Smokestack Express in Bloomington, Minnesota, serves up mouthwatering, smoked BBQ classics with a modern twist. Known for its tender brisket, pulled pork, and flavorful ribs, this local hotspot offers a quick and satisfying dining experience. Conveniently located near Mall of America, Smokestack Express is a top destination for BBQ lovers craving authentic, slow-smoked goodness.
Smokestack Express
151 Google Reviews
Nice little BBQ hidden jem. the employees are very nice and helpful as soon as you walk in you feel welcomed. the food is absolutely delicious. very well cooked and seasoned. decent portion sizes for the price and quality.
I love a good brisket! Ordered the brisket to go but 20 min it was pretty cold and dry. Not sure if the brisket was from earlier in the week. Also ordered the chicken and ribs and that was good.
Heard about the Smokestack Express from a friend who knows I love a good pulled pork Sammie.
The Sandwich was on point. The pork was flavorful, soft and broken up so you could see it was actually pork. Topped the sandwich with the slaw and didn’t even use the sauce.
Family got the Mac attack and a brisket dinner. Both were amazing, when they asked if we preferred a fatty or lean brisket cut I was floored.. Game changer.
They have a good selection of sauces, on the thick side, I prefer the vinegar usually.
Can’t wait to go back next weekend and try the ribs and meatloaf. You have to preorder the meatloaf, but I’m excited to try it.
The ribs were very good, but the Mac and cheese was cold (all three separate orders we got) and the brisket was just OK.
We went on a Sunday around lunchtime and we were the only party, which was really pleasant and quiet. There is a good amount of parking and the seating area is clean.
The BBQ sauce was solid, but the spice level of the “spicy” one is about a 1/10. Could definitely use a spicer option. They also don’t offer glasses of water at all, so you’ll have to buy bottles from them, which is a little annoying.
The staff was kind, they got the food out quickly, and again, the ribs were the star of the show. We will definitely be back for the ribs, but probably nothing else.
Small and simple place in Bloomington with some of the best BBQ I’ve had this far north!
The ribs were absolutely fantastic, the dry rub they used for it was perfect! The brisket too, a nice solid mix of fatty and non-fatty cuts, a chicken salad that’s awesome, and the service was so friendly that I almost feel bad for just doing takeout! (Though the place is small, I suggest take out here anyway)
I’ll definitely come back again! Thanks again for fantastic food!
Got the 4 rib platter with cornbread muffin and Mac and cheese around lunch time. Super fast and friendly service, absolutely delicious barbecue. The smoke on the ribs was great, and the texture was nothing short of perfect. Sweet and savory barbecue sauce that came on the ribs was delicious, not too sugary. The Mac and cheese was insanely good, I’m used to mushy or under seasoned Mac that’s usually an after thought – definitely not the case here. Pasta cooked beautifully, seasoning was tasty. The corn bread muffin was moist, had a nice sweetness, and it was massive. I would absolutely come back here asap!
This was my first experience at Smokestack Express but it won’t be my last. We ordered their Meat Sweat Pack 1 for our family of five and were very happy with it. All of the meat was wonderful. The brisket was the best I have ever had (I asked for it lean), the pulled pork was amazing and the ribs were delicious. We also ordered some mac and cheese and corn bread and found it all to be A+. We did an online order and I picked it up so I didn’t eat in the restaurant, but when I went in to pick up the food, I found the everything the way you would want it to be. There were people eating at a table in the corner, the staff were very welcoming and helpful and the food was top notch. We’ll be back!
I had the brisket with chicken salad and a side of pulled pork. Everything was really good. I think my favorite was the chichen salad, mainly because it’s so good and hard to find this kind of quality. The only downside for me is the baked beans were sweeter than I’d prefer and in my opinion the brisket could use a bit less pepper and more flavor on the crust. Also it would awesome if they offered a Carolina Gold sauce. It’s hard to find. Over all the quality and flavors are great! My suggestions were only to my preference but not to take away from how good the food really is.
