Found myself visiting Ashland Ky and the hotel desk clerk suggested Fat Patty's for a good…read morehamburger. Walked across the street and was seated fairly quickly near a TV. The server was super friendly and quickly took my drink order. After looking at the menu, I decided on the Lasso Patty. The burger and fries arrived hot and fresh off the grill. It's was more than I could eat but the ham, bacon, BBQ, and burger combo was much better than expected. The fries were hot and crispy and tasted just right without any salt. Overall, the service and food were great. The price was unbeatable! I will visit again for sure.

Good: They are open late. Good: Big menu to choose from…read more Bad: their food is way too salty.

From the moment you step inside, the aroma hits first: a deep, hickory-laced perfume that signals…read morehours of slow devotion rather than shortcuts. This is barbecue that announces itself honestly. No gimmicks, no pretension--just meat treated with respect. We started off with the Texas Sausage Sampler which includes 3 Sausages. Jalapeno Cheddar, Hickory Smoke and Original Old Fashioned. Served with Carolina Gold Sauce, Mustard and Horseradish. The sauce is outstanding. Smoking J's Rib House in Ashland, Kentucky, is the kind of place that reminds you why barbecue isn't just food--it's culture, patience, and pride rendered in smoke and fire. The ribs are the undisputed star. Thick-cut, generously portioned, and lacquered with a bark that balances sweetness, smoke, and spice, they arrive with that elusive perfection every pitmaster chases. The meat pulls cleanly from the bone without collapsing into mush, proof of disciplined temperature control and timing. Each bite delivers layers: smoke up front, pork richness at the core, and a restrained tang from the sauce that enhances rather than smothers. Brisket lovers will find plenty to admire. The slices boast a pronounced smoke ring and a pepper-forward crust, with fat rendered to a buttery softness that melts on the tongue. It's assertive, confident barbecue--unapologetically Southern, yet precise enough to impress even seasoned purists. The sides refuse to play second fiddle. Mac and cheese was amazing, creamy with a baked top that adds texture, while the baked beans carry a subtle smokiness that echoes the pit rather than competing with it. Coleslaw provides a crisp, cooling contrast, cutting through the richness exactly as it should. What truly elevates Smoking J's, though, is its sense of place. This isn't barbecue chasing trends or Instagram aesthetics. It's barbecue rooted in community--food that feels earned, familiar, and deeply satisfying. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, the kind where regulars are greeted like family and newcomers are quickly converted. Smoking J's Rib House doesn't just serve great barbecue--it reinforces why Ashland deserves a seat at the table in Kentucky's smokehouse conversation. It's a destination for locals, a worthy stop for travelers, and a reminder that when barbecue is done right, it doesn't need to shout. The smoke speaks for itself.

Service was slow, food was mediocre at best. Salad came out after filet medallions (a stretch to…read morecall it filet) for one of our group. One and done!

First off the sensors wouldn't pick up anything I was literally drilling golf balls and baseballs…read morebut it wasn't picking anything up the only game that kinda worked was basketball but it still wasn't good anyway wouldn't recommend to anyone.

$20/hr/person. completely outdated uncallobrated software. The tap selection is absolutely…read morehorrible. What is this areas infatuation with country a$& brewery. Not 1 IPA worth wasting your money on. Hint to beer sellers... bells.

The last time I had come here I wanted to try this place; however, it was not a national chain like…read moreWings and Rings or Buffalo Wild Wings and so I was kind of wary (I still had it at the back of my mind to try it at some point). This time around, I tried it yesterday and it was not bad. Their wings are basically different from others because it seems like they make sure the naked wing (which may defeat the purpose of it being called naked depending on how someone terms it) is extra crispy. Then they seem to take the wing and douse it in sauce (which I love). Cost: So I ended up getting two- 6 piece wings, one with the Wango sauce and one with Mahalo Que. It was a Monday and so 6 wings for $4.74. The cost, even with the discount, is still priced on average with other wing places. I feel so bad that the $0.50 wings may be a thing of the past (although, Papa Johns did have an offer a few months ago where this was the case). Rivals like Wingstop and Pizza Hut have wings for either $1.00 a wing (which is outrageous) and around $0.80+, respectively. Online ordering: What I did not like about the actual online ordering was that none of the flavors were scaled on spiciness (mild to hot or hot to mild), they were just listed in some order (at least from the ordering page I had seen). The Wango was pretty spicy, could have used a forewarning for that. Nevertheless, the wings were good. Chain as a whole: Continued ranting about the chain as a whole; they, like Wingstop, also charge for everything. Some wing places give dipping sauces for free (at least one) and they include celery and carrots or celery all for around $10 (Wings and Rings, I think Buffalo Wild Wings used to). I did see that there is actually a separate combo that one could get this addition. It will be extra though. If one wants a specific type of wing, they charge that per wing (drums and flats). Wings and Rings was the first wing place that I was shocked to find that one could choose either or and not be charged extra (I like drums more than I do flats). I cannot state that the wings from here were better than Wings and Rings, Wingstop, or even Papa Johns (which one could find insulting since Papa Johns to some may not even be a place that should specialize in wings, they are a pizza place). Customer service: Now addressing the customer service, it seemed like it has gotten better. Or maybe not? When I went in, it was around 4-5 p.m. and so people were probably still at work and so one table was being served when I was there for my pick up order. I did have one server ask if I would like a cup of water, that was a nice gesture. Then I had another ask if I was being assisted. That was nice. I guess if the place is not crowded, it would make a difference if a server blatantly missed serving someone. Haha. For people looking at reviews, this is how I grade: 3 star does not necessarily mean the place I reviewed is bad, it is just average. 4 star means that there was something different, maybe the price is what I would consider affordable or one could customize without extra fees. This place would have been given a four if the wings were like $0.50. Additionally, they would have been given a four if they allowed one to select a type of wing like drums or flats for free (it is so subjective to grade on this, however, I thought I would never see the day that this would have been a possibility, Wings and Rings definitely addressed this aspect). 5 star is rare. The wings would have to be something that I would have never had before and pretty much the chain would have had to have the items listed under 4 star. It kind of stinks though that when I came on here to review this place, that the business already had a 3 star rating and even with that rating, the reviews for that rating were not really good.

Stopped for lunch for the first time at 1:30pm on a Friday. It wasn't busy but my experience wasn't…read moregood. It took 20 minutes to get waited on. I ordered a burger with the hot ranch and Mac and cheese and a mountain dew no ice. The soda came with ice, and the Mac was not even warm. The burger didn't have the hot ranch on it. I asked for it and 20 minutes later I just said screw it and ate it without it. While the burger was good, I was not happy with the service that never came. I understand Ice is a mistake but mistake after mistake and blame it on being busy. I will not be back

This location in Ashland KY. is pretty hit and miss. I have eaten here and had a good meal and I've…read moreeaten here and had a not so good meal. This particular time it was good and bad, their special right now is all you can eat Riblets, boneless wings or fried shrimp. I started with boneless wings in sweet Asian sauce and they were really good. I asked for a round of Riblets and they were so dried out and tough that I couldn't eat them. We had a great waitress, who even though she had two large groups other than us, checked on us frequently and was quick to get refills. It was a snowy evening so there weren't too many people dining but it still was pretty noisy for some reason. Applebee's are pretty much the same in my opinion, this location seems like every other one I've eaten at.

Amazing food and service late night crew deserves all the tips they're professional funny and kind…read moreregardless of the time they are hard workers! Me and my family love to come here. The ambiance was so nice the music was killer! You can request songs on an app and for five dollars you can pick three songs. All the workers definitely deserve a raise.

The staff is super sweet, the food was amazing and they were quick during a huge rush.read more

For part of my order I ordered 6 traditional wings. I wanted and paid for all flats, and I also…read moreasked for the sauce to be on the side. I got 6 traditional all drums with the sauce on the wings. When I said something to the runner she refused to have it fixed for me because they were too busy. I wasn't a happy camper.

Worst hot dog I ever had! The staff was excellent…read moreThe hot dog could not be picked up by hand . It was a mess to try to eat . Ask for fork and knife to eat it, wasn't worth it!

We have eaten here several times and the food has been excellent every visit. The…read moreburgers,reuben,cuban are all fantastic. If you are lucky enough to show up and the deep fried deviled eggs are available GET THEM! BOGO burgers on Mondays makes for a fun evening. I highly recommend

Good food, better atmosphere . Go on a Wednesday, they have Open Mike listen to some local talentread more

Wings were cooked very well. Crispy but not at all dry. Still very flavorful. Nice music with a…read morewell cooked meal.