I Chased Smoke Across Washington Backroads To 10 BBQ Joints (And 6 Were Worth Slamming The Brakes For)
A wet windshield and a glove box stuffed with napkins is how this chase really began, with smoke clinging to my jacket like a souvenir I never asked to keep.
I followed thin gray ribbons curling over tree lines and across farm fields, missing two turns, then laughing when a hand painted arrow saved me from another detour.
My maps app kept recalculating while the scent got sweeter and deeper, and that was the only compass I trusted.
If you crave road miles with your ribs, these ten Washington stops make braking hard feel like the smartest move of your day.
1. OG’s Smokehouse BBQ, Olympia, WA 98501
At 600 Franklin St SE, Ste 105, OG’s Smokehouse BBQ hooked me with old-school wood smoke before I even found the order window in the Three Magnets lot.
The setup feels part pop-up, part ritual: a short board, a steady line, and staff calling what’s ready like the pit is running the show.
I asked what was moving fastest and got a grin that translated to “Don’t overthink it.”
I went brisket and ribs, then added a side at the last second because my stomach started negotiating.
While I waited, trays kept disappearing to nearby tables and the crowd wore that quiet, determined look that only barbecue can cause.
My brisket came warm and sure-footed, with a peppery edge that didn’t need a speech, and the ribs left my fingers pleasantly busy.
If a place makes you check the weekly schedule for the next opening, isn’t that the real compliment?
Put me down for seconds in spirit.
2. Johnson’s Smokehouse, Olympia, WA 98501
At Johnson’s Smokehouse on 8310 Diagonal Rd, the gravel crackled and a thin ribbon of smoke drifted across pasture like a lazy signal.
Inside, cases gleamed with sausages and jerky, but the hot counter whispered brisket sandwiches and belly warming beans.
I aimed small, then doubled back after a sample stick convinced me otherwise.
Plans changed. Appetite won.
A ranch cap in front of me chatted about weekend smoking wood, and the clerk mentioned they rotate alder and apple for balance.
I followed her nudge to add ham off the smoker, sliced thick, and it landed rosy with a tender snap.
The sandwich rode sweet savory, sauce barely brushed, letting the bark speak. Simple. Strong.
Out by the woodpile, I could hear logs thud as new dishes came out piping hot.
That steady rhythm made stopping feel like the proper move.
3. The Smokehouse And More, Black Diamond, WA 98010
At The Smokehouse And More on 32721 Railroad Ave, a hand lettered window and a thread of smoke set the tone before I even parked.
The town’s mining past hangs in the air, sturdy and no nonsense, and the counter crew moves fast under that same ethic.
I ordered ribs and hot link, then almost swapped the link for chicken when a tray flashed past.
I hesitated but the line nudged me forward.
What arrived was rib meat with a mahogany edge and a link that snapped, releasing spice and a mellow, woody perfume.
A teen at the next table narrated his dad’s debate over sides, and cornbread won because the butter came whipped.
I followed them on that. No regrets.
The owner pointed to a small pit out back, built from repurposed steel, and said weekends run by the whistle of the wood.
Steam fogged the glass, trains rumbled faintly, and smoke stitched the scene together.
Slamming the brakes? Completely justified in Washington.
4. Larry’s Smokehouse, Snohomish, WA 98296
At Larry’s Smokehouse on 17416 State Route 9, cedar scent met oak smoke in a roadside blend that felt like camp and supper at once.
Cars pulled onto shoulder spots while a slow queue formed by the window, chatter rolling with the haze.
I started with salmon and a rib tip cup, trusting the region’s roots and the pit’s bark.
While inching forward, I watched a cook mop racks with a glossy glaze that hissed as it hit the heat.
A regular behind me swore by the rib tips and suggested lemon on the salmon to wake the smoke, and a wedge appeared with my tray.
That small detail mattered. The fish flaked beautifully.
Photos of old river runs and laminated clippings told of Larry’s weekend markets and long smoke nights.
Picnic tables creaked, kids kicked gravel, and the air tasted faintly sweet then clean.
By the time I rolled out, my jacket held the memory of smoke.
5. Brimstone PNW Smokehouse, 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
At 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335, sea air brushed against wood smoke, a quiet tug of shoreline and pit.
The room glowed amber, steel and reclaimed planks, with a steady clatter of trays and soft radio hum.
I dialed in brisket and pork shoulder, then nearly bailed for chicken when a platter flashed juicy under the lights.
I stayed the course. Confidence paid.
The brisket carried pepper and a deep roast note, while the shoulder shredded in gleaming strands that took sauce like a polite handshake.
A staffer slid over a side of pickled onions unasked, saying it brightened the fattier cuts, and she was absolutely right.
Small move. Big lift.
Gig Harbor photos along the wall told a story of smoke meeting maritime rhythm, and the window framed gulls drifting past masts.
People lingered, talking softly, napkins stacked like sails.
The backroads felt far away for a minute, but my mirror still fogged with smoke.
Brakes cooled, appetite didn’t.
6. Bear Ridge Smokehouse, Morton, WA 98356
At 245 Main Ave, Morton, WA 98356, I found Bear Ridge Smokehouse the way you hope to find a backroad favorite: by following a sweet, pine-tinged haze sliding down the block like morning fog.
Inside, a chalkboard kept the menu tight, and the pit boss called out cuts as they finished, not when a timer said so.
I ordered chicken and a short rib, even though I nearly swerved into sausage after hearing someone describe the snap.
While I waited, rain tapped the awning and a family gently debated beans versus mac until grandma ended it with a calm, unstoppable “both.”
I borrowed her strategy and added beans. No regrets.
The peppery kick stayed friendly, and every bite felt earned.
On the walls, old logging photos sat next to a framed note about their first drum smoker, like a quiet reminder that this place learned by doing and never stopped.
The chicken skin crackled, the short rib ate like comfort, and outside the mountains seemed to keep the smoke right where it belonged.
I hit the road smiling.
Bear Ridge had me brake-ing my own rules.
7. Mill Town Smokehouse, Morton, WA 98356
At 110 Main Ave, Morton, Mill Town Smokehouse greeted me with a thin ribbon of woodsmoke that stuck to my jacket like a souvenir I didn’t have to buy.
The counter moves fast, but nobody rushes you, and the board reads like a promise instead of a pitch.
I walked in planning to order one thing, then caught myself doing math I didn’t need: pork plus a link, or pork plus whatever looked best the second I reached the glass.
I went pulled pork and a sausage link, then added a side at the last second because my stomach started lobbying.
In line, I listened to a guy explain his “two napkin minimum” rule, and I silently adopted it. Smart.
The pork came soft with smoky edges that kept it interesting, and the link gave that clean snap that makes you grin mid-chew.
A few bites in, I stopped pretending I was sharing.
Mill Town doesn’t just serve smoke, it serves commitment.
Consider me happily converted!
8. Sweetwood BBQ, 905 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801
I didn’t need a sign to tell me I was close to a legendary lunch.
At 905 N Wenatchee Ave, Sweetwood BBQ announced itself with a calm, steady drift of smoke that made me slow my steps without thinking.
The room feels open and unpretentious, the kind of place where the counter conversation matters as much as the tray.
I stood there longer than planned, watching orders land, noticing how nobody rushed the process, including me.
I asked one question, then changed my mind halfway through the answer. It happens.
I settled on brisket and a side, then added another because the person ahead of me nodded like it was obvious. They were right.
I ate standing at the counter, because sitting felt like it would interrupt the moment.
The brisket pulled apart with gentle resistance, warm and steady, not showy.
That quiet confidence worked on me.
By the time I wiped my hands, I realized I’d stopped checking my phone entirely.
Sweetwood doesn’t demand attention.
It earns it, one calm bite at a time.
9. Shawn’s Quality Meats And Smokehouse, Maple Valley, WA 98038
I arrived a little too early and still didn’t beat the smell.
At 23220 Maple Valley Black Diamond Hwy SE, Suite 10, Shawn’s Quality Meats And Smokehouse let a low, savory perfume spill into the parking lot.
Inside, the case gleamed like a butcher shop should, all intention and patience, while the smokehouse side of the operation quietly did its work.
I asked what was coming off next and got an answer that sounded more like a forecast than a schedule.
I ordered brisket and a rib, then watched someone behind the counter give a small nod, which felt reassuring.
At the table, I took my first bite and immediately slowed down.
The brisket doesn’t rush you. It pulls you in patiently and keeps you on edge with every bite.
I debated leftovers versus finishing everything now.
Spoiler: I chose the present.
Shawn’s rewards attention, and once you’re locked in, wandering thoughts don’t stand much of a chance.
10. JJ’s Tap And Smokehouse, Spokane, WA 99208
At JJ’s Tap And Smokehouse on 8801 N Indian Trail Rd, my headlights caught a thin plume crossing the lot like a quiet cue to pull in.
The room felt relaxed and bright, with TVs low and a counter that worked like a small stage.
I ordered pulled pork and ribs, then almost switched to chicken after a platter flashed dripping and perfect.
Who can choose just one thing to order here?
A staffer suggested adding slaw directly onto the pork bun for crunch, and that one comment changed the tray from good to locked in.
While waiting, I noticed a family weighing sauces by color and landed on the thinner tang after their debate.
I jumped in to suggest my personal favorite and accidentally made friends.
Spokane photos along one wall told a story of neighborhood nights and long smokes that start when most folks sleep.
The ribs had a gentle tug and a peppered bark that lingers without shouting.
As I rolled out, wipers squeaked once across a misted windshield.
Brakes relaxed, appetite didn’t.