Good food but hard to find! It is hidden back between Dillons grocery and a gardening center. Look between them and you will see that there is a row of businesses. The food is great. Chicken fingers (not barbecue I know) are made with hand breaded chicken breast. The sausage is great and the pulled pork is to die for.
(4)
Paul S.
The Baby & Fries is a great deal for $10. 4 baby backs, fries, corn bread and a pickle.
(5)
David K.
It had been awhile since I have ate here. I must say I don't know why. The food is great the service is wonderful, and the atmosphere is perfect of a BBQ place. Come relax and eat some good BBQ. We returned after purchasing a groupon. The sale worked we will be back!
(5)
Jon S.
Great Barbecue! Ribs are awesome- fall off the bone. Service on restaurant side is good - not as good on bar side -- but it's a bar! Decent atmosphere- love the outside courtyard and live music. Definitely not a place to miss!
(4)
Mr. D.
My first and only BBQ experience in Topeka, KS, but this is definitely a great place to go. The ambiance is top notch for BBQ, with the restaurant divided into 2 halves, the bar half and the restaurant half. You can get the full menu on either side, just depends on what type of atmosphere you are looking for. The food was great. It's not the best BBQ I've ever had, I would give it a solid "B", but I am a BBQ snob who only enjoys the best from small towns in the suburbs in Texas. But compared to most places, Boss Hawg's is great. Their desserts are delicious too.
(4)
Heather G.
My grandma lives in Missouri and every road trip we take we make SURE we eat here (as well as pick up some souvenere glasses). The potato salad is AMAZING, sorry to mention it first but man, it was good. I have had several dishes there, my hubby has done the ribs, all amazing, beyond amazing. I only wish they had one here in COLORADO!!! CAN YOU OPEN ONE PLEASE??? I have no idea how every person on here does not give them at least 4 stars. They are fantastic! Service, price, BBQ! There is no place like this in Colorado...again I am pleading, please open one or let me for God sakes! I promise I would eat
(5)
Lab L.
Big thumbs up to Boss Hawg's for the turkey and cornbread we picked up way back at Thanksgiving. Incredible!! Much better than our prepared turkey from Herman's the year before. We'll definitely order again for the next holiday gathering.
(5)
Joey G.
Big 5 stars. They have a very big menu with a handful of desserts. You can get stuffed with most of there selections. You can even do karaoke late at night. It has excellent food.
(5)
Kathryn K.
I haven't been since the management changes which I hear brought some new menu changes, etc. Previously, this would be the place to go for a late night out with friends (there's an adjacent bar, Pigskins which features much of the same food on a smaller menu). The food itself is okay, though for a place that specializes in meats and barbecue, the food tastes like what you'd get at a regular restaurant that happens to have one or two BBQ dishes. The atmosphere is what you'd expect from a BBQ/bar joint. The service is usually less than stellar or at least has been in my experience.
(2)
Libby G.
We had an apologetic waitress...sorry you had to wait for me, sorry we are so busy, sorry you have to wait for your food. Not the largest portions but the cornbread was great...sweet and tender. We all liked the fried veggie appetizer...green beans , zucchini, mushrooms and onion rings. Two of us have the baby back ribs special which came with one side. We debated about the baked beans and if the added fruit, apples and raisins, were worth it. One of our party thought they were very good and the other did not care for them. The ribs were tender but not too tender. The smoked meatball sandwich was good. Surprised they offered it in a half size but we have a big appetite. Generous portion of onion rings with the barbecue sandwich, surprising, since the appetizer platter was not that generous.
(3)
Damon B.
Went last Thursday around 6:30 with two co-workers and the place was not busy. We had a waiter who has been working at the restaurant for one week and it showed. We ordered the chicken wings for an app (the best meat of the meal). We ordered the Big Beast to sample all the different types of meat and all dissapointed. The ribs, very dry and not hot. The burnt ends, were not traditional and lacked flavor. The sausage was good, but cold. The whole chicken, cut in two, was dry and lacked that smoke flavor, and the pulled pork was bland. I am one that when it comes to BBQ sauce, you only use it for bad BBQ. Well, the spicy BBQ was used a bunch to add flavor to make the meat have a taste and to help the over overcooked, dry ribs and chicken. The slaw and BBQ beans were good. We got a kick when the bartender came over to ask how his frozen margarita was as he said that it was the first one he ever made. Sorry to say, just like the BBQ, it also failed to deliver... We won't be back. The search for good BBQ in Topeka continues...
(2)
Brian M.
I am a Texan. This is my favorite place for BBQ in Kansas. Enough said.
(5)
Sam A.
Shared a full rack of baby backs today. Tender but lacking a bit of smoke flavor for me, but good. Baked Beans outstanding. Home made Coleslaw very good. Lorrie gave great service. Sadly Pepsi products and I like my COKE with BBQ....I'm picky.
(4)
Alicia S.
Mediocre at best. Everything is standard with little flavor and no wow factor. The chili came out luke warm, and the burnt ends were just fatty chunks of brisket.
(3)
Vincent J.
Stopped in while on a road trip and figured it was worth a try. The service was horrible, and the meat was ridiculously tough; well below average for BBQ. I would not go back, nor would I recommend it to anyone. this place is garbage!
(1)
Bootsy B.
I came here for lunch and enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. The slaw, fries and sweet tea were pretty tasty also.
(4)
Dawn C.
In my opinion this place was not deserving of my visit. We googled "best BBQ in Topeka" and Boss Hawgs came right up so we took a chance. The two stars are being given only in recognition for the burnt ends my husband had. They were pretty good. Best ever? Not by a long shot. And the price for a half pound was really high. The cornbread that was served immediately upon arrival was really light and fluffy and more like vanilla cake, I can see why some would love that, but it wasn't to my liking. My "pulled pork echilada" was underwhelming at best. I'm sad to say that seemed like a really neat menu item but it had zero flavor and was just slathered in a tasteless green sauce and them covered in way too much melted cheese. The chips were hot and crunchy but the little cup of salsa that came with them was only 3 out of 10 at best, so bland. I had a bite of the coleslaw my husband rejected and I had to agree that I didn't like it either, all it tasted like was mayonnaise. We skipped out on dessert since we were not satisfied with lunch. Not likely to come again.
(2)
Tony B.
When I first moved to Topeka in 2010, I found the BBQ to be decent. However, by the time I left Topeka in 2013 it was mediocre at best. You know it's average BBQ when there is more bread then brisket. The bar area is also very outdated. When I quit eating here in 2013, they didn't have any HGTV's in the bar area. They had the old school TV's and the projection pull down! I felt like I was sitting in a bar back in 1996. The service is so-so, nothing special! There is a guy who cooks BBQ out of a trailer on Topeka BLVD. I would go there over here. Also, I would check out the BBQ Place in the Harley Davidson Dealership. Both offer better quality, and service!
(3)
Janet L.
Great place great food the fried spicy pickles are yummy but a smaller cut pickle would be great and when it reds spicy it's spicy
(4)
Reed N.
Stopped in here for some carry-out and ate burnt ends while I waited. I love ribs and burnt ends. The burnt ends were tender cubes of medium smoky beef. Not sure if these were all end cuts (I KNOW they were not). Most BBQ places cheat in this regard. At least these were tasty. I'd order them again, so that says a lot. The racks of ribs I ordered to go were St Louis spare ribs and baby back ribs. I usually like the St Louis cut better, but not here. The baby back ribs were deliciously smoky and lean. They were lightly seasoned and sauced. I would order BB ribs here again, too. But $23 for a slab is too steep, in my opinion. The side of slaw and beans were fine. The sauce and beans had a preponderance of molasses flavor (or dark corn syrup... you just can't tell sometimes). I did not like either due to that flavor. The Revenge sauce is their hottest sauce but most people can handle it. Stick with that if you must use sauce.
(4)
Sonia M.
I liked the pulled pork and chicken. Very good! But the sauce was way too sweet for my taste. Same for the baked beans, way too sweet. I LOVE potato salad and it was good except the potatoes were undercooked and a little hard in my opinion. I was kind of bummed that I didn't love this place since we just moved near by. We're from Florida so maybe it's a regional thing.
(2)
Phil C.
Had high hopes for this place based on what I had read. Very disappointed. The burnt ends weren't ends at all and weren't burnt. We had a large order so had brisket, pork, turkey and chicken. The chicken an turkey were good but the brisket and pork....not so much. I have to say the sides of cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans and pasta were good. I ordered 2 family platters plus some appetizers. The "family" platters had less meat in them than the appetizer portions of the sausage, which were good, and the burnt ends, which were pretty bad. They also forgot to include a slab of ribs which I had paid for. I had to drive drive 25 mins each way (my team was working the whole weekend) to pick the food up.When I called they offered to send me some coupons. Really? If you had sent someone with the ribs to my office I could have put aside the low overall food experience and become a fan. I'll never order from there again.
(1)
Mark L.
The worst BBQ in the history of mankind. What were we thinking?? Obviously we weren't!!! I'd rather have a Mc Rib than what we attempted to eat. We did not even finish the meal, maybe about 15% if that . IT WAS THAT bad! Folks!! Stay away and give your GI system a break. Service was lousy as well. Topeka is a nice town but this place does it no justice. Dickey's beats this place hands down, it's hot and freshly made. This joint has NO business charging the prices they do for this slop they call BBQ. Enough said, just say NO and keep driving.
(1)
Quinn H.
This place has great BBQ and atmosphere to boot. Our waitress was nice n' sassy (I like that in my BBQ joints) and she gave excellent service, which isn't always easy with a party of 16 people. The corn bread served before the meal was piping hot and fresh. I devoured two pieces (okay it was probably more like three) within minutes. I went with the Topeka Statesman, a combo plate, and chose pulled pork and brisket. The meat was seasoned well and the thick steak fries that came with did not disappoint. I liked Hawg's so much, I even got a Tshirt to show off my BBQ-lovin' pride.
(4)
Leichardti F.
This place is alright, reasonably priced. Bbq is not super. Good place to hang and drink.
(3)
Katie M.
I usually hate quirky spellings of words and I honestly had no idea the place was called Boss HAWGS until I came here to write this review. Needless to say, the food more than makes up for any issues I might have with the name! Delicious meats and tasty sides, I can never settle for just one meat on my gigantic sandwich. Luckily, god invented the combo sandwich! I love the baked beans and steak fries to compliment my pulled pork and brisket. This place doesn't disappoint, and has me craving some BBQ right now.
(4)
Carl B.
Best ribs I've ever had
(4)
Jim S.
Ever know what happened to all the old tube tvs??? There at Boss Hawgs!! Old big screens that don't work and crappy small tvs. Terrible place to watch a game(s). Food was decent, service was ok at best.
(2)
Terry Y.
As a BBQ meat lover, Boss Hawg's Barbeque came "highly recommended" from my chief of IT when I was doing my summer internship. Luckily this restaurant was walking distance from my apartment. It was a Friday evening, a little after 5pm when I walked into this restaurant. I was surprised to see the place wasn't even packed to its limit. Empty tables surrounded near the waiting area, but I still had to wait for an "available" table, about 2 minutes I would say. I ordered the Big Boss Combo which was a quarter pound of any shredded meats served with fries. The temperature of the meat was barely warm when it arrived, but I was famished so I didn't complain. The fries itself was terrible. Terrible! Bad enough to leave about two-thirds of it on the plate - it wasn't "potatoey" as I would have liked. Service-wise was just okay. Not sure if it was understaffed that day, I had to hail the waitress for a refill on my soda. The only good thing I could say was all the waitresses was young and smoking hot for this Asian-American dude. Sure enough I walked out of Boss Hawg's a bit disappointed. But I strive to come back again. Few days before departing Topeka, I went back to Boss Hawg's hoping for the best. I went not just to fill my stomach, but to make my heart race for those hot good looking chicks. It was only for a limited time. This time I ordered the American Royal to go. It was still okay. The ribs were tender; a lot of grease dripping from the meat. I had to microwave the other meat to be a little warmer. Food-wise, the food was great. I think if you're into the dry tasteless meat, this one's for you.
(2)
Larry V.
Midwestern BBQ. Great food, good atmosphere. Only negative was that I wanted a t-shirt and they didn't have any in stock
(4)
Brian E.
I've had a lot of great barbecue this summer in Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago...well hell, even Topeka at Blind Tiger (which isn't even really a barbecue place). I heard about a non-chain barbecue place called Boss Hawg's and was pretty excited to check it out. I ordered the Memphis Belle, which included chicken and ribs for $16. This was a small portion meal that tasted like it came out of a microwave. I'm not even kidding when I say that you can get better ribs at Applebee's. Yes, Applebee's. I'm a dainty 165 pounds, and even with an appetizer, I was still hungry after the meal. Very disappointing. I can't even imagine how anyone can think this is good barbecue. These people must live a sheltered life.
(1)
Toni L.
Best BBQ I've had in Topeka. The meat quality is good and so is the flavor. The corn bread is to die for. I could have eaten it and gone home happy except I really wanted good BBQ and I got that too.
(4)
David G.
While in Kansas visiting relatives, we were looking for some barbecue a couple of nights ago. We drove down to Boss Hawg's in Topeka and had the best baby back ribs I've ever eaten anywhere. And I've eaten a lot of ribs in my life. Boss Hawg's ribs are tender, meaty, and not very fatty. The smoky flavor is outstanding. The sides (fries, baked beans, slaw) were all very good too. So were the tastes I got of others' bbq pork. But I'd come back for the ribs. Any time. They are the star of the show here.
(5)
Emily C.
Super fast service and amazing bbq for those days when you just want to clog your arteries! This place was recommended to me by a Topeka native and she clearly knows her BBQ. Ribs are one of my favorite foods and I couldn't resist their 1/2 rack lunch special and my mom had their burnt ends. The cornbread that we got to start was melt in your mouth and the best I've ever had. I didn't even use butter since I was so busy stuffing my mouth while it was still warm! The ribs were tender, juicy and I ate every single scrap of meat off the bone. I loved that we got 2 different bottles of bbq sauce for the table- sweet and spicy. Although I'm not a fan of steak fries this place did a descent job of making them crispy enough that the insides aren't complete mush. Thank you, Boss Hawgs, for reminding me what great BBQ tastes like!
(5)
Steve M.
After hearing a lot of great things about this place from my co-workers, I decided to give it a try today. I had the 1/2 pound smoked chicked breast with the fries. And I was not too impressed. The chicken looked like it was kind of dry and tasteless and looked like something that you can buy from the supermarket freezer. I was expecting my chicken breast to be similar to what I can get at Boston Market, but with a smokey/BBQ flavor to it. I asked about the shredded chick sandwhiches and they told me the chicken comes pre-cut in cubes and that it is not cooked on site. I guess I have been spoiled by the great BBQ places that I have been to in Texas and North Carolina. As for the restaurant, I sat in the bar area. There were a lot of tv's all over the place showing different sporting events. As well they have Buzztime Trivia for anyone that likes to play trivia games against other people in the bar and other bars across the country.
(3)
christian C.
The best thing about the visit was the quick service. The beer by Boulevard was also decent. The food though was lousy. Their famous ribs were dry and flavorless and for some strange reason served on white bread (what's up with that?!?!?). The corn bread tasted like cake. The fries were all right and the cole slaw was right out of the Sysco can. I hope there's better...
(2)
steve w.
Typically, when people try to gussy up BBQ for family dining it's a dead giveaway that the food is average. Topeka's Boss Hawg proves the exception to the rule. This is good to very good que by almost any measure. I've had ribs, chicken, pulled pork - all quite good. And darn if the comfortable environment and good service (which you do seem to pay a tad extra for) aren't a little refreshing after a steady diet of formica tables and greasy floors at BBQ joints.
(4)
Eddie V.
Now, I'm not normally a huge BBQ fan, but I've lived in KCMO, Texas and New Orleans, so I know about good regional BBQ, and this place falls short. I ordered the baby back ribs, which were not as tinder as they could have been. Everything at boss Hawgs from the corn bread and honey butter to the "hot" bbq sauce, is just overly sweet and lacks flavor or spice. If everything wasn't so overly sweet I would have probably given this place a higher rating!
(2)
Selin S.
I didn't go there because we had carry out from Boss Hawg's. The fries, coleslaw, and beans were excellent. Not skimping on food at all. My honey is in love with their burnt ends. He tried about 10 places in the Kansas City area and deemed this one the best. Very tasty. But, no idea the atmosphere in the restaurant. I am told the manager was very nice and helpful. :)
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brendan T.
Good food but hard to find! It is hidden back between Dillons grocery and a gardening center. Look between them and you will see that there is a row of businesses. The food is great. Chicken fingers (not barbecue I know) are made with hand breaded chicken breast. The sausage is great and the pulled pork is to die for.
(4)Paul S.
The Baby & Fries is a great deal for $10. 4 baby backs, fries, corn bread and a pickle.
(5)David K.
It had been awhile since I have ate here. I must say I don't know why. The food is great the service is wonderful, and the atmosphere is perfect of a BBQ place. Come relax and eat some good BBQ. We returned after purchasing a groupon. The sale worked we will be back!
(5)Jon S.
Great Barbecue! Ribs are awesome- fall off the bone. Service on restaurant side is good - not as good on bar side -- but it's a bar! Decent atmosphere- love the outside courtyard and live music. Definitely not a place to miss!
(4)Mr. D.
My first and only BBQ experience in Topeka, KS, but this is definitely a great place to go. The ambiance is top notch for BBQ, with the restaurant divided into 2 halves, the bar half and the restaurant half. You can get the full menu on either side, just depends on what type of atmosphere you are looking for. The food was great. It's not the best BBQ I've ever had, I would give it a solid "B", but I am a BBQ snob who only enjoys the best from small towns in the suburbs in Texas. But compared to most places, Boss Hawg's is great. Their desserts are delicious too.
(4)Heather G.
My grandma lives in Missouri and every road trip we take we make SURE we eat here (as well as pick up some souvenere glasses). The potato salad is AMAZING, sorry to mention it first but man, it was good. I have had several dishes there, my hubby has done the ribs, all amazing, beyond amazing. I only wish they had one here in COLORADO!!! CAN YOU OPEN ONE PLEASE??? I have no idea how every person on here does not give them at least 4 stars. They are fantastic! Service, price, BBQ! There is no place like this in Colorado...again I am pleading, please open one or let me for God sakes! I promise I would eat
(5)Lab L.
Big thumbs up to Boss Hawg's for the turkey and cornbread we picked up way back at Thanksgiving. Incredible!! Much better than our prepared turkey from Herman's the year before. We'll definitely order again for the next holiday gathering.
(5)Joey G.
Big 5 stars. They have a very big menu with a handful of desserts. You can get stuffed with most of there selections. You can even do karaoke late at night. It has excellent food.
(5)Kathryn K.
I haven't been since the management changes which I hear brought some new menu changes, etc. Previously, this would be the place to go for a late night out with friends (there's an adjacent bar, Pigskins which features much of the same food on a smaller menu). The food itself is okay, though for a place that specializes in meats and barbecue, the food tastes like what you'd get at a regular restaurant that happens to have one or two BBQ dishes. The atmosphere is what you'd expect from a BBQ/bar joint. The service is usually less than stellar or at least has been in my experience.
(2)Libby G.
We had an apologetic waitress...sorry you had to wait for me, sorry we are so busy, sorry you have to wait for your food. Not the largest portions but the cornbread was great...sweet and tender. We all liked the fried veggie appetizer...green beans , zucchini, mushrooms and onion rings. Two of us have the baby back ribs special which came with one side. We debated about the baked beans and if the added fruit, apples and raisins, were worth it. One of our party thought they were very good and the other did not care for them. The ribs were tender but not too tender. The smoked meatball sandwich was good. Surprised they offered it in a half size but we have a big appetite. Generous portion of onion rings with the barbecue sandwich, surprising, since the appetizer platter was not that generous.
(3)Damon B.
Went last Thursday around 6:30 with two co-workers and the place was not busy. We had a waiter who has been working at the restaurant for one week and it showed. We ordered the chicken wings for an app (the best meat of the meal). We ordered the Big Beast to sample all the different types of meat and all dissapointed. The ribs, very dry and not hot. The burnt ends, were not traditional and lacked flavor. The sausage was good, but cold. The whole chicken, cut in two, was dry and lacked that smoke flavor, and the pulled pork was bland. I am one that when it comes to BBQ sauce, you only use it for bad BBQ. Well, the spicy BBQ was used a bunch to add flavor to make the meat have a taste and to help the over overcooked, dry ribs and chicken. The slaw and BBQ beans were good. We got a kick when the bartender came over to ask how his frozen margarita was as he said that it was the first one he ever made. Sorry to say, just like the BBQ, it also failed to deliver... We won't be back. The search for good BBQ in Topeka continues...
(2)Brian M.
I am a Texan. This is my favorite place for BBQ in Kansas. Enough said.
(5)Sam A.
Shared a full rack of baby backs today. Tender but lacking a bit of smoke flavor for me, but good. Baked Beans outstanding. Home made Coleslaw very good. Lorrie gave great service. Sadly Pepsi products and I like my COKE with BBQ....I'm picky.
(4)Alicia S.
Mediocre at best. Everything is standard with little flavor and no wow factor. The chili came out luke warm, and the burnt ends were just fatty chunks of brisket.
(3)Vincent J.
Stopped in while on a road trip and figured it was worth a try. The service was horrible, and the meat was ridiculously tough; well below average for BBQ. I would not go back, nor would I recommend it to anyone. this place is garbage!
(1)Bootsy B.
I came here for lunch and enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. The slaw, fries and sweet tea were pretty tasty also.
(4)Dawn C.
In my opinion this place was not deserving of my visit. We googled "best BBQ in Topeka" and Boss Hawgs came right up so we took a chance. The two stars are being given only in recognition for the burnt ends my husband had. They were pretty good. Best ever? Not by a long shot. And the price for a half pound was really high. The cornbread that was served immediately upon arrival was really light and fluffy and more like vanilla cake, I can see why some would love that, but it wasn't to my liking. My "pulled pork echilada" was underwhelming at best. I'm sad to say that seemed like a really neat menu item but it had zero flavor and was just slathered in a tasteless green sauce and them covered in way too much melted cheese. The chips were hot and crunchy but the little cup of salsa that came with them was only 3 out of 10 at best, so bland. I had a bite of the coleslaw my husband rejected and I had to agree that I didn't like it either, all it tasted like was mayonnaise. We skipped out on dessert since we were not satisfied with lunch. Not likely to come again.
(2)Tony B.
When I first moved to Topeka in 2010, I found the BBQ to be decent. However, by the time I left Topeka in 2013 it was mediocre at best. You know it's average BBQ when there is more bread then brisket. The bar area is also very outdated. When I quit eating here in 2013, they didn't have any HGTV's in the bar area. They had the old school TV's and the projection pull down! I felt like I was sitting in a bar back in 1996. The service is so-so, nothing special! There is a guy who cooks BBQ out of a trailer on Topeka BLVD. I would go there over here. Also, I would check out the BBQ Place in the Harley Davidson Dealership. Both offer better quality, and service!
(3)Janet L.
Great place great food the fried spicy pickles are yummy but a smaller cut pickle would be great and when it reds spicy it's spicy
(4)Reed N.
Stopped in here for some carry-out and ate burnt ends while I waited. I love ribs and burnt ends. The burnt ends were tender cubes of medium smoky beef. Not sure if these were all end cuts (I KNOW they were not). Most BBQ places cheat in this regard. At least these were tasty. I'd order them again, so that says a lot. The racks of ribs I ordered to go were St Louis spare ribs and baby back ribs. I usually like the St Louis cut better, but not here. The baby back ribs were deliciously smoky and lean. They were lightly seasoned and sauced. I would order BB ribs here again, too. But $23 for a slab is too steep, in my opinion. The side of slaw and beans were fine. The sauce and beans had a preponderance of molasses flavor (or dark corn syrup... you just can't tell sometimes). I did not like either due to that flavor. The Revenge sauce is their hottest sauce but most people can handle it. Stick with that if you must use sauce.
(4)Sonia M.
I liked the pulled pork and chicken. Very good! But the sauce was way too sweet for my taste. Same for the baked beans, way too sweet. I LOVE potato salad and it was good except the potatoes were undercooked and a little hard in my opinion. I was kind of bummed that I didn't love this place since we just moved near by. We're from Florida so maybe it's a regional thing.
(2)Phil C.
Had high hopes for this place based on what I had read. Very disappointed. The burnt ends weren't ends at all and weren't burnt. We had a large order so had brisket, pork, turkey and chicken. The chicken an turkey were good but the brisket and pork....not so much. I have to say the sides of cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans and pasta were good. I ordered 2 family platters plus some appetizers. The "family" platters had less meat in them than the appetizer portions of the sausage, which were good, and the burnt ends, which were pretty bad. They also forgot to include a slab of ribs which I had paid for. I had to drive drive 25 mins each way (my team was working the whole weekend) to pick the food up.When I called they offered to send me some coupons. Really? If you had sent someone with the ribs to my office I could have put aside the low overall food experience and become a fan. I'll never order from there again.
(1)Mark L.
The worst BBQ in the history of mankind. What were we thinking?? Obviously we weren't!!! I'd rather have a Mc Rib than what we attempted to eat. We did not even finish the meal, maybe about 15% if that . IT WAS THAT bad! Folks!! Stay away and give your GI system a break. Service was lousy as well. Topeka is a nice town but this place does it no justice. Dickey's beats this place hands down, it's hot and freshly made. This joint has NO business charging the prices they do for this slop they call BBQ. Enough said, just say NO and keep driving.
(1)Quinn H.
This place has great BBQ and atmosphere to boot. Our waitress was nice n' sassy (I like that in my BBQ joints) and she gave excellent service, which isn't always easy with a party of 16 people. The corn bread served before the meal was piping hot and fresh. I devoured two pieces (okay it was probably more like three) within minutes. I went with the Topeka Statesman, a combo plate, and chose pulled pork and brisket. The meat was seasoned well and the thick steak fries that came with did not disappoint. I liked Hawg's so much, I even got a Tshirt to show off my BBQ-lovin' pride.
(4)Leichardti F.
This place is alright, reasonably priced. Bbq is not super. Good place to hang and drink.
(3)Katie M.
I usually hate quirky spellings of words and I honestly had no idea the place was called Boss HAWGS until I came here to write this review. Needless to say, the food more than makes up for any issues I might have with the name! Delicious meats and tasty sides, I can never settle for just one meat on my gigantic sandwich. Luckily, god invented the combo sandwich! I love the baked beans and steak fries to compliment my pulled pork and brisket. This place doesn't disappoint, and has me craving some BBQ right now.
(4)Carl B.
Best ribs I've ever had
(4)Jim S.
Ever know what happened to all the old tube tvs??? There at Boss Hawgs!! Old big screens that don't work and crappy small tvs. Terrible place to watch a game(s). Food was decent, service was ok at best.
(2)Terry Y.
As a BBQ meat lover, Boss Hawg's Barbeque came "highly recommended" from my chief of IT when I was doing my summer internship. Luckily this restaurant was walking distance from my apartment. It was a Friday evening, a little after 5pm when I walked into this restaurant. I was surprised to see the place wasn't even packed to its limit. Empty tables surrounded near the waiting area, but I still had to wait for an "available" table, about 2 minutes I would say. I ordered the Big Boss Combo which was a quarter pound of any shredded meats served with fries. The temperature of the meat was barely warm when it arrived, but I was famished so I didn't complain. The fries itself was terrible. Terrible! Bad enough to leave about two-thirds of it on the plate - it wasn't "potatoey" as I would have liked. Service-wise was just okay. Not sure if it was understaffed that day, I had to hail the waitress for a refill on my soda. The only good thing I could say was all the waitresses was young and smoking hot for this Asian-American dude. Sure enough I walked out of Boss Hawg's a bit disappointed. But I strive to come back again. Few days before departing Topeka, I went back to Boss Hawg's hoping for the best. I went not just to fill my stomach, but to make my heart race for those hot good looking chicks. It was only for a limited time. This time I ordered the American Royal to go. It was still okay. The ribs were tender; a lot of grease dripping from the meat. I had to microwave the other meat to be a little warmer. Food-wise, the food was great. I think if you're into the dry tasteless meat, this one's for you.
(2)Larry V.
Midwestern BBQ. Great food, good atmosphere. Only negative was that I wanted a t-shirt and they didn't have any in stock
(4)Brian E.
I've had a lot of great barbecue this summer in Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago...well hell, even Topeka at Blind Tiger (which isn't even really a barbecue place). I heard about a non-chain barbecue place called Boss Hawg's and was pretty excited to check it out. I ordered the Memphis Belle, which included chicken and ribs for $16. This was a small portion meal that tasted like it came out of a microwave. I'm not even kidding when I say that you can get better ribs at Applebee's. Yes, Applebee's. I'm a dainty 165 pounds, and even with an appetizer, I was still hungry after the meal. Very disappointing. I can't even imagine how anyone can think this is good barbecue. These people must live a sheltered life.
(1)Toni L.
Best BBQ I've had in Topeka. The meat quality is good and so is the flavor. The corn bread is to die for. I could have eaten it and gone home happy except I really wanted good BBQ and I got that too.
(4)David G.
While in Kansas visiting relatives, we were looking for some barbecue a couple of nights ago. We drove down to Boss Hawg's in Topeka and had the best baby back ribs I've ever eaten anywhere. And I've eaten a lot of ribs in my life. Boss Hawg's ribs are tender, meaty, and not very fatty. The smoky flavor is outstanding. The sides (fries, baked beans, slaw) were all very good too. So were the tastes I got of others' bbq pork. But I'd come back for the ribs. Any time. They are the star of the show here.
(5)Emily C.
Super fast service and amazing bbq for those days when you just want to clog your arteries! This place was recommended to me by a Topeka native and she clearly knows her BBQ. Ribs are one of my favorite foods and I couldn't resist their 1/2 rack lunch special and my mom had their burnt ends. The cornbread that we got to start was melt in your mouth and the best I've ever had. I didn't even use butter since I was so busy stuffing my mouth while it was still warm! The ribs were tender, juicy and I ate every single scrap of meat off the bone. I loved that we got 2 different bottles of bbq sauce for the table- sweet and spicy. Although I'm not a fan of steak fries this place did a descent job of making them crispy enough that the insides aren't complete mush. Thank you, Boss Hawgs, for reminding me what great BBQ tastes like!
(5)Steve M.
After hearing a lot of great things about this place from my co-workers, I decided to give it a try today. I had the 1/2 pound smoked chicked breast with the fries. And I was not too impressed. The chicken looked like it was kind of dry and tasteless and looked like something that you can buy from the supermarket freezer. I was expecting my chicken breast to be similar to what I can get at Boston Market, but with a smokey/BBQ flavor to it. I asked about the shredded chick sandwhiches and they told me the chicken comes pre-cut in cubes and that it is not cooked on site. I guess I have been spoiled by the great BBQ places that I have been to in Texas and North Carolina. As for the restaurant, I sat in the bar area. There were a lot of tv's all over the place showing different sporting events. As well they have Buzztime Trivia for anyone that likes to play trivia games against other people in the bar and other bars across the country.
(3)christian C.
The best thing about the visit was the quick service. The beer by Boulevard was also decent. The food though was lousy. Their famous ribs were dry and flavorless and for some strange reason served on white bread (what's up with that?!?!?). The corn bread tasted like cake. The fries were all right and the cole slaw was right out of the Sysco can. I hope there's better...
(2)steve w.
Typically, when people try to gussy up BBQ for family dining it's a dead giveaway that the food is average. Topeka's Boss Hawg proves the exception to the rule. This is good to very good que by almost any measure. I've had ribs, chicken, pulled pork - all quite good. And darn if the comfortable environment and good service (which you do seem to pay a tad extra for) aren't a little refreshing after a steady diet of formica tables and greasy floors at BBQ joints.
(4)Eddie V.
Now, I'm not normally a huge BBQ fan, but I've lived in KCMO, Texas and New Orleans, so I know about good regional BBQ, and this place falls short. I ordered the baby back ribs, which were not as tinder as they could have been. Everything at boss Hawgs from the corn bread and honey butter to the "hot" bbq sauce, is just overly sweet and lacks flavor or spice. If everything wasn't so overly sweet I would have probably given this place a higher rating!
(2)Selin S.
I didn't go there because we had carry out from Boss Hawg's. The fries, coleslaw, and beans were excellent. Not skimping on food at all. My honey is in love with their burnt ends. He tried about 10 places in the Kansas City area and deemed this one the best. Very tasty. But, no idea the atmosphere in the restaurant. I am told the manager was very nice and helpful. :)
(5)