When you’re hungry for barbecue here in the Bluegrass, you have options. There are numerous well-known and iconic BBQ joints in Kentucky that offer sweet and spicy, finger-lickin’-good barbecue. But it’s fun to mix things up every now and again, and there’s always room for new spots to add to your dining repertoire! Enter: Shack in the Back, an off-the-beaten-path barbecue joint tucked away in a nondescript strip mall down Bardstown Road in Louisville that’s so, so worth the effort to seek out.

If location and curb appeal are everything, then Shack in the Back is at a major disadvantage. Not only is this restaurant totally off the beaten path, but it's also the kind of nondescript place you could easily drive past without noticing.
Joshua Chaitin-Pollak/Google Local
Don't make that mistake.
Mike Spurlock/Google Local
For inside the walls of this unassuming and humble little cabin from 1896, barbecue magic awaits.
Brad Berg/Google Local
Shack in the Back is known far and wide for incredible, crave-worthy barbecue.
Linda Roe/Google Local
The 'shack slow smokes their meats on-site, and you can taste the love and attention that goes into these tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs!
Mike Spurlock/Google Local

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(Seriously -- this is authentic Southern barbecue!)
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Besides your typical barbecue fare, you can order turkey ribs, smoked bologna (a Bluegrass favorite!), and “The Hump,” an appetizer of homemade chips piled high with pork, brisket, or bacon, plus a variety of toppings and sauces.
jason lee/Google Local
Folks say the sides here are just as amazing as the barbecue; the mac 'n cheese is a fan favorite!
Rachel AT Schmitz/Google Local
Don't forget to pick up a bottle (or two) of their amazing, house-made sauce. While you won't be able to totally replicate your meal at home, this sticky-sweet sauce will undoubtedly take your backyard barbecue to the next level.
Thomas Duffy/Google Local
And in case you're wondering: yes, there is actually a literal shack in the back at this eatery, and it's a cozy dining area where you can chow down on some of the best barbecue in the Bluegrass!
Mike Spurlock/Google Local

Have you dined at Shack in the Back BBQ before? What did you order? Wasn’t the barbecue amazing?! Learn more by visiting the official website and Facebook page of Shack in the Back.

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Featured Addresses
Shack in the Back BBQ, 10706 W Manslick Rd, Fairdale, KY 40118, USA