Some co-workers advised us to go here. It's a charming older place. We sat at the bar. There is plenty of seating too if you want a table. The menu had a lot to choose from. Bartender was friendly and attentive. We had the steak tips from the starter menu and a hamburger with a side of waffle fries. The food was amazing! We loved everything we got and cannot wait to return and try some of the other things on the menu. I've got good co-workers. They didn't steer me wrong. This place was so good! read more

I had the ribs at Wagner's, and they absolutely deserve a five-star rating. The ribs were incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with smoky flavor. The meat practically fell off the bone, and the seasoning and barbecue sauce were perfectly balanced without overpowering the natural flavor of the pork. Every bite was delicious, and the portion size was generous. If you're looking for outstanding barbecue, Wagner's ribs are a must-try. I'll definitely be back for another order! read more

The Wing sauce is great on everything!! The ribs and macaroni and cheese are our favorites. This is a Chesterton tradition so definitely if you're in that area check out what the locals have known about for years! Deliciousness! read more

the manger does not feel " the customer is always right" she will chase you out the door so she is getting the "last word" subtle suggestions are not welcome. potential customer after me made the same mistake and had to leave as well. The "soup naz! from Seinfeld has nothing on this lady! read more

We love the ribs and bbq sauce! The outdoor area is nice in the summer. The service is always great and very efficient

I came here Thursday around dinner time. Got a table super fast and the service and the food was amazing! Best bbq around hands down. The fluffy cornbread pancakes were amazing, the crab stuffed shrimp was fried to perfection and so creamy in the inside and not filled with oil, the ribs were perfectly cooked and fell right off the bone and the sauce was great. We're picky eaters but this place we literally have no complaints. We've tried a lot of bbq places and this is the best and the woman who was our waitress was the best too. Definitely recommend read more

Now I'm not sure why this spot does not have a higher star ranking. There's no reason it should not! It's not easy finding solid ribs no matter where you go. We stopped in at Wagners BBQ on word from a friend and were pretty damn impressed. Once again in small town America on Wagner Road in Porter IN. Wagners seems to have been round a long time and has garnered some great awards. It a very unpretentious roadside BBQ joint just off a country road. It is extremely clean with well appointed rural touches that are not out of a box but in fact the real deal in rural Indiana. When you enter it smells like a BBQ joint like it should. Through the door you go then step onto the porch and through the second door the bar area is conjoined with the dining area with additional dining in the rear of the building. It must have been an old home I imagine front porch and all. It's warm and inviting and the staff is welcoming. I noticed right away there were mostly locals dining on a busy Wednesday evening in a town you thing would be shut down by 6. They were doing pretty good for themselves. There were also a few other folks who you kind a know were not from there ourselves included. One noticeable NY fellow smiled and nodded his head to me. He and his buddies all wore NY hats and jerseys. They like us, sporting Chicago gear were city guys. Point being, the diversity of the crowd was nice in a rural area. You get the impression the servers and bartenders have been there for some years as they all knew their stuff and were comfortable in their element and ensured we were too. It seemed as if some of the staff were family. A man who appeared to be the chef/cook/rib boss stepped out of the kitchen for a soft drink and I think I saw a younger version of him in a family phot hanging on a wall. Our server an older women seemed to know the menu and the surroundings too well to not have been there many years. She guided me through the menu. First the sides. Our sides respectively were top shelf french onion soup & mashed with homemade gravy and mine perfect waffle fries and some bad ass baked beans with chunks of bacon. My buddy and I both went for broke! We did a fill slab of ribs a piece. We did the 'Tim Style' and the 'Original Style' then split them. I wasn't even that hungry but did it anyway. Now the ribs. The ribs! Did I mention the ribs! DAYUM BOY! Yeah, I see why they won awards, they ain't playin' over here that's all I gotta say. The slab was no small feat! It was at least 14-16 inches long of fall of the bone bad ass original style BBQ ribs. Like I said, I wasn't even that hungry .... I smashed those ribs as did my friend. I wasn't even embarrassed about licking those bones like a viking. They were tender as you get. You pick up a bone the meat fell off. They put a perfect char on the meat. The sauce was tangy and flavorful and that sauce ... I licked my fingers the entire 70 miles home I almost ran off the dark country road. But sheeeeeet, It would have been worth it have I wrecked. I mean I really can't say enough about this place from the decor and ambiance to the great server and service. Ya gotta try this BBQ it's Indian real deal. Whatever they do to them bones they do it right. But those ribs! Did I mention those ribs?! I'm going back next week. read more

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Somehow in 2025, the owner still refuses to add a ramp for elderly or disabled guests. Poor service, simply no kindness. During the pandemic the owner begged for help from the community to stay in business, when the shoe is on the other foot Dave Wagner looks the other way. Go to Smokey's on 12, much better and kinder people! read more

Fantastic food and service was good. We sat at a table that was very goblet and had to move on our own. The atmosphere could very well be nicer but it's very casual. The filet was excellent and was cooked to perfection! read more

Wagner's Ribs - Dining room - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

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Food is always great! Ribs are mouth watering! Service is pleasant. Place isn't that big but it's nice and cozy. Has a bar also.

We've been coming here for 13 years and every meal has been consistent and delicious. My boyfriend is a barbecue guy and thinks their Texas Style Ribs are some of the best he's had. We love the staff too. read more

I was born and raised in Northwest Indiana, but I have lived in Miami most of my life. Over the years, I have always heard that Wagner's was great but I never made it in. Recently I treated my nephews to dinner at Wagners and it did not disappoint. It was not crowded and we were seated immediately, considering it was a bitter cold Thursday night in January. Emily our server greeted us warmly, checked up on us often and even took a picture for us. I had the mini cornbread cakes which were very good, the haystack onions (good, not greasy at all) and a full rack of ribs. I had the ribs Texas style, dry rubbed with sauce on the side. I would recommend this style as you get divine taste both with and without the sauce. The meat, as per the clichè, fell off the bone and I had enough left over from the full rack to take home. My nephews had the half rack and steak kebab combo and they were very happy with it. I do not make it up to this region often, but I will definitely seek out Wagner's on my next visit. Definitely recommend! read more

Wagner's Ribs - Ribs (Half-Slab) Waffle Fries Steak Kabobs - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

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The ribs are delicious, the sauce is tasty and the rib meat was so tender it fell off the bones. The fresh green beans were great too. I like the corn bread side too, they're shaped like little pancakes. We will definitely be back again and again. Great service too. read more

I closed my eyes most of this meal, in reverent appreciation of the wonderful things we have in front of us on this Earth. How can a rib be crispy and soft? How can it be sweet and savory meat?! The Texas style half rack of ribs exceeded every expectation I have ever had for ribs. I don't eat ribs. Typically I would say that I find ribs a waste of time and energy because they are usually dry and you get very messy and it's just too much work. I've changed my mind and I have seen the light. Wagner's came recommended from a coworker. He travels a lot and he said you have to try them, they are on the podium for my top one or two ribs in the entire state of Indiana. Let's just move on now to the macaroni and cheese. It is so rich and so creamy, I don't know what kind of cheese they used, but it gave me vibes of the thick quest cheese that you find at a Mexican restaurant blended with rich Italian cheese. It was thick and rich and gooey. Whoever thought to turn cornbread into little cute pancakes? I don't know but bless their heart. They were sweet and soft. My only complaint was that I had to wait for the butter to melt before I inhaled them. This entire meal was an experience and I plan to come back time and time again which is challenging because I live three hours away... But I have decided it is worth it. I noticed everyone leaving with to-go containers. The portions are so generous. The food is epic. Save this place for a special occasion, an anniversary, a special birthday for friends or just when you truly want to treat yourself! It is magic. If you are within a one hour radius, make the detour to Wagners. I also loved the simplicity of the beer choices. I noticed that there were not hundreds of choices of beer, they have plenty but not 75+ Luke so many restaurants now. They've just chosen to specialize in what they are good at and keep it simple and they have accomplished this. Note: only 21 and under permitted read more

Things have changed ALOT since I reviewed Wagner's back in 2022. The last few times I ordered here the quality of the food has declined each time. Today I ordered 2 full slab dinners for carry-out, almost $65 worth of food. Got it home and was so disappointed. I like a little "char" on my ribs but these were BURNT and DRY. The best part of the meal was the baked beans, which was only half of the container that is smaller than what a cup of soup would come in. I think I will be taking a break from Wagner's for a while. There's a place on route 20 called Smokey's, the bad part with them is they are closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so I'll have to adjust my Q craving to one of those days. I'll review Smokey's when I get some. For now no more Wagner's for me! read more

Great place for ribs and it was packed when we arrived on a Saturday. As stated before when we were there they do not allow children under 21. Not exactly sure, but they do a lot of carry out business so this might be an option for families. The place is rather small but the ribs were excellent read more

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Everything was perfect, as always; the waitstaff is always happy; a good sign to see in a place that serves food!! Usually a short wait, that's also a good sign but most important the food is always outstanding, Look at their sign; ribs are in their name, have to be great, they always are. read more

The Pride of Porter!! What a great time I had at Wagners Ribs. Nestled on the outer reaches of Chesterton Indiana, in the town of Porter is a local hot spot known as Wagners Ribs. I had heard about Wagners from people I know from the area, and they had but great things to say about this award-winning Rib joint. I checked into the Best Western Indian Oaks and made the quick drive to Wagners. I luckily found a parking spot right outside the restaurant and went in. The Restaurant was celebrating Halloween and Halloween decor was hung throughout the bar and restaurant area. I did go outside to check the patio, but the sun was going down and the patio only had a few patrons sitting there, so I ate inside instead. They have two main sections inside, a bar and seating in that area and a main dining room. I was seated in the main dining room. Wagners serves American Style BBQ and Comfort food and is known for their BBQ throughout the area. Food and Drink for This Evenings Meal. Starters and Sides A Cup of their Homemade Chilli Haystack Onions - Lightly fried, seasoned and served with a Southwest sauce Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Main Course Ribs and Shrimp Combo with Jumbo Grilled Shrimp served with melted butter Beer Yuengling Black and tan The chili was amazing, full of meat and beans, and not too spicy. Those Haystack Onions alone are a worthy starter on their own and perfectly paired with that Southwest dip. Light with a touch of crispiness, you can easily overindulge of those onions. The ribs were smokey, sauced just right and of course, fall off the bone tender. Wagners pumps out thousands of pounds of ribs every year, and they have their technique down to a science. The mashed potatoes were a worthy side, and probably the least appealing. Not that they weren't good it's just that I've been spoiled by many a holiday home-cooked meal with mashed potatoes. The shrimp were juicy and plump and had a very slight seasoning on them. You could taste the fire and the shrimp without any overpowering added flavours. Wagners is a popular spot for a reason. The food is a culmination of a great kitchen and a great technique. The bar area is lively and the dining room is charming. The staff are very friendly and you can feel their smiles and positivity through their masks. There is a reason why Wagners is so popular and if you're ever in the Dunes/Chesterton/Porter area, you will have to stop in and check it out for yourself. read more

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Best ribs I have ever had outside of my Grandfathers ribs. Ribs were so tender fall off the bone. The smell and flavor of the ribs was so good!! The sauce is great also. read more

We were here tonight for my nanas birthday. Our waitress was good but there was a food runner girl that looked so angry. Was so nonchelant when she messed up. We thanked her and we didn't even get a you're welcome back. It was a little busier but she wasn't running around like crazy. She looked so bored and unhappy to be there. read more

My brother and I went to Wagner River this evening for your first time having everybody brave and it came out for the cheese was hurt. I had to send it back. They brought it out again and the cheese was not edible. I couldn't even chew it bag never have that Before order slam ribs and didn't get any extra barbecue sauce. Didn't come back. See if everything was OK. They started to get busy and then you were able to leave not very good. I will not recommend it and I will not go there again. The ribs weren't that great no extra barbecue sauce and I can't even do a French onion soup. read more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. This is the best BBQ I've ever had! The Mac and cheese was delicious and the meat was simply falling off the bone. I had a side of corn bread as well and loved it. I seriously can't wait to visit this place again soon to get my doze of BBQ in. The only thing I wish is that it wasn't read more

Wagner's Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

Great find . Traveling for business and found this spot on yelp. Pretty decent reviews so I had to give it a try. I met up with four other colleagues for dinner here Monday evening. Nice little quaint place, and a wonderful patio. Since the weather was nice we chose to sit outside. Very nice atmosphere. Large deck. And they turn the lights on once it starts to get dark. Our waitress was absolutely wonderful. Very attentive to refill drinks take orders and check in on us. A couple of our group had the ribs and they really enjoyed them I have the ribeye steak with a double side salad. The ribeye was not the best as it was fairly chewy, But it was all right. No one in our group Left hungry. I would definitely come back. read more

Wagner's Ribs - Patio - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

We visited from out of town and decided to eat here for our anniversary. It was crowded and loud but you'd expect that of a local place. The staff was very friendly, and accommodating. The food was just mid. The crab stuffed shrimp is just a fried shrimp with some crab and cheese inside. It was kind of gross. Our steaks were delicious, but quite fatty. The ribs need sauce. If you order them with a rub, get ready for no flavor. There was no detectable rub and no real flavor in the ribs. Pretty disappointing. What stood out were the actual sides. I could have just ordered a plate of sides: was the best mac and cheese I've ever had, the beans were pretty good and the corn cakes were delicious. Cheesecake for dessert was nothing special for the price. While we enjoyed ourselves, I don't think we'll return. read more

Wagner's is a quaint little bat with good food. We came in early but the crowd soon followed. We were very satisfied.

It is awesome never had but the best experience ! The service staff is amazing even for carry out .

The food was really good. Service was average. The ambience? It is what it is, an old storefront, expanded. The pork was great. read more

Their BBQ sauce is awesome, and so are the ribs. The onion haystack is now on my list of foods I crave! We placed an order for pickup and although we were there at the time promised, when we got home (about 4 minute drive) some of the food was lukewarm. I also like the atmosphere. No one under the age of 21 allowed in restaurant. read more

Everything was very good and the staff is always friendly!! Never any problems with the wait.. the food is always good, ribs are amazing!!!

Food is delicious. Prices not so much. Staff goes above and beyond for customer service! Definitely worth going there or taking out. We had steak and mushroom tidbits, iceberg wedge, and a full rack of ribs. Tim style is the only way to go. Definitely enough for two people, and we had leftovers which is great. read more

Wagner's Ribs - Menu Prices as of 8/30/24 (2) pages - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

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Stopped in during the 4th of July weekend for lunch. There's a wonderful outdoor seating area under tree cover and plenty of seating inside as well. We chose to sit outside. Our server was a young man who was friendly and helpful. When we told him we were interested in trying the ribs, he recommended the ribs and lake perch combo and we're so glad he did. The ribs can be ordered without sauce (dry rub style) or sauced ("Tim style"). We ordered both types of ribs. The ribs were tender and flavorful. I preferred the sauced "Tim style" over the dry rub. They make their own bbq sauce, which tasted like it was made with a base of "Open Pit" style sauce with some of their own secret ingredients. Bottom line, the sauce was respectable and paired well with the ribs. The real surprise star of the show was the lake perch. Lightly breaded, sautéed and tender. Really appreciated the generous side of tartar sauce AND drawn butter that accompanied the fish. Nice touch! For the side items, we ordered the cole slaw, baked beans, and cornbread cakes. It was clear that they put their heart in the cole slaw. A wonderful mix of cabbage and greens with the perfect amount of dressing. Love when we find real homemade slaw! The baked beans tasted like they started with Bush's and added a few little enhancements. Well done! The cornbread cakes also were a pleasant surprise. They have a pancake consistency and just the right amount of sweetness. Much better that your typical cornbread! We'll definitely be back again! read more

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Great service. Great food. Ribs are always excellent, steaks equally good and prices are reasonable. Love it read more

Inside the men's bathroom at Wagner's Ribs When there on a Tuesday the food was good I had the perch my brother had the ribs and I went in the bathroom and saw this vent that looks rustic in nature I guess they can't afford the paint with all the money they're making to paint the darn thing and you've got to wonder if they show this to the public I wonder what the kitchen looks like well just make sure you have a tetanus shot when you go there read more

Wagner's Ribs - Rusty bathroom grate - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

Had never been to Wagners until today, ordered the full slab of ribs regular.. alls I can say is. Wow, probably some of the best ribs I've ever had in my options, Waiter was very kind and was attentive when drinks needed to be filled, everything was delicious down to the last bite! Will defiantly have a return customer! read more

Wagner's Ribs - Ribs (Full-Slab) - Barbeque Near Me - Porter, Indiana

Service was good and beer was cheap, but the food was very disappointing. I'd heard this place was known for its ribs and that's what everyone was eating when we got into the place. My brother ordered the ribs and they came out in less than 5 minutes which means they weren't made fresh. When they came out they looked stale as if they'd been sitting under a heating lamp for hours. They tasted ok but for a place known for its ribs you'd expect something better than that especially for the price... read more

I've never had better ribs and I've been all over the US. Great soft crunch and flavor. Service is wonderful. Friendly and quick. Comfortable seating and easy parking. Open every day. Five Stars read more

Consistently good food. It is our go to spot for out of town guests. The ribs have spoiled us and we can't find anywhere else where they are that good. read more

Just stopped by to say Courtney was an amazing waitress and she took great care of us and my first meal back from being on orders!

Chicagos foodies and we love Wagner's. Fall off the bone ribs, sauce with a bite, fresh - not frozen green beans, outstanding moist dark chocolate cake. We really enjoy the food. Outstanding service. Rib joint type ambience; although not too noisy. You can actually talk even when it's full! read more

I can't comment on the service Bc, I always take with. The ribs are the best, I like to order something different every time I go. Everything is good/tasty. The sides are kind of small, they could be bigger. I still recommend this place read more