQ, but I have determined this is a lie. For service you order at the counter and then pick up the food and eat a table. read more
March 5, 2023 - went with some friends as I saw the reviews were very good. The restaurant is nice inside and has lots of seating and the stuff was nice. I'm not sure what platter my friends ordered, but we got pulled pork, turkey, brisket, coleslaw and macaroni salad. The meal came with two slices of bread, pickles and also some dips. The turkey and pulled pork was good. The brisket was soft and juicy but OVER SALTED! The sides were okay. Overall we said our experience was 2.5 read more
2 years ago
Saw this place and decided to go in. Glad I did as the brisket was easily one of the best I've ever had. Smokes turkey was very good and the sausage was delicious. Overall beyond great. Servers were very nice as well. read more
New bbq place in town. I'm always one for good bbq but there just doesn't seem to be that many options in the GTA overall. Owner was saying they've been around for 3 months so still a very new shop. They do a great job of making you feel at home and helping you through the menu, even giving small samples to try before you order. Got the platter for two ($60) which included 1/2lb brisket, 1/2lb turkey, 2 jalapeno sausage links, 2 large sides and 2 sauces. For sides we got the coleslaw and mac n' cheese, and for sauces the holy smoke bbq and sweet honey. It's a tonnn of food and you're pretty much guaranteed to be full after. The sausage links were full of flavor, pretty spicy kick with the jalapeno but in a good way. The brisket and turkey were not really what I was expecting. They don't really marinate it all too much before hand and leave it up to the side sauces for the flavors. Eating it on it's own was pretty dry but once you dip it in their sauces it's a whole different story. The sweet honey sauce was definitely my preferred one over the more classic holy smoke sauce. It was rich, sweet, while somehow not making each bit very "heavy". Really great sauces and when paired with the soft brisket it is excellent. I didn't really like the turkey that much since it was pretty salty but it was decent enough. Sides were alright as well, deceivingly large portion for it's container but its your standard bbq sides that offer a nice break from the meat feast. I do quite like this place and it's prices are pretty fair for what you're getting. Great stuff! read more
1 year ago
I ordered the prime brisket and wings combo, which came with 1/4lb of brisket, 1/2lb of wings and 1 side. Brisket was dry and salty. Wings was bland with no smokey flavour. The only thing I enjoyed for the entire meal was the potato salad. Price was reasonable but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. read more
First time trying this place that we found it on UberEats. They had a bogo special for their prime brisket and wings combo that included a choice of side, I chose mac n cheese. The brisket was okay, not much flavour, kind of dry, and definitely needed sauce, which they do provide. The wings were big but also quite dry. The mac n cheese was too soft for my preference. Overall, I wouldn't order any of these items again. read more
3 years ago
We decided to check out this recently opened BBQ place in Thornhill. Generous portions, friendly service. We ordered combo platter for two. The turkey was a bit too dry and the brisket was a bit too salty. However, it was a decent meal for the price, so if you a carnivore it may be worth a visit. read more
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Really good Central Texas Barbecue, I ordered a platter for two, it is delicious and big amount of food. Recommended! read more
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Ordered lean brisket and it was full of fat. Tender but no flavour. Wings undercooked. Positive was their sauce but much better option for BBQ than this. read more
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