Smoky Jon’s No 1 B-B-Q

I really want to give them 4.5 stars. Or even 4.9. I need to deduct something, but it doesnt have to be a whole star.
My friend Todd and I are BBQ aficionados and self proclaimed experts. We have taken on the weighty task of reviewing all of the BBQ options in Wisconsin. We also make a point to try BBQ in every city and state we travel to, and between the two of us we’ve probably covered all 48.
Smoky Jon’s is easily our #2 choice in Madison, and possibly the midwest (if not, then definitely #3). They earn #1 in some sub categories especially the sauce.
Smoky Jon’s has won multiple regional and national awards and it’s not hard to see why. Most of their awards seem to be for the sauce and they are well deserved. DEFINITELY my favorite BBQ sauce in the midwest. It’s very sweet and very spicy at the same time. EXCESSIVELY flavorful. I normally prefer a vinegar based sauce over a sweet sauce, but this sauce is too good not to win. If you dont like spicy, you might not like it, but then why are you eating BBQ? Meat needs a little spice. I need to start buying bottles of this. I might just drink it straight from the bottle.
Ribs are excellent. Our #1 pick for midwest BBQ, That BBQ Joint, wins here, only because their ribs are meatier and their dry rub is AMAZING. But Smoky Jon’s ribs have plenty of smoke taste, the texture is perfect, and their sauce is the perfect compliment. When I am craving well sauced ribs, these are what I crave.
I asked if they had «hot link» and they said they did, but what they gave me was smoked sausage. It was EXCELLENT smoked sausage, lots of smoke flavor, but when I ask for hot link, I’m expecting Chicago Style hot link, which is a very different animal (pun not intended). No where in Madison seems to have it since Papa Bear’s BBQ closed. Actually, I cant find it anywhere outside of Chicago any more. That said, Smoky Jon’s is not Chicago style BBQ, so their style of link sausage is probably more fitting
Smoky Jon’s brisket is pulled. I prefer sliced brisket. It did not have overwhelming flavor, although it tasted great once I poured on the sauce. Probably wont order brisket again. TBBQJ wins handily here.
Sides were TINY portions. The baked beans tasted canned. The mac & cheese was good and very creamy. The sugar fried biscuits reminded me of beignets and were amazing.
Points deducted for:
My ribs came with a small amount of sauce on them, and my link and brisket came dry. They included a TINY container of sauce for all 3 meats and I had to ask for extra. Sometimes they charge for extra sauce. I know it’s their claim to fame, but come on! Let us use as much as we can when we order in! I wont drink it straight from the bottle!
We arrived at about 8:20, ordered our food, and while we were waiting for it, were told the dining room closed at 8.30 and we would have to take it to go. According to the website, they are open until 9.
Here is our vlog:

Ok… I’ll start off by saying I’m a F.I.B. from Peoria IL. If you don’t think this is some of the best bbq you’ve ever had… you’re out of your fraggin mind… We have some good bbq spots in IL. …Very good… I’ve only found one place that rivals this gem… point blank… This is the best bbq you’re going to find in Mad Town… I say that because I frequent a lot and have had it more than three times… high five excellent… best bbq you’re gonna find here!

Excellent barbecue. Well priced, so filling. The beef link is exceptional, and everything else is good. Highly recommend — get yourself here.

I am giving this place 4 stars for the food only. We had out of town co last night and ordered ribs and beef brisket-(serving for 4 – 6)plus a sandwich platter. Drove 20 minutes home to find 2 of the 3 family portion sides missing (also one of the sides for the platter). This happened even asking the server to check what was in the order… I think when you spend over 60.00 on carry out and leave a tip… Your food should make it into the bag. BUT we can’t complain about the food– it was excellent!
Oh. They did say they’d refund our credit card for what was missing but what they really missed was how inconvenient this was!

We went there on 03/​04/​2016 around 4:30. We were greeted by a very friendly young woman; she was the best part of the experience. The ribs were very dry and the sides were very small. You will not get great value here. We were the only people in the restaurant and parking was still a problem here. We only saw two spots total in their lot, one of which was a handicap spot. We did find parking on a side street, but not real convenient. The friendly service is probably not enough to get us back for another visit.

After living in Madison for 11 years, I finally got around to eating at Smoky Jon’s. I think it’s pretty safe to say that it won’t be that long before I come back.
My wife and I each had the shredded pork, mine by itself and her in a sandwich. Both of us loved it. The sauce is smoky and a little spicy. We also got a side of onion rings. Those seemed to be extra greasy, but they were crispy and tasted fine.
Only styrofoam and paper platters with plastic utensils. I think it’s due to a lack of room in the back, but overall, really good!

Went back with a close friend with a small appetite, ordered ribs we were going to split. Told them not to split it You can’t share your food unless you pay $ 4. Didn’t want 2 plates or anything else. Was charged the $ 4 and given the stuff anyway — house rule I’m told. Order your food to go then just sit down and eat it, I guess. Seriously?

This spot is good, really good! I want to give them 5 stars & they are so close; a second visit will seal the deal.
When it comes to real bbq in Madison choices are few… this spot more than helps fill a gap — it’s the real deal.
We ordered a full rack of ribs & a sliced brisket dinner — sure the price seems high at first but then you taste that tender meat with a solid char & you get it. This is it. Everything about the meat is perfect here — true story. The sauce that the meat comes coated in is vinegary with black pepper as a big component. It’s good & by no means spicy, unless you think black pepper is spicy. (We all have that friend!)
For sides we got baked beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw, & fries. The «warm» sides were served on the cold side, the rolls are very dry, however, the Mac is by far the cheesiest, most buttery mac I have ever had! Dense & intense! The fries could have been more seasoned/​crispy, but the coleslaw was spot on and the baked beans seemed okay… but a little on the cold side, at least for eat-in…but that might be a personal issue, hot food I like to be served in the ‘almost too hot to eat’ category.
The dining room is small — take out at high-​times must be the way to go. Service is quick, friendly, & casual fast-​food style. Definitely the best bbq in Madison I have experienced.

Wow — really good BBQ. A great option when picking up or dropping off at the airport. We tried the ribs, brisket and pork, all of which were great. All sides were tasty too. The sauce was a nice blend of sweet and spicy. Definitely will be back next time I’m in town.

Smoky Jon’s is good. It’s not on the same level as say Oklahoma Joe’s in KC, or Bogart’s in StL, or even Slows up in Detroit, but the price is right, the meat is cooked well, and the sauce has a lot of flavor.
The ribs are good – the only ribs I’ve had in Madison that didn’t disappoint. I know some BBQ lovers don’t think ribs need sauce (similar to how some feel about steak), but I like it fine and these ones come out slathered.
The beef brisket was top notch, grade A stuff. The mashed potatoes were a few levels below what you’ll get at Brickhouse. The onion rings are heavily breaded and crunchy, just how I like them.

Got an order of ½ rack ribs and two shredded pork shoulder sandwiches. The price felt a little steep at $ 31 before tip. However, good BBQ is hard to find in this town and these meats are worth the price tag.
The Ribs had a crispy skin and the meat was seasoned through and through, fall of the bone tender. They really excels with their highly addictive sauce and the blend used to coat the ribs is truly a winner. There’s a nice mix of peppery BBQ sauce coating, bits of onion, and cooked-​in sauce flavor that makes for thoroughly flavorful pork.
The sandwiches are served dry, with the sauce on the side. It’s tempting not to dunk your entire sandwich in it, not because it’s dry but because the sauce compliments the meat so well.
You get to choose two sides, which were aplenty. The dinner bun that came with the rib plate was unremarkable, as are the sandwich buns. But really, you don’t come here for the bread.
Their dining area closes ½ hour before closing time, so make sure you have ample time to indulge!

Best bbq in the area… bar none! ! Excellent food and ya can’t help but enjoy the wit of the help.
.looking forward to going back.

I did not understand the hullabaloo. BBQ sauce was good. Side servings tiny. Since out of town, asked what was good and was told the pulled pork sandwich was popular for lunch. On reflection, should’ve gotten BBQ ribs as that was what all the awards on the walls were for. Oops.

As usual, I’m pretty divided on my review here. It’s certainly better than 3-​stars, but not quite 4.
The service is fantastic. I went around 3pm and they were fast, friendly, and accurate with my order. The price wasn’t bad at all either.
I ordered the pork sandwich, with a half-​rack of ribs, cole slaw, and potato salad. The dinner combos come with a roll too.
The roll was good, but absolutely generic. Then again, you don’t care about the roll, and neither do I.
The sides were solid. Nothing overly great, but no complaints at all. The coleslaw improved with pepper for sure.
The pork sandwich was a great choice. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m pretty proud of my decision. It was lightly seasoned, with a great smoke flavor and managed to be both moist and have texture at the same time. It came sauceless, but the sauce was a definitive addition.
Speaking of sauce, let’s move on to the ribs. (Sure, the segue was awkward, but you’ll see how it works out.)
The rib meat was awesome. Great smokey aspect to them, crisp edges, tender meat, and pull off the bone with not too much pressure at all. The meat alone would’ve made this review much better.
So, what’s the issue? Great question.
The ribs come out smothered in sauce. Not Kansas City-​style, but just doused in it. The sauce is great. It’s heavily peppered, which can seem overpowering, but in moderation is a great addition. The sauce bath knocked the ribs way down, both in flavor and enjoy-​ability, which is a real shame considering how good the meat was.

Great BBQ restaurant. The parking lot has about 10 spaces or park on the street with a good walk to the restaurant. Sauce had a small kick and the pulled pork was outstanding. If you
Like BBQ this is the place in Madison.

Wound up here after That BBQ Joint inexplicably took graduation week off. I was seriously disappointed seeing the little hand written note in the window. I’m getting off track.. You’re reading this to get my thoughts on Smoky Jon’s BBQ. I’ll start with the positives. The restaurant was particularly clean and the staff was attentive and friendly. The ribs were tender and portions were plentiful. Oh, and the steak fries were nice.
I feel guilty whenever I give a 2 star review for a place with friendly staff, but I can’t justify 3 stars considering the food. It only warrants the 2 star, «Meh. I’ve experienced better». As for the award winning bbq sauce, I wasn’t a fan. It’s tomato based, which is my preference, but is overpowered by a ton of black peppercorns. Again, the ribs were tender, but lacked the smoky, well-​seasoned flavor I was hoping for. The chicken was dry and the primary flavor was garlic powder. The mac n’ cheese was similar to Kraft also with a heavy dose of garlic powder. I’ll probably pass on this place the next time I’m in town, but if you have an abnormal affection for black pepper & garlic powder give em a go and decide for yourself.

Best BBQ in town!
We had the ribs and the brisket. Both were amazing! The house BBQ sauce was fantastic. We had leftovers for lunch the next day even after eating until we were sick. The portions are huuuge.
Can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu! Worth a visit if you’re in the area, or just drive on over if you’re not…

It was quite a satisfying experience being able to really enjoy Jon’s ribs. This were the best ribs I have had at a restaurant so far is thus deserving of 5 stars.
The bbq sauce was peppery and delicious though, as others have mentions, it would be nice to a have a little variety with the inclusion of another sauce or two to scramble the tastebuds up.
As a side note, the sides (see what I did there:)) were very respectable. Most the BBQ joints I’ve stopped by have horrible side entries but at Jon’s they don’t appear to have been neglected.
On the downside, I wasn’t a fan of the chopped pork and brisket. They were a bit bland. Regardless, the ribs wayyy outweighed that downside.
Thank Jon! I highly recommend folks to swing by and grab some ribs. Try their takeout, the deals seem to be quite good!

This local BBQ icon was on our list of dining destinations when Santi and I were planning our trip to Madison. Located nearby the airport, the well-​lit, wooded interior starts with a pathway that leads to the large overhead menu, the ordering counter, and the dining area. Adding to the décor are the statewide accolades all around the walls. On this evening, the casual atmosphere happened to be unexpectedly subdued, quite unlike the other BBQ restaurants I’ve visited.
We shared a Combination Meal ($ 17.75) that included our choice of ¹⁄₃ Slab, Smoked Pork Shoulder Sandwich, and extra serving of smoked pork shoulder, Cole Slaw, and BBQ Baked Beans. The Slab/​Pork Ribs were smoky, tender, and the meat easily peeled off the bones. There was an excellent hint of smoke to deepen its flavor, and that was further enhanced by the BBQ sauce to provide a sweet higher note, strong black peppery secondary, and anchored by a noticeable spicy kick that reverberates with good hops. For the price, there wasn’t enough meat on the ribs, but the flavors were still sensational. The dinner roll that this dish came with was sweet, soft, and spongy. I loved it.
The Pork Shoulder Sandwich was excellent as well. The pork shoulders were tender without one single dry spot – perfectly executed and delicious without the BBQ sauce. The meat was flavorful and deepened by its smoky flavor that coupled perfectly with the well-​rounded, full-​bodied spicy BBQ sauce. I absolutely loved it except for the buns that turned out flaky with hollow spots and lacking flavor. We finished the meat without getting into the buns very much. This sandwich could have been so much better with a bun of higher quality.
The BBQ Baked Beans were smooth, sweet, and delicious. The Slaw on the other hand was too wet with a weak texture. Compared to other BBQ joints, their sides could use more varieties such as green beans, collard greens, yam and other possibilities to complement this resounding BBQ. They also have two sauces, and I wished we had the option of trying both at the table.
Service was impatient at first, as we were initially tentative and indecisive about our choices. I wished the server could have been much more educational with their strengths and limitations to help us make the right decisions on this very first visit. However, she later became much more warm, accessible, attentive, and helpful towards the middle and end of the meal. Price-​wise, their items were pricy with the portions we received. I’d be very interested in coming back to try their Beef Briskets and Chicken Dinner.

After surviving my first tornado scare in Madison, Wisconsin, my partner in crime, Daniel L. and I ventured out to this well known local BBQ hangout for some good old smoky ribs and all the fixings.
With the Midwest reputation of having some of the finest meats, it was a no brainer to order the ¹⁄₃ slab BBQ smoked ribs and pork shoulder sandwich combination dinner ($ 14.75). The staff mentioned the pork shoulder and the beef brisket were the top sellers besides the ribs.
The pork shoulder was pigilicious! The shredded meat was perfectly seasoned with the rub and then hickory smoked which gave its own taste without the addition of the BBQ sauce. It also impressed me because there were was no sign of grease on the pork. The bun was a standard bread bun compared to the sweet roll which accompanied the dinner combination. We took the recommendation of the staff and ordered the extra meat (additional 5 ounces for $ 3) since were feeling extra carnivorous! The BBQ pork ribs came with five succulent ribs with the meat just waiting to fall off the bone. Each bite had a generous coating of their famous award winning BBQ sauce.
Our dinner combination came with two choices of side orders which we picked the baked beans and cole slaw. Both were served in a small styrofoam cups along with the BBQ sauce. It’s easy to see why the BBQ sauce won numerous award because of it’s rich, sweet and peppery flavor. I’m not a fan of cole slaw but this one exceed my expectations with its creaminess and was extra cold. The baked beans maintained a firm texture and should be ordered with any meal because the sauce was so addictive.
The cabin style interior holds 11 tables and is very close to the Madison airport. The actual BBQ pit is located a few miles away from the restaurant. So grab your dental floss and wet naps and eat some authentic BBQ at Smoky Jon’s!