Jon G's Barbecue
Tray of BBQ at Jon G’s Barbecue
BOOM! It’s been a minute since I was absolutely blown away by a restaurant. Well, congrats to Jon G’s Barbecue for doing the job with Texas-style BBQ.
Stereotypical Southern BBQ
In the best way possible, Jon G’s BBQ is a stereotypical, southern barbecue joint. It’s in the middle of nowhere off 74, about 45 minutes from downtown Charlotte. The building itself is humble. The exterior has wood siding, and there’s gravel parking and several picnic tables. Inside, there is a counter where you order and a small dining room. Equally humble are the people — both the staff and patrons are incredibly friendly. As soon as you get there, you’re surrounded by thick southern accents and a strong sense of community — it’s great. And unlike anything I experienced growing up in the north.
Go on a Saturday to dine-in
Jon G’s Barbecue focuses on catering during the week, so it is only open on Saturdays — from 11am until they sell out. Get there early; a line starts to form around 9-10am. And… you’ll understand why once you start eating. Worried about standing around for a couple of hours? Never fear — they have some folding chairs you can use while you wait in line. And even more importantly — you get a complimentary beer while you wait (while they last) and water. Can I get a heck yeah?!
Try. It. All.
We ordered pretty much the entire menu, and I regret nothing. In fact, I’m thankful I ordered extra food — BBQ makes excellent leftovers. Here’s the (not so) skinny.
Sandwiches
Porky Brewster Sandwich. Brisket, pork, Fritos, and slaw topped with pickled onions on a bun. ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME!? The meat is so tender and flavorful. The sauce is the “Jon G” sauce, which is incredible. It’s their take on classic Texas BBQ sauce. Think: thick, sweet, smoky, delicious. I didn’t even know I needed the Fritos on this, but they were incredible on the sandwich. They added a salty crunch, which took the sandwich to the next level. Also, be sure to add queso. It’s house-made.
Porky Brewster Taco. Brisket, pork, Fritos, and slaw topped with pickled onions, house-made queso, and cilantro on a flour tortilla. This is the sandwich in taco form, which I liked even more. It was pretty much *foodie perfection.* I’d probably make the drive out just for this.
Sides
Jalapeño Cheese Grits. Cheesy & peppery with a little heat. They were pretty solid grits.
Mac and Cheese. Three-cheeses and baked. Talk about creamy, cheesy, flavorful deliciousness. It was classic baked mac and cheese that you get from a BBQ joint. Definitely worth ordering.
Mexican Street Corn Salad. Chilled and served off the cob. Cheesy & a little sweet, a little smoky. It’s a great side — it perfectly balances out the fattiness of the meat.
Brown Sugar Smoked Beans. These were the best baked beans I’ve ever had. They’re smoky, sweet, & tender. Next time I’ll order the pint — or maybe even the quart. I wish I had saved more for leftovers; I’m craving them as I write this.
Cole Slaw. Mayo-based and kinda basic, but crunchy, sweet, and slightly peppery — exactly what you want with this meal.
Meat
Order a tray of meat. Just do it. You’ll get everything you want, PLUS dill pickles and pickled onions. Love pickles? Then order a pint. They were in the Top Five classic dill pickles I’ve ever eaten. They had THE BEST crunch to them.
Turkey Breast (Daily Special). I don’t love Turkey, but I gotta be honest — this was GREAT Turkey. So moist.
Pulled Pork. Exactly what you’d expect. Tender, juicy pork.
Brisket. The brisket made me want to say dirty, dirty things. It might be better than sex. The rub was a little salty — but in a good way. It was both fatty and lean, and oh! so tender. It just melts in your mouth.
Cheerwine Sausage Link. Incredibly flavorful pork sausage. It’s well-seasoned and has a bit of a bite.
Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage Link. Another great pork sausage. It’s juicy, spicy, and oozing with cheese.
Pork Ribs. Just. Say. Yes. They’re fall-off-the-bone tender, while still maintaining their structure and texture. And there was so much juice; it was dripping down my chin as I ate them. They didn’t even need sauce (although the sauce was so good that I definitely smothered them).
Dessert
Strawberry Crunch. Kinda like strawberry jam with a crunchy topping. I’d say it’s a cross between a pop tart and strawberry crisp.
Banana Pudding. I missed getting a photo of this one, but it’s a deli container filled with pudding. Creamy custard and layers of banana and wafers topped with whipped cream. Nothing bad about it.
Sauce
Jon G’s Sauce. Described as rich and tomatoey, this is your classic Texas BBQ sauce. It’s sweet and smokey.
Sweet Vinegar Sauce. I’m not a fan of sweet vinegar BBQ sauce, but this Lexington-style was by far the best I’ve had.
JG’s Hot. This one was my favorite. It’s well-balanced between sweet and acidic with the perfect amount of heat, too — almost like a Thai chili sauce. It’s FANTASTIC on the brisket and ribs.
Perfection
All in all, I was BLOWN AWAY by the food here. I very rarely do this, but Jon G’s BBQ is a 10/10. If I had a complaint, it would have been the line & having to show up early. With that said, I can’t even complain about that. Between the free beer, water bottles, folding chairs, and friendly conversation — I hardly even noticed the wait. Do yourself a favor and head over on the first Saturday you can!
UPDATE:
I have since gone back to Jon G’s Barbecue well over ten times, and can attest my review remains the same - 10/10. Everything remained consistently amazing at the restaurant, from patrons, to staff, to the food. Garren and Kelly (the owners) are the nicest people you’ve ever met. So down to earth. So welcoming. They make you feel like you are a close friend at their home.
The rundown from my subsequent visits have been pretty similar, as I’m always bringing new people with me. We also try specials, when available, though:
Brisket Burger: This was a menu special, and while it’s not permanent to the menu, they often offer it as a special. This was the best burger I’ve ever eaten - and continues to be every time that I order it! It was super flavorful and seasoned with the perfect amount of salt. There was a beautiful little crust on the burger, while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. It was topped with a delicious local cheese and put on a delicious bun. Finally, add the house made pickles, for crunch and acidity, and condiments (Duke’s mayo, ketchup, and mustard) and you have yourself a perfect bite. If you want to make it something really unforgettable - order the cowboy candy and coleslaw on the side and put both on the burger, along with the other toppings.
Beef Ribs: Rarely on the menu, but a MUST ORDER when they are. These things are huge, and super rich. You only need one, as it is like fatty brisket on steroids. I wanted to pick it up and eat it right off the bone - feel like one of the Flintstones for a minute - but instead I kept my manners and used a fork to eat it. The meat was so juicy and tender, it flaked right off the bone. I’m glad it’s not a permanent menu item - just a special from time to time - as I’d want to get it every time. It’s so rich and fatty though, it would be stupidly unhealthy for me to order every time, given the amount I come here.
Bacon Burnt Ends: These were delicious; the flavor was on point. They were juicy, fatty, tender pieces of pork belly - succulent one might say. They were then covered in sugar and spice, giving it a peppery, caramelized nature to it. The first time I tried them, my only constructive feedback is that I wish they were a bit crispier on the outside (i.e. the fat was caramelized a bit more), but that is me nitpicking. I’ve had them twice since providing feedback to the Garren and Kelly, and I can confidently say there is not a single thing I would change about them now. Flavor is perfection. Texture is 10/10 - they are slightly firmer, with a bit more caramelization; however, they still maintain their original, pillowy quality. Phenomenal.
Cheesy Tex Link: Another great pork sausage, and very similar to the Jalepeño Cheddar Link. It’s juicy, cheesy, and has a bit of a kick. The focus in this link is more on the cheese, whereas the focus is a bit more on the jalepeño in the jalepeño cheddar.
Jon G’s Taco: A very solid brisket taco. A bit more traditional than the Porky B, it has a classic spin on the taco by topping the brisket with onions and guacamole. It is great if you are in the mood for Mexican. With that said, in my book, NOTHING on the menu beats the Porky B taco.
Cowboy Candy: I’m not sure what I was expecting with this. Everyone has told me about the Cowboy Candy; however, this is the first time it was on the menu since I’ve visited Jon G’s. It was $1, so I ordered it without even knowing what it was. Turns out this is sliced Jalapeño, which tastes like it has been bth pickled and candied. While delicious, it’s not something I would eat as an individual side. It is very much a topping. With that said, it is a fantastic addition to anything you order at Jon G’s. Throw it on the tacos, or take a piece with the bacon burnt ends…it adds just a hint of heat and sweetness to the finish. It’s a tiny little container, and only $1, so there really is no harm in trying it. I’ll definitely be ordering it again.
Apple Crunch: Ooey-gooey, just like the strawberry version. think of it as the pie filling in an apple pie, with just a hint of the sugary, crunch toping on an apple crisp. Zero complaints in my book. It’s very sweet though, so you’ll definitely need a sweet tooth to enjoy (I definitely have one).
2022 UPDATE:
So I’ve officially lost track f how many times I’ve been to Jon G’s Barbecue, as well as their pop-ups. I try to get out there every 4 to 6 weeks. I also go whenever friends and family come from out of town; it’s at the top of my out of towner visitor itinerary.
While the food has always been a 10/10 for me, what impresses me most is that Garren stops at nothing less than perfection. He makes an incredible product, and even then, he’s always trying new recipes to see how he can make the barbecue better. Only after he’s 120% confident will he roll out the change or new item to the menu - and that’s why there is such a cult following to this establishment. Dare I say, with their continued strive for perfection, Jon G’s now makes the best barbecue I’ve ever had.
On my most recent visit, there were a few new items, and some recipe changes to older items - and I’m 100% here for them:
Brisket Chili: Where has this been all my life!? This is definitely the best chili I’ve ever had. I normally don’t love beans in my chili, but it added the perfect little bit of texture. It’s got a robust, peppery flavor, with the all the savory-richness that Jon G’s brisket brings to any dish. It was perfect for the cold winter day.
Queso Texicano Link: This is the newest link to the menu. It started as the Jalapeño Cheddar. Some people thought that was too spicy, so Garren went back to recipe development, and came up with his Cheesy Tex Link. It was cheesier than the Jalapeño Cheddar, but a little more mild. I love heat, and was a die hard fan of the OG Jalapeño Cheddar Link, but this new version hits all the marks. It has heat, without being too spicy. It’s got a a cheesy gooeyness, that I can only describe as mouthwatering and addictive. And finishes with a classic pork link flavor. Definitely the best link I’ve ever had at Jon G’s Barbecue - and I didn’t even know it was possible to out-do the others Garren has made.
New Cheerwine Link: I wish I knew how to describe this link. It’s their classic Cheerwine Sausage Link, but with a few tweaks. I can’t quite put my finger on what the changes are, but it has more of a well rounded, savory flavor. The color is also much more vibrant. If I had to guess - I’d say more cheerwine and more garlic than the older version had. Regardless, while I liked the old one, I love the new one!
Cinnamon Rolls: I got a sneak peak at these. It’s the latest think Garren has been working on, and while he isn’t sure if they are ready for the menu, I’m sure they are! Haha. These this were warm, fluffy, and decadent puffs of heaven. He makes them with beef tallow, and while I wasn’t sure how that would translate, it just adds a rich complexity (it’s not beefy flavored at all). Add in the richness of cinnamon and caramelized sugar with a cream cheese frosting on top, and you’re in business. If I hadn’t been so full at this point, I probably would’ve asked to order 4 more! Lol.
