When You See The Big Neon Pig, You Know You've Arrived At The Best Barbecue Joint In Kentucky
By Sarah McCosham|Published October 01, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
While the Bluegrass might be best-known for fried chicken, there’s nothing quite like Kentucky barbecue. Sticky and sweet, slow-smoked and fall-off-the-bone tender, Kentucky barbecue is an art form that simply cannot be beat! And while there are some legendary, long-standing barbecue establishments in the Bluegrass State — including an entire town known for barbecue — we’ve found what just might be the *best* BBQ joint in Kentucky.
Some say there's a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. We say there's a pot of gold at the end of the neon pig. Barbecue gold, that is.
When W.C. Hutchens opened the doors to his eponymous BBQ joint in 1947, the menu offered hickory smoked barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, BLTs, hot ham and cheese sandwiches, cokes and fountain drinks, coffee, country ham sandwiches, and lots of ice cream and milkshakes. In other words: the classic Kentucky BBQ thoroughfare.
For BBQ ribs purists, the Rib Plate is perfection. Served with two sides for *under* $10, this might be the best-kept BBQ secret in the Bluegrass State!
If you prefer BBQ chicken, go ahead and order a whole bird. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to blackened barbecue bliss, you might finish the whole bird on the spot! But if you don't, take home leftovers and, with all due respect to the Colonel, be prepared for the best chicken sandwich of your life.
When you come to Hutchens BBQ, bring a big appetite -- and don't be shy! The portions here are generous, but you'll still want to try one of everything. We 100% approve of that approach.
If, by some miracle, you've managed to save room for dessert, the pies here are insanely delicious. Whatever the special of the day is -- get it! And if you're too stuffed to move, be sure to order a slice to go -- your future self will thank you.
Have you been to Hutchens BBQ before? Do you agree that this small-town barbecue joint serves up the best BBQ in Kentucky? Share your thoughts on all things Kentucky BBQ in the comments below — and then hop in the car and visit some more of the state’s finest barbecue spots in this epic road trip.
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