Awesome everything. Excellent service and very friendly. Thank you kindly. Definitely will come back!!!!! read more

This place stays packed so I thought I'd try it out. The service is nice and quick.. menu is straightforward. The Order - Brunswick Stew - (sweet tomato taste think cheap brand of ketchup taste) Regular Pork sandwich - Packed nicely with a nice soft sunbeam type bun. Nice smoke flavor but Extremely dry meat. I have a feeling it's chopped up ham. I'm used to shoulder / butt. So probably healthier. Regular Chicken Sandwich - same packed nicely but way to dry. Hot Dog - slaw, onion, mustard. It was really good cause I believe they use an All Pork hot dog that's steamed an then put into a warm soft bun. All in all, I'm guessing the line of customers enjoy that style of pork. read more

Love the barbecue it's like I can taste the wood that that's marinated through the meat and the smoked chicken wings. The best love it.

I called for a pick up order for a friend's family. They were so helpful suggesting the amounts I may need for this family of 5. Just Really good food, people that seem pleased to help. I drove up to the drive thru & it was ready...THANK YOU ! read more

Just wanted to give a shout out to the crew working 5/22/25 around 4:45. This was the most respectful group of young people I've seen in a long time. They got my order exactly right, used manners you don't see in young people today and were just super on point. Thank you for a great dinner!! Will definitely be back!! read more

Decent BBQ establishment. BBQ, chicken, and ribs were all a bit dry. Chicken and ribs were both overcooked. The selection of BBQ sauce was just ok, not much variety offered. Coleslaw, baked beans and fries were all pretty good. Portions are a good amount for the price. Sweet tea was not very sweet at all and tasted like half & half tea. The sandwich bun on the side is a waste and should only be offered if wanted as it's not really a side bread. Hushpuppies would be a good add to the menu. read more

See all

I was a first timer in this restaurant today. Been trying to make a stop here for years. Always see it super busy. Well, today was my day. Picked up a to go order for myself and my son. We were both really hungry. So why not try some BBQ on a Friday night? I ordered a 2-meat combo with St Louis ribs and beef. Then also an all beef dinner. Each came with two sides. So I chose slaw, baked beans(2) and fries. The staff was friendly and service was quick. The team gave me a few BBQ sauces to sample, Vinegar and medium. Both were excellent! When I got home to eat, I was amazed at the portions! Food was hot and very good! When my son and I had eaten all we could, I saved leftovers and eat a FULL meal for lunch the next day. What a deal!! Great food. Fast carry out service. Friendly and helpful staff. See you again soon! read more

But one thing I fail to mention is the freaking AWESOME service I received. They dont know me from Adam and treated me as if I was a best friend. Most places give good service due to poor food quality. I was preparing myself for the worst. I was too deep in traffic to go back. Now I am sitting at home wanting more wings, craving those wings, mad cause I am out of wings. What am I to do now. see if I go back they will recognize me and I'll look greedy. Help Yelp!!!! What do I do? read more

Johnny's Barbeque - Evidence if my first visit there. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Georgia

See all

BBQ is good! Brunswick stew is my favorite. Most desserts are homemade. Staff is very friendly.

It's on the "Georgia BBQ Trail"! Excellent ribs and well-cooked pork. (I prefer to add a different bbq sauce, though.) Don't miss the bbq beans and banana pudding... They are *especially* superb!! read more

Barbecue is delicious. It's tender without being mushy even after you add the sauce. Slaw is excellent. Staff is friendly and restaurant is clean. read more

Driest BBQ in the South. Meat always looks bleached, and can only be choked down if you drown it in sauce

Came here while I was in the area on lunch break with a co-worker who was looking for bbq and yelp led us to Johnny's. It's a small little place that was packed around 1pm on a weekday. Add the nice smell of smoke and I was starting to get my hopes up! They had a lunch special going on, which comes with a pulled pork sandwich, a side of fries and a drink for $7.71, and that's what I got. In addition, I got a 4 oz cup of Brunswick stew, for $1.35 They were generous with the pulled (more like chopped) pork, because as you bite into it, meat falls out of the sides of the sandwich. The meat itself didn't have much in the way of flavor, and they seemed to rely on their sauces to be their flavor saver, which if you like them, are great. To me, the sauce was nothing special, and so the sandwich was simply okay. They have a yellow bottle on the table, which is your sweeter bbq sauce, and then at the condiment station they have more vinegar based sauces if that's you're type of bbq. The french fries, which are crinkle cut, were seasoned with salt, and were also simply okay to me, a little on the hard side, and I didn't finish them. I'm a pretty harsh critic of Brunswick stew, because I love it so much, but what I tried really wasn't good at all. At least not to me. I did try to save it with a mix of sauces but at the end, I only had a couple of spoonfuls and that was enough for me. Service was lightning fast, so fast that you just about get your order as you pay, and customer service was nice. There are both booths and tables enough to seat about 30 people or so comfortably. Parking was not a problem, as this is a private lot, and since Cleveland Hwy is not a busy road, getting in and out isn't a big deal. I was going to give Johnny's BBQ at least 3 stars, because prices were cheap and service was friendly, but while that's true, the only thing I finished is the sandwich. I know bbq is pretty subjective for what's good, and I get that, but for my experience, i've definitely had better. read more

See all

I'm originally from Charlotte, but have spent past the three years in NYC. Having visited four BBQ places in The City (and subsequently being sick four times due to said BBQ) I was AMPED to try a true Southern BBQ joint. I grabbed a lunch plate ($6.10) for my Mom as she was my test subject. I wound up eating half of it. They served Luzianne Sweet Tea (true staple only served south of the Mason-Dixon) with the combo, along with a side of stellar beans and slaw. The BBQ itself was fall-apart awesome and cooked to perfection. I'm a tomato based sauce girl (Western Style for me) while Mom is an Eastern Style (vinegar based sauce) kinda lady. Both sauces were fabulous!! Incredibly happy to find this little joint with odd days/hours of operation (with sadly no beer) in Gainesville!! read more

See all

I visited a few days ago because I wanted some good barbecue. Well, their food was so bland I did not enjoy it whatsoever. The Brunswick stew was horrible. The sauce that they gave you to put onto the meat was horrible. The sweet tea wasn't even sweet. This is definitely a one and done for me. I don't understand how they've been in business for this long. read more

Traditional reliable barbecue. Always friendly and helpful. We have had many things on the menu.

Got a reply back from owner 18 hours ago but had to delete it because he used a curse word. Can't believe they allowed him to try and post it. So to answer his question of what the blank pleases me, good food, good customer service and good communication since I'm paying good money for it I should get it if not then it should be fixed without a hassle or weeks of waiting. If you can't deliver this then you shouldn't get paid or keep the money for something you didn't provide. This app is for telling others about your experiences. So if you don't like the reviews and I've seen several other people posting bad reviews on you then, maybe you should step it up or try do a better job. read more

Stopped by for lunch today while running errands. Noticed the prices had gone up, but let me just say that hasn't affected the quality or amount, in fact my sandwich was overflowing with BBQ pork. Thank you Johnny's for always doing what is best for your customers even in tough times. This is my favorite BBQ restaurant in town and I will always support y'all. You are amazing!!! read more

Best smoked chicken wings in town. Pork can be dry to some. It's also chopped fine which doesn't appeal to everyone. I like it though. It's a big little sandwich. Ribs are delicious if you catch them fresh off the smoker. Otherwise they can be way over cooked and suffer from too much temperature. Same is true for half chickens but they tend to handle the over cooking better. Service is agreeable and the place is clean. PULL the door open and stand in line with the rest of the town. It's a local landmark with many business deals settled over lunch time combos. Always a good glass of tea here read more

This place was the worst bbq joint I've ever eaten at. The sauce taste like spicy ketchup and the beans taste like pork and beans from a can with added pork. The Brunswick stew was awful and tasteless. How can you get that wrong. It shouldn't be bland. You need more variety, beans, fries and slaw shouldn't be your only sides. Ramp up the sauce it's terrible! I'll never revisit but maybe you can gain other customers if make some changes.. honestly I did like the coleslaw. It was the best part of the meal. After reading other reviews.. I learned that they had a variety of sauces.. the cashier did not mention that to us and we were stuck with the one they send home with you. So I can not speak for those other sauces. read more

Wonderful place with that local feel ! Great ownership and great prices. Get the pulled pork plate and grab a few smoked wings....so good

My mom was so excited to take me here for lunch, proclaiming it the first barbecue she's ever really liked. After trying a pork plate lunch special, I can see why. The menu is pretty limited, and at lunch, the item to get is a lunch plate, which features a generous portion of finely chopped pork, half a hamburger bun, hot and salty crinkle cut fries, a scoop of coleslaw, and a drink for less than $7. This is a steal, and the flavor of the meat is really good, and the fries are the kind you tell yourself you're only going to sample, before inhaling the whole portion. The meat in particular reminds me a lot of the old Pappy Red's in Canton before it closed. Overall, a fantastic value with solid food in a family-run, community focused atmosphere. I'll be back. read more

WARNING, this is not a overpriced, watered down poser CHAIN STORE as Johnny's is TRUE family run hometown BBQ!!!!! Nothing fancy, just very good Q! Read all the great reviews of Johnny's Barbecue and believe them! I have not had one bad item from Johnny's Pit and Kitchen; everything was fresh and tasty! Yes, their sauce my be a bit bland to some, but not all Q is determined from sauce alone; prime meats and careful preparation are the keys to good Q and Johnny's does it right! I could die happy if my last meal was from Johnny's and to top it off, I would have extra change left in my pocket since Johnny's doesn't rip one off for a mere smidgen of meat like many other chains or BBQ establishments! read more

This small mom and pop restaurant is always packed and for good reason. The pulled pork is tender and the Brunswick Stew is tasty with just the right amount of tomato base. I always get the same thing so I can't vouch for anything other than those two items. A small joint with only about 10 tables yet take out is pretty quick. Haven't tried the banana pudding although I've heard it's the best. read more

I am a regular these days at Jonny's. They have good BBQ at a good price. Can't go wrong with the lunch specials when you have a craving for BBQ. Pro: Price (around $6 for the special) Friendly staff Fast service Pork is good Fries a yummy (crinkle cut fries) Banana pudding (no like Grandmas but it will do) Cons: Parking (parking can be a pain, not to mention getting in and out of the parking lot) Cole Slaw ( It is not bad but not great either) Sauce (The sauces are very sweet if not overly sweet. I know us southerners love sweet but on BBQ it is a bit over powering) Tip: Get your pork pulled instead of the default which is chopped. Pulled it much most pleasing to the pallet. read more

Johnny's BBQ is the best BBQ in Gainesville and arguably Northeast Georgia. Located off of Cleveland Hwy (129) near Riverbend Baptist Church. Prices are very reasonable - a sandwich plate (pork or chicken, fries, drink) is $5.50 and a BBQ plate (pork or chicken, 2 sides, drink) is around $7.50. The Banana Pudding (85 cents for the small) is just like homemade and well worth it. The pork has a good smoked taste, it is chopped with no fat. The standard sauce is a thick tomato base, not the greatest sauce I've ever had but not bad either. They also have a hot sauce available on the table. I've been there 15-20 times (even though I live an hour+ away) and haven't had a bad meal yet. I'm not a big fan of their brunswick stew but the pork, chicken, beans, and desserts are excellent. If you're in the Gainesville area looking for Q this is the place! read more

I ate at several BBQ joints in my 2010 trip through the South, and this is the only one that impressed. Great value, great food for the value. Authentic southern stick to your ribs goodness. read more

I had lunch here today. It was my first experience. It isn't quite a hole-in-the-wall, just a nice, friendly, small town barbecue joint where many of the patrons seem to know each other. I had a pork lunch plate. It appeared to be chopped, although, they may refer to it as pulled (I wasn't asked to specify). The meat was nice, not greasy, but not a strong smokey flavor. The sauce was only so-so, kind of a thick tomato sauce base maybe? The fries were the typical frozen, crinkle kind, but were hot, crispy and freshly cooked. The slaw was good (needed some vinegar and sugar...). The brunswick stew texture was similar to what I have had at many other places...kind of mealy or something...not my favorite...although the flavor was good. Good sweet tea and a $.95 piece of pecan pie I haven't tasted, yet. The meal was a good value. Bottom line...I'd eat there again, but wouldn't go out of my way to get there. read more

The Smokey flavor makes all the difference. That's why I feel it's worth the price, not to mention the folks here couldn't be nicer. Sweet tea, banana pudding, coleslaw, what more could you want? How about Brunswick stew made with their delicious smoked meat. Plus, they're amazingly quick with counter service. Made my trip north so good! read more

Been meaning to try Johnny's for a while so when we saw an ad in the Times we decided to check it out. Sadly we were disappointed. First the Good: The staff was friendly, service was quick and the place is clean. The cole slaw was excellent. French fries were Crinkle cut and crispy with soft insides. My wife had BBQ chicken and said it was tender (fall off the bone) with a good smokey flavor. But you don't come to a BBQ place for cole slaw and french fries. The Bad: I had a chopped pork and chopped beef plate. The meat was dry with relatively no smoke taste. It took a ton of sauce to make it edible but I wasn't a fan of the sauces. There was a mustard based sauce, a slightly hot vinegar sauce and a regular vinegar sauce. None of them were particularly inspiring. In fairness - the place was buys on a Thursday night so there must be some that like it - but I have to agree with the overall review of 3 stars - it's just OK. read more

Pulled pork sandwich was only just ok But thee fried were gReat. Disappointed in the pulled pork. How could it be the best in 2018.

Went here for lunch on a recommendation from a coworker. I drove there with the excitement of a 5 year old on the way to kindergarten. Pulled in and the lot was jammed....good sign! Unfortunately thats where the Good ended! Immediately saw that they were chopping and not pulling the pork, bo Went o! Next I asked for Mac n Cheese, "Im sorry we dont serve Mac N Cheese" was the ladies response. After wiping off the Arnold Drummond "what you talkin'bou Went t Willis" look off my face I reluctantly ordered the fries, which were atleast crispy. I also had the slaw which was apparently dropped off by the KFC delivery truck on their daily route! Now if you like dry chopped pork, maybe this is your place! Me, I'm looking for juicy pulled pork that I don't have to drown in sauce! The only reason I gave one star was for the $1 smoked wing and the fresh brewed sweet tea! Needless to say, I won't be returning to Johnnys! read more

I really liked the pulled pork sandwhich! Loved the sauce. I don't live anywhere near gainsville, but if I did, I'm sure I'd eat here again, not to say I wouldn't try to find a better place....but that was tasty. The fries are frozen and you could tell they had that old grease taste to them, but we did come around 3 p.m, so im sure it was left over from lunch, and they don't feel the need to change it before dinner rush....though you should* The coleslaw is good too. Put that on your sandwhich & ask for some pickles! I'm not sure why they werent on the sandwhich already or not on the side....oh also, the sandwhich could have used more sauce. my moms was kind of dry, mine had more but still needed it. The girl who took our order was nice enough, but everyone else seemed ready to go home. Im sure they are the lunch crowd who leaves at 5.....but we are still paying customers, i dont exactly want to have a waiter sitting at the table next to us watching t.v.....who when we asked a question, seemed really irked that we bothered him. Overall, it seemed like a real BBQ, family owned type place. nothing fancy- the way I like my bbq joints- Oh and they had a covered outside seating area. love that. I'd have to come back to maybe give 4-5 stars, I'd try their pie, hope the service was better, and I'd come at an hour that wasnt' inbetween lunch & dinner service. read more

Yummy! I luv the sauce here. More on the sweet side. Also fantastic Brunswick stew! I can get a gallon at a time. Much better than any other Barbecue place in any surrounding area! read more

Might be popular with the locals but I did not enjoy it one bit. The lady on the register was rude. She did not greet us or even say Thank You when I dropped the cash in her tip bucket! The Brunswick stew was lacking flavor and it was so thick I could eat it with a fork. It almost tasted canned. The chopped pork for the sandwich was drier than the Sahara the sauce I added did not even help. We like trying different places in different areas. We tried this place and will not ever return. Yuck! read more

We are new to Gainesville and have been here 3x since September move. The quality is very good, portions are great, price very fair and excellent service. Came in late on a Saturday evening and were given some free smoked wings, they were fantastic. I could eat a 5 gallon bucket of their cole slaw, it is great! I've had the jumbo pork sandwich all 3x. It is not messy and not dry, just right. My son had the ribs, said they were a little dry for him but tasty. Banana pudding is the bomb, it is delicious! Thanks for your establishment! read more

The best part of eating here are the fries, the crinkle fries are very good but that's my favorite thing. The meat is flavorless and bland, they give you good portion sizes and the prices are very good but I can't say I sat down and really enjoyed what I was eating. Not a fan of their sauces which is a shame because a good sauce would save the lack of taste of the pork or beef. There's nothing special about a tasteless pork sandwich. read more

No nonsense BBQ...I usually get the pork plate which is a better deal than the BBQ sandwich with sides added. Very little fat if any in the pork. The brunswick stew is very good (depends on how finely cut you like it.) Banana pudding is like your mama's :) Service with a smile. read more

Love this BBQ! Especially the vinegar sauce! I recommend the pulled pork sandwich. The stew isn't bad but a little on the thick side.

WHO TURNS AWAY BUSINESS AFTER GUESTS CALL ON WAY? Johnny's BBQ does! we were in town for a LAX tournament last weekend and brought 2 car loads of HUNGRY hi-school, male, Athletes (READ REALLY BIG EATERS). We called on way as heard from a local that Johnny's closes at 8:30. We said we would be there in 5 minutes and got an okey dokey. We arrived LITERALLY at 8:32. They said, "We put the food away because it took you longer than you said (read in twang)." REALLY? It's SATURDAY NIGHT at 8:32 . There were still people eating in the dining room (I use that term loosely btw). Funny thing, as we pulled out two more cars puIled in. I guess this place values a night off more than pleasing customers and making money. We headed to a restaurant close by, spent $90 per family and had a good ole' time. Guess we weren't in Atlanta any more, Johnny. ~SHD read more