I Explored 11 Small-Town Smokehouses In Virginia And Half Blew Me Away
Barbecue had always been serious business in Virginia. Apparently, so had I.
I didn’t set out to have a spiritual awakening in a parking lot next to a gas station. And yet, somewhere between smoke-stained picnic tables and napkins that surrendered instantly, it happened.
I explored small-town smokehouses across Virginia, fully prepared for “pretty good.” What I got instead? A full-blown, sauce-dripping identity crisis.
Some spots served meat so tender it practically whispered sweet nothings. Others? Let’s just say loyalty was tested. Hard.
This wasn’t the polished, influencer-friendly barbecue of big cities. This was wood smoke in your hair, sauce on your sleeve, and strangers arguing passionately over whose grandma did it better.
It was bold. It was messy. It was wildly inconsistent. And somehow, half of them completely blew me away.
1. The Barbeque Exchange
There’s something almost poetic about a BBQ joint sitting in a town called Gordonsville. A place so quiet you can actually hear the smoker doing its thing.
The Barbeque Exchange, located at 102 Martinsburg Ave, Gordonsville, VA 22942, has built a reputation that stretches well beyond its zip code, and for good reason.
The menu leans into Virginia’s own BBQ identity, smoked meats with a focus on quality over gimmick.
The pulled pork here is slow-cooked to the point where it practically falls apart before you even pick up a fork. The bark on the ribs is serious, dark, peppery, and deeply smoky in a way that tells you these weren’t rushed.
What makes this spot stand out is the commitment to sourcing locally and cooking honestly. No shortcuts, no liquid smoke tricks, just real wood, real fire, and real time.
The sides hold their own too, especially the mac and cheese, which could absolutely carry its own food truck.
Gordonsville might be a small dot on the Virginia map, but The Barbeque Exchange makes it a destination worth every mile of the drive.
2. County Smoak
Lynchburg has a lot going for it, but County Smoak might be its most delicious secret. Sitting at 7423 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502, this place operates with a confidence that only comes from knowing your product is genuinely great.
The brisket here is the star, sliced thick, with a crust that crackles when you bite into it and a smoke ring that would make any Texas pitmaster nod in quiet respect. It’s the kind of brisket that makes you eat slowly on purpose, just to make the experience last longer.
The burnt ends, when they have them, are borderline life-changing.
County Smoak keeps things approachable without dumbing anything down. The menu is focused enough that you can tell they actually care about executing each item well, rather than just padding the list with filler dishes.
The smoked turkey is surprisingly underrated, moist, flavorful, and a strong argument for expanding your BBQ horizons beyond pork. Lynchburg’s BBQ scene is growing, and County Smoak is very much leading that charge with food that earns its reputation one plate at a time.
3. The Checkered Pig BBQ
The name alone earns points, The Checkered Pig BBQ has the kind of personality that makes you want to walk in before you even check the menu. Located at 1014 Liberty St, Martinsville, VA 24112, this Martinsville staple has been feeding the community with no-frills, straight-up Southern BBQ that hits every single time.
Martinsville is a NASCAR town at heart, and there’s something fitting about a BBQ spot here that doesn’t mess around, fast flavors, bold smoke, and portions that mean business.
The pulled pork sandwich is a regional classic done exactly right: tender, smoky, piled high, and served with just enough sauce to complement without drowning the meat.
The sides are old-school in the best possible way. Brunswick stew, coleslaw, and hush puppies that are golden and slightly sweet, the kind of accompaniments that remind you why Southern BBQ is a full meal experience, not just about the protein.
There’s a no-fuss honesty to The Checkered Pig that’s genuinely refreshing. It doesn’t try to be trendy or modern.
It just focuses on being really, really good at what it does. That kind of consistency is harder to pull off than it looks.
4. The Galax Smokehouse
Galax is the kind of town that feels like it exists slightly outside of time, and The Galax Smokehouse fits that energy perfectly. Perched right on 101 N Main St, Galax, VA 24333, this spot anchors itself in the heart of downtown with a menu that takes mountain-region BBQ seriously.
The ribs here are worth the trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway on their own. Smoky, tender, with just the right amount of chew.
They’re the kind of ribs that make you reconsider every rib you’ve eaten before them. The sauce is house-made and has a tangy depth that works in harmony with the smoke rather than competing with it.
Galax is known for its Appalachian music heritage, and there’s a similar authenticity running through the food at this smokehouse. Nothing flashy, nothing forced, just something real and deeply satisfying.
The smoked chicken is quietly excellent, often overlooked by first-timers who go straight for the pork, but absolutely worth ordering. If you find yourself driving through Southwest Virginia and you skip The Galax Smokehouse, that’s a decision you’ll genuinely regret somewhere around mile marker 40 on the way home.
5. Triple Crown BBQ
Luray is famous for its caverns, but Triple Crown BBQ is giving those underground wonders some serious competition as a reason to visit. Sitting at 1079 US Highway 211 W, Luray, VA 22835, this spot is a natural stop for anyone exploring the Shenandoah Valley.
And once you eat here, you’ll probably plan your next visit around the food rather than the caves.
The name Triple Crown feels earned. The brisket, ribs, and pulled pork all perform at a high level, which is rarer than you’d think.
Most BBQ spots have one or two standouts and a weak link. Here, the consistency across the board is what earns the respect.
The smoked sausage links are also worth ordering as an add-on, snappy and seasoned with just the right kick.
There’s a laid-back, mountain-town energy to this place that makes eating here feel like an event rather than just a meal. The Shenandoah Valley has a way of slowing everything down, and Triple Crown leans into that vibe completely.
Portions are generous, flavors are bold, and the whole experience feels like exactly what a road trip BBQ stop should be. Memorable, satisfying, and impossible to stop thinking about on the drive home.
6. Two Drummers Smokehouse
Toano isn’t exactly a household name, but Two Drummers Smokehouse is quietly making a case for putting it on the food map. Located at 8864 Richmond Rd W, Toano, VA 23168, this spot sits between Richmond and Williamsburg, which means it’s perfectly positioned as a stop on one of Virginia’s most-traveled corridors.
What hits you first at Two Drummers is the smoke. You can smell it from the parking lot, and that’s always a promising sign.
The pulled pork is the headliner, hand-pulled, deeply smoky, and served with a vinegar-forward sauce that cuts through the richness in exactly the right way. It’s the kind of BBQ that makes regional purists happy.
The smoked wings deserve their own spotlight. Crispy on the outside, smoke-kissed all the way through, and available in flavors that range from classic to boldly sauced, they’re the kind of starter that threatens to become your entire meal if you’re not careful.
Two Drummers operates with a neighborhood feel that makes everything taste a little more personal. It’s not trying to be the flashiest BBQ joint in Virginia.
It’s just focused on doing the work right, every single day, and that quiet dedication shows up clearly on every plate.
7. Bonefire Smokehouse
Abingdon is one of Virginia’s most charming small towns, and Bonefire Smokehouse fits right into that character. Equal parts welcoming and impressive.
Stationed at 260 W Main St, Abingdon, VA 24210, this spot has become a go-to destination in the far southwestern corner of the state, where the mountains meet serious BBQ ambition.
The brisket at Bonefire is Texas-style in spirit but Virginia in soul, thick slices with a bark that’s almost crunchy, a smoke ring you could frame, and a fat cap that renders down to buttery perfection. It’s the kind of brisket that makes you understand why people drive hours for good BBQ without questioning the logic for even a second.
Bonefire also puts real effort into its smoked sides, which aren’t just an afterthought. The smoked baked beans are rich, complex, and clearly made in-house with leftover meat bits folded in for extra depth.
Abingdon already draws visitors for its historic Barter Theatre and the Virginia Creeper Trail, so adding Bonefire to your itinerary is basically mandatory. Southwest Virginia BBQ has its own identity, and Bonefire is one of the loudest, most delicious voices making that argument right now.
8. Due South BBQ
Roanoke has a food scene that punches well above its size, and Due South BBQ is one of the clearest examples of why. Located at 4521 Melrose Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24017, this spot brings a Southern BBQ perspective to a city that already knows its food, and it holds up beautifully under that scrutiny.
The name says it all: Due South leans hard into the traditions of Carolinas and Deep South BBQ, which means vinegar sauces, whole-hog influences, and sides that are as important as the main event. The pulled pork is exceptional, tangy, tender, and smoky in layers rather than all at once, which tells you the cooking process is being taken seriously from start to finish.
The collard greens here are the real hidden gem, slow-cooked, deeply savory, and the kind of side dish that makes you reconsider your relationship with vegetables entirely. Due South also does a smoked turkey that’s moist and flavorful enough to challenge your loyalty to pork-only BBQ thinking.
Roanoke is a city worth exploring for a full weekend, and Due South BBQ is the kind of place that anchors a food itinerary and makes everything else on the trip feel like a bonus.
9. Hanover Smokehouse
Mechanicsville sits just outside Richmond, and Hanover Smokehouse has carved out a loyal following in a region where BBQ competition is genuinely fierce. At 8100 Creighton Pkwy, Mechanicsville, VA 23111, this place operates with the energy of a spot that knows it has to earn your repeat business every single visit, and it largely does.
The ribs at Hanover Smokehouse are fall-off-the-bone tender without crossing into the mushy territory that over-saucing can cause. They’re smoked low and slow, finished with a glaze that caramelizes just enough to add a slight sweetness against the deep smokiness underneath.
It’s a balance that’s genuinely hard to achieve consistently, and Hanover pulls it off.
The brisket flat is another strong suit, lean, smoky, and sliced properly so that each piece has an even distribution of bark and interior. The potato salad here is mustard-based and tangy, which is exactly the right counterpoint to rich smoked meat.
Hanover Smokehouse doesn’t have the boutique charm of some spots on this list, but what it lacks in atmosphere it more than makes up for in sheer BBQ execution. Sometimes the most reliable spots are the ones that just keep showing up and delivering without drama.
10. Smoke BBQ Restaurant And Bar
Newport News might be best known for its shipyards and military history, but Smoke BBQ Restaurant and Bar is writing a different kind of legacy at 10900 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601. This spot brings a more modern, polished take to the smokehouse format without losing any of the soulful depth that makes BBQ worth caring about.
The menu here is broad and confident, smoked meats, creative sides, and a kitchen that clearly isn’t afraid to experiment while still respecting tradition. The smoked wings are an absolute standout, with a smoke penetration that goes all the way to the bone and a crispy exterior that holds up beautifully.
They’re the kind of wings that make you wonder why you ever bothered with the fried version.
The brisket sandwich is a strong contender for best in the Hampton Roads area, thick-sliced, sauced just enough, and tucked into a brioche bun that somehow manages not to fall apart under the weight of everything inside it.
Smoke BBQ has a livelier, more social energy than some of the quieter roadside spots on this list, which makes it a great option if you want your BBQ experience to feel like a full night out rather than just a quick stop.
11. County Grill & Smokehouse Yorktown
Ending this list in Yorktown feels historically appropriate. After all, this is where a major chapter of American history wrapped up, and County Grill & Smokehouse is writing its own chapter worth remembering.
Sitting at 1215 A George Washington Memorial Hwy, Yorktown, VA 23693, this spot blends classic smokehouse tradition with a menu that has real range and ambition.
The smoked prime rib is the showstopper here, not something you see often on a smokehouse menu, and executed with a confidence that makes you wonder why more places don’t attempt it.
The smoke adds a dimension to prime rib that traditional oven-roasting simply can’t replicate, giving each slice a complexity that hits differently than anything else on the table.
The pulled pork and smoked chicken are both consistent and well-executed, but it’s the overall package at County Grill that earns it a spot on this list. The combination of solid BBQ fundamentals, a menu that stretches beyond the expected, and a location near one of Virginia’s most visited historical sites makes it genuinely special.
After driving across the entire state chasing smoke and fire, this Yorktown stop felt like a fitting final chapter.
And honestly, the smoked prime rib alone made the whole road trip worth it. Which smokehouse would you put at the top of your Virginia BBQ bucket list?