"We arrived a little after noon on a Friday and were greeted with a full house. We waited in line for about 10 minutes, which gave us a chance to browse the menus posted on the walls and ponder our orders. In the end, we chose the brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese, green beans, chipotle bacon slaw, and western beans. We stuck with the mild standard BBQ sauce, and paired our meals with their popular lemonade and this week's special flavor, grape Kool-Aid. It felt wonderfully nostalgic!
After placing our order, we had a short wait for our food to be prepared. Thankfully, it didn't take long before we had our meal. During peak hours, you might want to arrive early—many local workers flock here for lunch, especially during rush hour.
The tender brisket and pulled pork were the highlights of the meal. I usually prefer a heavier smoke flavor in my BBQ, but both meats were expertly prepared, showcasing a nice smoke ring on the brisket and juicy pulled pork. While the green beans were canned and just okay, the mac and cheese was decent. However, the chipotle bacon slaw was superb, and the western beans were outstanding. They featured a delightful mix of beans and chopped vegetables in a flavorful sauce, complete with bits of crispy bacon—an incredible combination with just the right amount of seasoning.
A few important notes about this excellent establishment:
- Arrive before the lunch rush; the popular meats often sell out (similar to Aaron Franklin's BBQ in Austin).
- Prices are very reasonable compared to other BBQ restaurants.
- They serve breakfast and lunch until around 2 PM or until they run out of meats.
- They don’t offer smoked turkey breast, as it tends to dry out.
- Jackfruit is featured on the menu, which is a unique option.
- They have daily specials on select days: Loaded Nachos on Wednesday, Loaded Baked Potatoes on Thursday, and St. Louis Ribs on Friday.
- There are only two BBQ sauces available—mild and spicy—which I found a bit bland, so we ended up enjoying the meats without any sauce.
- Their meats aren't overly smoked because they use pellet smokers rather than stick smokers.
- The owners and staff are incredibly friendly and manage the busy lunch crowds with ease.
- It’s a family-owned business, and the owners have been in operation for over five years.
It’s easy to see why KOS has a nearly five-star rating. Nowadays, finding a restaurant with a five-star rating and over 50 reviews is rare, but this place truly lives up to the hype. The owners are humble and clearly appreciate their customers; they always greet newcomers and extend a heartfelt thanks to those who leave.
We’ll definitely be returning!"
