Opened: December 2024
Back in 2012, Rollin Smoke got its start as a Las Vegas food truck dedicated to Arkansas-style pit barbecue. Now there are five brick-and-mortar locations under the Rollin Smoke banner (four in Sin City, one here in the Valley), so the “rollin” descriptor strictly applies to smoke, not wheels. RS’s huge, somewhat discombobulated menu offers the usual barbecue sandwiches, platters and meats sold by the pound as well as Southern specialties such as fried catfish and fried okra. Go big with The Pit Special (five meats and three sides, $44), an affordable, feeds-two option in which the standout is tender St. Louis-cut spareribs with good bark and just enough chew to be interesting (falling-off-the-bone meat is for amateurs). Sharing the platter: a juicy hot link, moist brisket and pulled pork, and a thick slab of turkey with undertones of smoke and black pepper.
All are enhanced by tomato-based “Arkansauces” in a range of flavors, including sweet, spicy, and vinegary. Sides include sweet, cake-like cornbread, gooey mac and cheese, bacon-studded potato salad, and collard greens sporting bits of brisket and lots of zippy pot liquor. Love the burnt ends sandwich ($16), the charred meat so gloriously sticky it’s like candy, and the brisket dog ($17), a fat boy smothered with melted cheese, brisket, green onions and crisp-fried red onion strings.
Wild Card: Don’t miss the outrageously good smoked meatloaf featured on the Travel Channel ($23).
10120 W. McDowell Rd., Avondale, 623-936-8737, rollinsmokebbqaz.com
