Old Hickory BBQ in Owensboro, Kentucky, delivers exactly what its reputation promises--and then some. I'd heard more than once, from both my girlfriend and coworkers, that Owensboro is a barbecue town through and through, so when she pointed me toward Old Hickory, expectations were high. Walking in, I was immediately charmed. The space feels like a cozy old cottage infused with unmistakable local pride. Awards and accolades from magazines and even the Food Network line the walls, setting the stage for something special before you ever open the menu. One of the most endearing details, though, is how deeply rooted this place is in the community. The tabletops themselves double as a kind of hometown directory, showcasing local Owensboro businesses. It's a thoughtful, almost nostalgic touch that reinforces the sense that Old Hickory isn't just in Owensboro--it belongs to it. To fully experience what they do best, I ordered the combination platter, a barbecue lover's dream designed for indecision. My lineup included brisket, baby back ribs, and a quarter of white-meat BBQ chicken, with baked beans and mashed potatoes with gravy on the side. The platter arrived surprisingly fast, and the portion size was nothing short of impressive--this is serious, no-nonsense barbecue. The brisket was a standout: fork-tender with generous pieces of that deeply flavorful, smoky bark that true BBQ fans crave. The baby back ribs struck the perfect balance--tender but still offering a satisfying bite off the bone, never mushy or overdone. The chicken was juicy and well-seasoned, cooked just right overall, with only a couple slightly drier bites near the edge of the breast--hardly enough to detract from an otherwise excellent showing. The mashed potatoes and gravy were rich, comforting, and clearly made with care. The baked beans leaned more vinegary than I personally prefer, but they were still good enough that I cleaned the plate without hesitation--a testament to their overall quality. I couldn't help overhearing a nearby table raving about the mac and cheese, and honestly, that might be my biggest regret of the visit. An elderly woman at the table--easily in her 80s--declared, "This mac and cheese kicks ass!" I laughed, briefly considered ordering my own, then accepted defeat--I was already completely full. One small surprise was the classic slices of white and wheat bread served alongside the platter. When I asked about it, the waitress explained that many customers use it to build their own BBQ sandwiches. While I would've loved a square of cornbread instead, the tradition makes sense--and fits the no-frills authenticity of the place. I tried their original vinegar-based sauce, which was tangy, bright, and perfectly suited to the meats. I do wish I'd had the chance to sample their other sauces, but that just gives me an excuse to return. Could I nitpick and mention the limited napkins? Sure--but at a place this good, I ended up licking my fingers clean anyway. Old Hickory BBQ isn't just a meal; it's an Owensboro experience--hearty, genuine, and absolutely delicious. read more

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Owensboro, Kentucky

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Owensboro has been vaguely on my radar for years due to the local specialty of mutton BBQ, and I love unusual meats. Unfortunately, I found the food, especially given reputation, to be disappointing. I'll start with the positives: one of the mutton ribs was absolutely sublime, with the fat suffused through the meat and a great flavor. The other mutton rib was somehow much drier. The sliced mutton was also okay, particularly with the black vinegar sauce. I was not a fan of the chopped mutton or burgoo, both of which has no discernable clear flavor and were closer to slop. Chopped mutton is kind of liked chopped liver but grainier and less tasty. Pickles, fries, bread, etc were all just commerical. I'd consider going back for a sliced mutton sandwich if in the area, but even as a mutton enthusiast I wouldn't make a special journey. read more

Update: We come to Owensboro from 4 hours away and one reason is this BBQ. I'm sad to say that the meats this time were grisly and the mash potatoes were disappointing. But both my brisket and my wife's pulled pork were disappointing. They also were very light on sauce when we asked for sauce. Everybody has a bad day. I hope that is what this was. read more

Truly, genuinely do not understand how anyone can like this better than Moonlite. Got my same exact order as I get from there: sliced brisket sandwich with macaroni and cheese. Both were bad. Also got a side of cornbread. Flavorless. Also way more expensive. Just bad. read more

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que - Sliced brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Owensboro, Kentucky

You should definitely try any restaurant that's been open for over 100 years, through 5 generations. The restaurant is large for a local BBQ joint, which speaks to their longevity. I've always heard about the KY BBQ shops that serve mutton, so I wanted to try it. Not sure how it would taste, so I ordered the 3 meat sampler. The mutton tasted like pulled pork but with a sweet finish. I'm glad I tried it. The ribs were tough but the 1/4 chicken was tasty. It was very busy at lunchtime, and the waitress worked hard serving a large table, but she did a good job helping me as well. read more

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Old Hickory is just not as good as it used to be. Prices are higher and food portions are smaller. The tiny bowl of baked beans was almost laughable and the potato salad was pretty pathetic. Big chunks of half-cooked potatoes in the potato salad were a turn-off. A person in our party had a bowl of Burgoo. It came with 2 spoons one to eat with and one to stir the soup with. The stirring spoon was actually a 4" long chicken leg bone,. Yes, a bone that was seen by all at the table. Like I said, Old Hickory just not as good as it used to be. read more

Meh. Not great. We came here while visiting because everyone from here says you have to try mutton bbq. It's pretty outdated inside but I'm usually able to put that past me if the food is good. The servers were friendly but the service was really slow. It got pretty full and there were only two servers. The food was just boring. Most of the sides tasted like they weren't homemade and needed seasoning. The meat didn't taste smoked at all. The chopped mutton tasted like mutton but wasn't chopped it was shredded and had so much more sauce than meat. I've just had bbq that was so much better. Really not worth the price for the small portions. read more

Always good service and good food. I would not go anywhere else in Owensboro for barbecue and they also have the best Burgos.

We stopped in here on a business trip. The place is no-frills but the food is amazing. The chicken was tender and wonderfully smoked. Even though it was busy we were served quite quickly. read more

Come here for "Down Home Kentucky Barbecue!" A 106 year old barbecue institution and one of the few places where you can enjoy barbecue mutton. And yes, you definitely want to try it! We ordered takeout today and took it to a local park to eat. But, there is plenty of seating inside the restaurant. You order your food at a counter right next to the covered steam table holding chopped mutton, barbecue chickens, baked beans, and barbecue pork ribs. All of those looked really good. We ordered several sandwiches (all with onions and pickles) and a few sides today. My favorite sandwiches, in order, were: 1. Sliced Pork (flavorful and a large portion) 2. Chopped Mutton (good texture and flavor) 3. BBQ Bologna (flavorful and moist) 4. Sliced Mutton (tasty, but much less meat than the pork sandwich) The chopped mutton is mixed with sauce and it works well on a sandwich. I can't see it working well on a plate with 2 sides. That's a better role for the sliced mutton. I bought a jar of "John's Sweet Heat Bar-B-Q Sauce" and it was delicious! The flavors were fantastic, with just a bit of heat, and it worked well on all of the sandwiches. The Sweet Heat Sauce is a must when you are here. The Cole slaw and the potato salad were both good, but not great. Sandwich sizes and individual sides are smaller than you'd expect, but the prices are fair. Staff are friendly and very helpful. I definitely recommend Old Hickory Bar-B-Q! read more

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This is the place to try Owensboro style BBQ. I wouldn't necessarily say KY style, as I've yet to find another joint outside Owensboro that cooks up mutton as a staple option. Maybe it's a western KY thing, but passing though Louisville, mutton was nowhere to be found. Anyway here at Old Hickory you can find it sliced, chopped, as ribs, in a stew (burgoo) as well as the typical brisket, chicken and pork options. but owensboro style is all about the mutton, and for me, that's the chopped mutton on the white bun. Vinegary and delicious, mutton's a different bbq ball-game. the sheep oil or lanolin, adds a unique flavor that can seem strong to the uninitiated. However, I find that if you go for the experience, you will easily acclimate. The cornbread was more of a cornmeal pancake, not the typical yellow cake-looking type. The baked beans are good, but very sweet. Same with the coleslaw. The green beans are heavily cooked, so are very soft and on the darker side. I think it's a regional preparation. The catfish was nice, more crust than fish, and wasn't really served with anything like a tartar sauce or remoulade. Good for groups, friendly service and top notch bbq, make this casual eatery our regular stop every time we're in town. Come with an appetite, but I recommend fibering up before hand. I also recommend eating there (unless you're a regular). Delivered BBQ just seems different, even though it should be the same. read more

I was back in town and I wanted to give this place another shot. I just don't get it. I have been to numerous bbq places and this place isn't at the top of my list. I got ribs, turkey, baked beans, Mac & cheese. Ribs were average and the turkey was cold. Turkey must have been in the fridge. The baked beans were the best outta the bunch. Oh well I guess I should have tried the mutton cause I see a lot of people like that. read more

Came here right around opening on a Tuesday (for breakfast I guess?) and as you'd imagine there was next to no one there. I had been excited to try Kentucky style bbq since finding out about it at the museum of southern food and beverage in New Orleans, and my experience absolutely lived up to the hype! The service was fast and very friendly, giving helpful recommendations, taking me through all the different bbq sauce options, and frequently checking if I needed anything I knew the mutton was the speciality, so I had the ribs and regular mutton in a combo platter, in addition to a quarter chicken, beans, and a cup of burgoo. Mutton was absolutely the start of the show, unbelievably rich and delicious. I didn't get any gaminess or weird taste, if you've had lamb before I'd best describe it as a noticeably fattier version. The region is known for its bbq sauce using Worcestershire sauce as a base, and the almost black color of their sauce along with the flavor leads me to believe they used it, though I didn't ask. It was a really nice middle ground between steak sauce and bbq sauce that I wish was more readily available The chicken was also very tasty, but nothing you can't find in other region's bbq. The burgoo came out first and I really liked it when it was the only food I had while incredibly hungry, but after comparing it to the main course I wasn't the biggest fan. I'll caveat that this was my first burgoo experience, so possible it just isn't my jam as a dish. The beans were also nothing special, could have easily been bbq beans from a can. I think if I were a local and desensitized to the novelty of mutton in bbq, I'd probably give this spot 4 stars (especially if the mutton quality is comparable at other spots). However the great mutton experience and friendly, welcoming environment is enough to overcome the somewhat uninspiring other parts of my meal. Overall I highly recommend the trek to this region for any bbq fanatic read more

Terrible food. It was dry and they can out of some things. Worst barbecue I have ever had

Food and service are always topnotch. We often go for lunch but love getting their sliced pork to-go.

Worst bbq I've ever had. Absolutely no flavor in the brisket or the ribs. Disappointing. Mentioned to the young cashier and she shrugged.

Try the sliced mutton but do NOT miss out on the ribs. My friend is from Owensboro and this is her fam go-to & a must stop for me too when in town. I got ribs this time and the flavor is unmatched to any I have had before. Tender with a light sauce that is extremely savory. The sliced mutton sandwich is a great bite. Their potato salad is not to my liking with it being minced up, no mustard, and a bit bland. The mac and cheese was good and go for the burgoo if they aren't sold out! read more

This BBQ is legendary! The sliced pork is my pick, but all is SO good. We almost always get take away, but have eaten in and the service is great as well. read more

Always have the best barbecue...my favorite is mutton!... but the pork, beef and chicken, if that is your favorite. One can choose the buffet which is loaded with all your vegetables and salads. Just try and I'll guarantee you will want to return often. read more

Service was great as was the food. We made a day visiting in the area and thought why were in the area we might as well stop in.

If you're looking for some good BBQ then you've made a mistake coming here. Brisket was not tender( didn't eat), chopped pork (didn't even attempt) looked like refried beans and bbq sauces were watered down to consistency of soy sauce. Smoked baloney was ok. Mashed potatoes were not good either. These people have given up trying. What's with all the advertisements on the tables and menus? They put more effort in that than they did smoking that brisket. Wait staff was fine but there was no talent cooking. read more

Overall great. Meets and sides wonderful . Atmosphere comfortable and home like. Prices are compareable. read more

Nothing ever disappoints at Old Hickory! From Chopped or Sliced Mutton or Pork sandwiches to Bean soup and Cornbread, there is always a pleasant memory. There is such a varied menu you are certain to find something to tingle your tastebuds, and the service is always delivered with a smile. read more

Visited family in Rockport, IN and we all decided we wanted some good BBQ. They had taken us to Moonlite before so they decided they wanted to show us another favorite spot - Old Hickory Bar-B-Que. I got the brisket with mac and cheese and onion rings. The brisket was really tasty. It had a more vinegar-heavy flavor than I'm used to but the smoke ring was beautiful and it was tender. The mac and cheese was creamy and the onion rings were crispy. I really enjoyed everything, and our server was on top of things the whole time. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

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What a great meat fest. I was kinda lucky, or really stupid, to go during a tornado watch. But at 7pm on a Friday night they were nearly empty, so no wait! And hey, I was in town for a conference and had to eat somewhere and was drawn by the other positive reviews. I agree with them. Like a lot of others, since it was my first time, I got the three meat combo. There's a huge list of choices so I asked for brisket and pork ribs and then said I'm open to suggestion. My server said mutton--which I'd never had before--so I got it and I'm really glad I did. Seemed like they'd really taken their time cooking since all three meats were smoky and tender, especially the mutton and ribs. About the sauces. BBQ sauces all have some combination of sweet, sour, smoky, and hot. I'm a smoky+hot+a little sweet kind of guy, and Old Hickory's regular sauce is definitely on the sour side. Another reviewer described it as like A1 sauce and vinegar had a baby, and yeah, it's like that. So I preferred their hot. And like I said, my server was really helpful. Would definitely go back if I'm in Owensboro again. read more

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que - My three meat combo: mutton, brisket, and pork ribs. I liked the mutton and ribs the best. - Barbeque Near Me - Owensboro, Kentucky

Came here for an early lunch. Restaurant was largely empty, but there had been customers already. I got a 3-meat plate: mutton, brisket, and fish with a side of burgoo and green beans. Green beans: Fine. Seasoned well. Perhaps a tad overcooked, but that's pretty normal. Burgoo: Fine. Nothing special. Now the meat. I suspect that because I came in early I got last night's meat. If you come here, ask your waiter what's freshest off the pit and when it came off. Otherwise you'll probably get what I think I got. Brisket: Fine. Not exactly slices or cubes, but pre-sauced, which I generally don't like. Mutton: Fine. A little fatty (which is good), and had the taste of a good beef roast. Again, it had the texture of last night's meat. Fish: Pretty solid fish filet, served with tartar sauce and plenty of bread. It was a lot of food for one person for $20. If I'd come here at night when things are really bumping, I'd probably get fresher meat. As it stands, three stars. Good, but not great. read more

I've always heard, go to Moonlite sides and go to Old Hickory for BBQ. I've been to Moonlite a lot over the years but this is my first time dining in at OH. I must not like Owensboro BBQ enough for it to sway my opinion: good bbq HAS to have good sides. These sides were fine, but small portions and felt lightly seasoned (I had the baked beans and coleslaw). I don't think I'm a fan of the chopped style, I will make sure to adjust the next time I'm there. The mutton tastes great and the brisket is good. it's not smoked I don't think, seems like oven brisket to me. I do not love getting the meat already sauced. Feels a little like they're hiding something by doing this, and I'd honestly rather sauce my own to my liking. All in all, the food is good, but I may not get the hype. For my money, I'll just stay going to Moonlite and take advantage of the all you can eat sides. Side note: I'm aware that I'm in the minority here. This place was packed and everyone was having a great time. I sat beside some old folks that were GOSSIPING, so I got to catch up on all the local tea while enjoying the meal. read more

I got seated immediately and the waitress came to the table almost immediately she's quite good at what she does I ordered the beef brisket sandwich side salad and baked beans they were all wonderful it's nice little place not very big but quite comfortable read more

Sunday afternoon November 3 at Old Hickory BBQ in Owensboro about 3:45 5 stars again because I can't do six. We both ordered the 3 meat combo meal with salads. I ordered onion rings and my wife ordered fries. Just like last time I don't know what they could have done to make it better. We both brought half our meals home. Salads were fresh and crisp. Meat was tender onion rings and fries were hot. Coors Light was ice cold. Brought home a gallon of Burgos. We sampled it when we got home. 5 stars for that also. read more

Ordered pulled pork with mashed potatoes and gravy with Mac and cheese The meal was 2/5 just because the sides made the meal. MAC & cheese 5/5 & mashed potatoes w/gravy 5/5. The pulled pork had no barbecue flavor with some smoke flavor not counting what seemed to be water on my plate that looked like round steak cooked in a pan 1/5. My wife ordered pulled pork that look like taco meat 1/5. The sweat tea was good. The service was 2/5 . To be fair they had a large party that took the staff away. The place looked great. I was bombarded by advertisements I would say that were on the menu and then once the menu was gone you had the table to look at. I love BBQ but not recommended for pulled pork. read more

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que - Outside view - Barbeque Near Me - Owensboro, Kentucky

So rare do I give a 5-star review for a restaurant, but this one totally deserved it. First off, the girl who took care of me (Ella) is a total dream. So patient with me when I told her it was my first-time ordering. I ordered a half rack of ribs and a container of baked beans. They also let me try the potato salad which was also da' bomb but my wife got that, and I got the beans and we shared. The ribs were meaty and full of flavor. They bill the sauce as a "sweet heat", but I didn't sense any heat just a lot of really good flavor. Very happy with my purchase and will go back whenever I am in that part of the woods again. Also - they DO give military discount so thumbs up for that as well read more

I almost always get the 3 meat platter, ribs, ham and sliced pork or beef. Ribs are always meaty. Service is good. No buffet but the 3 meat platter gives you choices. read more

Food very good (try the mutton) but the service and kitchen was very slow and cashier was really backed up even though there were workers on the phone. read more

For many years, I have looked at several "Best BBQ lists" and I always thought it was unusual for Owensboro to have one or two listed. As I was traveling through the region and visiting a friend, she suggested Old Hickory was the best in Owensboro. When I walked in, there is a map that asks "How far did you come to come to eat Kentucky's Best BBQ?" I haven't ate much BBQ in Kentucky but Old Hickory has a heck of a start. I have ate at so many BBQ restaurants over the last 10 years. But Old Hickory had two things I had never came across. First of all, there is mutton. Mutton is BBQ lamb. If someone would have served me chopped mutton, I would have sworn it was chipped pork. The mutton was so tender and it did have a little bit of a lamb taste. Nevertheless, I could have eaten a lot more of it. Second, the BBQ sauces were unique. There were 3 - all seem to be somewhat vinegar base with something else mixed in. There is a sweet and spicy one that I liked the best. The other 2 being a thin, bold, and bitter type sauce with one being spicier than the other. The best part of Old Hickory was that the food tasted better than it looked. I went with the 3 meat combo. Besides the mutton, I had pulled pork and pork ribs. Both were tender and easy to chew. It was close but I liked the ribs a little more. My friend gave me some of his brisket and it was too dry. I had beans and potato salad as my sides. The beans had a sweet taste to them. The potato salad would have been better if it wasn't for the fact that I hate celery. I need to always ask that. My buddy then insisted that I get dessert. I chose chocolate pie. It had meringue on it with a solid chocolate pudding base to it. The sweet tea was amazing! It just seemed better than most sweet tea! Despite the brisket being disappointing, this is a different but delicious BBQ joint to try for any BBQ lover! read more

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When back, got chicken, pork ribs, chopped mutton. I liked the chicken and pork ribs, Im glad I got the sauce on the side. Still not a fan of their sauce, I prefer it sweeter, this sauce is like A1 + apple cider vinegar had a sauce baby. Onion rings are good, might be hand breaded in house, I'll have to ask next time, but there is a lot of crunchy breading, hope you don't have a tender mouth. I guess I'm getting used to the chopped mutton, with the sauce already added in, because I liked it better this time. I got the potato salad this time, it's good but not my favorite style of potato salad, onion, dill seed, pimento, it's to. I love that they cut the chicken and ribs as you order them with a band saw. Take out order was fast! read more

Relatively good barbecue in a casual, country cafe type environment. The brisket was tender and flavorful. Service was great, and the cole slaw is an all-time favorite. read more

A bit pricey but the quality is there. Lots of mutton options if you're into that. Apparently that's how it started way back when. I'm more of a pork and brisket guy and there's no lack of quality with those. My only complaint would be that sides are a la carte with the sandwich orders and the bill adds up quickly. I paid over $20 for a pulled pork sandwich, fries, cole slaw, iced tea and tip. read more

Great brisket sandwich! It's been around for a long time. Well recognized as a leading BBQ restaurant in Owensboro.

Love this place!! Better than Moonlite BBQ for sure. I've been here 3-4 times when my wife and I come to Owensboro. The last time was yesterday 6/14/21. My wife got the brisket plate and I got the 3 meat plate. Brisket was delicious. I got brisket, pork ribs, and 1/4 white meat chicken. Pork ribs were just okay and the chicken was dry. Fortunately, I had plenty with the brisket alone. When we paid we had to go to the carry out counter. In front of my eyes were pork ribs and chicken setting under the lights. Neither one was fresh. However there was no brisket. So it may have been sliced fresh(er). The 4 stars are a culmination of all the good experiences. This visit is probably 3 stars. read more

I ordered off door dash and my excitement went from excitement to disappointment the ribs were so small more cartilage then meat and it was charred at each ends the sauce as so bitter not happy , I was told the food was going to be ok to try and I just wanted to cry it was expensive so I expected decent , the corn bread was not corn it was pancakes , the beans were not bad but nothing I'd get again , then the box was so Tiny for a pound ! It was under a pound . Then the dasher sent my order to another house ! What an experience.... Geese read more