The Johnson, AR location is the original for this multi location restaurant. The other locations are good, but there's something about the original. This location was recently renovated. You have to get the TX-style brisket. The green beans are sweetened and unique as far as green beans go. Service is quick; order at the counter and your order is ready when you arrive at the cash register. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Brisket Plate - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

Now, I should say up front: I'm from Kansas City, so I'll admit I'm BBQ-biased. When you live around some of the best barbecue in the country, your standards are high. So when I say Wright's impressed my tastebuds, I mean it. The moment you walk in, the smell of pit smoke hits you in the best possible way. The menu is hand-written on butcher paper along the wall -- classic old-school BBQ style -- and there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which is helpful because this place clearly draws a crowd. When I arrived, brisket had already sold out -- which in BBQ terms usually means you've found the right place. Thankfully, Warren stepped in and turned what could have been a disappointment into a fantastic experience. He took the time to walk me through the menu and recommended a three-meat plate: bacon burnt ends, beef ribs, and smoked turkey. The bacon burnt ends were smoky, sweet, and indulgent in the best way. The beef rib was beautifully cooked with deep flavor and that perfect bark. And the smoked turkey -- often overlooked at BBQ spots -- was incredibly moist and flavorful. The sides here aren't an afterthought either. The deviled egg potato salad had the perfect balance of creamy richness with a bright dill pickle note, and the smoked beans had just the right touch of sweet spice. And then there was the banana pudding -- classic, comforting, and the perfect way to finish the meal. What really elevated the visit, though, was Warren. After the dinner rush slowed down, he took time to walk through the dining room checking on guests. When he learned we were visiting from Kansas City, he stopped by our table and spent a few minutes talking with us. He shared more about how Wright's got its start and how it grew into a James Beard Award-winning spot, and his knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even better. It's clear he genuinely cares about the guest experience. Brisket may have been sold out this time, but that just means I have a reason to come back. Next time, brisket is first on my list. And trust me -- if this Kansas City girl is impressed, Wright's Barbecue is doing it very right. About the pic: When a BBQ sandwich needs two hands, a stack of napkins, and a cold beer, you know you're in the right place. That was my introduction to the Woo Pig sandwich at Wright's Barbecue -- a delicious, messy stack of smoky goodness that demands a photo before you even attempt the first bite. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Woo Pig sandwich - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

Lots of bbq, allegedly, out there, BUT this the real deal! Ribs, beans and coleslaw were all spectacular. Service was quick and easy for 4 adults and seating aplenty. Great place for a date or a family get-together! Definitely a return customer read more

Wright's Barbecue - Rib order with coleslaw and beans... - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

Wrights has the best BBQ. I eat here often and at the Little Rock location. The ordering process is simple, newly remodeled with tons of extra dining area inside and outside. You should definitely try it if you have the opportunity. read more

Wright's Barbecue - 3 Meat Plate (Ribs, Smoked Chicken, Bacon Burnt Ends, and double macaroni & cheese. - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

We love Wright's. The reason we don't visit often is due to busyness and long lines. But getting to eat at the original location in Johnson is a treat. Ordered 2 meat plate with Burnt Ends and Brisket. I love the collard greens. Ordered that and ranch potato salad. It's a large amount of food and very filling. Can't go wrong on the menu, though. All of their meats are delicious. read more

Amazing BBQ that is NOT in KC! Being from Kansas City I am always looking for good BBQ no matter where I travel. It is usually hit or miss across the country and most BBQ is just different. Different can be really good. This place was a hit and honestly not much different in my opinion. I tried the 3 meat combo with Bacon Burnt Ends, Beef Ribs and smoked turkey, and a Woo Pig Sandwich. All of it was smoked to perfection with great seasoning. The bacon burnt end reminded me about how I need to make this at home again... it's been a while. They were smoky, with great bark and very juicy. The beef ribs were fall off the bone good. The turkey was the surprise here. It was super flavorful and so juicy! The Woo pig had super flavorful pulled pork and a jalapeño sausage. Don't let the jalapeño throw you off. It wasn't super spicy but rather had a great jalapeño flavor. The meats stood on their own without sauce but the variety of sauces just enhanced the experience. Bold, Spicy, Sweet and OG gave a nice selection of sauces. They were all really good but I was partial to the sweet being a KC style BBQ lover. The deviled egg potato salad was a definite hit along with the baked beans. I want to find a flaw in any part of this meal but there just isn't one. I am a fan! Warren at Wright's BBQ took great care of us answering our questions, made great suggestions, giving us some back story on the business and genuinely was interested in our thoughts and opinions. I'll be back to try all the things I didn't have a chance to try this trip. Also, if it's good enough for Jason Kelce... it good enough for me! lol read more

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Start to finish fantastic! The new entryway and seating area are very nice, clean and open spaces that are very inviting. The outdoor seating area is absolutely fantastic underneath that tree, they centered their seating area around. The service for ordering the food was very organized. While we had a brief delay for them to prepare an online order. They were efficient and got to my order quickly. All of the staff were very kind, knowledgeable, and professional. While I was eating, a manager was cleaning tables and was greeting individuals at the tables asking about their service and food. When I told the manager, I was enjoying my experience, but was disappointed they were already out of brisket, he went to the back and got me a slice of brisket that had just come off the smoker. Now the food! The brisket was melt in your mouth tender. I've never had such tender brisket in my entire life! The pulled pork nachos were very good. But I think my favorite was the spicy jalapeño and cheese sausage link. I had that chopped up and placed on top of my nachos and that was exceptional! Moral of the story. If you have not been to the new updated, Wrights barbecue, you must go! Fantastic start to finish! read more

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Excellent ribs, burnt ends and sausage. Loved the desserts. Friendly and welcoming service. read more

Love this spot. Top notch food and another one I always hit up whenever I visit. In an area of the country that low-key already has some really great BBQ spots, Wright's stands out. read more

(4.15) ~ Very good overall food & service DRINKS: * New Province Fallen Queen (Wit beer) = (3.75) Good FOOD: ** Banana Pudding (see photo) = (4.25) Very tasty ** Ribs (pork) = (4.15) Very good ** Greens = (4.15) Very tasty ** Mashed Potatoes = (4) very good BBQ SAUCES: ** Bold = (4.25) My favorite ** Spice = (4.15) 2nd fav ** Original (Sweet) = (4) very good read more

Wright's Barbecue - Banana Pudding = (4.25) Very good - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

I loved the beef rib and sausage. But Jordan, how in the hell on Saturday at 2pm does Johnson run out of Bacon Burnt ends, jalapeño Sausage and another protein. Who the hell is running that place. Great inside dining now. With nice employees asking if people were good. Running out of proteins way before dinner is a damn common occurrence now. read more

Great BBQ. This is a no-frills barbecue joint. You order at the counter, pick up your food and find a picnic table. Their barbecue is the best. I've ever had. The ribs melted in your mouth and just fell right off the bone. And the brisket and pulled pork was just amazing. There's multiple barbecue sauces at your table that you can try. Get there early! The line gets pretty long around dinner time and they do sell out of items. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Menu - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

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I had the 2 meat plate with brisket and bacon burnt ends, collard greens, and smoked beans. My husband had the ribs plate with mashed potatoes and collard greens. The star of the show was definitely the bacon burnt ends! Fatty, bouncy, crispy, and flavorful! Loved it so much. The brisket was pretty good too, but the burnt ends are the most memorable. I really liked my sides of collard greens and smoked beans too and would get those again. My husband had the ribs plate, and while I thought the ribs were good and tender, I preferred the brisket and burnt ends. Of the 3 bbq sauces (sweet, spicy, bold), the best one was the bold bbq sauce, which had kind of a honey mustard flavor to it. There was ample seating and service was nice. Being from California, I thought the prices were not bad at all. My only complaint is that they keep the AC so cold in there that the food was pretty cold by the time I ate it. Would have been so much better had it been warm. read more

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Mac and cheese w/ brisket was pretty good. Added tomatoes and pickled onions. Wish the cheese had been browned more though, if they can do that. Somehow there was no line at lunch and we could order immediately. read more

Oh. My. Goodness. If you do anything in this city, it has to be eating here. I'm only halfway through my meal and already planning the next time I'll be back. I've never had barbecue like this before. It's unreal how delicious it is. The mashed potatoes are heaven, the green beans are the best I've ever had, and my pulled pork sandwich is DELICIOUS. There's more sides than you know what to do with and the meat choices are endless. There is something for everyone. You feel right at home at Wright's. The people are kind, the restaurant has a homey feel, and everyone around you is happy and satisfied. THIS IS A MUST HAVE!!! read more

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So they are remodeling and the place looks really nice. The food on the website looks incredible. I was so disappointed. We were passing through. It looks like they are probably another month from opening so call before you come. read more

Amazing bbq. Some of the best in the country. Consistently top notch as we have been to the Johnson and Rogers locations over a dozen times. Never been disappointed. The brisket is my fave. The turkey is really good. read more

Great bbq, had to go back again before leaving town. Probably one of the only reasons to come back to AR. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

This is my favorite BBQ place. I always stop when I'm in town. I am in love with the Bacon Burnt Ends. The sides are pretty good. Recommend the beans and the hot BBQ sauce. This place is usually very busy and it may take some waiting, especially if you want a seat. Service is pretty fast. Love the menu written on butcher paper, hung on the wall. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

The best brisket I have had, by far. Everything was 10/10. It was a perfect day to sit on the patio. Good service. Be prepared to wait in line, but it is well worth it! read more

Wright's Barbecue - smoked beans, Mac & cheese, brisket, pulled pork, and banana pudding! - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

First and Foremost, make a trip to the ATM because this place is EXPENSIVE. The combos are about twice the cost OR half the food I expected for the price. An example is that an additional side of beans is $6.30. Extra anything is $6.30. Outrageous! The food tastes good. Again the servings are small. Sides come on a small paper boat. I thought when I saw the server carving and weighing the meat servings we would eat well. He ceased carving and weighing much sooner than I expected. Service is really non existent. One walks in and places the order with the aforementioned carver. Your meat is sent down the line to the side order filler. Steps away is the cashier who hands you your self serve beverage cups as the e-pay tablet swings around for you to input your tip. Tip!?!? There is no table service. The ambiance is outdoor seating on picnic tables. There is a tent to protect from precipitation but doubtfully any temperature extremes. Been there, ate there, got my ticket punched WITHOUT any need or desire to return. Did I mention it's OVERPRICED?!?! read more

Great atmosphere friendly and prompt service. Meats were good, flavorful and tender. Mac n Cheese lacked flavor. Baked Beans were very good, great flavor with bacon and pieces of brisket. Egg Potato Salad was a bit mustardy but still had homemade flavor. Didn't care for the dill seasoning. Would've been better to use dill pickle. Greens were good although a tad under cooked. We could really use this true southern BBQ in Oregon!! Definitely will return if in the area! read more

Wright's Barbecue - 2 Meat Plate Brisket Burnt Ends, Ribs, Mac & Cheese & Greens Brisket Burnt Ends, Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese, Egg Pot Sal Baked Beans. - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

The food was fantastic, the sandwiches, the sauces, and sides were great. Friendly staff. Would go again and highly recommend

Wright's came highly recommended, and I did not leave disappointed. If this was my local BBQ joint, I would be super happy. For me, Wright's ranks up in the conversation with some of the best BBQ I've ever had including Franklin's, Snow's, Joe's KC, Harp, and Chef J. There was a bit of a line when I went, but the line moved quickly and they weren't sold out of anything. The place is bigger than it looks from the outside, and our larger party was able to find a place to sit inside without much of a problem. I tried the brisket, bacon burnt ends, and the jalapeno cheddar sausage. The brisket was very tender without falling apart. The fat was rendered nicely. The rub was more of a Texas style heavy with black pepper. I really enjoyed it. I also liked the bacon burnt ends. I've had these other places, where they've been called pork belly burnt ends. I think that would be more accurate for the description of them, because to be bacon, the belly needs to be salt cured before being smoked. If it was, I didn't detect it. I thought they were incredible either way. Crispy and crunching while retaining moisture and the meat still had a nice chew to it. The fat was also rendered very nicely. The jalapeno cheddar sausage was high quality and had a nice snap to it. For my sides, I tried the potato salad and smoked beans. I thought both were delicious and paired nicely with the meal. I'd highly recommend coming here if you are ever in the area. read more

Friendly staff, willing to answer all my questions. Delicious sausage . Outdoor patio with beautiful view. read more

Another Texan here . Great food. Had the brisket, pulled pork and Turkey. All really good, pulled pork was the star. The smoked beans are probably the best I've had. Really good. BBQ sauces are great as well. Great service too! read more

Wright's Barbecue - 3 meat (Brisket, pulled pork, and turkey) plate with 2 sides (smoked beans and potato salad). - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

The BBQ brisket was amazing and juicy! Outstanding food you won't be disappointed! Get there when they open or wait in line it's worth the wait! read more

Wright's Barbecue - BBQ Brisket, coleslaw, and baked beans. - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

I arrived here, saw the line outside, and panicked a bit. I knew I would only have one shot at making the most of the legendary Wright's Barbecue, so I overdid it and ordered basically everything. Then, of course, my female friend encountered some of her coworkers who then watched me eat over two pounds of food. "He's from New York" she said. No, I didn't finish, but this was one day where the girl being a pescatarian did not work out in my favor. And lord knows there's nothing like this place in New York. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

I love this place! The mashed potato's are great! And I love the BBQ and the sauce‼ and the people are always nice

Food was great! I got an assortment of meats including brisket and hot sausage links. BUT, the burnt ends were the star! The sides are spectacular as well. Three different sauces; any of which will delight. Only place better is Snow's in Lexington, Texas. The people were great too! The line was out the door but moved along well. Limited indoor seating. Building is plain but comfortable. read more

Wright's Barbecue - BBQ! - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

For our first trip to the area in a decade, of course we were interested to see what new eats were to be had, and Wright's seemed to be the top of the list as far as BBQ was concerned. Showing up on a Saturday night, we were a bit worried that they would be out of food or wouldn't have seating given the lines we've seen in the pictures. Turns out we hit it at the right time as there were a few tables left inside and they actually had some covered seating with heat lamps outside, so seating isn't a problem here, cold weather or not. Onto the food! When we arrived they did announced the only meats left were brisket, ribs, and chicken, so we ordered brisket, ribs, and chicken: The Brisket: we received cuts from the flat and the point and I must say the brisket was damn near perfect. You're greeted with a beautiful and tasty bark on the outside and a tender brisket on the inside, with some moderate smoky flavor. The Ribs: I think the consensus was the spare ribs carried the day. Mopped in sauce enough to make them sticky but not dripping with it, they have a delectable red hue to them. Just like the brisket, tender. These ribs stay together when you bite into them but also don't fall apart, the perfect BBQ rib. The Chicken: Wright's does a cool thing with chicken in that it is smoked chicken breast, which gives it a great bark. However chicken breast can dry out easily so it makes sense that these had a very light smokiness to them. Overall, solid chicken but had sausage been available it naturally would have been our third choice. The Sauce: Wright's actually has three sauces! Spicy, sweet, and Bold. I felt a bit like goldilocks trying each of these as the Spicy and Sweet were ok, but I found the Bold to have the best combination of flavor for me as I tend to like a bit more vinegar and spice in my sauces. Overall, I can see why Wright's is so popular as it truly is craft BBQ. If we are back this way again, we will definitely stop in to try more BBQ and hopefully get some sausage this time to round out the trio. 4.5 stars read more

Wright's Barbecue - Ribs, brisket, and chicken - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

Tasty but ridiculously expensive, especially for yummy brisket. I paid $27 at lunch for brisket with two sides and a fountain drink. Cool faux rustic interior read more

Great atmosphere sitting out on the deck while enjoying delicious BBQ! This is a must when in the Springdale area. read more

Wright's Barbecue - Smoked chicken, Mac & cheese and cowboy beans - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

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Best BBQ! Great service and one of my favorite places to eat. The ribs and brisket are simply amazing. They make you feel like family.

What's not to love? Slow, smoked meat!!!! Wright's is consistent. Your meal will be great every time! read more

Wright's Barbecue - Side o' sausage - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

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Best bbq in NWA feel free to argue with a wall about it! The service is impeccable and the setup makes you feel like you're at a cookout in someones backyard! I befriended the staff because they were just so fun and welcoming! I brought my dad here for the first time and when we went back home to Little Rock he just HAD to stop at the Wright's their for some cue! I can't say enough great things about this place! read more

The food is amazing. One of my favorite bbq spots in Arkansas. The brisket is my favorite and the sides are all great. I used them for a lunch catering and everyone loved it. read more

All the locals told me I HAD to try Wrights bbq... and they were right ;) a true no frills bbq joint- counter service with a couple small tables inside and a decent sized outdoor patio. I got a to-go order of lean brisket with green beans and mashed potatoes. The cook of the meat was perfect, the star was the "bold" bbq sauce (vinegar based) which I loved. I didn't try the other sauce options. The sides were also good, the green beans were slightly sweet (?) but still very tasty and the mashed potatoes were buttery and garlicky. A must try in AR! read more

Wright's Barbecue - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas

wrights is a delicious option for bbq in NWA! so many great options on the menu, i love the pickled onions and potato salad, and am never disappointed in the brisket or chicken. fun space with good music and indoor/outdoor seating. great staff! read more

Still the best barbecue experience in Fayetteville two years later. This time I had brisket, turkey, and sausage and each one was fantastic. I love their beans and always satisfied. I'm going again tomorrow. read more

Wright's Barbecue - 3 Meat Plate - Southern Near Me - Johnson, Arkansas