Social Profile: 
![]()
✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
… View more
Tiny smokehouse with side-yard seating dishing up pulled pork, brisket & babyback ribs.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 201 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Website: http://eatsparksbbq.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Sparks BBQ – Traverse City
We are Michigan’s PREMIER food truck specializing in authentic BBQ. We proudly serve handcrafted BBQ powered by our 100% wood powered smokers.
Sparks BBQ | Traverse City MI – Facebook
Sparks BBQ, Traverse City. 7266 likes · 1 talking about this · 8084 were here. Official page of Sparks BBQ of TC, our flagship location, proudly…
Sparks BBQ, 201 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684, US – MapQuest
Classic BBQ fare prepared over 100% wood fires. Briskets, Ribs, Pork, Chicken and seasonal meat dishes like smoked meatloaf and corned beef are also …
Reviews
Rob VanSuilichem
Great BBQ Food and service!
We’ve been here a few times. the prices are reasonable, service is always exceptional. usually we get seated and served right away. I’ve tried several items, great nachos, brisket and my personal favorite is the Famous BBQ Sundae with Brisket!
Also, we love the atmosphere and it’s conveniently located. Traverse City is beautiful and Sparks adds a nice touch to the area.
Definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the area and love good bbq food!
… moreWe’ve been here a few times. the prices are reasonable, service is always exceptional. usually we get seated and served right away. I’ve tried several items, great nachos, brisket and my personal favorite is the Famous BBQ Sundae with Brisket!
Also, we love the atmosphere and it’s conveniently located. Traverse City is beautiful and Sparks adds a nice touch to the area.
Definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the area and love good bbq food!
Brent Hochstetler
My wife and I wanted BBQ while in Traverse City, and we had passed this restaurant the night before. We figured we’d give it a try for dinner.
When we walked in, I had expected the place to be busier. Almost no one was there, so we were seated quickly and provided with menus.
Despite what appeared to be a lack of customers, our server told us the meats they were out of already for the day. I guess there must have been a lot of traffic earlier, perhaps over the lunch hour. But running out of certain meats seemed to be a potential indicator of their popularity. And fortunately, they still had brisket, which is what we wanted.
We opted to order a single plate of brisket, and then we each picked one side since it included two. We both wanted the creamy coleslaw, so we had two of those.
Service was quick, and we soon had our order. The brisket was moist and covered in an ample amount of BBQ. I will admit that after we had started eating, I noticed that we were only given one option for the sauce, so not really an option at all. But we liked the sauce, so no issues there.
The coleslaw was creamy as described, and we both ate our respective bowl. I even put a few bites on my brisket.
Service was friendly and quick. The food was tasty. But we did think the price seemed a bit on the high side. Since we shared a meal and were comfortably full afterwards, we managed to keep the cost down.
Parking is along the street, so that can be difficult, although Traverse City does have some parking garages as well. We found a spot less than a block away, and since it was after 6:00 pm, we didn’t have to pay anything.
I’d eat here again, and most likely we’d share another dish. If you come, though, be prepared for a bill that might be higher than other BBQ places.
… moreWhen we walked in, I had expected the place to be busier. Almost no one was there, so we were seated quickly and provided with menus.
Despite what appeared to be a lack of customers, our server told us the meats they were out of already for the day. I guess there must have been a lot of traffic earlier, perhaps over the lunch hour. But running out of certain meats seemed to be a potential indicator of their popularity. And fortunately, they still had brisket, which is what we wanted.
We opted to order a single plate of brisket, and then we each picked one side since it included two. We both wanted the creamy coleslaw, so we had two of those.
Service was quick, and we soon had our order. The brisket was moist and covered in an ample amount of BBQ. I will admit that after we had started eating, I noticed that we were only given one option for the sauce, so not really an option at all. But we liked the sauce, so no issues there.
The coleslaw was creamy as described, and we both ate our respective bowl. I even put a few bites on my brisket.
Service was friendly and quick. The food was tasty. But we did think the price seemed a bit on the high side. Since we shared a meal and were comfortably full afterwards, we managed to keep the cost down.
Parking is along the street, so that can be difficult, although Traverse City does have some parking garages as well. We found a spot less than a block away, and since it was after 6:00 pm, we didn’t have to pay anything.
I’d eat here again, and most likely we’d share another dish. If you come, though, be prepared for a bill that might be higher than other BBQ places.
Tim Aulph (neoprime33)
The BBQ Tacos with Brisket were absolutely delicious! Also got the Banana Pudding – it was a great dessert to cap off a delicious meal. My wife got the Mac & Cheese with Brisket and she says it was so good. And my Mom got the BBQ Chicken sandwich – she planned on just eating half but ended up eating all of it! Oh, and the cheese dip that comes with the pretzels was so, SO good! Get you some!
… moreowen Utsey
Sparks BBQ is a go-to spot in Traverse City for anyone craving smoked meats and classic barbecue flavors. Originally a popular food truck, it has grown into a casual, lively restaurant where the focus is on hearty, wood-smoked dishes. The menu features favorites like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and smoked chicken, all infused with rich, smoky flavor.
… moreMeg Flom
Highly recommend dining at Sparks BBQ. I selected the Beef Brisket. It was a thick slice of meat that fell apart by only using a fork. The flavor was amazing. Their cornbread was literally the most moist bread I’ve ever eaten. So delicious! Two thumbs way up!
… moreFriedChicken
How does this place get so many stars and good reviews. Whoever been liking this had no ideas what BBQ is or they got lucky. This is such a tourist trap.
1. It is overpriced. $25 for 2 meat plate you get little piece of chicken and chop meat. Sides are good but the meat are tiny.
2. It is gross. you know something is wrong when your bbq is drown in sauce. Look at the picture. I never seen a bbq restaurant drown their meat in sauce. It is like they just grilled it or microwave the meat and just dump sauce on them and call it bbq. Also it was cold. Might as well eat at Applebee’s if they are serving this.
I was going to give 0 star but server was patient and nice. Food was just terrible. Everybody that give good reviews have nachos or macaroni. That’s easy to make, but the items that involve technical skills and times, they have no idea how to make barbeque period
… more1. It is overpriced. $25 for 2 meat plate you get little piece of chicken and chop meat. Sides are good but the meat are tiny.
2. It is gross. you know something is wrong when your bbq is drown in sauce. Look at the picture. I never seen a bbq restaurant drown their meat in sauce. It is like they just grilled it or microwave the meat and just dump sauce on them and call it bbq. Also it was cold. Might as well eat at Applebee’s if they are serving this.
I was going to give 0 star but server was patient and nice. Food was just terrible. Everybody that give good reviews have nachos or macaroni. That’s easy to make, but the items that involve technical skills and times, they have no idea how to make barbeque period
Jamie HaRrington
The only thing that was good was the nachos. The margarita was so sour, we couldn’t drink it. The ribs were tough and dry to the point you could only eat half the meat. Not to mention, the ribs were an up charge. Mac and cheese lacked flavor. And the service from our waiter sucked. He came to our table to give us food and the bill, because of this we Couldn’t get any refills for our water.
… moreIzabella Hunt
If I could give a million stars I definitely would! This place is absolutely Mouth watering wonderfully delicious! I got the Pit Mac & cheese with brisket the Mac and cheese is rather bland. But with the brisket and bbq sauce it was really good (GET THE BRISKET OHHH MY FOODNESS). My husband got the wett chubby wrap and it was probably the best wrap ever in life, I wish I had gotten that! Overall the atmosphere is perfect for a date or family or anything at all really! The drinks were very yummy as well! The new strawberry cornbread was phenomenal!!
… moreBruce Seiler
My wife and I shared the pulled pork. It was really tender, and the sauce was flavorful. Our sides were the corn bread and mac n cheese. Both were good. They have high tables here, but they also have a high high chair for kids, so that is helpful. The place was pretty busy foe lunch time and not much room.
… moreSteve Swebilius
Made the mistake of trying bbq up north. If you have any southern in you avoid. Was super expensive, and portions didn’t match the price paid. Wish we never entered.
Smoked wings, sauce was on side. Super salty and small wings. Like the ones youngwt from freezer bag at Walmart. 14.95 no side
Bbq pork tacos, 3 tacos served with stale tortilla chips, so sauce just what so ever. A pinch of meat and more slaw than meat. 12.95
Chicken thigh platter, 2 thighs 1 was cooked perfect the other was the size of half a fist and dry as jerky. 22
Pulled pork sandwich, an ok option but served with tortilla chips. (Tator tots) additional charge. 13.95
Pit master Mac n cheese. Was also an ok option, 16
… moreSmoked wings, sauce was on side. Super salty and small wings. Like the ones youngwt from freezer bag at Walmart. 14.95 no side
Bbq pork tacos, 3 tacos served with stale tortilla chips, so sauce just what so ever. A pinch of meat and more slaw than meat. 12.95
Chicken thigh platter, 2 thighs 1 was cooked perfect the other was the size of half a fist and dry as jerky. 22
Pulled pork sandwich, an ok option but served with tortilla chips. (Tator tots) additional charge. 13.95
Pit master Mac n cheese. Was also an ok option, 16