After reviewing google, yelp, and recommended by family, I came to the decision to dine at Red State for dinner. Upon arrival, the instant smell of smokers actively cooking excited me very much so. Entering the establishment gave me a cozy vibe, again, exciting me. This is where the excitement just dwindled more and more. You order at a stand and the young man behind said stand was very clearly not having a good day/night and was not friendly nor hospitable, first red flag. We sat down at a sticky table that seemed to have not been sanitized down in the back with a little peek into the back kitchen are. My girlfriend in the other side of the table saw a woman on her phone, with gloves, and didn't appear to change them, MAJOR red flag. And of course, once our name was called, this same lady was the one that sat our food down for us to grab. Cautiously optimistic, my three meat plate looked pretty tasty but that was just about the scope of it. I chose brisket, ribs, and jalapeño cheddar sausage. Moving my sides off the plate and feeling my food, I noticed the only thing that was hot was my sides. All of my meats were room temperature, questioning if my food was properly being held at an adequate temperature to make it safe for consumption. I chose to eat the sausage first, which straight-up tasted like a Johnsonville jalapeño cheddar brat. No question that's what it was. I than chose to eat the brisket which was very dry, little to no moisture and also not hot. Finally, I just hoped the ribs would be a saving grace. I tried to separate them, upon realizing the membrane in the bottom of the ribs was all attached, leaving a layer of what felt like plastic under the ribs. The ribs were actually pretty good, but not hot at all alike everything else. My sides, green beans and Mac and cheese, again, were the only hot items. The Mac and cheese was okay, not good nor bad but definitely lacked seasoning and a strong flavor. The beans, on the other hand, were pretty terrible. Absolutely zero seasoning and sitting in a pool of their own bland juice. Being someone that has worked in restaurants the past 9 years of my life, I never like to post bad reviews or post negatively about a business, but this was just simply not a good experience at all. Hope nobody that sees all the good reviews had the same experience I had cause had I been a Karen, I would have complained and wanted my money back. read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great brisket and maybe the best Mac n cheese I've ever had! The restaurant is very nostalgic and kid friendly.

If you're looking for a local dive, this is your place. The pulled pork and chicken was moist but the sliced brisket was dry. The meat didn't have much taste but their sauces added the flavoring. The sides were good but a little bland. Sweet iced tea was very Southern...sweet. We waited 20 minutes in line to order and another 20 minutes on our food. Facility was small and dated. There were large weeds growing outside of our table window. Parking lot was partially blacktopped and the rest was gravel and large mud puddles. Unfortunately, the only table that came available was right next to the pick up counter where a woman yelled the order name out loud every few minutes like she was yelling at an umpire at a ballgame! Place was hopping with locals. Was a one stop try for us and we'll probably not return. read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Everything. Food amazing love atmosphere. Thanksgiving n Christmas catering. I am so blessed everyone enjoyed. Ribs n brisket always good n corn muffins. My favorite food in Lexington. read more

Looks like a local favorite!! Excellent food in a casual environment Brisket is the favorite Recommend read more

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This was my first time eating here Amazing BBQ with very reasonable prices. I loved the graffiti all over the walls and ceiling because it added a special charm to the restaurant Our waitress was Madeline and she was wonderful! Don't let the location fool you - the food is terrific. read more

Red State BBQ - 1/2 slab of ribs with coleslaw, baked beans, and corn pudding. - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Ok we have been going here awhile . The service is always good. The cleanliness it's pretty traditional for a mama pop barbecue place. 2 things. 1. They quit putting the barbecue sauce on the tables and put them in little cups and charging you after the first one. Not a fan of that 2. We have been eating there about once a week for the last year that's how good the food has been for the last couple weeks it's seems like the food has took a turn for the worst. Me and my wife stopped in on July 4 of this year on our was to work we both had ribs. They bothe was very tough and omg salty. Yes very salty. And it's been like this the past couple times. Normally I'd give that place a 4 1/2 stars but after glass couple visits only a 3 read more

My brother was traveling through the area and out of nowhere ( literally!!) RED STATE BBQ popped up! He hollered at us and told us that we needed to try this amazing BBQ. And we got over there right quick! So, here's the scoop: This is a lil' hole in the wall joint that you don't want to miss, unless you hate barbecue, want to be waited on hand and foot, or expect to sit your Fanny down in a freshly sanitized booth! Yes, this was everything I expected it to be- yummy pulled pork, and even more delicious melt -in-your-mouth beef brisket, which I smothered with a super thick bbq sauce. YUM-YUM!! My husband loved the Mac and cheese (not a good choice if you are watching your salt intake). It is set in a fairly busy windy road, so getting in and out of the place can be a bit of a challenge. If I lived close, I'd order it to go, and save a little on the drink and tip. read more

Red State BBQ - Outside of RED STATE BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Well it has been 4 years since I have been here, but wow, the food is even better than I remember! Great and friendly service and amazing food. The place was hopping! read more

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What happened? used to be ok now pretty bad, leftovers - under cooked chicken, lots of missing items not really clean. Bye

This is quickly becoming a must-do on our roadtrips to Lexington. It's easy to get to from the 75 and it makes a great pit-stop. Situated next to an old motel and in a kinda of ramshackle front house, the restaurant has character - and charm. The service is friendly and the inside walls and ceiling are covered in people's inked signatures and scribbles. The food is some of the best BBQ I've tried in the area, too. Try the corn pudding, the green beans, and beer cheese grits for sides. And the pulled pork and pulled chicken. Oh, and the fried pretzel bites are pretty awesome, too. I've also indulged in the mason jar deserts. They are sweet and satisfying - but, rich, so you may not have room for them. Which is why having a mason jar to carry home is a really great idea - Thanks, Red State BBQ. You make me love Kentucky a little bit more! read more

The food was amazing we ordered chicken and ribs. It was juicy, moist and not dry. The service was great it's a whole in a wall read more

Red State BBQ - This place is a whole in a wall. The food is moist and the seasoning is on point. - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Not my style of barbecue, but then I'm not from the Commonwealth and it was still really tasty. The fried green tomatoes were probably the best I have ever had. Good spot for a business lunch if you don't want to take the time to go into Georgetown or Lexington. read more

Eat here all the time and we order door dash. Always a good experience. Never an issue with anything. Really good ribs!

Food is Amazing, and Fast! Ambience is Like a diamond in the rough! One stall bathroom and paper plates and utensils read more

If you're in the area this place needs to be on your list. Everything they serve is delicious and on point.

Great location with a hole in the wall ambience. Bbq, brisket and sausage were good. Sides were excellent. However, pass on staying over at the motel. read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I am giving this place a two because when we received our food, the meat was cold, the Mac n Cheese was pasty(congealed, if you will). I was pretty sure I ordered the sandwiches, one pulled pork and the other, dbl smoked brisket w/the sides. But they gave us plates, which is fine I guess. But the beans were good and so was the green beans. Also ordered the bbq egg rolls to go. Don't, just don't... Beings we just moved here and missed bbq, this was a disappointment. Even the corn muffin was cold as if it just came out of the freezer. Counter service was fine. Was a little busy. Ambiance was, well it's a bbq joint! We MAY give it another try, with ribs. Hopefully my review can bring it up a star or two next time..... read more

Excellent food. Was visiting from out of town and it was so good ate dinner there two nights in a row.

First time out to red state but definitely won't be the last, super friendly people and the food came out quick for how busy it was! Plus the price is probably better than anywhere else you'll go for as great of food. The BBQ sauce selection is awesome as well, it's fun trying out all of the different types they have. The South Carolina mustard and the apple bourbon were my favorites! read more

I got the 3 meat platter. Wings were yummy. Brisket was ok. The sides!! Omgggg that banana pudding tastes like grandma was in the back churning butter, vanilla, and naners!! It was absolutely delicious! The macaroni was something serious. Very good! Greens were salty. But overall my meal was absolutely wonderful!!! read more

Love the double smoked brisket! The regular brisket sandwich is great also. I like fries or cheese grits as my sides. The pulled pork is good too. This place is a local legend, go check it out. You will have enjoy it. read more

I used to enjoy coming here, the ribs always had a great "bark" on the exterior, meaty and juicy. The brisket was always tender and juicy. I ate there today and it was totally disgusting. I sent my ribs back, they were dry as a bone, fatty, flavorless. I asked for a brisket instead, just as bad, DRY as hell and like shoe leather!!! What has happened to this place? New meat vendor isn't cutting it, or the guy making the barbeque is new, everything WAY OVERCOOKED DRY and TASTELESS! Won't be back!!!!!! read more

Red State BBQ - Dried out brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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One of these places you go to for a great meal. One that you keep going to when you want a good meal but never think to post a review. The bbq and brisket have been great every time I've been there. Must try place. The catering is good as well. Feed an army if you want read more

Don't miss this one! Looks like a dive but take the time to enter. Also request their sampler barbecue sauces. I had my normal barbecue request of baby back ribs ( half slab) and not disappointed. I also tried a bourbon beer, not bad. read more

I hope my girlfriend isn't reading this because I fell in love with the beer cheese brisket. Wow. I'm from Chicago and will happily make the king trek down every weekend to eat here if I could. The food is so damn good and worth the stop if in the area. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Red State BBQ is no joke! read more

Absolutely phenomenal. They're service was excellent, super nice, and quick. The food was awesome!! We are road tripping through Lexington and this place is perfect for an authentic taste of Kentucky that is inexpensive and fast, but that isn't fast food. Totally worth the visit. read more

This place is fire. It's a little bit off the highway, so it's a perfect pit stop if you're driving through Lexington. When you drive up, it kind of looks like a deserted area with a small red shack, but you're at the right place! Don't judge a book by it's cover because this place has won numerous awards for its delicious BBQ. It's similar to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that deserves the best, most authentic food. I ordered the double smoked brisket plate (highly recommend), which comes with a choice of two sides. In my case, I got the green beans and Mac and cheese. Also, I got 2 different sauces, the Memphis Sweet and Texas spicy. All their food tastes hot, fresh, and homemade. My total was a little less than ~$13, but there are solid BBQ meals for $10 or less. read more

Red State BBQ - Double Smoked Brisket, Mac ' n ' Cheese, Green Beans, Texas Spicy, Memphis Sweet - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

What a cool little spot. I had the pulled pork which I would rate a 7 out of 10. Bakes beans I'll give a 10. Cole Slaw comes in at a 5. Overall the food was pretty darn good. Speaking with others who have been here at different times the pulled pork is super. Neat clean place. Very friendly staff. Oh and don't forget to write your name on the wall. read more

Red State BBQ - Pulled Pork Plate with Cole Slaw and Baked Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Red State BBQ is great! I've eaten here before, but it's been a while, and I never got around to writing a review. So, recently during a visit with my cousin we decided to stop by for some Beer Cheese to-go. They have some grocery options (including pre-packaged cheese, spreads, desserts, and more) that make it really easy to grab items to go. Their beer cheese is fantastic! I definitely recommend giving it a try if you have the opportunity to stop by. And, if you can stop in for a meal, you can get the cheese not only on its own, but you'll have the option of an appetizer featuring it with a soft pretzel, or the Beer Cheese Grits or Beer Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese with your meal. It's all so good! And all of their barbeque options, meats, sauces, and desserts are fantastic! If you're looking for a great casual dinner spot in the area, look no further than Red State BBQ. read more

Red State BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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We stopped in on a Friday afternoon around 2:30 pm, there were a handful of tables. You order your food at the counter pick your table and pick up your food at the counter when they call your name. You also clean your table when you leave so I'm not sure tipping should be expected. This is a popular place with people coming and going the whole time we were there. The staff were all very friendly. I had the pulled pork with greens and green beans. Hubby had pulled chicken with coleslaw and Mexican street corn (it was a special of the day). Everything was good, I'd say the highlight of this place are the sauces, I'm a Carolina BBQ kinda girl so I prefer the NC Vinegar and SC Mustard husband tried the Taproom Hot. They are some of the best sauces we've had, we both ordered two sauces and our plates came out with just one. The pork was good and not to fatty the greens and green beans were good they had some flavor, but not on the OMG those were fabulous level. The corn was very good the coleslaw standard but hubby says when he put the taproom hot in it, it was very good. The chicken was really good, very moist with lots of flavor. You get a little sauce cup of your preferred sauce and if you want to try the others it's .50 cents per cup, we did get our second cup after asking at the counter. We've been traveling all over the states trying BBQ, this is the first place that's charged for a little cup of BBQ sauce. We probably would have bought a couple bottles of sauce if we could have sampled more flavors. Bottom line this is good solid BBQ with great sauce and decent sides. Husband would definitely get a bottle of Taproom Hot to go if we are back in the area. read more

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Amazing smoked favors! Double smoked brisket kicks butt! The staff is really friendly. We will definitely be back!

The true epitome of BBQ. This hole in the wall has so much character. Don't let the exterior scare you away. The service is counter style and regardless of how busy it is, they are quick to get your order in. The service is good, friendly but short when it's busy which is completely understandable. The menu is simple and easy to navigate. My go to are the ribs and beef brisket. Both are amazing. There are several options for bbq sauce, all are good. There are plenty of sides and all are good. Overall this is one of my favorite bbq joints. If you can find a spot on the wall and leave your mark. read more

We just stopped in here today via recommendation from the Kentucky horse Park campground. Not good for RV parking so drop your rig at the campground and travel back only a few miles to this location well worth it bad ass barbecue! read more

Being from Texas, and I smoke meats, the double smoked brisket was great. The pulled chicken was good but came out cold. The "sausage" was actually more like a hotdog, and was not very good. My husband did enjoy his ribs. The baked beans and Mac & cheese were also good. read more

Red State BBQ - Half rib rack - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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If you like mustard, you will like this mediocre place. I honestly have no idea why this place is so highly rated. In the 45 minutes my wife and I were there eating our dinner two other patrons complained about the food they were served. Under cooked wings and under cooked ribs. Fortunately, we ordeed something different. I assure you, we will never return. read more

Today we went to Red State BBQ for lunch. If you haven't been it doesn't look like much from the outside. The parking lot is gravel and in the same location as this really old sunset motel. Don't let the surroundings scare you off or you will miss out on some truly spectacular bbq. Once inside you may find the line almost out the door. That's what we came across today. It's very popular. The walls are white and covered in writing. There is Red state merchandise you can purchase as well. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. On to the food... there are many great choices from pulled pork and chicken to brisket and even specials such as the sausage po boy. You can go wrong, everything is smoked to perfection. They have many side choices such as Mac and cheese, baked beans green beans etc. Today I chose to have pulled pork and two sides of green bean since I'm watching my carb intake. It was so good. They have many sauces to choose from. Some of my favorites were the Kentucky small batch, Memphis sweet and the Carolina mustard. If you are visiting Kentucky you must stop by and have some bbq with the locals. You won't be disappointed! read more

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This place never misses and when I come home to visit it's a go to every time. May not look 5 star from the outside, but the food is amazing! The staff always friendly along with other visiting patrons. read more

If you haven't tried Red State you have been doing yourself wrong! I love this place and even with all the restrictions it doesn't disappoint. Eating delicious bbq outside on a picnic table on a beautiful day is not a bad way to spend time on a Saturday. Double smoked brisket is my absolute fav but I've never had a bad meal here. Corn pudding, Mac n cheese and fries all delicious. As is everything. Excellent sauces and a wide variety. Do yourself a favor and get yourself some Red State ASAP! read more

Red State BBQ - Two meat platter with double order of double smoked brisket with corn pudding and Mac n cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The best BBQ in Lexington!!! The food is to die for and is just so good and tasty! Super friendly staff and beautiful decor. Definitely recommend Instagram: @foodbytiana read more

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