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Smoking Kow BBQ

4.0 (114 reviews)
InexpensiveFood Trucks, Barbeque
Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

About Smoking Kow BBQ

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Smoking Kow BBQ Photos

SMOKING KOW BBQ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Smoking Kow BBQ

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Truck
Chris C.

This is another new truck for our neighborhood so absolutely had to try it. We ordered the brisket and pulled chicken platters - both were tender and delicious and in generous portions - each came with a big potato bread and two sides - nice coleslaw, tasty corn bread, the mac and cheese was a bit overdone. Overall however very pleased with this new addition to the food truck line up. Preordering online is easy, although there are no photos of the food, and they seem to assemble the food together when you show up. Will definitely order again when the truck comes around next time.

Truck
Jane L.

If you are looking for huge portions of insane BBQ, go find this truck! I ordered the Special which was South Carolina style pulled pork with 2 sides for $10... I chose mac and cheese and cornbread. I didn't realize it also comes with a roll so I probably should have gotten cole slaw instead but everything was great. You get so much meat! I wound up with like 3 more meals-worth of leftovers. Service is super quick so don't stay too far!

Zach S.

Was recommended this place while in the area and it definitely lived up to the reputation given to me as one of the better bbq places in the DC area. I got the burnt ends with sides of Mac n cheese and collard greens. The burnt ends were solid and had a fantastic crust on them, while also being very juicy with not too much fat attached still. The Mac n cheese and collard greens were good too and while I enjoyed their main sauce, it was a little on the sweeter side, which isn't my personal preference, but it was still good. My only grievance was that it was a little pricey for one meat and two sides and didn't include a drink. Other than that, I loved it and will absolutely be passing on my recommendations for it now too.

Brisket and pulled pork platter.

Really disappointed with my latest order from smoking kow. Small portions for the brisket and pulled pork that were also refrigerator cold and dry. Service here hasn't always been great but the food made up for it. Now they have neither. Doubtful I would return or recommend.

Jason J.

I've been to a lot of food trucks in DC but this is one of my favorites. There are different trucks near my office daily but if this one's there my choice is made easier. You can't go wrong with any of the meats. I generally get a combo of brisket and another one on a big pile of mac and cheese. My mouth is watering just writing this review. (Be sure to keep a Tupperware in your desk because you usually get enough for the next day too. I only gave it 4 stars because I eat a lot of BBQ and there is a lot of great BBQ out there . . . . but you can't go wrong stopping here.

Pulled brisket & sausage with jalapeño grits & mac and cheese.
Victor H.

Holy smokes! They popped up on the D.C. Food truck list radar near my office so I had to try them. I was hoping for tacos but that's with the black truck; I got the white one. The BBQ here isn't bad. You can choose between brisket, pulled pork, chicken, or sausage. One popular item is the mac n meat where it's whatever meat you choose piled on mac and cheese; anything with mac and cheese will be enhanced obviously. You could put wood chips on mac n cheese and it would still taste great. But I did not order that dish. I opted for the combo meat platter (brisket & sausage) with two sides (mac n cheese, jalapeño grits). The sausage was my favorite. The brisket has good flavor but I don't like brisket being pulled and chopped. The mac and cheese is everything you want it be. I thought I would enjoy the jalapeño grits but I found them to be very runny although that's how grits are I suppose. Taste is still there though. You can use the various sauce options they have. As a Tarheel fan I'll always go for the Carolina sauce; a vinegar based sauce of hot and sweet. The only appropriate way to consume vinegar! Also used their KC sauce which is sweet and thick. Even had a hot sauce and an Asian-type sauce so I'm glad they're representing! I want the black truck next time so I can get the tacos!

a fork in a bowl of bbq sauce

This place has changed my life for beans. I absolutely hate kidney beans to the point I take them out of my chili. When I was offered the beans at Smoking cow it was the best beans I had ever had hands down. This is thebonlybplace I will be eating beans when I want them and the way they taste that will be often!!!

Mac and pulled chicken
Laurie W.

I like Smoking Kow a lot. Thanks to my co-worker, I'm now obsessed with combining bbq/meat and mac and cheese, and Smoking Kow not only devotes a section of their menu to this concept but they do it right. My favorite order is the pulled chicken and the mac and cheese. The portions are plentiful, and I like that the chicken is 'plain' so you can customize with your own BBQ sauce. I like a mix of the standard sauce and the spicy sauce. One of my new favorite trucks!

Mary Kate E.

I don't know if I would get this again. I didn't find it all that wonderful and did not think the price and the quality of what you get matched. I opted for the mac and cheese with meat over it, particularly, the pulled pork. My friend got the brisket. We both agree that putting sauce on the meat really does add better flavor than leaving it as it. Everything ranges from $10-12 a plate.

Mac n meat (with pork). So, so good.
Kaley R.

YAS OMG. Everyone needs to go here, especially mac n cheese lovers. I am now obsessed. I went to Smoking Kow BBQ for the first time today when I saw the white truck stopped in Rosslyn. As soon as I saw the mac n meat option I knew I had to try it. Labeled as their most popular seller, you can get mac n cheese with one to three meats on top (chicken, pork, brisket). I got the pork and was literally transported to heaven right there. First, I'm not much of a snob when it comes to mac n cheese (because it's hard to go wrong, ever) but theirs is absolutely DELICIOUS. They're thicker noodles than the standard Kraft mac n cheese, and the cheese is more of a yellow, creamier cheese sauce with a hint of pepper that adds a nice little kick of extra flavor. Second, the pork. Omg... I'm from way down South so I know my pork, and this stuff was bomb. I hate the word succulent, but succulent and tender it was. Even the crispier pieces weren't overcooked and had really, really great flavors. There are a number of sauces you can add on the side, so definitely try out a couple to see which one you like best. The service was great as well - friendly and quick. Honestly, can't ask for much more. I'll definitely be back.

Today's Special     Sweet Mustardy Pulled Pork and 2 Sides.
Greg O.

I visited the Smoking Kow White truck today for lunch. First I would like to say I love the truck! The design concept is simple and really conveys the message of what you sell before I even got to the window. The menu was not too big which allowed me to make my selection with ease. Then I got to the window and saw the special and had to reconsider my order. I went with the special. It was about a ton of sweet mustardy pulled pork, a bun and the choice of two sides for 11.00. It was served in a clear plastic container that was divided into three sections. The pulled pork was in the bottom and largest section and literally it was enough for two even three sandwiches. I would not go hungry here. I thought for the price the portion was very...and I mean very generous. Let's talk about flavor for a minute. I enjoy bbq. If you asked my wife she would say I would make it and eat it for every meal if possible, and she is probably right. The flavor of this sweet mustardy pulled pork was nice. The sweetness hits your buds first, followed by the tangyness of the mustard. Just because all of this non-meat flavor is present does not mean the pork flavor is lost. It is there and all three make a nice little dance together in your mouth. This was worth the walk to get to the truck. I was not very crazy about the sides. I chose BBQ baked beans and Mac and Cheese. On first taste, the beans were just ok. They seemed to be a bean medley that came from a can. However, Dylan from Smoking Kow their "beans are completely homemade w a brown sugar, Worcestershire, bbq sauce". The mac and cheese side was weird. I am used to a very creamy cheesy mac and cheese. This was very creamy, but had a weird taste. I thought of it as a hybrid of mac and cheese and macaroni salad. Dylan from Smoking Kow informed me that their Mac and Cheese is "macaroni in a mornay sauce w garlic and jalapeno to flavor - there's no mayo or dressing in it". Either way it was not my thing, but you may like it. All in all, my recommendation is Krazy Kow is worth a visit. The service was very nice and fast. I dont know if they are open to sample before purchase, but I would recommend this for the sides. If they are in your area, pop over to their location and check them out. You can find their location list on their website.

Pork taco with slaw and mac n' cheese

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5 months ago

Awesome food -- exceptionally tasty. The brisket is to die for and love their baked beans.

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3 years ago

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8 months ago

Yum!! So good! Great BBQ - love the burnt tips. Good solid cookout menu, lots of sides.

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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2 years ago

Burnt ends and ribs are delicious. Love whatever sauce they are using. Need to keep more food available as sometimes they run out of things.

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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3 years ago

Delicious Q. The pulled pork, brisket, and sausage are wonderful. The sides are great, too.

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7 years ago

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Gyu San Japanese BBQ - Welcome to GYUSAN!!!

Gyu San Japanese BBQ

4.6(325 reviews)
3.5 km•Ballston
Luxury
All you can eat

This place will always be top five restaurants in northern virginia. I have been a handful of times…read morefor special occasions and they have neverrrr failed me. Whenever I go, I always order off the most premium tier and while it is pricey at $98 per person, I believe that it is completely worth the money. For endless rounds of high quality wagyu, sushi, ramen, etc., it is beyond easy to get your money's worth here. I've actually done the math totaling up how much we ate and what it would've been al le carte and it totaled to $400-500 total for two people so this is well worth it. The items I would highly recommend is everything off their wagyu tier, the wagyu fried rice, and their specialty rolls. Don't forget to end the meal off with some dessert as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the matcha crepe cake. This place is very modern and with an amazing staff that is super attentive. Water cup was always filled, they came back quick to ask what we wanted next (no waiting around necessary), cooked our meat perfectly for us. Overall, while this wouldn't be my everyday/daily dining option due to the price, it is my most favorite place to splurge at for any special occasions. It is definitely a must try and I will be looking forward to the next time I come

The food was delicious. I got the Wagyu fried rice. Heavy on the rice but the meat was nicely…read morecooked. I also got the lobster roll. Good ratio of rice and meat. I went at 4:30pm so it wasn't loud. The service was fine - the waiter checked in on us and we didn't have to wait long. Only complaint is they need more signs to tell you the direction. It brings you to the front of the building but the restaurant is on the opposite side. It's on the side facing good company donuts or the ally behind chipotle.

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Gyu San Japanese BBQ - All You Can Eat

All You Can Eat

Gyu San Japanese BBQ
Gyu San Japanese BBQ

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Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling- Arlington - Mixed Rib Platter | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling- Arlington

3.7(872 reviews)
3.0 km•Virginia Square
•$$

It's Sunday afternoon. You're exhausted, sweaty, hungry, thirsty. But wait, why all this drama on…read morean easy sunny Sunday????? you may ask. My friends, this is the thirst, the hunger, the fatigue of a Sunday morning beer league roller hockey champion obviously! And when you've gone to war and come out bloody and victorious, maybe lost a few friends along the way, you deserve a meal that is as rugged and delicious as your championship. So you got to Rockland's for some bbq! Now it's bbq so it's a bit pricey but that's ok because the cash will be rolling in from all the NILs after this championship. I ordered beef ribs, potato salad, onion rings, a side of corn bread and a lemonade. Everything was delicious. Slather that plate down with there sauces and eat like a (beer league) champion!

For such a popular establishment, I truly thought they would have some rather exceptional barbecue,…read morebut for the most part, it was quite bland and uninspiring. My son's burger, ordered, medium rare, was way overcooked and dry. The brisket, Texas cut, was fair, but the meat itself had very little flavor and had lost quite a bit of its juices. The baby back ribs were fair, but again nothing exceptional. A wide offering of sauces, though surprisingly the house regular sauce tasted basically like tomato sauce with vinegar and onions without much flair. A side of onion rings had a very nice taste, but too much oil. Cucumber salad was quite good though a bit over marinated with a very basic Italian dressing. Coleslaw is quite good, but I would hope that from any good barbecue establishment. I was wanting to try the okra but decided not to order it. On the positive side, the service is super fast, and casual atmosphere had a nice ambience. I've had much better barbecue in the Arlington area in at least three other places, so it was a bit disappointing.

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Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling- Arlington - Example of how the tables are setup in the dining area

Example of how the tables are setup in the dining area

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling- Arlington - Three meat platter!

Three meat platter!

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling- Arlington - Three Meat Platter | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

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Three Meat Platter | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

Ruthie's All-Day - Brisket hash

Ruthie's All-Day

4.4(1.4k reviews)
5.2 km
•$$

Sooo Ruthie's was a friend meetup for lunch, I'm late with this review. The inside has a…read morediner-but-chic style with an open kitchen, which I always appreciate being able to see what's going on with my food. I loved the floral arrangements bringing some greenery into the decor. The food was very filling and flavorful. I haven't gone in for breakfast, but I'm sure it's just as good. Our server was very friendly and helpful with picking our food. This is a good spot for a meetup with family and friends. What we ordered: Deviled Eggs = Mmm mmm good Crispy Cod Sandwich = Fresh and filling Smoked Brisket = My friend finished her plate

Amazing brunch spot! Very crowded though, make reservations in advance, preferably well in advance…read more If you wait until the day before, you may not get your preferred time. We found that out the hard way but it was our fault, not the restaurant's. So we met an hour earlier. Lesson learned. I got the apple pie pancakes and they were amazing and the portions were huge. The biscuits looked good as well, my friend got them as a side, but I can only eat so much. The brisket hash and brisket bennie too. Everything is awesome here. You will not go hungry. They have many delicious apps and sides but you don't need them because the brunch portions are huge. You will have leftovers for one, maybe two more meals. That is a good thing. Only downside is parking is tight. There is a small lot out front, another one out back, and some street parking. You may have to drive around a bit to find it especially at peak hours. And the bathrooms are small. But this is an amazing place so be sure to check it out for brunch! Oh I have a hunch breakfast dinner and brunch would be so much more fun if I had it at Ruthie's All Day!

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Ruthie's All-Day - Dining room

Dining room

Ruthie's All-Day - Cornbread, deviled eggs

Cornbread, deviled eggs

Ruthie's All-Day - Skillet Cornbread

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Skillet Cornbread

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

4.2(586 reviews)
3.3 km•Clarendon
•$$$

Excellent meal! Just as good as we remember it was in San Diego. The steak options are amazing and…read morethis location is conveniently located a short walk off the metro. It looks like they have a great lunch special too. We will definitely be back especially to check out the lunch offerings.

I came here after being recommended Gyu-kaku by a friend. I have not tried much Japanese style bbq…read more There was a special promo going on where the yaki shabu mountain was 50% off. There were other good deals like the $2.50 draft kirin which is cheaper than a soft drink. I was able to find street parking right in front of the restaurant, but I'm sure on a weekend it may be harder to find. The service was very friendly but a little slow. The yaki shabu mountain looked like a lot but it really wasn't. If it wasn't for the marinated meat, I would have been able to finish everything. The meat was a bit too salty for me. I didn't try any of their sauces bc it needed no more. I also got a cold tofu dish which was refreshing. For dessert, I got the Lady M crepe cake with vanilla ice cream. The vanilla ice cream scoop was pretty small and had a lot of ice crystals as if it had been pre-scooped and left in the freezer. The crepe cake was as expected delicious. There is a Gyu-Kaku app that you can download and sign up for which will give you some points and a $10 off for $30 spent. You are able to earn points for future use as well. I think the value was fair for what I got. Fyi there is poor reception in the restaurant. No wifi either. Ambiance inside is dimly lit for the tables, but by the bar you get a window and more lights.

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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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Sloppy Mama's BBQ - Brisket Egg and Cheese, Egg and Cheese, Hash Brown

Sloppy Mama's BBQ

3.9(286 reviews)
2.7 km
•$$$$

So far, Sloppy Mama's is by far the best BBQ I've had in the Arlington area. By far…read more The ribs are superb - dry rubbed with a light sauce coating but intense flavor and the cuts aren't all choppy keeping the meat intact on the bone until it slides off when eaten. The brisket takes the show though - spectacular beef flavor, smoky with excellent bark with the excess fat rendered down keeping it juicy without a huge layer under the surface. Sides are great - the slaw has a good vinegar strength to cut the meat sweats, and the cornbread was solid. Super wide range of sauces for every taste including multiple Carolina styles, KC, Alabama white, and some spicy pepper sauces. Self serve, open seating, and expect there to be a line on weekends, but totally worth it.

Decent bbq spot - friendly cashiers but definitely a bit of a wait just for some bbq. Place was…read morereally busy midday Saturday but can't blame them. Clean restrooms and tons of indoor seating. Loved their sauce bar- Alabama, Kansas City, Carolina style to make all the different bbq lovers happy. I agree with the sentiment of wishing they had combo plates as one sausage was like 6 bucks which is wild. Foodwise - tried the coleslaw, mac and cheese, jalapeno cheddar sausage, and the pulled pork. Best thing hands down was the mac and cheese - creamy but with great flavor and a great cheese ratio. Coleslaw was so so- good but some wilted pieces and was a bit thrown by the pickle pieces (though I love pickles). Jalapeno cheddar sausage was good but in my opinion, a bit overpriced for just one sausage. Lastly - the pulled pork. While not bad quality meat, the aftertaste was a bit off putting and I think the chips they may use in their smoker are just not my vibe. With the sauces, you didn't notice it as much but just on generic taste, not my favorite pulled pork in the area. Cornbread and butter were great - no complaints there. Overall solid spot- I'd come back for sausage, maybe try the brisket, but will definitely get some mac and cheese again.

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Sloppy Mama's BBQ - Menu

Menu

Sloppy Mama's BBQ - Cornbread, Mac & Cheese, Turkey, Chopped Pork, Chicken

Cornbread, Mac & Cheese, Turkey, Chopped Pork, Chicken

Sloppy Mama's BBQ

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Smoking Kow BBQ - foodtrucks - Updated October 2026

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