Blue Door Smokehouse

Although western Kentucky is famous for its deep-rooted barbecue culture, the the center of the state around Lexington never has had an exalted reputation for smoke-cooked meat. Since 2014, the folks at Blue Door Smokehouse have been doing something to change that.

There’s nothing dramatically different about the Blue Door menu, nor is the kitchen’s repertoire unique to Kentucky. But if you are in Lexington hankering for Texas-style (melt-in-your-mouth) brisket, pulled pork, smoky chicken, muscular smokehouse sausages, or baby back ribs, this is the place to go. The meats are succulent enough to not require sauce, but it’s fun to play around with the three varieties available: tangy, spicy, and sweet.

Side-dish choices include red potato salad, a choice of creamy or vinegar-spiked cole slaw, collard greens, and ranch beans.

Blue Door is as casual as BBQ ought to be: order at the counter and receive food on trays lined with pink butcher paper. Do note that it is open only until 3pm Monday through Thursday, and until 8pm on Friday and Saturday. But it is not uncommon for one or several of the meats to sell out before closing time. So if you need to eat this good BBQ, arrive early!