was here visiting family in Virginia for the weekend, got bored so I decided to explore and this place came up on my TikTok so I decided to go try it after the gym. 10/10 everything I got on the platter was great read more

Service was very fast. Ambiance was clean and airy. Ordering was fun as it turned out to be... ribs, pulled chicken, collard greens, and the must try... sweet potatoes mash! Those three sauces: chipotle, original, and the other... all gravy! Thoroughly enjoyed! Came at a great time*** for BBQ... this is a great place to go! read more

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This was an absolute no for me, never ever never again. I'm a fan of transparency, so if certain meats cost more, that's completely fine. Just be upfront about it and clearly print the upcharges on the menu. That would avoid confusion for customers. This is the first time in my life I've spent around $75 on food and only eaten about a quarter of it, and that was simply because I was hungry. I packed up the rest only to throw it away later. The ribs were extremely tough, tough enough that I felt like I could break a tooth trying to eat them and I kept searching for seasoning that never seemed to be there. As for the burnt ends, I honestly don't even know where to begin. The young lady at the register was new. I asked whether the ribs and burnt ends were included in the family combo for four, and she told me yes while the owner/manager was standing near her. When I saw the total, I was confused, and the owner/manager then explained that those meats carry an additional charge and that the combo includes pork. The cashier immediately apologized and said, "I didn't know, but now I know moving forward." She was kind, professional, and handled the situation well. What disappointed me most was that the owner/manager had an opportunity to step in, acknowledge the confusion, and make the situation right, but that opportunity was missed. As for the sides: the cornbread was disappointing, the potato salad wasn't good, and the macaroni and cheese was decent but nothing memorable. Overall, between the lack of transparency, the poor quality of the food, and the way the situation was handled, I won't be returning like never. Seeing these reviews confuse me because I went straight to my car to write this review. I have been to at least 5 restaurants this week in this area that all earn 5 reviews for food and service so I was extremely disappointed. read more

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Found this place recommended by Yelp and it did not disappoint! Came here with my mom and we both ordered the brisket platter with ribs with mac n cheese, coleslaw, Texas caviar and cornbread. The ribs were flavorful with just the dry rub but my fav sauce was the golden barbecue super tangy and sweet. Mac n cheese was garlicky and delicious! Cornbread was also so good! We asked if we could replace one cornbread with the Texas caviar and they let us just keep the cornbread which was super kind. 10/10 great bbq The man who worked at the front was very kind and knowledgeable on the menu and lots of ample seating! read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Seating - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I've ordered BBQ Rib and brisket with beans and coleslaw. The BBQ rib was juicy and brisket melts away. Their beans and coleslaw were fresh. I think I will go to this restaurant once a month. I've ordered carry-out, so I have not gotten their services yet. They had a TV, but it was quiet overall. I will recommend this place to my friends and family. read more

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Holy Kow. This is delicious. I can't tell you how many times we drove by saying: "we need to try that place sometime." We finally did and regret not coming years earlier. We walked in on a Saturday to smiling face (William) and were surrounded by that smoky smell. This place is nothing fancy. It's a little BBQ joint that would be home on a small country road but it's right there on Duke Street. Unexpected and wonderful. Obvious the pit master loves what he does. Pulled pork is lean and juicy. Brisket is flavorful. Bark on both was perfect, not over peppered. Mashed sweet potatoes were also great. It was all so good, we went back the next day for the smoked turkey. Highly recommend. read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Don't miss - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Was excited to try this place because of the images and reviews- BUT upon walking in a rat ran down the wall in the kitchen... was immediately disgusted, turned right around and went elsewhere. read more

Awaited but due. Smoking Kow BBQ delivered. The ribs and brisket were both good in their own respective ways. The ribs had a sweet rub which I didn't mind at all. The cook was perfect on them. The brisket was also very tasty. I didn't mind learn they do not smoke whole brisket but they do smoke both sides of the muscle group. The trim on the brisket wasn't bad at all, the fat was rendered very well, the smoke was clean and not too heavy which is good if you intend on eating lots of this delicious food. When I went the AC unit was on the Fritz which didn't bother me one bit. I felt like I was at a backyard bbq in a shed. I picked the perfect time to visit as I was pretty much the only one. The food was presented very well. I did have a bonus of collard greens (not pictured) which had a good vinegar base. A touch more salt and spice would be perfect for me. Honestly the vinegar base seemed to be the theme with the beans as well. I really enjoyed those over the other two sides. Granted I don't visit bbq places having a lot of weight on the sides. Very popular item here seems to be the burnt ends. They were sold out but I did try what they told me was the point. Inter muscular fat suggested I had the flat but that's another topic considering brisket anatomy is typically referred to as moist or lean. Overall the food was rather good and very close to the local competitors of 2fifty bbq and federalist pig. Less options than both but a good product presented. 4.1 out of 5 combined experience. read more

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Delicious options. Place smlls great. Nice people. Parking in commercial lots before and past lication.

Hey guys! If you're looking for a bite to eat, smoking kow bbq has been a great pick for us! The service was fantastic with detailed explanations on the menu. The atmosphere reminds of eating bbq at a camp with the picnic tables and given that its winter season the tv displayed a campfire. The food, awe man the food! The burned ends were my favorite! It tasted as if they marinated overnight with the right blend of seasonings! The collard greens were my next favorite as tender as they were! The smoke turkey and the cornbread were good too don't get me wrong. I do feel like the Burned ends and collard greens outshined them both! read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Platter - Burnt Ends, Collard Greens, Cornbread, pulled chicken! - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I was excited to eat my brisket, the food was good however after eating my husband mentioned seeing a lot of rodents outside of the establishment in plain daylight. I decided to look up past inspections and it sounds like rodent droppings have been found. This has been a huge disappointment. read more

Fast, friendly and delicious. Tasty and delicious barbecue. based on their excellent customer service, I consider them amazing food ambassadors for the area. Welcome, rustic interior and visibly happy customers. We will be back! read more

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I stopped here for lunch. I ordered the turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato mash. The food arrived quickly. The BBQ sauce is good, but it is not spicy enough for my taste. I added hot sauce. This place has limited parking and a small restaurant. The food is tasty. read more

Very solid BBQ joint. I had previously tried the food truck when it was parked near Metro Center, and thought that it was passable - the brick and mortar location is better. I ordered a 1/2 pound of brisket, 1/2 pound of pulled pork, and a side of potato salad. The brisket was moist and not too oily, but there were some large chunks of solid fat still intact (I trimmed them off). The pulled pork was a little more dry, but not overwhelmingly so. The potato salad was not bad at all, not too mayo-y and with a nice balanced blend. The bbq sauces were all actually pretty good - I think I used the chipotle one the most, but the yellow mustard-y one was tasty as well. I would not be embarrassed to bring my Texan fiancee here for bbq, so it's at least 4/5 Yelp stars. read more

I just want you to know what you are supporting when you patron this restaurant. The property owner here who is an elderly widow has been scammed by this tenant for years. They continuously bounce the rent checks and refuse to leave the property. The are using the legal system to bleed the older woman dry. She's expended tens of thousand of dollars in legal fees and lost rent to the point where she has to sell the building. These people are horrible people. No matter whether you are craving bbq or not - go around the corner to Rocklands that runs a legitimate, respectful establishment and stay away from these con artists. read more

Awesome brisket. Take out is quick and you can order online. Staff is pleaseant Small space but you can eat in...Get the brisket! read more

Quick service and good bbq. This place satisfies a craving for some bbq. We had the brisket, pulled pork sandwich, and smoked turkey. Mac and cheese was good too! read more

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I love getting the pulled pork, sweet potato and cornbread, really delicious and hit the spot

They used to have an incredible pulled chicken, but the last time I went, they had pulled it from the menu. Came in today to order a brisket sandwich , side, and drink to eat in and a pound of turkey and potato salad to go. They had a sign saying "Burnt Ends Sold Out" but then they had no potato salad and processed my order. Then after charging me, they told me they had no turkey. I understand barbecue places run out of things, but the place was empty and it didn't just happen. They knew they didn't have potato salad before I ordered but didn't update the sign, and the kitchen didn't bother to tell anyone they were out of turkey until someone ordered it. There also was no contrition or attempt to make things right. When you fail a customer twice in the same visit, be sorry and offer to make good on it. At very least they could have offered to discount my dine in order or comp the side I order. The fact they were hardly apologetic, I just cancelled the order entirely (which took forever) and walked out. Won't be back. read more

The brisket at Smoking Kow was amazing easily the best brisket I've had. Super tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The service was great and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Everything felt relaxed and enjoyable Great food and I'll definitely be back! read more

Because of the amazing reviews I vowed to give this place another chance. To my regret I am here to report that it is HORRIBLE! Meats are dry and tasteless. The Mac and cheese has a loose liquid with no flavor and the only thing that was edible is the beans. The staff is friendly but this is place is pretending when it comes to being a bbq joint. Anyone that has had this in last 6 months and left a good review i need to know what time of the day did you go. The first time I ordered uber eats so today I said I will go there my self. Unfortunately it was the same results. read more

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Can I consider this a "hidden gem"!? It's so small that you can say it's tucked away. If you've never been here, you MUST go! Let's start with presentation and atmosphere! When you are arriving, it initially strikes you as your average take out spot. But the closer you get to the door, the more homey it looks and feels. The wood is stacked up outside of the door and a Bench for sitting very welcoming! Once inside, there's southern blues instrumentals playing, the smell of the amazing BBQ and helpful staff! The decor is also very fitting. So much that we opted to dine in! Customer service: A1!! My boyfriend let the store worker know that it's our first time and he asked for recommendations and BOY DID WE GET THEM! He gave so many option, how to pair certain meals to get the best bang for your buck. We were even offered samples of whatever we liked!!! And no, the samples did not come in small sauce cups, they came in takeout bowls BIG samples. I was truly amazed and everything won my heart. The food: just go.. trust me. You will be hesitant to try another bbq spot. The ribs are sweet and savory. My 2 year old raved "chicken SO YUMMY!" with the thumbs up. lol read more

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There's some REALLY GOOD BBQ here!! Stopped in for lunch and was surprised to see how many proteins they offered on their menu, it reminded me of a real TX smokehouse, with a chalkboard style offerings list and so many options... they had everything except beef ribs! So, I opted for a half pound each of turkey, pulled chicken, and brisket. Also got a side of Texas Caviar. The side was really good, it's basically a cold bean salad with a smokey, spicy sauce. The brisket was decent, but they cut me some off the fatty, point side, which isn't my fav, but it was definitely moist and tender. It just had way more fat than I wanted. But that pulled chicken was some of the best I've ever had! Tender and very nicely seasoned! The turkey was great! The only better turkey I've had was at La BBQ in Austin (and I've had smoked turkey at many places in TX and KS.). Their sauces were decent, but all three were heavy on the vinegar, lite on the tomato.... Still, nicely seasoned. Service was great and the place, including restroom was very clean. Highly recommend stopping in! read more

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On a hunt for burnt ends and found Smoking Kow! Food: ordered the Burnt End Platter, comes with two sides and a piece of bread. Burnt ends were flavorful and not too tough. Potato Salad is a red skin rendition which I love! Sweet potato mash was good not too sweet, basically a baked sweet potato with a little butter and hint of sugar. All the bbq sauces are vinegar forward. Carolina gold more vinegar and less sweet than I'm used too. But I fill dipped in all three (Carolina Gold, Original, Chipotle) FYI: The collard greens and baked beans are cooked with pork, and I don't eat pork. I don't recall seeing that on the website if you order so be aware. Ambiance: there are three picnic tables inside to sit. However on the hottest day in 8 years (100 degrees) it was inferno inside. Great service describing the menu and helpful! read more

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Excellent food, great service! I got the turkey breast with side of sweet potatoes. Definitely gotta give the cornbread a try or the caramelized jalapeños if you stop by ! read more

The food was amazing. Everything was just mouth watering, well seasoned, fresh. The BBQ sauces were out of this world. You could taste the spices, the tangy effect they had on my taste buds. Just absolutely magnificent. Definitely a repeat on my next visit. read more

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This place has been our post-hike comfort food for months. Love the Mac-n-meat, greens, potato salad. There's candied jalapeño slices involved in the Mac, not fiery hot but a nice spike to the tasty cheesiness. The pork & chicken are tender & delicious, good house-mixed sauce selection. It's a family-run joint with super-nice service, food comes out quickly. Everybody I've seen go in there gets welcomed warmly. SK is in a small historic building with a couple indoor picnic tables and a tiny parking lot. I take it to go. The food is consistently tasty & hits the spot. Def recommend. read more

I searched up brisket near me and this place popped up. I'm glad I came! Customer service was good, ambiance was good. The aroma in and around this place is amazing. Pulled chicken: 10/10 A little cold but full of flavor. Nice Smokey taste good seasoning Brisket: 9/10 a little dry but tender and well seasoned Potato salad: 9/10 different than most potato salads but I really liked it Beans: 8.3/10 more like a chili bean mix than a traditional baked beans, but still very good Mac and cheese: 7/10 very creamy but not baked like I prefer. I could see someone rating a 10 Sauces Carolina gold: 9/10 more vinegar forward; not orange/gold like most are used to Overall 9/10 of experience. Will be returning! read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Platter - Brisket; pulled chicken; Mac N Cheese, BBQ Baked Beans, Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Been looking for a good bbq place in the dmv area and can guarantee I'll be coming back again. It was nice being able to sit down and relax whilst eating good food. If you need somewhere to wind down and eat, come here. read more

A great catering experience with excellent food. We stumbled across this BBQ spot accidentally one day and have been hooked ever since. We just knew we had to have them cater for our wedding. We worked with Dianne and negotiated a what we consider very generous price for all the delicious food that we ended up getting. We catered for 150 and no one went home hungry. One small thing, there may not have been enough servers as the serving line did move a bit slowly. We got compliments on all of the food though. The brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, collard greens, beans and potato salad were all good. We highly recommend using them for all your catering needs. read more

Amazing food! Absolutely loved the turkey breast sandwich and the cornbread is fantastic! Will come back soon!

Definitely the best pulled pork that I have had in a very long time. I ordered the pulled pork platter which included toast and a side of potato salad. My brother got the beef brisket sandwich and it looked even more delicious than the pulled pork. The barbeque sauce was spectacular and really made the barbeque even that much better. We ordered online and by the time we got here? Our order was ready to go. I thought it was fast set ice. Its a rather small restaurant, and we didn't notice any other patrons dining inside. This is the closest barbeque place and I will be be back very soon. I think I will go for the beef brisket the next to.e I come here, and I think it"s their top food item. read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

To find good BBQ, go outside D.C. into Riverdale (2Fiftys) or to Alexandria's Smoking Kow. After my daughter's swim lesson at nearby Goldfish, we picked up BBQ for our house. Ordering online, it www ready within 20 minutes on a Friday evening around 6:30 p.m. The platters are just under $20 but come with large portions and two sides. If you like crispy meat, try the burnt end platter. My housemate loved his brisket platter (ordered "moist") and my wife loved the pulled pork sandwich. The creamy mac and cheese with jalapeños were good but not spicy at all. The baked beans are untraditional but good. They have different BBQ sauces- original, chipotle, Carolina gold, and mumbo. read more

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Brisket Cornbread They have a good service Always super fast service I travel to come here! read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Order the ribs with cornbread and mac & cheese. Cornbread was a little bit dry but the meal was great overall. read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Fantastic food! Absolutely wonderful bbq and sides. Prices are reasonable. Ambiance is southern bbq joint. Great service. Super fast too. read more

Hi All- I'm giving this NC BBQ a five star rating. We carried out tonight. My daughter said when she was ordering at the counter, the young woman helping her was very professional and helpful and made good recommendations. What to order: Burnt ends were sold out by 6 pm. Order that, if you can. The beef brisket was awesome. If the burnt ends are out, then look at the brisket and the bbq chicken...and then the pulled pork. Brisket was really great so going all brisket is a smart move. Ribs were just okay. I'll probably skip the ribs next time. Sides: the caviar is great. Loved the spicy grits and the cornbread. The potato salad was great, with dill. Beans were great. The collards are nice and lots of vinegar. The Cole slaw is very tangy and vinegary. Yes. Go here. It's a great value. Hope my recommendations are helpful to you! read more

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This place was on my 'gotta try it' list and we were in the area so today was the day! The mac n cheese was the star - freaking incredible. Jalapeno mac n cheese that tastes like just a bit of hatch chillies added. Just enough heat, smooth cheesy sauce and pasta that was just right-- just past al dente, but not mushy. We got a bit of everything, brisket, ribs, mac n cheese, beans. The ribs and brisket are exactly what you'd expect from a solid bbq joint, well seasoned, tender, meaty, smoky. To my surprise, my fave was the turkey! Moist and tender, evenly cooked. Looks small from the outside, and not much parking, but it's bigger on the inside than you think it would be. There were a few picnic tables inside and you could probably fit ~6-8 people at a table. read more

Tried smoking kow with a coworker. We were left a little disappointed by the food - it smelled better from outside and we got our hopes up. The barbecue pork was a bit dry and sauces were not my favorite. The cornbread was lacking flavor and moisture. Mac and cheese was pretty good but nothing to rave about. The service was ok, not the most friendly but nothing outright wrong. I don't think I'll be recommending others to stop in any time soon, but it was decent. read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Platter - Pulled Pork Mac N Cheese Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Look at this sexy mfer. This was one of the options they offered at Snallygaster a couple of weekends ago, so both me and my boy got it. Brisket and macaroni and cheese (side note: theres a strong difference between macaroni and cheese and mac n cheese, and for the purposes of this review this is only at the level of macaroni and cheese). Two titans in the food game. Two trusted companions that have been battle tested and proven worthy of many bbqs and family gatherings. The macaroni and cheese was mid. Tasted like it came out of a box. BUT THAT BRISKET THO. The brisket transformed it from Kraft classic to moms secret recipe that you only get on special occasions. Not only did we praise it as we ate it, but we reminisced about it intermittently throughout the rest of the evening...like the deserts miss the rain, like fat kids love cake, like Kanye loves himself. I've only had smoking kow once before and I don't think that I got the brisket but oohwee, I know what im getting next when I go back. read more

Smoking Kow BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia