Smoky Mountain BBQ

I called here to get carry out recently and was told by the lady sharing the same building that the guy running Smoky Mountain has been gone for over two years now, which is congruous with the age of the other posted reviews. I wasn’t able to edit the business to «closed» b/​c that feature is on lock down, but did leave a msg. for Unilocal admin to check it out. Hopefully this will help prevent anyone from getting in their car and driving across town, only to find the place is closed and long gone…
The restless quest for BBQ eternity continues, an unquenchable fire smoldering in my soul…
«I waved a diesel down outside a café’
He said that he was goin’ as far as Gatlinburg
I climbed up in the cab all wet and cold and lonely
I wiped my eyes and told him about her
I’ve got to find her!
Can you make these big wheels burn?»
–R. Milsap, «Smoky Mountain Rain»

Welcome to post modern BBQ. I think I just might like it – a lot. I saw the sign for BBQ and ducked in to order their sandwich. I asked for slaw on the ‘wich and had the server explain that everything comes on the side. «Everything?» I was puzzled. The owner happened to be sitting at the bar indistinguishable from his patrons and carrying on friendly chatter. He piped in, «This country has so many regional BBQ traditions that we just decided to let folks do up their sandwiches as they like.» I said I was from Virginia and we followed the N. Carolina style. Ah, yes, plenty of ketchup in that sauce, he assured me and then stated that his sauces was between N. Carolina and St. Louis, but he didn’t know where his slaw was from.
To the eats. Yes, his pulled pork was fresh hot but bare assed naked. I was in mild shock at the sight of it, but the side serving of sauce made it all okay. It was plenty red and plenty sweet. I thought it could have used a bit more vinegar – but then came along the oddest slaw I’d ever seen – no cream in it at all. Just vinegar, some sugar and what ever seasoning. This seemed the most unlikely combo until Harry met Sally and everyone wanted what she was having. I can only imagine how Meg Ryan would have expressed her satisfaction at this BBQ!
Also, had the hush puppies which in Portland are never quite the same as in the motherlode, but these were really quite excellent contemporary interpretation with cornmeal batter, large chunks of onion, jalapeño and kernels of corn. Spicey and gripping, they were delicious but could have been a bit less drippy with grease and cooked to a crunchier crust. But, all in all I had exactly three good puppies.
And the meal served with Stone IPA was just fantastic and good to go through the back door directly into the Clinton Theatre for a one stop cheap and arty dinner and a movie.

Went to Smokey Mountain based on reviews and recommendations (both Unilocal and WW Cheap Eats). Have to say that I was underwhelmed. There’s no question that the meats here are well smoked and prepared but the same care wasn’t shown getting those meats onto the plate.
We ordered a couple platers and a sandwich and almost all of them came as sandwiches. When we tried to communicate the order was wrong the guy said «just throw away the bun». Of the four meals two of them were cold. The sauce (and it was only one kind) was served in a small side paper cup and was not actually on the meat.
There wasn’t more sauce on the table (again never been to a BBQ place that didn’t also have sacue on the table) and the sauce wasn’t actually ON the pulled pork or brisket. I’ve never had a sauceless pulled pork sandwich served before and the WW review talked about how the sauce just dripped from the sandwiches.
In all it was a pretty underwhelming experience. I’ve had worse but it absolutely didn’t meet our expectations. Maybe their move to The Workshop was a bad one. It’s hard to reconcile all the positive reviews with our mediocre experience.
Update. Got this note from the owner ««With all due respect, what did you expect for $ 6? I’m the owner, and I don’t see how it could be less expensive.»
To answer, I expect food that isn’t cold, bbq sauce on the table and an owner that cares about what’s on the plate. It would have been easy to make this meal something more than mediocre. LOTS of places in Portland do it at this price (even from carts) with a lot more care for their finished product.

As you’ll notice on their website, they’ve moved again. This time it will hopefully be for good considering they are in the Workshop Brewpub attached to the Clinton Street Theatre. That’s right folks: bbq and a movie! What more can you ask for in the world?
On top of the killer location, Smoky Mountain has food to die for. I’ve had a great deal of bbq in my day, and while I’m not an expert, this is above and beyond anything else I’ve ever tasted. The ingredients are fresh and the dishes clearly made with skill and the secret ingredient of love. Its corny, but I can’t find any eloquent way of describing it otherwise.

After having read positive reviews here and in WW, I took my friend to this joint for barbecue last Saturday night. The dive bar was exactly that, chill, grungy, loved it.
The barbecue and side dishes were so absolutely AWFUL, we were stunned.
The brisket was dry and REALLY fatty. The pork ribs were the best thing we tried, about a C. The sides: the mac and cheese was the worst thing of all. I am pretty sure it had been frozen and thawed. The cheese was separated and then congealed, the noodles mushy and watery. The black beans were bland and neither cold nor hot, just kind of tepid. The greens would have been tasty, but also were tepid. The cornbread was not horrible, but definitely not orgasmic.
With all the hype, we were stoked for great barbecue. Yikes. Definitely NOT worth the trip.

Made our usual pre-​roller derby stop at World Famous Kenton Club (
) for drinks and to enjoy some delicious Smoky Mountain BBQ and was met with some news that nearly broke my heart: Smoky Mountain is LEAVING the WFKC!
I loves me some roller derby, but love SM-​BBQ almost as much, and now I won’t be able to fill up on this delicious grub before screaming my throat raw at the bouts.
The GOOD news is SM-​BBQ is NOT going out of business, rather they’re moving to a new location in SE Portland (I believe it’ll be on SE 72^nd Ave, near Holgate or Foster) — and the truth is I probably will be able to visit them more often in this new location. They open there in early April, so keep on the look out if you’re in this neighborhood.
As always, the food was fan-​freakin-​tastic! I went with the Traeger smoked Meatloaf (which has become one of my faves), and had BBQ Black Beans and Okra as my sides — because there was a gaggle of us, there was a run on cornbread and he ran out, but happily subbed in some of their crispy, oniony hush puppies (which is great, because I always agonize of which sides to get).
I’ll DEFINITELY update this review once I visit them in the new location!

I must quickly write this review before I slip into a meat coma. One word, goooooood. Two friends and I shared the meat lovers plate and the side lovers plate to get a broad sampling of the menu. Everything is tender and savory. Hush puppies with onions and peppers are a nice surprise. The smoked mac n cheese is warm and heartening and just the right amount of crispy on top.
Plus, in a town where service ranges from strange to aloof to downright bad, it’s great here. You can clearly tell that Richard not only knows what he’s doing around the grill but loves to do it and loves to feed people. He gives the honest low-​down on his food. Trust his recommendations!

Great food and cheap! Tender, flavorful, wonderful pulled pork. The sauces are amazing. Everything on the menu is excellent. North Portland is saturated with so-​called ‘authentic’ BBQ, bullshit. This is the real deal. Eat here first.
Where else can you get authentic BBQ served to you by a legendary Portland bluesman?
Eat there everyday, just don’t tell your heart.