I came here for the Pit Beef Sandwich. I generally go to Pioneer for pit beef, so that's how I'm comparing this. Smoky's (and Pioneer) was listed in a Washington Post article back in 2019 as one of the 11 best places to go in Maryland for Baltimore Pit Beef, and so I've been wanting to try it for some time. The article said it was one of, if not the BEST place to go for RARE pit beef, as if you order rare, the entire beef sandwich is genuinely rare and very pink. That's what I wanted! I walked in this morning a little before 11:30 am. The place was very quiet. The staff was not busy and anxious to take my order. I ordered a large RARE Pit Beef sandwich with horseradish (not tiger sauce) and raw onions. The large pit beef was $9.95. Soda and tax brought it to $12. True, it was very pink beef and a healthy portion (menu says 7 oz, I didn't weight it). The kaiser bun was very soft but a little too big in diameter for the pile of beef although it was a good-sized pile. I suppose they could have spread the beef out a bit better on the bun considering they were not busy. The sandwich was good but I can't say I was blown away. It was tender as I would expect. Two things that became evident is the sandwich was not dripping with meat juices. It was not dry by any means, but it was not drippy at all, for what that's worth. There was a little bit of red juice on the center of the bun but that was all. Comparably, Pioneer is very difficult to eat without getting juices on your shirt. Also, I can't say I could actually taste the pit. A genuine pit beef should have pit flavor in it. Maybe one could blame that on the fact that I ordered rare. The staff was friendly. The place is very clean and they have a nice indoors dining area which beats Pioneer since all Pioneer has is a few outdoors picnic tables. All in all, it was a very good sandwich and I would go again if I was in the area. read more

Baby Back ribs today were over-cooked, dry and hard.. Pit Beef sandwich was excellent Will stick to the ribs from the Longhorn from now on read more

I generally like Smokey's and have left a positive review before but the last few times have been average. Last night being sad. I got the 1/3 ribs, 1/4 chicken special with 2 sides for $18. If it wasn't for the Mac and cheese I would've had to make something else. It was just weak. My wife got a medium turkey. Taste was good, portion seemed smaller than usual. Service was fine. read more

Smoky's BBQ - Supposed to be a 1/3 rack of ribs. Barely enough meat to pick. Ended up trashing them. Chicken was average, dry but edible. - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

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Had open face beef sandwich on Friday and here it's Monday and I'm still paying for it. Felt sick a few hours after eating it. Threw up and stomach movements through the night and day. Never going back. read more

OK, here it is. Smoky 's is either absolutely amazing or disgusting. There doesn't seem to be any in between. We've gotten sandwiches there that were so delightful I could've eaten a whole ton of them. Other times I've gotten them and they were cut with the grain. They were so tough they were like eating cow leather. It was impossible to bite through the sandwich so each piece had to be pulled out and chewed individually. I just threw the bread out. It either depends upon how it's sliced- it could be that they have new people training at certain points who don't know how to cut the meat or maybe it's how it's cooked. No idea. All I know is that you never know what you're going to get until you get it home. Then it's too late. read more

Cozy and casual BBQ - roast beef sandwich was cooked to order- chicken was solid but ribs were a bit dry. Service was good and food was okay too. read more

Smoky's BBQ - Smokey's entrance - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

This is a nice local place to get some Q. It's not the best and it's certainly not the worst. This is primarily a place for locals to congregate and talk about the local high school's latest sporting achievement and for that...it is awesome. We both had the pit beef sandwich and it was pretty good. They have a nice selection of sauces that can go along with it and the standard sides if you're interested. On the weekends they have a cream of crab soup that is quite tasty so if you've timed it right and are there on a weekend you should definitely order it. Look, three stars isn't a bad score. This is a fine place to eat and I might come back to try out there ribs and/or chicken. read more

Very disappointing. Let the crowd (or lack of a crowd) in the dining room at 7 pm on a Friday be your guide. Sorry to be negative but no choice, lousy oven cooked ribs with no flavor, "baked beans " were canned pinto beans, green beans were canned with a little old bay.. I had bought carry out and it was sent straight to the trash can when I got home. read more

Recently ate at Smoky's BBQ. The medium well beef sandwich was dry and well done. It was like eating straw with the burnt ends. The bun was stale. Disappointed. Use to be a good sandwich. Things changed! Not for the better. read more

The guy making sandwiches was literally dripping sweat, on the food, will NEVER eat there again

Quite a poor experience. The beef ends were dry and tough. The bread was dry. The pit beef was pretty good, though not the most tender I've had. The fries were not crispy and were slightly undercooked. read more

After hearing about this place I had to try it. The experience was disappointing. The spareribs were overcooked and obviously were not smoke cooked. They had no smoke flavor and no smoke ring. I would say they were cooked in an oven and finished on a grill. The pork BBQ was overcooked and mushy. The roast beef sandwich was good, fries were good. Generally overpriced and low quality for a BBQ restaurant named Smokeys. read more

Good meats. Smoked Turkey open face was good, but gravy was just regular canned stuff.

I have taken my management team there a couple of times. They get the food out fast and everyone seems pretty happy. Seating could be updated but it's a nice place. read more

Definitely a go to spot. I'm the pot beef lover and the fam is the pulled pork lover. We can all be happy here!

Just driving around and saw BBQ, had to stop. The restaurant was clean and the service was friendly and welcoming. No bbq sampler plate, so choose wisely. We ordered a half slab of baby back ribs with fries and slaw & a pork bbq sandwich with bbq beans. The ribs were dry, but a decent taste. The mayo base slaw and fries were good. The pork bbq sandwich was drowning in a ok sauce, but was not that satisfying. The bbq beans were delicious. Won't be our go to place, but you may like it. This is just our thoughts on our visit today. read more

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Recently went and both experienced and witness poor customer service. The prices have risen and now certain soups have an upcharge. Was in line behind an elderly gentleman who asked for more cherries on his cheesecake. The young cashier mostly stared at him and tried to ignore his request. An older lady then proceeded to tell him that all cheesecake slices have the same amount of cherries to which he said that he's been coming for years and they usually give him extra. Instead of helping the gentleman, they instead decided to save the $0.25 and proceed to tell him that that was wrong. After he walked away, the cashiers continued to talk about him in front of me while I checked out and then didn't listen to what I ordered. When I reiterated what I ordered, the cashier was quick to hurry me along. After going here for years, was really sad to see how they treated the gentleman in front of me. read more

I've recently moved to Eldersburg. Now, I don't want to say I've moved here only for Smoky's....but I'm not going to deny it either. Recently featured on Washington Post's top spots for Pit Beef in Maryland, and for good reason. It's wonderful...and I'm not talking about only the pit beef. I always get the Junior Special, which includes a sandwich, boardwalk-style fries, and a side. All that for just $8.50...which I can barely finish. I'm always back-and-forth between the Pit Beef, Pit Turkey, and Chicken BBQ. Then M-F, macaroni as a side. On Friday's and Saturday's however, they have cream of crab soup available. And I can't not get that. Anyways, my friends and I love it. Always recommend it. Especially if you're looking for somewhere that doesn't feel like (and isn't) a chain restaurant. read more

Smoky's BBQ - Pit Beef (medium rare), ocean fries, cream of crab soup. - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

The heartiest barbecued beef and chicken around. Not stingy on their portions. A variety of sides and drinks.

I've been eating at the canopy and smokies for over 20 years last night was the horrible meal that I ever had anywhere the chicken was dry the ribs were burnt everything was cold I took it back to the manager and gave it in he offered me to replace the chicken I said no I went and sat down he wasn't men enough to come over and talk to me and asked me if I'd like a refund I think that's terrible don't go there read more

This is a family favorite. I always get the juniors special with ham & the baked beans. It comes with enough fries for two people. The ham is one of the best around. My husband gets a ham/turkey combo sandwich and loves it. My kids get the open face turkey or the ribs. I tried the chili today and it was really good, thick and not like a soup. Just the way I like it. I have tired the ribs in the past and they are always a hit or miss. Most of the time they are overcooked, but the few times we get them just right. They are good. Unfortunately the ribs are a gamble and you never know. Maybe you can ask to look at them first. They put the sauce on for you so you can control the amount. I've tried the pit beef and had it better at other places, so I stick with the ham. Overall a great place for sandwiches especially ham. read more

Smoky's BBQ - Bowl of chili - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

Nice little place. Actually it's not that little. There's plenty of room for probably 75 people. The decor is slightly 70s to 80s but charming. Staff was friendly and helpful. The ribs were good but I can't say they were amazing. It seems slightly overdone but the actual taste of them was really good. I can't quite place the taste of the sauce. I asked for mild. It's good. It has a slight cinnamon and tomato flavor. I don't want to give the impression that these were bad or mediocre. They were good, they were just not amazing. I also got the baked beans. They are unlike anything I've had for as they seem to be slightly smoked pinto beans. They are not brown I'm more of a tan. I found them slightly underwhelming but put some barbecue sauce in them and they were fantastic. I also got the mayonnaise-based coleslaw. I'm more of a fan of vinegar-based coleslaw so I added some vinegar and it made it fantastic. I'm guessing the vinegar that was on every table is for their french fries. I didn't have them but I would guess this would be a good choice. The menu it's pretty nice. They have pork sandwiches in pit beef as well as racks of ribs. Great place and I'm really happy that they are able to sustain! Bravo to the owner and the staff. -Steve read more

First time here and left feeling so-so about it. I order a beef sandwich, beef ends, and fries. The sandwich which I ordered med-rare was pretty good and they give a very good portion. I should have asked for horse radish or sauce because it didn't come with any and they didn't offer any. The fries were good, but I wasn't impressed with the beef ends. I think I will give them another shot to help me decide one way or the other. read more

Nice place very friendly people. Really good barbecue chicken. I get extra hot barbecue sauce.

Great food and sides fast to take your order and pay. Wish that they delivered. Deseret

Plain and simple - just good food. Not fancy, but clean, warm, and friendly. The pit beef is some of the best around. And pit turkey any time you're in the mood. They even have a pretty good cream of crab soup - not an easy thing to do for picky Marylander's. read more

Chicken was very dry. Fries and gravy were very salty. We last tried them 6 years ago and decided to give it another shot. Food hasn't gotten any better. read more

This place has great Pit Beef and Boardwalk Fries. Always consistent cooking to the right temp. Favorite place for Pit Beef in MD.

I just wasn't a fan of the taste or the ambiance. I couldn't tell whether they were trying to be country or sports themed then when I looked up the lighting decor was coated in dirt and cobwebs. The taste was subpar as far as the beef goes. I liked the sides and I felt that those are what gave me a little hope. Their menu and pictures need to be updated too. It seemed popular with the locals. read more

Smoky's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

My never ending search for good barbecue led me to a strip mall in Sykesville, MD. Well actually, a cavity led me here: my dentist is located a couple of store fronts down. I had heard about Smoky's from some friends who were enamored with their ribs. So, when opportunity meets desire.... I stopped by determined to see what all the fuss was about over these ribs. Sadly, the best ribs that I have had north of the Mason Dixon were from Famous Dave's (I feel dirty having to say that..). But its true! Most of the ribs I have had have been boiled in sauce with nary a smoke ring in sight. Could Smoky's hold the answer to my soul's deepest longings? I walked into Smoky's determined to find a great rack (of ribs) and I walked out with... a BBQ pork sandwich.... How in the heck did that happen?!?! My love for ribs is trumped only by my love for chopped/pulled pork. Whenever I visit a BBQ place, I gotta try the pulled pork. So to make a long story short... I got distracted. I should have known better though when the workers couldn't answer most of my questions about the pork. What kind of wood is used to smoke it? How long does it smoke for? Is it smoked dry? Dry rub? Vinegar baste? From what I gathered it's oven steamed, pulled, and then mixed with bbq sauce and left to simmer until it loses all textural semblance to actual pork. I still can't figure out why almost everyone in Maryland cooks pork shoulder like this. Smoky's seems like a nice neighborhood hangout. The prices are reasonable and the portions are big. Really wish they had sweet tea though. If you're looking for good northern bbq, this is a good place to eat. ***To be fair, the guy behind the counter warned me that the pork was not going to be similar to North Carolina. So I blame myself for my stupidity.*** read more

Smoky's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

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Hands down the best pit beef pit turkey and ribs I have found in the Maryland area. I have to say they're not the friendliest people to do business with. The young girls that work behind the counter or not very friendly at a time is extremely rude. But I don't come there to make friends I come there for good food and that is absolutely what they provide. read more

the restaurant smelled delicious, upon arrival, however the beef ends was very dry, the chicken leg & thigh was about the same, the coleslaw was very average with a grocery store bought taste, the green beans definitely would order that. i definitely want to give them another try during the lunch hour rush VS picking up for late evening dinner. im wondering if the corn bread is moist at all. read more

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We have been here a few times over the years. Their junior sandwich meal is the best deal, the smaller sandwich is just the right size which I get with the fries (you get a hearty serving of these and they are the yummy boardwalk style great with vinegar) and chili (fairly good but not awesome, has a BBQ sauce feel to it). Both the pit beef and turkey are really good, bread is fresh, and the tiger sauce is my fav (I am a fan of horseradish). I will say it is best to stick with the pit sandwiches, we have strayed before and tried the half BBQ chicken (dry) and baked potato (obviously not a big seller, tasted like it had been sitting for too long waiting for an unsuspecting customer to come along). The real star of this establishment has been the owners who have been generous to the Eldersburg community. Over the years they have supported several of my parent's church's events. read more

Smoky's is the perfect authentic Maryland BBQ experience. Upon arrival you can order all the classic BBQ items, including an absolutely delicious pit beef. The sides are all solid, would definitely recommend the mac and cheese. Staff is friendly and service is very quick for you to get in and out if necessary. The accessibility of condiments in these kinds of places is always very important to me and Smoky's does not disappoint. They have full dispensers for BBQ and tiger sauce, and have a full container of horseradish available for you to scoop on to your sandwich if you dare. Eating pit beef in MD is such a local thing and this place does a great job. If you're driving through Maryland and in the area I would highly recommend you come by. read more

My sandwich was cold and my potato salad was frozen. It was an enjoyable experience and I'm not sure how they have so many positives reviews. I was really excited but when my sandwich was cold and then bit into frozen potato chunks any excitement was gone. read more

Nice little spot with good food and very reasonable prices. went to three other places today and were all sold out of ribs.Thats how i found this spot.Other places were 21-28 dollars a rack and smokys was $17.50.we ordered many items all good read more

Temporary relocation put me in touch with this place. The pit beef and the pit ham was delicious. Haven't tried anything else though. The staff were helpful and patient with me the first time I went when I knew nothing about the place. The sides were good, but the 3 times I have gone the fries are hit or miss. read more

Can't deny a good pulled pork BBQ sandwich. A quaint eat-in restaurant, Smoky's reminds me of having BBQ in your backyard with family and friends. The decor is stuck in the 90s, but that adds to its family, down-home feel. The menu is pretty simple-- pit BBQ sandwiches, ribs, an array of salads, and hot delicious sides. We ordered two BBQ sandwiches, one pulled pork and one pit beef with onions, and a slab of ribs. We also got ocean fries with cheese, mac and cheese and green beans with ham. Everything was pretty tasty, but the green beans were lackluster (as the ham added no flavoring). Both the BBQ and Tiger sauce had great flavoring and every item we ordered was fresh. The customer service was excellent, but the cashier seemed more interested in her friends than tallying my order correctly. We ended up having to make 2 transactions because she didn't see one of our sandwiches on our tray. Overall, solid place to get BBQ. I'd definitely go back! read more

Smoky's BBQ - Pit Beef sandwich, ribs, and fries with cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

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Never disappointed! This is the second year l have used Smoky's for my annual family cookout. 10 slabs the first year, 15 this year, always hot and delicious, real crowd pleaser. Great customer service, always pleasant and on time:-) prices are great also! read more

Smoky's BBQ - My favorite place to eat in Eldersburg! - Barbeque Near Me - Eldersburg, Maryland

After hearing how delicious the pit beef was here, and looking for a quick lunch that was NOT fast food, I popped by for some take out. Maybe it was because it was after the usual lunch rush, but my experience was anything but stellar. The young woman who took my order seemed either annoyed or bored, or both, and I felt rushed trying to figure out what I wanted from the menu. I've never been here before, give me a second. Note that the sides on the menu board are not the full list. That lists sits in a little placard by where you order. After I ordered, a different woman put together my sides and took my money. She was definitely far more pleasant. As for my food: my pit beef was well cooked but barely room temperature. My sides were not flavorful though at least they were hot. The baked beans were typical, but the green beans lacked any flavor what so ever. And the almost hot dog like smell coming from the few bits of kielbasa mixed in was a bit off putting. I suspect the kielbasa was the extent of the seasoning. My dessert was tasty though I'm not sure if it was house-made or store bought. Would I return? Not unless someone else brought me because they wanted it. Personally, I'll stick with Pioneer Pit Beef down in Woodlawn. What it lacks in atmosphere (outdoor seating in the parking lot only), it makes up for in hot and delicious pit beef. read more