ken's hickory pit barbecue

i have been going to ken's bbq since i started work nearby in 1990. that's 32 years off and on. i can say because i know, the food has gotten worse every year since it was sold a few years back. i was willing to give it one more try today, even though the last few times i went it was sub-par from what i'm used to. sadly, this was the worst it has ever been. the mac and cheese was runny and kraft does better. i ordered inside cut and the meat had an off odor and taste. even the slaw was off. the onlygoodthing i can say was that the portions were tiny so i didn't have to suffer long. 80% of the food went into the trash. get it together mike. you can do better than that.

lunch today at kens. tried the triple combo today. a little pork, a little bbq chicken beast, a little sausage, beans, fries and tater salad. it was all good. the pork melted in your mouth. rick wheeler was even there. he owned or worked at kens nearly 40 years. he sold the place in 2010 and still eats there. that's got to be agoodsign. i ordered the small plate and did not have room for dessert. the warm banana pudding is usually a must have. try it.

ken's has been a landmark forgoodbbq in birmingham for 40+ years. i always ate there when i was a teenager but now only get to enjoy their bbq when i happen to be in birmingham. their bbq and smoke sausage combo is what i always get and it can't be beat at any bbq joint anywhere. i stopped in today , the first time in over 6 years and brought back a family pack to have for supper. as always the bbq was great with just the right amount for hickory smoke flavor and the bbq baked beans and sauce are to die for! i only wish we lived closer or came to birmingham more often. maybe, ken's could start an overnight mail order program!

breakfast was nothing special.. i got two sausage patties with eggs, grits, biscuits, and gravy. the sausage wasgoodand my eggs were cooked perfectly. it seems that many restaurants have a problem cooking over medium eggs correctly. the rest of the stuff seemed very run-of-the-mill. my wife ordered scrambled eggs with hash browns. the eggs came out but the hash browns were quite delayed in arrival so that she could not eat the two together. the biscuits did not seem handmade and the hash browns were almost certainly previously frozen, cooked without onions or peppers. there were quite bland. the grits tasted like instant grits. not bad, but nothing special. we saw many other people having pulled pork in various ways for breakfast and it looked delicious. i will have to try that next time. overall, not a place i would come back to for breakfast, but i would come back to try their bbq.

great bbq and friendly quick service. ken's hickory pit barbecue
4817 pinson valley pkwy, birmingham, al 35215
http://goo.gl/maps/pdoyl

i was visiting my home town last weekend and had the opportunity to take my kids to lunch at one of the very best bbq dives around birmingham. its a small place on hwy 79 near jeff state jr college called simply, ken's bbq. the place opened in the early 70s and ive been a customer on and off since then. i once worked down the street for several years and during those days, i stopped there for breakfast nearly every day!

the ownership has changed hands over the years but some of the same folks still work there. they've upgraded the decor and moved the pit into the back of the kitchen , but they kept all the recipes the same. essentially, everything i had for lunch was just like it was in the 70's. all i can say is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" they've added some new things to the menu as well. my kids had a side of onion rings and they were fried to perfect crispiness!

amidst the hustle and bustle of the friday lunch crowd (and it was packed) i ran into an old school buddy, bill, who i think to be the kitchen manager. he stopped for a minute and i asked him about the pit and he explained that they moved it about 4 years ago and upgraded to a gas/wood smoker that will do a 100 butts at a time. it only burns two pieces of wood a day. talk about green, wow! additionally, he explained they have expanded and now opened a kens in oneonta and soon to be another in trussville on hwy 11.

we all had the pork plate, i got the small, with classic beans, slaw, fries and a piece of white bread. my kids got the regular plate but neither could finish theirs. the portion sizes are just enough for agoodlunch. the pork was chopped and nicely smoked, the slaw is a tangy and slightly sweet and the beans are just like i remember them from years ago, just plain good!
the fries and onion rings were all made to order. i didn't sample the pies but they've always been known for their desserts as well.

they open early for breakfast and are known for ham and biscuits. don't order this unless you're really hungry! ive had this before and eaten until im stuffed and still carried a togo box out with enough for another days breakfast!

this is agoodplace with a down home small town feeling. they have quick service and a friendly wait staff. the food is fantastic!

urban cowgill

decent food does not make up for rude service. the food is not bad. you can tell they actually smoke their meat, and it was cooked pretty well. the ribs had a nice thin smoke ring. the sauce was painted on at the end of the cook. i ordered the sauce on the side, and i'm glad i did because i did not like it--it had a off taste to it. the portions were generous.goodpotato salad and cole slaw. price was pretty reasonable, too. overall, it's on par with full moon.

i'd love to leave a positive review about this place, but the waitresses were flat out rude to my wife and me. don't know what their problem was, but i damn sure didn't enjoy their service.

i got the pulled pork plate and it was excellent. the bbq sauce is verygoodand the meat is tender and cooked just right. the service is wonderful and the people working there made me feel at home... true southern hospitality! beware auburn fans though!