Smokey’s Bar-B-Q, Denver Colorado


Looky what I found in my inbox the other day. A restaurant review from Joe Bob in Denver, a barbecue joint no less. This is a good thing, it’s nice to see what others are up to in other cities and get Smokey’s on the map. Please read forward what Joe Bob brings us today.



Finally dropped into Smokey’s Bar-B-Que after passing it on the bike path many times. These guys have been there for 37 years now. Same folks, Ron and Ida Hein, same place, new kitties.

This seems more like take-out although they have a funky dining room complete with red shag carpet, plus a bunch of outdoor table with umbrellas. I dropped in right before they closed and ordered a pork rib dinner. One LB of pork ribs with the sauce on the side. Beans and a slab of white bread and iced tea.
The meal was actually good. The ribs still had some grease in them but I think they sat all day. Nice random chop chops of ribs, not some correctly aligned presentation like a large chain eatery. Not drowned in icky vinegar sauce either. The outside in places was nice and charred/crunchy/crackly which I love. Beans are beans. Bread is ah….white n soft. I sat in the aforementioned dining room/mausoleum and had that to myself.

Dang, them some good prices too. Can’t get that around here. – Biggles

Biggles says this looks just fine and would love to be able to smell the smoky love.

YES !!! Bingo, even though it was a tad greasy, it looks GOOD.
Several regulars were taking huge bagged orders to go since they close at 5:00 and closed Sat/Sun too.
Nice simple food. All the usual meals too. They do all their meat right there except the turkey. I got an Italian Sausage sandwich to go…nice and mild and tasty. Tasted homemade like it is.

Sandwiches and lunches are under $6.00, and dinners run up to $8.00. Family packs with multi pounds of meats are available. This joint is out of my normal pathway, but I will certainly detour over here again. Nice normal people making normal food and they have a herd of kitty cats that live outside or in the ‘hood or something. They had their food/water in their own spot and seemed fat/happy. I would be fatter/happier if I ate here daily. (No Schlitz in sight.)
Joe Bob
Smokey’s Bar-B-Que
1961 West 64th Ave.
Denver, CO 80221
303-429-9542
Hours: M-F 9-5
Thank you Joe Bob, a job well done. A note to our readers, J.B.’s comment about the Schlitz is a serious one. He was the one that turned me on to Schlitz years ago. I gave him a hard time about it and he swore up and down it was the perfect beer for barbecue. He was finally able to find a 12 pack and shared it over a home smoked meal. He was right, it blended perfectly. There’s something sweet about Schlitz Beer, it isn’t the typical bitter action you’ll find in Bootweiser or related. If you can find it, try it sometime with your next grilling or smoking session, you’ll see. -Biggles

6 thoughts on “Smokey’s Bar-B-Q, Denver Colorado

  1. Gentlemen: Let’s not be anal about a little grease, after all you’re dealing w/PORK. It’s greasy, after working “Q” joints in KC and cooking a bunch of ribs or pork butt, draining off 6 to 8 gallons of ‘grease’ is not unusual. It’s the nature of the beast and “Q”ing. SEAN

  2. Hey Sean,
    No!! Not anal, just mentioning it. Makes it juicy.
    We’re big fans of the lard, goose and duck fat around here, big fans. We always have fresh rendered lard about, you bet.
    Biggles

  3. Smokey’s has been a family favorite for years, 3 generations of family work there, and three generations of my family travel back to sample the delicious food.
    Seriously, stop by, you will not be disappointed. Also the beef jerky is the best I have ever had, and we load up when we go back for a visit.

  4. Best BBQ sandwicheds in the country, I have been going since I was 16 and am now over 50. Also they are the greatest owners. Even came to the funeral of one of there great customerss and my friend.