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Big Daddy’s BBQ & Sweet Shack is Salem’s home for authentic Texas-style BBQ, served with a side of Southern hospitality. We specialize in slow-smoked meats — brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and our legendary Dino ribs — prepared low and slow to perfection. From our juicy, tender brisket to our fall-off-the-bone ribs, every bite delivers bold, smoky flavor. We’re more than just BBQ. At Big Daddy’s, we satisfy your sweet tooth too, with hand-scooped ice cream and our signature desserts to round out your meal. Dine-in with us for a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, grab a seat at the bar, or take it to go. Whether you’re here for lunch, dinner, or our special events like Thursday Family BBQ Night, we’re serving up big portions.
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7:30 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7:30 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–8 PM |
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
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Big Daddys BBQ & Sweet Shack
See our latest menu, find our hours, and order online directly from us. Locations in Salem, VA.
Big Daddy’s BBQ & Sweet Shack | Salem VA – Facebook
Big Daddy’s BBQ & Sweet Shack, Salem. 2536 likes · 335 talking about this · 93 were here. Restaurant.
Big Daddy’s BBQ and Sweet Shack 602 W 4th St | Toast
Welcome to Big Daddys BBQ and Sweet Shack, where the heart of Texas meets the soul of smoky, slow-cooked perfection. Located in Salem, VA, our family-owned …
Reviews
Grace Coats Zirkle
The brisket had good flavor, though it came with a lot of fat, and the pork ribs were fine. I was excited to try the spicy blueberry BBQ sauce and the half chicken, but they were both unavailable—and it was only 6:15 on a Friday. The mac and cheese was creamy and tasty, but would’ve been even better with a baked crust.
The biggest disappointment was the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. The bacon was thick-cut but not good, and the cheese filling was honestly awful. They were nearly inedible, and I couldn’t finish even one. Service was also confusing—no signage about what to do, and we were seated at a dirty table that took 10 minutes to be cleaned.
On the positive side, the coleslaw was excellent, and the fries were crisp and well-seasoned—the kids loved them. The ice cream was nothing to write home about, just Tillamook with maybe eight flavors. Overall, there were some bright spots, but with the misses and service issues, I probably won’t be back.
… moreThe biggest disappointment was the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. The bacon was thick-cut but not good, and the cheese filling was honestly awful. They were nearly inedible, and I couldn’t finish even one. Service was also confusing—no signage about what to do, and we were seated at a dirty table that took 10 minutes to be cleaned.
On the positive side, the coleslaw was excellent, and the fries were crisp and well-seasoned—the kids loved them. The ice cream was nothing to write home about, just Tillamook with maybe eight flavors. Overall, there were some bright spots, but with the misses and service issues, I probably won’t be back.
Jodie Terry
We always try to support local businesses, so we were excited to give Big Daddy BBQ and Sweet Shack a try in Salem. Unfortunately, our first visit was a disappointment.
We expected some delays since it’s their opening week, and we were okay with waiting—but it ended up being about 25 minutes just for two pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with one side. That wouldn’t have been so bad if the food had been worth the wait.
When ordering, we asked if the fries were homemade, and the cashier said yes. But when they came out, they were clearly standard frozen fries, the kind you’d find at a typical fast-food spot. The “spicy” sauce barely registered on the heat scale (maybe a 1 out of 10), so either we got the wrong sauce or it’s just mislabeled.
The biggest letdown, though, was the BBQ itself. More than half of the sandwich was fat and gristle—tough pieces of cartilage that made it difficult to eat. For the price, I’d recommend checking out Mission BBQ, The Fishin’ Pig, or Mama Jean’s instead.
That said, opening week can be rough. We’ll likely give them another try in a few months and hope they iron out the kinks. Everyone deserves a second chance, especially local spots just getting started. Interested to read other reviews, and hopefully they will get better.
… moreWe expected some delays since it’s their opening week, and we were okay with waiting—but it ended up being about 25 minutes just for two pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with one side. That wouldn’t have been so bad if the food had been worth the wait.
When ordering, we asked if the fries were homemade, and the cashier said yes. But when they came out, they were clearly standard frozen fries, the kind you’d find at a typical fast-food spot. The “spicy” sauce barely registered on the heat scale (maybe a 1 out of 10), so either we got the wrong sauce or it’s just mislabeled.
The biggest letdown, though, was the BBQ itself. More than half of the sandwich was fat and gristle—tough pieces of cartilage that made it difficult to eat. For the price, I’d recommend checking out Mission BBQ, The Fishin’ Pig, or Mama Jean’s instead.
That said, opening week can be rough. We’ll likely give them another try in a few months and hope they iron out the kinks. Everyone deserves a second chance, especially local spots just getting started. Interested to read other reviews, and hopefully they will get better.
KELLY GOULD
We were excited to try this new spot, and unfortunately it was a big let down. My husband ordered brisket, mac and cheese and cornbread.
I ordered the pull pork, coleslaw and cornbread. We got our order to go and when we go home my husband’s brisket was a literal slab of fat. He had specifically asked for a lean, dry cut and explained to the hostess that he did not like fatty brisket. I was shocked that someone running a restaurant thought that slab of fat was acceptable. The Mac and cheese, the coleslaw and the cornbread were ok, but nothing spectacular. My shredded pork also had a lot of fat in it. The person bagging he food had on gloves which I appreciate, however when packing up our to go order the entire outside of the bag was covered in grease. Want BBQ sauce for your meat, well it’s going to cost you $1 for a teeny tiny cup. (About a tablespoon)
My opinion is the restaurant is using the cheapest, nastiest cuts of meat he/she can get. We love BBQ and I’ve never seen that much fat on any cut of meat. The portions for the sides, when getting your order to go are very small. My husband and ate the Mac and cheese in three bites. He did return to the restaurant and they gave him a better cut if brisket.
In conclusion we are sticking to Mission BBQ and will not be returning customers. It’s extremely overpriced, the meat is full of fat, and they charge $1 for a tablespoon of BBQ sauce, and they do not handle to go orders well.
The photo is of the second order of brisket my husband received after having to return to the restaurant to complain about the slab of fat they gave him.
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… moreI ordered the pull pork, coleslaw and cornbread. We got our order to go and when we go home my husband’s brisket was a literal slab of fat. He had specifically asked for a lean, dry cut and explained to the hostess that he did not like fatty brisket. I was shocked that someone running a restaurant thought that slab of fat was acceptable. The Mac and cheese, the coleslaw and the cornbread were ok, but nothing spectacular. My shredded pork also had a lot of fat in it. The person bagging he food had on gloves which I appreciate, however when packing up our to go order the entire outside of the bag was covered in grease. Want BBQ sauce for your meat, well it’s going to cost you $1 for a teeny tiny cup. (About a tablespoon)
My opinion is the restaurant is using the cheapest, nastiest cuts of meat he/she can get. We love BBQ and I’ve never seen that much fat on any cut of meat. The portions for the sides, when getting your order to go are very small. My husband and ate the Mac and cheese in three bites. He did return to the restaurant and they gave him a better cut if brisket.
In conclusion we are sticking to Mission BBQ and will not be returning customers. It’s extremely overpriced, the meat is full of fat, and they charge $1 for a tablespoon of BBQ sauce, and they do not handle to go orders well.
The photo is of the second order of brisket my husband received after having to return to the restaurant to complain about the slab of fat they gave him.
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Charlie Whitescarver
A small building with a lot of flavor. We almost missed it but so glad we turned into their lot. The place is small; we sat at the bar so we could chat up the friendly staff. Only open a few months they had ice cream, a full bar, good draft beer, and the Hot Honey BBQ was so tender and good. The Hawaiian tacos were special and something we will get again.
… moreDabnie Thompson
I loved the food. The service started off rough but, Edwin came in to the rescue to help things out! The patio could use some big repellant. But overall, food was amazing, and the manager Edwin helped out so much! He was very helpful, very kind, and gave good recommendations! We will be back
… moreAmanda Sims
I really wanted to love this place, but the food just didn’t hit the mark. The quality doesn’t match the higher prices. We ordered the brisket sandwiches with a side and specifically asked for lean brisket, but what we got was almost entirely fat. Our to-go portions were also surprisingly small, and the bun was hard and cold, which really took away from the meal. The mac and cheese was creamy, but nothing standout.
The vibe of the place is great, loud music and large outdoor TV screen was cool, and the staff is genuinely friendly, but overall the food just doesn’t live up to what you’d expect from a BBQ spot. I don’t mind spending money on good food but this place just wasn’t it. I also don’t like how you can see the food being prepared from behind the counter. Customers notice everything….and the staff preparing your food need to be more aware of that.
… moreThe vibe of the place is great, loud music and large outdoor TV screen was cool, and the staff is genuinely friendly, but overall the food just doesn’t live up to what you’d expect from a BBQ spot. I don’t mind spending money on good food but this place just wasn’t it. I also don’t like how you can see the food being prepared from behind the counter. Customers notice everything….and the staff preparing your food need to be more aware of that.
Katie Bernard
Excellent food. Only reason I gave 4 stars is they were out of literally everything but pulled pork, even appetizers! Hope to come back!
… moreNikki Sharp
I have to say, this is the best brisket in town. Im not a huge BBQ fan, but this is definitely a win for me! Great flavor and good portions for the price! We will be back!
… moreJason Booker
Have now been to Big Daddy’s twice during the past week and I am definitely impressed. The first time was with coworkers at lunch, and my wife and I decided to get some takeout as a main dish to supplement our dinner tonight.
The pulled pork combo at lunch was excellent. The pork was warm and fresh so while the NC gold sauce was solid, I ended up hardly using it. “Good by itself” is a hallmark of good BBQ. The baked beans, mac & cheese, and cornbread were all very good. I am a lighter lunch eater, so the portion was enough for two lunches.
We tried the brisket tonight in addition to the pork. I am a brisket snob, but the brisket was excellent and possibly the best I have had in this area. The staff recommended the spicy sauce and, while the fresh brisket definitely did not need it, we will definitely enjoy using it up with our leftovers. I should also note that unlike some other local places, Big Daddy’s has a dedicated warmer to keep the meat in ideal condition for serving.
… moreThe pulled pork combo at lunch was excellent. The pork was warm and fresh so while the NC gold sauce was solid, I ended up hardly using it. “Good by itself” is a hallmark of good BBQ. The baked beans, mac & cheese, and cornbread were all very good. I am a lighter lunch eater, so the portion was enough for two lunches.
We tried the brisket tonight in addition to the pork. I am a brisket snob, but the brisket was excellent and possibly the best I have had in this area. The staff recommended the spicy sauce and, while the fresh brisket definitely did not need it, we will definitely enjoy using it up with our leftovers. I should also note that unlike some other local places, Big Daddy’s has a dedicated warmer to keep the meat in ideal condition for serving.
Rick Riggan
Staff is friendly. Food is Delicious. Owner is hands-on. Cornbread is to die for! Drinks are yummy.. Come in and support this local business..
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