Visit 7 Of Kentucky S Best Barbecue Restaurants On This Road Trip

There’s no barbecue like Bluegrass barbecue. It’s a fact. Sticky and sweet, slow-smoked and fall-off-the-bone tender, Kentucky barbecue is an art form that simply cannot be beat. And we’ve devised the most delicious Kentucky road trip to prove that Bluegrass barbecue really is the best. Bring your appetite – and wet naps – on the following road trip to seven hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in Kentucky.

Our Kentucky Barbecue Road Trip visits seven of the state’s finest BBQ joints, covering 376 miles of pure Bluegrass barbecue bliss! Total trip time is just under seven hours, and we recommend splitting the journey into a long weekend, stopping for the night in lovely Paducah!

Google Maps View a Google Map for the BBQ restaurants road trip, and a Paducah lodging option if you want to turn this into a multi-day adventure!

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn/Facebook Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, 2840 W Parrish Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA

Alan Yee/Google Local Easily one of the most iconic restaurants in Kentucky, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is famous for its barbecue. The mutton, pork, beef, chicken, and ham are tender, juicy, and have the perfect smoky, spicy, tangy flavor that Kentuckians love. The pit masters of Moonlite travel across the U.S., promoting their own special Bluegrass barbecue. While you’re there, be sure to order a side of burgoo stew, another speciality at this only-in-Kentucky institution.

Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q

Marilyn Kolezke/Google Local Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, 2520 Louisville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA

Richard Kraddock/Google Local If barbecue chicken is your love language, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q in Bowling Green will be your happy place. Generous, juicy slabs of chicken are served smoky-sweet and slathered in sauce, with comforting sides like beans and slaw. This is pure barbecue heaven!

Roy’s Bar-B-Que

American Marketing & Publishing/Google Local Roy’s Bar-B-Que, 101 Sarah Ln, Russellville, KY 42276, USA

Tim Wilson/Google Local Roy’s Bar-B-Que is a place for folks with big, ole appetites. In addition to serving some of the best barbecue chicken around, the Southern-style sides and to-die-for pies make for the kind of down-home dinner dreams are made of!

Hoskins BBQ

Hoskins BBQ/Facebook Hoskins BBQ, 155 KY-1241, Mayfield, KY 42066, USA

Hoskins BBQ/Facebook Hoskins BBQ is Bluegrass barbecue at its finest, served sky-high on a bun, slathered in sauce, and topped with a slew of ‘slaw. Don’t skip the slaw… it totally makes this sandwich sing!

Starnes Bar-B-Q

Matthew Mac/Google Local Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA

Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook Hailed as the most legendary barbecue in the South, Starnes Bar-B-Q is a Paducah institution that’s truly a bucket-list must. Step inside this unassuming blue building and prepare yourself for bold, smoky barbecue (smoked out back, in fact!) smothered in finger-lickin’ sauce. Pro tip: buy a bottle (or two… or 10) to take home!

Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar

American Marketing & Publishing/Google Local Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar, 818 S Main St, Madisonville, KY 42431, USA

Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar/Google Local Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar is about as unassuming as they come, with a beige building and no-frills menu. But none of that matters, because the barbecue at this Madisonville spot is darn delicious. Piled atop toast with an ice-cold Dr. Pepper on the side, it might just be the best lunch of your life.

Old Hickory Bar-B-Q

Sean Correia/Google Local Old Hickory Bar-B-Que, 338 Washington Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA

Timothy Ford/Google Local Hailed as the “world’s best barbecue,” Old Hickory Bar-B-Q certainly lives up to this bold claim. This long-time spot has been serving the same, soul-filling, delicious BBQ for generations. The restaurant was named Old Hickory in 1954, thanks to the hickory wood used to create the distinctive BBQ. Not much has changed in terms of the menu at the restaurant, and this family-owned eatery aims to continue the high-quality standards set all those years ago.

There’s nothing like Bluegrass barbecue, and we hope you enjoyed each and every stop on this delicious road trip in Kentucky!

Google Maps

View a Google Map for the BBQ restaurants road trip, and a Paducah lodging option if you want to turn this into a multi-day adventure!

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn/Facebook

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, 2840 W Parrish Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA

Alan Yee/Google Local

Easily one of the most iconic restaurants in Kentucky, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is famous for its barbecue. The mutton, pork, beef, chicken, and ham are tender, juicy, and have the perfect smoky, spicy, tangy flavor that Kentuckians love. The pit masters of Moonlite travel across the U.S., promoting their own special Bluegrass barbecue. While you’re there, be sure to order a side of burgoo stew, another speciality at this only-in-Kentucky institution.

Marilyn Kolezke/Google Local

Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, 2520 Louisville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA

Richard Kraddock/Google Local

If barbecue chicken is your love language, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q in Bowling Green will be your happy place. Generous, juicy slabs of chicken are served smoky-sweet and slathered in sauce, with comforting sides like beans and slaw. This is pure barbecue heaven!

American Marketing & Publishing/Google Local

Roy’s Bar-B-Que, 101 Sarah Ln, Russellville, KY 42276, USA

Tim Wilson/Google Local

Roy’s Bar-B-Que is a place for folks with big, ole appetites. In addition to serving some of the best barbecue chicken around, the Southern-style sides and to-die-for pies make for the kind of down-home dinner dreams are made of!

Hoskins BBQ/Facebook

Hoskins BBQ, 155 KY-1241, Mayfield, KY 42066, USA

Hoskins BBQ is Bluegrass barbecue at its finest, served sky-high on a bun, slathered in sauce, and topped with a slew of ‘slaw. Don’t skip the slaw… it totally makes this sandwich sing!

Matthew Mac/Google Local

Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA

Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook

Hailed as the most legendary barbecue in the South, Starnes Bar-B-Q is a Paducah institution that’s truly a bucket-list must. Step inside this unassuming blue building and prepare yourself for bold, smoky barbecue (smoked out back, in fact!) smothered in finger-lickin’ sauce. Pro tip: buy a bottle (or two… or 10) to take home!

Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar, 818 S Main St, Madisonville, KY 42431, USA

Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar/Google Local

Swaggy P’s Kitchen and Coffee Bar is about as unassuming as they come, with a beige building and no-frills menu. But none of that matters, because the barbecue at this Madisonville spot is darn delicious. Piled atop toast with an ice-cold Dr. Pepper on the side, it might just be the best lunch of your life.

Sean Correia/Google Local

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que, 338 Washington Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA

Timothy Ford/Google Local

Hailed as the “world’s best barbecue,” Old Hickory Bar-B-Q certainly lives up to this bold claim. This long-time spot has been serving the same, soul-filling, delicious BBQ for generations. The restaurant was named Old Hickory in 1954, thanks to the hickory wood used to create the distinctive BBQ. Not much has changed in terms of the menu at the restaurant, and this family-owned eatery aims to continue the high-quality standards set all those years ago.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Kentucky Barbecue February 07, 2023 Sarah M. Why is Kentucky known for barbecue? The Bluegrass and barbecue go hand in hand, with Kentucky home to some of the very best BBQ joints in the country! (And it’s not just us who think so… Southern Living named this Paducah institution among the “South’s Most Legendary Barbecue Joints!”) But there’s one town in Kentucky that’s at the heart of the Bluegrass barbecue scene, and that’s Owensboro. Why? Well, this “big little town” is home to an abundance of great barbecue restaurants. Owensboro, Kentucky, is colloquially referred to as the “Bar-B-Q Capital of the World,” in fact, and it certainly lives up to such a title, as it’s home to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, and Ole South Barbeque! (Craving Hawaiian-style BBQ in Kentucky? Tri-R-Tips Hawaiian-style BBQ is the place to go!) What are the best restaurants in Kentucky? Looking to add some restaurants to your Bluegrass dining list? We recommending adding all 12 of these best restaurants in Kentucky, including:

Pompilio’s: The place for authentic Italian food in Kentucky. The Brown Hotel: A Kentucky icon, The Brown Hotel is home of the world-famous hot brown and the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and five-star luxury. Wallace Station Deli and Bakery: Craving classic Southern lunch favorites? The Pimento Cheese sandwich from Wallace Station is delicious, as is the classic fried chicken ‘wich! Castle Farms Restaurant: If you’re looking for the royal treatment in Kentucky, it doesn’t any better than dining at a real castle! Patti’s 1880’s Settlement: From the appetizers to desserts, their food earns rave reviews; Patti’s is known for Southern-style cooking, offering items like steak and potatoes, catfish fillets, and their specialty two-inch pork chops. Make sure you get a side of their flowerpot bread – and be sure to bring your appetite, as the portions at Patti’s are as big as the restaurant’s hospitality! Sanders Cafe: This is a place that belongs on every Kentuckian’s bucket (of fried chicken) list — not simply because it’s the amazing restaurant that birthed a culinary legend, but also because it has its own museum that’s devoted to all things fried chicken!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Kentucky Barbecue

February 07, 2023

Sarah M.

Why is Kentucky known for barbecue? The Bluegrass and barbecue go hand in hand, with Kentucky home to some of the very best BBQ joints in the country! (And it’s not just us who think so… Southern Living named this Paducah institution among the “South’s Most Legendary Barbecue Joints!”) But there’s one town in Kentucky that’s at the heart of the Bluegrass barbecue scene, and that’s Owensboro. Why? Well, this “big little town” is home to an abundance of great barbecue restaurants. Owensboro, Kentucky, is colloquially referred to as the “Bar-B-Q Capital of the World,” in fact, and it certainly lives up to such a title, as it’s home to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, and Ole South Barbeque! (Craving Hawaiian-style BBQ in Kentucky? Tri-R-Tips Hawaiian-style BBQ is the place to go!) What are the best restaurants in Kentucky? Looking to add some restaurants to your Bluegrass dining list? We recommending adding all 12 of these best restaurants in Kentucky, including:

The OIYS Visitor Center

The Bluegrass and barbecue go hand in hand, with Kentucky home to some of the very best BBQ joints in the country! (And it’s not just us who think so… Southern Living named this Paducah institution among the “South’s Most Legendary Barbecue Joints!”) But there’s one town in Kentucky that’s at the heart of the Bluegrass barbecue scene, and that’s Owensboro. Why? Well, this “big little town” is home to an abundance of great barbecue restaurants. Owensboro, Kentucky, is colloquially referred to as the “Bar-B-Q Capital of the World,” in fact, and it certainly lives up to such a title, as it’s home to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, and Ole South Barbeque! (Craving Hawaiian-style BBQ in Kentucky? Tri-R-Tips Hawaiian-style BBQ is the place to go!)

What are the best restaurants in Kentucky?

Looking to add some restaurants to your Bluegrass dining list? We recommending adding all 12 of these best restaurants in Kentucky, including:

Pompilio’s: The place for authentic Italian food in Kentucky.
The Brown Hotel: A Kentucky icon, The Brown Hotel is home of the world-famous hot brown and the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and five-star luxury.
Wallace Station Deli and Bakery: Craving classic Southern lunch favorites? The Pimento Cheese sandwich from Wallace Station is delicious, as is the classic fried chicken ‘wich!
Castle Farms Restaurant: If you’re looking for the royal treatment in Kentucky, it doesn’t any better than dining at a real castle!
Patti’s 1880’s Settlement: From the appetizers to desserts, their food earns rave reviews; Patti’s is known for Southern-style cooking, offering items like steak and potatoes, catfish fillets, and their specialty two-inch pork chops. Make sure you get a side of their flowerpot bread – and be sure to bring your appetite, as the portions at Patti’s are as big as the restaurant’s hospitality!
Sanders Cafe: This is a place that belongs on every Kentuckian’s bucket (of fried chicken) list — not simply because it’s the amazing restaurant that birthed a culinary legend, but also because it has its own museum that’s devoted to all things fried chicken!