We visited Paducah for the Quilt Show, and my wife, a quilter, expressed a desire for barbecue. Following a recommendation from a local merchant, we went to Starnes BBQ. The restaurant was quite busy. We secured a table and ordered two sandwiches, an order of coleslaw, and shared an iced tea. My wife is particular about sauces; we both tasted a small amount, and found the sauce to be excessively hot, with the consistency of watered-down hot sauce and lacking in traditional barbecue flavor. While the locals seemed to enjoy it, we did not find it to our liking. Having sampled barbecue in various regions, from California to the Carolinas, we found this to be the worst sauce we've encountered. We did not use the sauce on our sandwiches. The meat was adequately cooked but lacked flavor. The coleslaw was very good, as was the iced tea. The service was excellent. The restaurant is quite small, as evidenced by the previous photos. If you are seeking authentic Southern barbecue, Starnes BBQ falls short of expectations. read more

I've been coming here for over 50 years and it's absolutely the best BBQ you will find anywhere The building hasn't changed a bit. Still just a counter with stools around it But the staff is always super friendly and the food is simple but top notch If you go at lunch expect a line possibly out the door but they move quick The only thing that's changed is they no longer have RC Cola in the glass bottles but I know that's a thing of the past If your in Paducah don't pass this up it's right across from Noble Park read more

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Great food! Great Prices!! Friendly service and fast! I would suggest getting extra sauce though!! But overall excellent food and sauce and portions! read more

I've been to Starnes may times. Service and food are great. This is only my opinion,but I think the BBQ flavor is the best around. They aren't a bit stingy with the amount of meat on the sandwiches. read more

Starnes Barbecue is the granddaddy of barbecue in western Kentucky. I can remember eating barbecue there when I was a kid, in the early-mid 70's; Getting a coke in a glass bottle, bag of chips, barbecue sandwich toasted on bread. Awesome! read more

Been here many times. Best BBQ around. Restaurant still looks like it did when I was a kid.

Love the food. Fast service and very friendly. Atmosphere nice and just not too big. They have multitude of customers. Always love their food. Very well done read more

Great pulled pork sandwiches with a spicy vinegar sauce! Cute fifties diner feel to the counter.

Not the BBQ one would expect. Just has meat between two pieces of dry toasted bread. I asked for a BBQ joint in town and this was the answer. No brisket or not at all a BBQ joint in the traditional sense. Bags of chips and sandwich joint. But it seems they do a brisk business, kinda surprised me. I was traveling through. read more

Starnes BBQ has some of the best BBQ that I have had in my life, & believe me, I have had a lot. You can eat there or take it with you. You can also order it by the pound or even order a whole shoulder if you order a few days early. You also have to have their sauce. It has just the right spices. I give them a definite 5 Star review! read more

My husband grew up in Paducah and wanted me to try this Barbecue place. I was surprised that I ordered 1/2 bologna and 1/2 beef sandwich. The bologna sandwich was my favorite. It tasted amazing. Coming from someone who said would never eat bolog read more

It is the best barbecue in town. And I hope this place never changes, I love walking into this place and standing in a jam packed room waiting to order. Something about this place feels like you are going back in time. Also great bbq sauce. read more

A true INSTITUTION to the area!!! Some might think the menu is basic, but when you do what they do WELL, you dont need a large menu. Prices are amazing, in this economy?!? Give me 2 of everything. It was DELICIOUS. Service is so sweet and great plus the patrons are sooo nice! We aren't local so it could be a Kentucky thing, but they saw us walk in with our 9 month old and got up from seats so we could all be together inside. HOW NICE ?!?! We will be back!! read more

The combination of taste and price pushed this one into 5-star territory. Super unassuming place, set up like a diner with stools and a small counter for carry-out. I had 1/4 lb. each of the smoked beef (chuck) and pork, with a side of potato salad and cole slaw. Both were tender and smoky, and their house sauce is on the spicy side--you can order bottles to go. The potato salad was sweet and mustard based, and very tasty. The cabbage in the slaw was chopped a little more fine than I usually like, but no big deal. Everything was really good, but the big surprise was the price! 1/2 lb. of meat and 2 sides, for ten bucks and change? After tax??! I usually spend more than that at Taco Bell! Definitely a great value all the way around. read more

Go for the ambience, enjoy the food. When sitting at the counter, you'd expect Floyd the Barber to be seated across from you. Time hasn't touched this restaurant for decades (and, that's ALL for the good). The bbq sandwiches are small and served on white bread. BUT, the prices are commensurate ($3.50 for a bbq sandwich??) so I just order two. The sauce is legendary; a thinner tomato-based sauce with the perfect touch of heat. One of my favorite parts is the candy bar display behind the counter; I can't help myself and usually leave with two or three...or more. Is it gourmet? No, not really. Is it fun and worth your stop off I-24? Absolutely! Enjoy. read more

The absolute best bbq and the absolute best sauce! It's perfect!! I have been coming here for years and never got anything bad! Thanks to Starnes for being amazing! read more

Starnes Barbecue - This is the inside of the best bbq! - Barbeque Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

Best BBQ in Paducah! Have eaten it for years. Simple, delicious smoked meat. Very own tasty sauce to pour on. Toasted white bread makes a delicious BBQ Sandwich! read more

Just about the best bbq sandwich in town and reasonably priced! I go back every time I'm in town!

One of the first family ran bbq places I ate at 30 years ago when I came to Kentucky.. great service, good portions, great bbq.. highly recommend this place and then go on over to the park and sit and enjoy your yummy bbq read more

My entire family CRAVES this place all the way from Arizona, we even go to a local BBQ joint because the sauce "tastes like Starnes" (but, of course it's as good as the original). Starnes has kept their prices steady since I was in grade school and is now only $2.75/sandwich. I have never been to a place where they are happy to give you a cup of ice for a drink you brought in because you were almost finished with it, the servers also open your bag of chips for you, THAT'S SERVICE! I was a pulled pork sandwich fan for years but recently discovered the beef is equally, if not more, amazing!! I really miss living close to this place and make sure the people I travel with eat there too. Found out they do call ahead orders and that has really helped them with seating inside this counter service / barstool dining area. read more

Starnes Barbecue - Simple and amazing beef sandwich on toast - Barbeque Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

Got a pork bbq sandwich. Just a couple of basic white bread grilled and bbq pork on it. Not sure what the hype is about this place. This was the worst tasting bbq I've ever had. Not really sure I'd put it in the bbq category. read more

Always enjoy stopping by Starnes for the pork bbq sandwich with plenty of hot sauce! Hasn't changed in 20 years and that's why it sooo good! read more

Starnes is real pit smoked BBQ. A lot of people are not use to that The toast makes it extra special. You don't find that many other places except for Paducah KY. Try it with no sauce or bread and you will taste the smoke. Their Ham is the best anywhere. Get ya sum read more

The BBQ is too dry. It seems they over process the meat and lose the juices. It takes a lot of sauce to make up for the dry BBQ.

Great Barbecue but a little on the dry side usually have it with coleslaw on top of the sandwich. I have heard the fried bologna is really good too! read more

Stop here if you are close to Paducah. Walking through the parking lot literally feels like going back in time about 50 years. And the smell is incredible. In a world of cookie cutter bbq this place has held on to a family tradition that makes it unique. read more

Starnes Barbecue - Sorry couldn't wait. - Barbeque Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

I believe this might be a favorite if you grew up with it. Just traveling through and wanting some bbq, this might not be your place. It's a little sandwich shop with a little menu. ( I sort of have a picture... pork, beef, ham, turkey, bologna) . The bbq comes served on toasted white bread. There are a couple of sides offered at additional cost. The potato salad was good and probably 1/3 cup styro container. There is one bottle of bbq sauce offered and must be a big seller because there are three sizes available for purchase. They call it hot sauce. So, this is not my type of bbq place and definitely not my sauce... vinegar number one ingredient and lots of pepper. But I will say they were very friendly people and the meat itself was good. I'm ThinkIng this is a very regional style place and bbq. read more

Starnes Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

I never get disappointed when I go here. Their Menu is very simple, but absolutely perfect. They've also got the best pork bbq sandwiches I've ever tasted. Staff are always very kind, and there's never a time where they haven't. It's always the place we go to when we are In Kentucky, and that isn't changing anytime soon! read more

A great hole in the wall joint. Inside dining is still a no go, but they have tables outside. Be advised the sandwiches are just on regular sandwich bread so they're rather small, if you're a bigger guy like me get at least 2 for a light lunch. Got the pulled pork sandwich, sauce was a little on the light side but still had a kick to it. For an out of towner riding through, was a great choice to stop in. read more

A local staple for over 50 years that is known by its cinder block building painted it's signature color sea foam green. The smell of their smoked BBQ can be enjoyed for blocks away. The taste is unmatched. My favorite is the pulled pork. I noticed that the low ratings on here are from travers from the north, which explains their wrong opinions - Their BBQ is sliced and smothered in cheap sauce to hide the flavor so they don't know what BBQ really is. Of all the places I've traveled and eaten BBQ (even Memphis), Starnes is the best!!!!! read more

Not sure how this place is called a BBQ joint, being from KC I was expecting something way different, meat tasted like it was smoked on a diesel exhaust pipe, the sauce was more like Texas Pete hot sauce and it was served on dry ass toast..asked if I could do a double meat sandwich and asked for beef and turkey..NOPE! Had to be of the same type of meat.. Only reason I'm giving two stars is because maybe this is gourmet for Kentucky folk and I don't wanna hammer a local delicacy! read more

Moved from Paducah 50 years ago to Texas and now live in Utah and whrn I go back to viisit Fam Sterns is the first place I go. It is always great I am 80 and will visit Monday as soon as I get there First place I gooooo read more

Recommended by the locals while on a recent business trip. I'll be honest, it's not what I expected from a bbq joint but it was so good. You only really get one option when you dine in but it is worth it. And you can't beat the price. I ate lunch for less than $4, had amazing bbq, and the potato salad may have been my favorite thing. Family owned, great service. Definitely plan to go back next time I'm in town. read more

I got a pound of beef and a pound of pork to go. Both were literally so dry that I could not swallow them without a drink of water. I don't like giving negative reviews especially to mom & pop establishments but feel compelled to be honest. I suspect they rely on folks' nostalgia about the place. read more

Simply the best! Going in makes you feel like going back in time (in a good way!). Just go, please.

Just the best! We live out of town but we love to visit when we're in the area. Always hits the spot!

Starnes is my favorite BBQ in the entire world, bar none. My grandmother is from Paducah, KY, so every time we're in town (we now live in Cincinnati) we load up on sauce and definitely stop in for at least one meal. I so wish it was closer! Definitely worth the 5 hour drive from Cincinnati. If you're ever in that neck of the woods, stop by. read more

Are there REALLY any other Bar-B-Q places? Well, there won't be once you try this place. Starnes should copyright that awesome blue color like UPS copyrighted their brown. Best BBQ on Earth. read more

Opening the door to your car you'll know exactly what you're getting, smoked BBQ straight up. The old "U" shaped diner further tells you you're in for simple old fashioned treat with five choices and three sides, excluding the candy selection. To be honest, I wouldn't have wanted anything more. The sandwich is two slices of toasted white and naked, smoked & chopped meat. The coleslaw was chopped and thick. The one sauce offered is a true southern sauce - tangy, slightly vinegary with a nice bite at the end. Slap the slaw on for added variety but that's all you'll get here where simplicity rules. No plates. No fuss. Just good food. read more

Starnes Barbecue - two people standing at the bar - Barbeque Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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I have family nearby and I have to hit Starnes every time I visit. It's the best west Kentucky style bbq place I've been to. Although Harned's is pretty damned good too. read more