I found out about this place on Facebook. It's famous for its Mutton Chip Sandwich! I had to do some research on what "Chip" is! It is served on homemade buns or bread, and due to the moisture content in the Chip, it's the only bread that would hold up to this. Served with pickles and onions, it is amazing. Their pulled pork is very good, and their ribs are served with the "dip" sauce over it and almost like they are boiled. Their baked beans are some of the best I've ever had anywhere! Service is over the top. Restaurant is small, but they are expanding. I highly recommend this place! read more

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Delicious barbecue & baked beans & ribs. I've always been satisfied with the food and the service and have never been disappointed. Delicious. Great for solo dining, couples, family dining or catering or take out whether for personal or large gatherings for food read more

I love BBQ, and I like to support family-owned restaurants. We popped in for lunch one day to try Thomason's. The building is quite small, but very clean. I was pleasantly surprised they had table service. As we were dining, there was a non stop stream of customers coming in for carry out orders. I chose the rib plate, and my friend got a 3 meat sampler. My ribs were ok.... Not very meaty, but the dip served on them was tasty!!! It had a heavy amount of cumin!!!! Yes!!! It worked well with the ribs!! The beans and slaw were good, but a bit watery. Our potions were small, served on a plastic plate with plastic utensils. ( see photos). We were both actually still hungry after we finished our meals. It was just OK for me, nothing to write home about. read more

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I just recently moved to Henderson and I have been making my rounds of the food scene. BBQ is my favorite so it didn't take me long to make a trip to Thomason's. Thomason's is an ole fashion hole in the wall BBQ joint. It is small though I have seen smaller. I think there are like 4 booths and another table. It looks like one lady is the cashier, waitress, and busser. I ordered the sampler which comes with a rib, pulled pork, pulled mutton, and one side. I had seen a lot of glowing reviews about the beans so that is what I chose. The rib and beans were the best part of the meal. The rib was humongous and had a delicious flavor as it was smothered in the sauce. The beans were as good as advertised. They were chunky and sweet. The mutton and pork was ok and a little on the dry side. I'm not sure how I felt about the sauce with the mutton and pork. The sauce was a vinegar base influenced by east North Carolina but I think a key ingredient in it was chili powder that gave it an unique taste. There was a hotter version that I asked for. It wasn't much hotter but seemed to have cayenne pepper added to it. Sweet tea was refreshingly sweet! Overall, Thomason's was a good BBQ experience but if you are looking for a sweet type of BBQ, you won't find it here. read more

Thomason's Barbecue - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Henderson, Kentucky

Best barbecue in Western Kentucky! Love their pulled pork and their hot dipping sauce is the bomb!

This little restaurant was a great find off the beaten path. The baked beans were delicious. The BBQ was perfect. The sauce had a unique spice Coleslaw on the BBQ was great. Nice atmosphere with lots of locals bragging about how they loved the food! Soft drinks and dessert available too. A great find! Very busy with lots of locals picking up to go orders from read more

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We have been getting BBQ from them for years! You can't have this taste anywhere else. I became really picky about BBQ after Thomason's. They won't disappoint! read more

Last time I ordered food and got home the bake beans where juiced down and the favor was definitely not there. Time before the food tasted like it had been the last of the pot and it was less meat with mostly juice on our 4 sandwich plates. The service is the worst because the one's taking your order have to go back in the kitchen and prepare your food while the line gets longer and longer. Some people are on breaks and barely have enough time to eat. I might give this place one more chance. It is definitely not the same place it used to be years ago!! read more

Very good bbq and a he beans are awesome. I don't like fat and gristle in my bbq and when I order a pound of bbq, I get a pound of good edible bbq. read more

Found this little gem on Yelp! We stopped in for lunch. Menu had plenty to offer. We opted for two plates which included a meat and one side and we both added an additional side. My husband opted for the ribs which came with two very meaty ribs that were very tender and delicious. I opted for the pulled pork and received a very generous portion. The bbq sauce I believe is more of a vinegar base as its more tangy than sweet. For our sides we both chose the potato salad and baked beans. The potato salad was very very good but the beans were outstanding as we agree with other Yelpers on this. Would have loved to tried their coleslaw ($1.45 per side which is super reasonable) and a slice of coconut pie but couldn't even finish our meals..so will try them both next time as I'm pretty sure a next time will happen. read more

Local favorite..highly publicized regionally.. there are so many different BBQ flavors across the country but many like their regional specialities. Quaint little place and definitely off the beaten path. Absolutely worth a try.. you might find it's a new favorite! read more

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I love all the BBQ meat but what I love most are their baked beans myself. But everything is always good I've never had anything bad. I had them cater a event for me and they done a wonderful job! Everyone said how good the food was! They delivered it on time and set it up. I got the lemonade and sweet tea and those was good too! Everyone especially seemed to be saying how good the lemonade was! read more

They have the best barbecue in town. Don't overlook mom and pop places. Great service as well.

Great food and service. Down home BBQ. Had the rib tips today. Chopped pork is great as well.

The BEST baked beans in the world! I can't even describe how great they taste! My family and friends from out of town ALWAYS ask us to bring them Thomason's baked beans! read more

They have the best smoked turkey, the best bbq dip, and the BEST BAKED BEANS IN THE WORLD! The baked beans have piece of meat in it and it's absolutely delicious! Definitely a staple in Henderson! read more

Best BBQ in western Kentucky. The chip and beans are as good as it gets.

With a try. Definitely a down home, one of a kind place. Well prepared, generous portions and great prices. I will have to agree with the other review that the meat did taste a bit gamey. Not sure why. I'm a big barbecue fan, and eat it all over the country, but have never had any that was gamey like this. Not necessarily bad, but noticeable. Service was very friendly. A walk up counter and they brought it out to the table. Definitely a small place with lots of locals coming in to eat. Don't let the appearance scare you. It is the farthest thing from a chain restaurant you will find! read more

Best bbq In all of western Kentucky. Have been going there for years. Everyone should check this place out

The bbq is the best in Henderson. The baked beans tasted amazing. I can eat them cold or hot. I have also used Thomasons cooking certain meat and they do an amazing job! I would definitely recommend them to eat if you want some good bbq! read more

This place is the very definition of a "hole in the wall", but I'll tell you, they've got the best beans on the planet! I ordered a pound each of brisket and pork, & was disappointed that they came with sauce on them, because it's so thin. I like a thicker sauce, and I really couldn't evaluate the meat because of that. But the beans...! They had pieces of smoked meat in them, and the flavor was full and slightly spicy. Everything melded together and was comparable to a complex fine wine! I'll be visiting again soon when I pick up another load in Henderson, KY. read more

Don't let the small size of this place fool ya! The food is delicious! By far, THE BEST beans around. They are a MUST ORDER! Super nice staff who are always friendly and helpful. read more

The beans and potato salad were good. The ribs were bland and swimming in a "dip". The half chicken was ok but still lacked any type of flavor. The staff was very friendly. I wouldn't say it was bad but I probably wouldn't go back either. read more

So I should preface my remarks by saying that I love well prepared 'gamey' meat. When I lived in Mexico, some of my favorite dishes were goat and mutton dishes. So your mileage may vary.... I LOVED this place. The mutton BBQ was rich, gamey, tender, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and on the money. After I finished my plate I bought some more to go. So good. And the BBQ beans were the best I've had. On top of that you can't beat the prices. My mutton BBQ plate was about $7. The service was warm and friendly. Negatives: They close early (4pm on Saturday) and aren't open on Sunday or Monday. Seating is limited (it's a small, Ma and Pa style, hole in the wall, diamond in the rough that should never be polished, gem). Conclusion: I will be driving out of my way to come back here. Evidently Owensboro also has good mutton BBQ, but other than that your odds are limited. I've read that even if you find it, say in eastern Kentucky, that they usually don't baste it frequently enough with the appropriate 'dip' in order to ensure its tenderness (as mutton tends to be tough /chewy otherwise). So do yourself a favor and try it. Apparently it is an art mastered (and even practiced) only by a few. read more

Listen. This place is an institution. If you're within a 50 mile radius you should go out of your way to go here. When you pull up it will look like the most unassuming little building you've ever seen and once inside you'll see 3 small booths, a cooler and the counter straight out of an Andy Griffith episode. Don't be fooled by appearances. This is the best barbeque in the region (and I argue the nation!) Everything is delicious but I especially love the pulled pork and chip. Make sure you get the beans as a side. They are the stuff of foodie fairy tales. Pile up your meat on some rye bread with onions and pickles and dig in. Enjoy....and make sure you get a pound or two to take home. We pack our cooler whenever we visit. read more

Finest BBQ you can find anywhere. Especially the pork! But choose anything as you won't be disappointed! The sides are great too especially the baked beans! read more

Our of the way - but well worth the trip. Baby backs were perfect and the beans may we'll be the best I have ever had. Come to Henderson and bring cash no credit cards accepted. read more

Every single time I go here I get the chip, potato salad, and baked beans. I have yet to find better baked beans, not only in the city, but on planet earth. This place has been around as long as I've been alive and have yet to disappoint. read more

The BBQ beans are amazing, a meal in themselves. They close early on Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. They don't take credit or debit cards so bring cash or check. read more

This is your no frills bbq place. That local place that you might drive right on by and never know how good it is. After running a half marathon in Owensboro, had a craving for barbecue. And decided we would try out Thomason's. Was not disappointed. It may be small, but it is mighty. We tried the chip (which is shredded mutton and pork) plate with a side of baked beans. Beans are phenomenal. You get your bread (and pickle slices and onion) to soak up the sauce. And that chip sauce is delicious. Something special--couldn't put our fingers on the spice (Cardamom? Clove? Nutmeg?). But it doesn't matter because it is so good. Have the sweet tea. The service is solid. We saw locals come in to pick up their Saturday to-go orders (it got busy just as we sat down). Just make sure you bring cash--like any good old fashion small business, it is cash only. Will have to go back to try other items on the menu. read more

Yuk! They were out of baby back ribs and only had the big ribs (8" size) which I dislike. The coleslaw was creamy/mushy and the sauce was very watery. I would NOT go back! read more

best mutton ive had. EVER. beans were great as well. not much on ambiance and they dont take credit. you gotta try it if you consider yourself a bbq fan. read more

My husband loved it! I thought it was ok. Sauce is sour and watery if that is what you like. He loved the sauce. Beans were ok mine are better. Service was excellent!!! Very nice people there! read more

Absolutely love this place. Some of the best barbecue around. The beans and dip are one of a kind. The staff is always friendly and the prices a fair. read more

THOMASON'S BAR-B-Q (701 Atkinson St., Henderson, Kentucky)... In my search for the best barbecue in the area I decided to cross the bridge into Henderson, Kentucky and try out a place I had never heard of. I googled barbecue and Henderson and out of the list of four I decided on Thomason's. Right away the smell of the place made my mouth water. This place is a small operation with four and a half booths and one table for dining in. Nothing fancy here. And, as I recall, the best barbecue places I have been to over the years tend to be without all the fancy bells and whistles. I observed upon entering that there was smoke coming out of the stack on top of the building. Just behind the counter is the door (at about waste height) to the smoker, which is a very large brick pit. Standing at the counter I could feel some heat coming from that direction, so yes, barbecue cooking inside. I took a look at the menu, which is posted on the wall next to the counter. I decided on the Ribs Plate, which came with one side item. I decided on the baked beans and an additional side of slaw. I inquired and asked if the ribs were cooked daily, and I was told that the ribs were fresh and always come out of the cooker the day they are sold. I was told that the babyback ribs are not cooked daily, but that the full ribs are. Also, the ribs here are all pork ribs (I like that). The plate came with 1/2 pound of ribs, and just enough of the side items. The rib meat was easy to eat and the meat came right off the bone. There was ample meat on the ribs, not overly fastty, and the flavor was very good. They serve it in their own home-made BBQ sauce, which is (to my taste buds) very good. The sauce is a thin liquide sauce and is vinegar based, but the vinegar flavor is very subtle and the spices and other ingredients taste terrific and make for a very complimentary sauce for the ribs that were very good and smoky flavored. The baked beans are among the best I have ever eaten, very rich and flavorful without being overly spicy and without being overly sweet. The cole slaw is kind of a mixture of vinegar slaw and creamy slaw, combined wonderfully and full of sweet flavor. Everything was very fresh. Basic pickle and onions came with the plate and I opted for rye bread. They had fresh brewed sweet tea I know because it took a minute for the ice to cool it down. After the main course I opted for a piece of chocolate cream pie from the cooler, nothing really special about that. Total price for the entire meal including a slice of pie was under $11.00. And the entire meal was the perfect amount of food, so I did not feel stuffed even after eating all of it. So far, this is the best barbecue out of the two places I have reviewed. MEATS AVAILABLE: pork, mutton, beef, chip, ham, turkey, chicken. FORMATS: Trays, Plates, Sandwiches and TO GO: from 1/2 pound and up. SIDES: baked beans, slaw and potatoe salad. All very basic, easy to read menu, and well prepared barbecue... I always return to every restaurant that I review, regardless of the review, for a follow-up and I can't wait to return here and try something new. This is great value and quality for the money spent. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE, AS THE PRICE IS RIGHT AND THE FOOD IS VERY GOOD ! read more