The Whole Hog Cafe
224 W Sunshine St, Springfield, MO, 65807
The Whole Hog Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
224 W Sunshine St
Springfield, MO, 65807 - Phone (417) 868-0042
- Website https://wholehogsgf.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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David T.
While Hog Cafe is okay. The positive is the excellent side dishes. The potato salad and corn dishes were absolutely amazing. Those items deserve every award. I'm more skeptic about the meats. The brisket seemed corned beef, which is fine, but the seasonings seem to cover up all the natural beef flavor that makes award winning barbecue award winning. I paid for the bigger portion plate and received the same amount of meat as she did but I did get bigger sides. Buckinghams around the corner i place in a level above, but if someone wants to go to whole hog then feel free to tag along.
(4)Maretchel J.
Was not impressed with the BBQ at all! Meat was dry needing a lot of sauce. Potato salad was ok and also ordered the cheeses corn with burnt ends (nothing too spectacular) their baked beans was probably the best thing we ordered but even that was ok.
(1)Karen Z.
Friends suggested BBQ. Cheesy corn was good. I had 3 meat dinner. Sausage was warm at best. Pork and beef were good. Potato salad was good too. Hubby had 3 meats with beef, sausage, & loin. Sausage was not hot. Beef and loin were good. He got potatoes with cheese sauce. Just okay. He liked cheesy corn. Will go again. Ribs looked good. Try them next time.
(3)Ryan C.
I think this is one of the best BBQ restaurants in Springfield. I actually asked about restaurant and it is really Mephis style BBQ straight from our neighbors in little rock not Kansas city that would be hog wild. If you like spicy try the volcano sauce. Whooooo, it's got kick everyone should try at least once but you'll be back! Don't be decieved it might look like no one is in there but the place is huge! Great place, design of restuarant and BBQ. Give it a try and yelp what you think. I love it!
(5)Josh B.
Terrible service. I feel like im being quizzed everytime i come here but the food entirely makes up for that. Amazing tender brisker. And so many sauce choices. Always amazing food
(4)Aron C.
I've only had the ribs there, but they were some of the best I have ever had.
(5)David L.
Great BBQ. They offer a nice variety of sauces but manage to keep the BBQ both well smoked and moist. The pulled pork was better than the brisket but both were very good. Also, the addition of sour cream to the potato salad is a nice touch.
(5)Bradley R.
Came for lunch with a co-worker and had the Four Bone plate. Four rib bones, side of cole slaw, fried potato chunks, and a roll. I have to say I really liked the ribs. They were lightly sauced, almost fall of the bone but just a bit tug. Sweet, slightly spicy, and lots of good smokey bark. So on that part way to go. My buddy had the brisket and said he really liked it. The sides were a bit of a mixed bag. Cole slaw was basic and could have been a pre-made, the fried potatoes were just bits of potato tossed in the fryer so while not bad they don't make me crave them. The roll was just a basic out of a bag roll. Again nothing wrong with it but nothing you'd go back for. So really the BBQ was the star of the show witch is ok in my book. I'll be back to check up on those ribs. You know, to make sure the quality isn't slipping.
(4)BJ L.
This place uses pecan wood for their smoking, and it makes such a difference. I got a whole hog platter that consisted of brisket, ribs, and pulled pork..... I wanted to eat 3 more of them, but that wasn't a good idea. They accommodated our large party rather well (They have a room you can reserve that will seat a literal boat load, like warship size). The prices were great, and they have one of those fancy soda machines with a jazillion different flavor options. Go here.
(4)Marian Q.
Wanted to like it because a) it's bbq and b) it's local...But it wasn't the best. We got the whole hog buddy pak to go (but didn't get any utensils, napkins, or plates with our order). The actual restaurant was cute, boasting accolades from past wins in BBQ championships and a lot of Missouri pride. The meats: beef & pulled pork The sides: potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and cheesy corn So the food- the meat was dry. You needed to put the bbq sauce on it to make it edible. The sides were plentiful but not really all that great. The only saving grace- the baked beans. It wasn't a bad deal, but the food just wasn't very good. Sorry Whole Hog but I've had better BBQ.
(2)Jeff T.
Have I had better BBQ? Yes. But, this is pretty good depending on what you order. I have never had a bad meal here, but it's nothing to write home about. Their sauce selection is pretty good and as others have said, the cheesy corn is pretty good.
(4)Matt R.
Being from Minnesota I expected a bit better out of a Missouri rib place with so many awards. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything to be excited about, a bit better than Famous Daves maybe.
(3)Mike M.
I come to Springfield once a year on business. I thought I would repeat my dining experiences from last year and come back to The Whole Hog. This time I tried a regular brisket sandwich that came with cole slaw. I also ordered a side of the potato salad and burnt cheesy corn. With a drink and tax the bill came to $12.02. I thought the brisket was very average. Nothing special that you can't get almost anywhere else. I believe rating it a 3 is generous. The potato salad is as good as I have ever had and rate a 5. The burnt cheesy corn is something I could eat as a meal by itself. It is a 5 also (could be almost a 6). I am lowering my overall score from a 4 to a 3. The sides here that I have had are fantastic. The meats are average at best. Last years chicken and this years brisket somewhat disappointed me. How can the sides be so great and the meats so average? I give an overall 3 because your meats have to be better to distinguish yourself from the competition. Oh, and they are still serving the food on those junior high school plates...:(
(3)Dave S.
This is the best barbecue place in Springfield, by far. I don't get some of the extremely negative reviews on here, because we've been here a hundred times and always had great food. The sides are EXCELLENT and add to the overall appeal of this place. Also, they have some unusual sauces, my favorite is the mustard-y one. (#6?) We are very selective with where we go out to eat and this place definitely makes the cut.
(5)Bradley R.
Came for lunch with a co-worker and had the Four Bone plate. Four rib bones, side of cole slaw, fried potato chunks, and a roll. I have to say I really liked the ribs. They were lightly sauced, almost fall of the bone but just a bit tug. Sweet, slightly spicy, and lots of good smokey bark. So on that part way to go. My buddy had the brisket and said he really liked it. The sides were a bit of a mixed bag. Cole slaw was basic and could have been a pre-made, the fried potatoes were just bits of potato tossed in the fryer so while not bad they don't make me crave them. The roll was just a basic out of a bag roll. Again nothing wrong with it but nothing you'd go back for. So really the BBQ was the star of the show witch is ok in my book. I'll be back to check up on those ribs. You know, to make sure the quality isn't slipping.
(4)Darian C.
I am a lover of good BBQ, and at first when we ate at Whole Hog Cafe (WHC) tonight, I had high hopes. I ordered their burnt ends dinner, which included 7 ounces of meat (according to their online menu), and 2 sides. I asked for and received a sample of their beans. Just like many other BBQ places in town, they include pulled pork and other off cuts of meat in their beans for flavor. I tasted no smokiness to them at all, so I'm sure they do not smoke their beans like Buckingham's. As I did find the beans tasty, I ordered those and what they referred to as "natural cut fries" as the other side. When we received them, they were weird looking. Most were small triangle shaped pieces, and they were coated in a seasoning that wasn't exactly what I would call tasty. To make matters worse, they were also out of ketchup. My wife and I both thought they tasted a bit like baby red potatoes, but they weren't. I asked one of the employees of the restaurant what kind of wood they used to smoke their meats. I was surprised to hear the response... pecan. I found it odd, because my wife works for a major market chain, and they smoke their own ribs in house, and the seasoning and flavor of my burnt ends tasted exactly the same as the ribs I could get for less than half of what I paid for a 7 ounce serving of burnt ends, and that would be a full rack of ribs. I will say this, their burnt ends were very, very tender. They weren't dried out or overly salty, and they almost literally melted on my tongue. My wife agreed. Also, the store has a multi-function soda fountain that allows for you to have over 100 different drink combinations, including my favorite... Mello Yello Zero. As a person who suffers from Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1), I usually will only drink diet soda, un-sweet tea, coffee or water. Unless I feel my blood sugar tanking, I don't do sugared drinks. I've had mixed reviews on WHC from different family members. One was very positive, and one was very negative. I'd put it right in between. The food was good (except for the potatoes), but the seasoning on their burnt ends tasting so much like what I could get for half the price (for ribs) at my wife's store makes me think I might give them a second chance to be sure before totally writing them off. On a scale of `1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest possible and 10 being the highest, here's how I would rate them: Price: A little high for the quality and quantity of the food. I'd give that a 6. Flavor: The meal was definitely edible, except for the potatoes. Based only on the beans and meat, I'd rate my food as a 7. Quality: Overall, I would give them a rating of 6.5. I would go higher, but the potatoes were horrible, and the meat was just not up to par with Buckingham's or Old City Butchers. There is no excuse for a restaurant to run out of condiments, especially ketchup. They could have sent an employee to a store nearby to purchase ketchup (eventually they did, but not until after we were finished eating. Without ketchup, whatever the flavoring was that coated their potatoes made them almost inedible. Overall score, definitely 2.5 out of 5 stars. I will give them another chance to see if they can impress me. Incidentally, with the exception of the fries, the rest of the meal was sufficiently seasoned I didn't need to use any of the 7 different BBQ sauces they had available. I don't know, maybe I'm being too harsh. The burnt ends did have good flavor despite it tasting like i came from my wife's store. They were still good, and they did practically melt in my mouth. The beans were not bad. The potatoes... not good at all. They should not call them "natural" if they are coated in any kind of seasoning. I find this to be the same problem with Wendy's fries. At first, Wendy's natural cut fries were awesome, then they did something to add a seasoning to coat them, and it changed the tasted and texture enough to make them horrid. I will write another review if we ever try them again.
(3)Chris M.
Taste like BBQ from a tub. Got a special there that I believe was the various left over meats from the previous day chopped up and mixed together with BBQ sauce. Couldn't finish the meal.
(1)Jay B.
This place is great! I spend a lot of time in Kansas City so I wasn't expecting this place to be as good or better! Ribs were too notch! Service is great, and prices are very reasonable!
(5)Shane A.
Whole hog is one of if not the BEST BBQ joints in Springfield. The cheesy corn, and potato salad are to die for. Not to mention it's about the only place to get southern style sauce. The mustard sauce is amazing, and their prices are reasonable.
(5)Elana L.
Seriously the BEST pulled pork I've ever had! Although, I must note, that we went here two times in a week and one day it was super moist pork and the second time, it was much drier. They have 6 different BBQ sauces to try! That makes it fun! Their home fries, aka fried potato chunks are very good as are their rolls! You have your choice of beers and over 100 different soda flavors from their 'create your own' coke machine! That is fun, in itself! It is also fun to look at all their trophies from all the BBQ contests they have been in! I have to say, of all the places in town, this is definitely the best!
(5)Sukki J.
The heavens opened up at the end of Day 1 of our road trip...literally and figuratively. After a 11 hour drive that started in foggy, cold Northern Michigan, it only seemed right that the sun came out and we had our first stay-over in Springfield MO across the street from WHOLE HOG. Sunday night, what's open, where to go? WHOLE HOG FOR US. BEST DECISION EVER. I think it was the best BBQ joint I have ever tried. I may have been to a lot of BBQ places but I consider myself a great maker of pulled pork and a #1 pork lover. I had the 2 meat platter with Beef Brisket and Pulled Pork, corn and green bean sides. My son got the ribs. Everything from the sauces to the buns were amazing. I think I ate every morsel on my plate and I'm not a big girl. Moist, tender, delicious and tasty. It was the best holiday experience of the season so far because my tummy was happy and we had carolers serenade us from a local church. Sorry I don't have one at home but I'll find my way back one day.
(5)Jon B.
One big disappointment. I visit bbq joints all over the country, and this one is just below average, at best. The ribs can be matched by going to Applebee's. Not that I like Applebee's so much, but I know what good bbq ribs are. Not these roasted, grilled and sauce-coated baby backs. Nope, I could do this at home without a smoker. And the brisket. This is not a good quality meat. And not smoked brisket. It was tight-grained, no smoke ring, and had to be served in a bowl with some kind of watery substance to keep it "moist". Serious bbq people- don't go. What real bbq joint needs to serve 6 different sauces? Great bbq doesn't even need ONE sauce. And I don't understand all the trophies. Where'd those come from?
(1)Steven B.
Petty good BBQ for Springfield MO. The brisket is sliced extremely thin like a deli. If you go here, go for the pig not the beef.
(3)Alan C.
The meat was some of the best in Springfield. Between those in my party we had the chicken, pulled pork, and the sausage. All were cooked to perfection. They have a burnt ends cheesy corn which is very good in comparison to Springfield competitors. The coleslaw was ok. The only negative thing really is their ordering process. It is disorganized and the cashier doesn't really help you. For instance, "Glasses are left of the coke machine." There were actually no glasses there. Eventually a dishwasher brought some out and put them there. It just seemed like mass confusion for several patrons. If they could work on their customer service they could be 5 stars as they are one of the best in Springfield. Its not as good as the places in Kansas City or Memphis but it is a good substitute.
(4)Jessica G.
Wish I could do 3.5 stars. It's kind of hit or miss, which day you go. Burnt ends are always good. I got chicken last time was 85% fat but has been good before.
(3)Tom F.
If you have read any of my other reviews, you should know that I have three big food loves - vietnamese, brewpubs, and barbecue. I have visited barbecue restaurants all over the country. South Carolina, Georgia, Memphis, Kentucky, Houston, Dallas, St Louis and KC. I have given this place a couple tries now, and have to say, I am not impressed. First off, there was a pretty long line when I got here. Now normally, this would be a good thing with a barbecue place. However, in this case, it was because most of the customers had apparently never seen the 100+ flavor Coke dispensing fountain before, and could not get the drinks they were trying to get out of it, resulting in a major backup in front of the ordering area. Normally, I wouldn't hold that against the restaurant, but the staff made absolutely no attempt to help out and show people how to get their drinks. There were literally more than a dozen people standing there, watching one person after another failing to comprehend how to pick out a drink, and all ending up with the same grape Dasani water the last guy had got. Pretty sad. It was rib night, so I went with the half rack of ribs dinner which comes with two sides and toast. The ribs were overcooked, really dry. So much so that if you tried to cut one rib off the rack, the meat from 2 - 3 ribs came off with it. The potato salad was a sour cream based type I haven't really seen elsewhere. It was decent, but not really my cup of tea. The beans seemed to be just a can of Van de Camps with a couple strands of pork or brisket - not even big enough to determine which they were. Maybe the one on the north side of town is better, but I will not be returning to this establishment.
(2).angie H.
After eating here I questioned all the trophies and awards for "award winning" bbq. It was just okay. Meat was a little dry, potatoe salad was decent, cheesy corn was okay, and the ribs were alright but nothing I'd give an award out for. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad...it just wasn't great.
(3)Gretchen P.
The brisket was moist and flavorful. The sauces are varied and tasty. The side dishes, however, are lack luster; ours were served lukewarm. By in large this place was a disappointment. Perhaps I'm spoiled by really good KC barbecue, but this missed the mark in many, many ways.
(2)Mike B.
This place has the best beans I've ever had! The ribs are good, but the pulled pork and brisket were average. But for the price, I would say this place is great! I would come back just for the beans. No regrets about stopping her, that's for sure!
(4)Ashley K.
Best BBQ on Springfield! I have tried a few places and this one beats them hands down. We usually get the ribs or pulled pork special. Soooo good! All their sides are good, but the Potato salad is the best I have ever had. Plus they have a good BBQ sauce selection. Yum!
(5)David Z.
Everybody has their story. Mine is very positive.$6.99 for the lunch special at 7:30 p.m. Such a deal.Excellent pulled pork with slaw and two sides (great beans and a side salad.) The pork was among the best I've eaten and for $6.99 there was nothing to complain about. The other prices are also reasonable (one half chicken with two sides for $7.99, for example.) Definitely a winner!
(4)Jeremy S.
I can't really even say mediocre. I have a true passion for Barbecue and this falls so short. A few things: why does the brisket seem steamed instead of smoked? I mean, I see the smoke ring but there's something wrong with the look and texture. Why is the brisket sliced so thin that it is disintegrated by the time it hits the plate? Sausage...not terrible for a store bought, not house made product and the only reason this got two stars. Pulled chicken was dry and not even very edible after drenching it in a suicide of all the sauces. For some reason I have a soft spot for the burnt end cheesy corn here but, for God's sake, use a little salt in it! This place leaves me wanting good Barbecue and wondering why they aren't making their meats fresh every day.
(2)Danny L.
Get the combo platter to try it all. This place is so good, we had to came back 3 times in the first week that we discovered it. After you have tried the combo platter, you should go for the Burnt End platter to up the flavor ante. If you don't like pork... I can't imagine who doesn't, you can go for the Half Chicken platter. Most meats are so flavorful, you don't need any BBQ sauce, but you should still try the 6 different sauces that's on the table. I highly recommend #5. To sum it all up, you can't go wrong with this award winning BBQ joint. Writing this review is making me want to go back for more right now.
(5)Mister K.
Brisket was pretty good here. The ribs were outstanding and chicken was good. The pulled pork was pretty lacking though and not very tasty. Tree variety of sauces was pretty interesting.
(4)Miles G.
I am very familiar with Whole Hog Cafe in other cities and thoroughly enjoy their food. This was the first time at the Springfield, MO cafe, and I found that the food just wasn't up to par. The pulled pork was dry, chewy, and very stringy, with long strings that made it difficult to eat on a sandwich. I had to resort to a knife and fork to eat my sandwich. The meat didn't have its usual smoked flavor and required me to drench it in sauce to get some flavor onto the meat. Not the Whole Hog experience I was expecting.
(1)J Bruce A.
Not just another barbecue joint. I had the pulled pork with slaw sandwich and a side of potato salad. The sandwich was large and tasty. The potato salad was the best that I have found. Far better than the potato salad from WalMart that people try to bring to parties.
(4)CJ P.
Okay. We've been here twice now and while they have relatively tasty food, I really don't get what all the fuss is about. There are trophies EVERYWHERE, but I get the feeling their namesake is what they're best at and it's conspicuously missing from the menu. It's obvious their pork is simply a shredded roast and while it's not bad, it's a LONG way from what you get in a whole pit-roasted pig. Ordering is done at a counter and they call a number for you to come pick up your food. This wouldn't be a bad thing if the dining room didn't have such a sit-down feel. It's almost as though they don't know what sort of restaurant to be and just feels off somehow. On to the food...This time I ordered the burnt ends and they had a GREAT flavor, but bordered VERY close on being too dry. The portion was tiny. For $9 I got a single layer of meat that covered less than 1/4 of a 10 inch divided cafetera plate (barely a handful), a brown & serve dinner roll, about a 1/4 cup of ho-hum-nothing-special baked beans and the same amount of frozen corn in a cheesy sauce. The "burnt end cheesy corn" had TINY, nearly imperceptible, flakes of mystery meat in it. It had a really good flavor, but the frozen texture kind of turned me off. Both the people I was with got the $6 daily special pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. (ALL of Whole Hog's sandwiches come with coleslaw on them. Not really a midwest norm, so be forewarned.) There was less meat on their sandwiches than my plate. It had a good flavor, but it too bordered on being too dry. Their potato salad was a decent attempt at a german variant. That said, it was basically potatoes, onions bacon and ranch dressing. At the table there are 6 different sauces to choose from. Again; kind of confusing; can they not decide what BBQ style they want their food to be? Everything was certainly edible, but for the price (nearly $30 with drinks) I expect much better as well as larger portions. I left still hungry. Something I believe should NEVER happen at a BBQ joint.
(2)Camelia E.
100% deliciousness!!! I'm from Arkansas and we have several of these!! I was so happy when I saw this!! Everything was delicious and I recommend you come here if you're looking for some good, no, great BBQ!
(5)J L.
I started eating at the Whole Hog Cafe during my travels to Arkansas and I'm glad they have a location that I can stop in when in the Springfield area. I like that they serve the bbq dry and let the flavor of their meat stand for itself, with the option to dip their BBQ in one of 6 different sauces. I hate when BBQ places try to mask their lack of flavor by soaking the meat in sauce. Not at Whole Hog Cafe! Great tasting BBQ!
(5)Vic H.
My family and I ate here a couple weeks a go. Not impressed. All food was slightly warmer than room temp. Cheese corn was like it came from the bottom of the pot. Cost of food was a bit high to boot. Might try again in the future to see if this all was a fluke, but will be a while.
(1)Sherry L.
How good is Whole Hog Cafe? Good enough for me to consider relocating to Springfield, MO. As long as I am guaranteed a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a fourth meal everyday. The exterior of the Cafe is unassuming, but the interior is nicely decorated and dimly-lit like a pub. There is ample seating within, although they offer speedy takeout service as well (if sitting in front of your computer devouring protein and carbs is more your thing). (: Everything on the menu sounded appetizing, which made it extremely difficult to narrow down my sandwich and side of choice. The 5 sauce options didn't help by exponentially increasing the number of different combinations either... I ended up going with the regular pulled pork sandwich (the regular is so filling already I can't even imagine how big the jumbo size is) with sauce option 1 and a side salad (to negate my guilty conscience). 100% delicious and totally hit the spot. They missed my coleslaw (boo!), but I'm not a huge fan of it anyway so I won't hold it against them. ...I don't know if the pulled pork has satisfied my craving or brought on a whole new one...but I hope to be back soon!
(5)Ashley A.
Yum yum yum yum YUM!!!! Best beef brisket I've ever experienced in my life. It literally melts in your mouth and there is not a bad sauce option although the evil twin is great if you love spicy sauce. I also got the potato salad, which was sooooo good, along with the burnt end cheesy corn, which was also surprisingly delicious. The only let down about the whole meal was the roll. It kind of just tasted store bought. But who cares about the roll anyway when everything else is so good!? My friend ordered the coleslaw with her meal and she loved it, just the right amount of fresh and crunchy ingredients. I'm so sad I don't live anywhere near the Midwest or I would come here at least once a week.
(5)John M.
This place has the best potato salad I've ever had...EVER! The pulled pork and burnt ends are delicious. They have a great selection of sides including Burt end cheesy corn. It's amazing. Also, try the potato salad. They have a selection of six different sauces on the table for you to choose from. All of them are good, but number 3 and 4 are my favorites.
(5)Sanford B.
Traveling from Texas to MI and stopped for what I hoped was good barbecue ribs. Disappointed to find only Baby Backs in MO. Quality of seven bone half slab was terrible. Very little meat with lots of bone showing. Overdone and dry. Wife's pulled pork sandwich although plentiful was also dry. We should have refused the order and requested a proper serving or a refund. Very disappointed
(1)Abigail W.
Great BBQ even better potato salad! Sad to see not full service. Staff was EXTREMELY slow at clearing and busing tables. It took a second with full hands to find a clean table.
(3)Michael T.
Hit or miss on the pulled pork. Sometimes it's spot on great, other times it's just average. Really good for the most part.
(4)Vicky S.
this was excellent bbq very fast service and extremely clean. a must go back and eat. would highly recommend. located very close to bass pro. the ribs were to die for and so very tender
(5)Laura G.
I drool over the brisket. OH.MY.GOSH. Superb!! Love the potato salad. Love the cheesy corn. Love the atmosphere. My husband loves the pulled pork, the ribs, and the pulled rib sandwich Friday special. Sauces are pretty good, but honestly, eating the meat alone is quite delicious! It's a dangerous thing living in walking distance to this place! I always leave feeling happy and full. Did I mention the quick service, too?? Great fast service!
(5)Tim P.
My wife and I both ordered 3 meat combos, the brisket was delicious and moist, no sauce needed, same for the sausage. The chicken was OK, but the pulled pork was dry and tasteless, it did absorb a lot of the excellent sauces though. The burnt ends cheesy corn was outstanding but the coleslaw was nothing special. I would be a repeat customer if I lived here, but we were just passing through.
(4)Slim D.
It takes going to KC for me to find better barbecue. The brisket and pulled pork are almost impossible to choose between and the baked beans and smoked green beans are definitely my favorite sides. And for sauce you're all set no matter what you like since there's six options at the table and one more at the counter. I also really like the layout, it's spacious and has separate areas if you want to have a quiet lunch or dinner. It's great for eating in, and for buying in bulk for parties. There's never any left if you let people stay over long enough!
(5)Erick H.
Every time I come to Springfield I try a different BBQ place. This is by far the best I have had here. Love all of the trophies in the windows, because they were well earned, and the Memphis in May trophies are awesome. Now to the food. Rack of ribs was amazing. True competition style ribs. The pulled pork and chicken were tasty, tender, and just the right smokiness. The sides are great, too. Slaw was perfect, beans were descent, and the potato salad was creamy and delicious. I will be back.
(5)Teneka H.
I enjoy Whole Hog quite a bit. It's a huge building that never seems to have more than a couple tables filled, which I think is funny. My favorite is the baked potato with pulled pork, but if you go later at night, they have been known to run out of potatoes. Why they don't run up to Price Cutter and buy a couple spares, I don't know. I am a dipper, so I enjoy the fact that there are six sauces on the table to try, but you have to ask for the spicy volcano sauce at the counter. Also, If you get bbq sauce to go, they charge you for it... I am also a fan of the 'burnt end cheesy corn,' which doesn't have any burnt ends in it and tastes like cream cheese and frozen corn...but I like it anyway. :) The brisket has been cooked differently every time I have ordered it, which is funny for a chain restaurant. Makes me wonder if they stole all the trophies that they showcase in the windows.
(4)Sharon C.
Whole Hog BBQ is the only place we think of when we are hungry for BBQ..We have tried several menu items and LOVE them all.
(5)Cheri M.
Stopped in on our way through Missouri. What an amazing meal! We had so much meat leftover from a sample platter and 2 meat dinner that we bought extra sides and we can't wait for left-overs tomorrow!
(5)Amy G.
Honestly, This is the best barbeque in Springfield, in my opinion. Everything I've had there is amazing. They have a nice room that can be used for large groups/parties/extra seating. The prices are really good for what you get. One thing we commented on are the perfect portions. They don't give you too much food or too little. Just the perfect amount. I would say the only thing lacking is a good eating atmosphere. The whole building feels sterile and unwelcoming to me. They attempt to decorate strictly with trophies, cute and good for them, but it's not the gritty, down home, smoky, blues blaring barbeque joint type of atmosphere you usually expect. . It almost feels like a chain because of the lack of personality in the space. But seriously, once you taste the food, you won't care. It's awesome. Eat there. You won't be sorry.
(5)Jordan Z.
Ah, I just found out that this place is a chain. What did I expect in Springfield? Oh well, it was delicious! They even have 6 types of BBQ sauce! The space is large and comfortable with fast and friendly service. I was most impressed with the brisket (juicy and flavorful), the chicken (brined to perfection), and the potato salad (I'm almost certain it contains bacon). The pulled pork was rather dry and bland. Luckily, I had 6 types of sauce to test on it. Minus the pulled pork, I had an excellent lunch here. Then I decided to stop by the bathroom on the way out. 1 single person bathroom per gender with a line 3 deep. Not the greatest design for a space that likely seats 200+. I guess I'll just hold it next time.
(4)Tony B.
Good meats, really good sides. I always get the Whole Hog Platter: ribs, pulled pork, brisket, three sides, and a roll. It's basically two meals. Ribs fall off the bone; pork is tender and tasty; brisket is moist and sports the tell-tail red line along the edges. The baked beans with hunks of meat are awesome. The new green beans, also with hunks of meat, are awesome too. The potato salad is freakishly delicious, seriously the best I've ever had. Oh and everyone will love at least one of the six sauces at each big private booth. All things considered, this is my favorite BBQ place in town.
(4)Amber S.
Hands down the best BBQ place in Springfield, MO. I love everything I've tried here. The brisket practically melts in your mouth. All the sides are delicious. The portions are generous, and the service is great! Nice and fast, and they leave you in peace to devour your meal. 6 sauces at the table, all of which are great. Just TRY to pick a favorite! Lots of seating, and lots of good blues playing on the speakers. They have that sweet Freestyle Coke machine which is so fun to play around with. Pop is great, but their sweet tea is the best I've ever had. I really can't say enough about how great this place is. Give it a try, you won't regret it! PS: BBQ Nachos FTW. That is all.
(5)Holly A.
Excellent food!
(4)Erin M.
Great service, AMAZING corn and potato salad!! The meats are good, I enjoy their sauces. I would give a 5 star just for the sides, but I knocked it down to 4 because the meat is not as good as the sides. My husband is in love with this place though. So I would definitely give it a try.
(4)Nathan L.
This was the best BBQ I had during my stay in the area. I tried 3 other local spots and this was by far the best. I had a full rack, the mixed up corn stuff and potato salad and it was all very good. Maybe what I really liked the most was the choice in sauces. I know a lot of people think good BBQ is supposed to be good without a layer of sauce but I like my sweet and tangy sauce on my ribs and they had a couple really good ones to choose from. If you are in the area this is the place to get ribs.
(5)Mark K.
I loved everything about this place, I tried just about all the meat they had, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, sausage, everything was really good. That is until they've recently changed the sausage, this new kind they use is horrible, tastes like a spicy cheap version of breakfast sausage with no bbq appeal whatsoever. Wish they'd go back to the other sausage they had then I'd give them 4 stars. My friends and family agree we will NOT be ordering the "new sausage" anymore but everything else is fine.
(3)Darian C.
I am a lover of good BBQ, and at first when we ate at Whole Hog Cafe (WHC) tonight, I had high hopes. I ordered their burnt ends dinner, which included 7 ounces of meat (according to their online menu), and 2 sides. I asked for and received a sample of their beans. Just like many other BBQ places in town, they include pulled pork and other off cuts of meat in their beans for flavor. I tasted no smokiness to them at all, so I'm sure they do not smoke their beans like Buckingham's. As I did find the beans tasty, I ordered those and what they referred to as "natural cut fries" as the other side. When we received them, they were weird looking. Most were small triangle shaped pieces, and they were coated in a seasoning that wasn't exactly what I would call tasty. To make matters worse, they were also out of ketchup. My wife and I both thought they tasted a bit like baby red potatoes, but they weren't. I asked one of the employees of the restaurant what kind of wood they used to smoke their meats. I was surprised to hear the response... pecan. I found it odd, because my wife works for a major market chain, and they smoke their own ribs in house, and the seasoning and flavor of my burnt ends tasted exactly the same as the ribs I could get for less than half of what I paid for a 7 ounce serving of burnt ends, and that would be a full rack of ribs. I will say this, their burnt ends were very, very tender. They weren't dried out or overly salty, and they almost literally melted on my tongue. My wife agreed. Also, the store has a multi-function soda fountain that allows for you to have over 100 different drink combinations, including my favorite... Mello Yello Zero. As a person who suffers from Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1), I usually will only drink diet soda, un-sweet tea, coffee or water. Unless I feel my blood sugar tanking, I don't do sugared drinks. I've had mixed reviews on WHC from different family members. One was very positive, and one was very negative. I'd put it right in between. The food was good (except for the potatoes), but the seasoning on their burnt ends tasting so much like what I could get for half the price (for ribs) at my wife's store makes me think I might give them a second chance to be sure before totally writing them off. On a scale of `1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest possible and 10 being the highest, here's how I would rate them: Price: A little high for the quality and quantity of the food. I'd give that a 6. Flavor: The meal was definitely edible, except for the potatoes. Based only on the beans and meat, I'd rate my food as a 7. Quality: Overall, I would give them a rating of 6.5. I would go higher, but the potatoes were horrible, and the meat was just not up to par with Buckingham's or Old City Butchers. There is no excuse for a restaurant to run out of condiments, especially ketchup. They could have sent an employee to a store nearby to purchase ketchup (eventually they did, but not until after we were finished eating. Without ketchup, whatever the flavoring was that coated their potatoes made them almost inedible. Overall score, definitely 2.5 out of 5 stars. I will give them another chance to see if they can impress me. Incidentally, with the exception of the fries, the rest of the meal was sufficiently seasoned I didn't need to use any of the 7 different BBQ sauces they had available. I don't know, maybe I'm being too harsh. The burnt ends did have good flavor despite it tasting like i came from my wife's store. They were still good, and they did practically melt in my mouth. The beans were not bad. The potatoes... not good at all. They should not call them "natural" if they are coated in any kind of seasoning. I find this to be the same problem with Wendy's fries. At first, Wendy's natural cut fries were awesome, then they did something to add a seasoning to coat them, and it changed the tasted and texture enough to make them horrid. I will write another review if we ever try them again.
(3)Dan M.
This place is pretty legit. Good ribs. Delicious sides. Friendly employees and a decent atmosphere for a BBQ joint. Prices seem just a tiny bit steep. I'm not blown away, but overall I'm impressed.
(4)Elaine A.
We try barbecue places all over the country and this place is hands down the best ever!! Absolutely love the burnt end cheesy corn
(5)Sadie E.
The cheesy corn with burnt ends side is 100% genius. The potato salad is TO. DIE. FOR. The only BBQ you need in Springfield.
(4)Mike D.
Pulled pork is the meat that any good bbq place is judged for. That being said Whole Hogs Pulled pork was very dry and lacked flavor. You have to cover it in sause to even make it edible. The brisket is pretty good and the sausage is ok. Overall just another boring bbq place that doesn't stand out at all. Only good thing about this place is the Cheesy Burnt Ends Corn.
(2)C M.
Very good BBQ. Try all the sauces at teh table, they are all home made and can't miss. The pulled pork is the tastiest. Prices are good, staff is friendly and helpful. Decor is new, so no issues there.
(4)Jeremy S.
I can't really even say mediocre. I have a true passion for Barbecue and this falls so short. A few things: why does the brisket seem steamed instead of smoked? I mean, I see the smoke ring but there's something wrong with the look and texture. Why is the brisket sliced so thin that it is disintegrated by the time it hits the plate? Sausage...not terrible for a store bought, not house made product and the only reason this got two stars. Pulled chicken was dry and not even very edible after drenching it in a suicide of all the sauces. For some reason I have a soft spot for the burnt end cheesy corn here but, for God's sake, use a little salt in it! This place leaves me wanting good Barbecue and wondering why they aren't making their meats fresh every day.
(2)Danny L.
Get the combo platter to try it all. This place is so good, we had to came back 3 times in the first week that we discovered it. After you have tried the combo platter, you should go for the Burnt End platter to up the flavor ante. If you don't like pork... I can't imagine who doesn't, you can go for the Half Chicken platter. Most meats are so flavorful, you don't need any BBQ sauce, but you should still try the 6 different sauces that's on the table. I highly recommend #5. To sum it all up, you can't go wrong with this award winning BBQ joint. Writing this review is making me want to go back for more right now.
(5)CJ P.
Okay. We've been here twice now and while they have relatively tasty food, I really don't get what all the fuss is about. There are trophies EVERYWHERE, but I get the feeling their namesake is what they're best at and it's conspicuously missing from the menu. It's obvious their pork is simply a shredded roast and while it's not bad, it's a LONG way from what you get in a whole pit-roasted pig. Ordering is done at a counter and they call a number for you to come pick up your food. This wouldn't be a bad thing if the dining room didn't have such a sit-down feel. It's almost as though they don't know what sort of restaurant to be and just feels off somehow. On to the food...This time I ordered the burnt ends and they had a GREAT flavor, but bordered VERY close on being too dry. The portion was tiny. For $9 I got a single layer of meat that covered less than 1/4 of a 10 inch divided cafetera plate (barely a handful), a brown & serve dinner roll, about a 1/4 cup of ho-hum-nothing-special baked beans and the same amount of frozen corn in a cheesy sauce. The "burnt end cheesy corn" had TINY, nearly imperceptible, flakes of mystery meat in it. It had a really good flavor, but the frozen texture kind of turned me off. Both the people I was with got the $6 daily special pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. (ALL of Whole Hog's sandwiches come with coleslaw on them. Not really a midwest norm, so be forewarned.) There was less meat on their sandwiches than my plate. It had a good flavor, but it too bordered on being too dry. Their potato salad was a decent attempt at a german variant. That said, it was basically potatoes, onions bacon and ranch dressing. At the table there are 6 different sauces to choose from. Again; kind of confusing; can they not decide what BBQ style they want their food to be? Everything was certainly edible, but for the price (nearly $30 with drinks) I expect much better as well as larger portions. I left still hungry. Something I believe should NEVER happen at a BBQ joint.
(2)Doug R.
I noticed this place last night as I was making a rare trip on the main roads of Springfield at 5pm. It sits across the street from Bass Pro and is literally next door to McAllister's. I decided to try it out of curiosity more than anything, because I was a tad leery of its shiny new sign and strip mall exterior (more on this later). Right when you open the door you are hit with a strong, smokey smell, just like any good bar-b-que place. You then come to a big-ass menu with a dizzying array of choices for your meal; smoked chicken, pork tenderloin, ribs, and of course brisket and pork, then a whole load of sides-conspicuously absent are onion rings and fries-Seriously! WTF?? However, all are reasonably priced with sandwiches ranging from $5-$8 with the latter price being for a jumbo sandwich (which I only suggest if you are returning from being stranded upon a desert island for years). Our food: I went for the smoked pork tenderloin, "tossed salad", and baked beans. My friends grabbed a pork sammy, potato salad and a short, 4 rib plate. My tenderloin had a nice, subtle, smokey flavor and had a good pepper rub, but was a tad bit dry. *a quick note on the sandwiches-all come dry and "Wherever area we are in-Style", which means fucking coleslaw on top-an abomination! So be forewarned. Anyways, the pork is quite typical, but my friend did get a nice bit of bone in his, which I did not find out about until I tried to eat it, mistaking it for a piece of burnt end-it was a sad, sad moment. They have 6 different sauces at the table for your sandwiches. The flavor profiles are split between Tangy and Spicy, and Sweet and Molasses-all are pretty good. My friends ribs came sauced with one of the sweet/molasses sauces and had a lovely, bright pink, smokey look; unfortunately I did not try them, but they are from Kansas City and enjoyed the ribs if that means anything. I did see a brisket sammy while I was ordering that almost swayed me to get it, as it comes in long thing slices that show a lovely smoke ring. Next time. I have to talk about the decor now. This place is really clean and nice looking. Too nice looking in fact. Their color scheme comes straight from Gates BBQ in KC, being dark read and black. There is wonderfully cool track lighting and hanging lamps. There are nice, clean walls that have their award banners from Memphis in May and local, Springfieldian contests. There are flat screen TV's posted on the walls, nice booths, clean tables, and TONS of room. In other words it is "chain friendly". Evidently this chain has now taken over Arkansas completely, and has branched out to Louisiana and New Mexico. This is completely contrary to my notion of an enjoyable BBQ experience. I want to see the same guy who takes my order and his friend who works the smoker over and over. I want a small, personable, dining room with paper towel dispensers on the table. I want two sauces-regular and spicy. That being pressed into my mind, why did I still enjoy my meal? Why will I go back to a strip mall with a sterile looking kitchen with no smoke coming out the top of the building? Simple-their meat was good. Go check it out. It will be my new joint when I can't make it to Boxcar on N.Grant or the Rib Shack on Chesnut EXPWY.
(3)RD P.
I did not get this place at all. Too expensive, portions way too small, and the quality is not on the level with most barbecue chain restaurants. I guess it is possible that my family and I went there for lunch on an off day but there are many other places in this area for excellent barbecue.
(1)Marian Q.
Wanted to like it because a) it's bbq and b) it's local...But it wasn't the best. We got the whole hog buddy pak to go (but didn't get any utensils, napkins, or plates with our order). The actual restaurant was cute, boasting accolades from past wins in BBQ championships and a lot of Missouri pride. The meats: beef & pulled pork The sides: potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and cheesy corn So the food- the meat was dry. You needed to put the bbq sauce on it to make it edible. The sides were plentiful but not really all that great. The only saving grace- the baked beans. It wasn't a bad deal, but the food just wasn't very good. Sorry Whole Hog but I've had better BBQ.
(2)Jeff T.
Have I had better BBQ? Yes. But, this is pretty good depending on what you order. I have never had a bad meal here, but it's nothing to write home about. Their sauce selection is pretty good and as others have said, the cheesy corn is pretty good.
(4)Matt R.
Being from Minnesota I expected a bit better out of a Missouri rib place with so many awards. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything to be excited about, a bit better than Famous Daves maybe.
(3)Mike M.
I come to Springfield once a year on business. I thought I would repeat my dining experiences from last year and come back to The Whole Hog. This time I tried a regular brisket sandwich that came with cole slaw. I also ordered a side of the potato salad and burnt cheesy corn. With a drink and tax the bill came to $12.02. I thought the brisket was very average. Nothing special that you can't get almost anywhere else. I believe rating it a 3 is generous. The potato salad is as good as I have ever had and rate a 5. The burnt cheesy corn is something I could eat as a meal by itself. It is a 5 also (could be almost a 6). I am lowering my overall score from a 4 to a 3. The sides here that I have had are fantastic. The meats are average at best. Last years chicken and this years brisket somewhat disappointed me. How can the sides be so great and the meats so average? I give an overall 3 because your meats have to be better to distinguish yourself from the competition. Oh, and they are still serving the food on those junior high school plates...:(
(3)Maretchel J.
Was not impressed with the BBQ at all! Meat was dry needing a lot of sauce. Potato salad was ok and also ordered the cheeses corn with burnt ends (nothing too spectacular) their baked beans was probably the best thing we ordered but even that was ok.
(1)Karen Z.
Friends suggested BBQ. Cheesy corn was good. I had 3 meat dinner. Sausage was warm at best. Pork and beef were good. Potato salad was good too. Hubby had 3 meats with beef, sausage, & loin. Sausage was not hot. Beef and loin were good. He got potatoes with cheese sauce. Just okay. He liked cheesy corn. Will go again. Ribs looked good. Try them next time.
(3)Dave S.
This is the best barbecue place in Springfield, by far. I don't get some of the extremely negative reviews on here, because we've been here a hundred times and always had great food. The sides are EXCELLENT and add to the overall appeal of this place. Also, they have some unusual sauces, my favorite is the mustard-y one. (#6?) We are very selective with where we go out to eat and this place definitely makes the cut.
(5)Sukki J.
The heavens opened up at the end of Day 1 of our road trip...literally and figuratively. After a 11 hour drive that started in foggy, cold Northern Michigan, it only seemed right that the sun came out and we had our first stay-over in Springfield MO across the street from WHOLE HOG. Sunday night, what's open, where to go? WHOLE HOG FOR US. BEST DECISION EVER. I think it was the best BBQ joint I have ever tried. I may have been to a lot of BBQ places but I consider myself a great maker of pulled pork and a #1 pork lover. I had the 2 meat platter with Beef Brisket and Pulled Pork, corn and green bean sides. My son got the ribs. Everything from the sauces to the buns were amazing. I think I ate every morsel on my plate and I'm not a big girl. Moist, tender, delicious and tasty. It was the best holiday experience of the season so far because my tummy was happy and we had carolers serenade us from a local church. Sorry I don't have one at home but I'll find my way back one day.
(5)Jon B.
One big disappointment. I visit bbq joints all over the country, and this one is just below average, at best. The ribs can be matched by going to Applebee's. Not that I like Applebee's so much, but I know what good bbq ribs are. Not these roasted, grilled and sauce-coated baby backs. Nope, I could do this at home without a smoker. And the brisket. This is not a good quality meat. And not smoked brisket. It was tight-grained, no smoke ring, and had to be served in a bowl with some kind of watery substance to keep it "moist". Serious bbq people- don't go. What real bbq joint needs to serve 6 different sauces? Great bbq doesn't even need ONE sauce. And I don't understand all the trophies. Where'd those come from?
(1)Steven B.
Petty good BBQ for Springfield MO. The brisket is sliced extremely thin like a deli. If you go here, go for the pig not the beef.
(3)Alan C.
The meat was some of the best in Springfield. Between those in my party we had the chicken, pulled pork, and the sausage. All were cooked to perfection. They have a burnt ends cheesy corn which is very good in comparison to Springfield competitors. The coleslaw was ok. The only negative thing really is their ordering process. It is disorganized and the cashier doesn't really help you. For instance, "Glasses are left of the coke machine." There were actually no glasses there. Eventually a dishwasher brought some out and put them there. It just seemed like mass confusion for several patrons. If they could work on their customer service they could be 5 stars as they are one of the best in Springfield. Its not as good as the places in Kansas City or Memphis but it is a good substitute.
(4)Jessica G.
Wish I could do 3.5 stars. It's kind of hit or miss, which day you go. Burnt ends are always good. I got chicken last time was 85% fat but has been good before.
(3)Tom F.
If you have read any of my other reviews, you should know that I have three big food loves - vietnamese, brewpubs, and barbecue. I have visited barbecue restaurants all over the country. South Carolina, Georgia, Memphis, Kentucky, Houston, Dallas, St Louis and KC. I have given this place a couple tries now, and have to say, I am not impressed. First off, there was a pretty long line when I got here. Now normally, this would be a good thing with a barbecue place. However, in this case, it was because most of the customers had apparently never seen the 100+ flavor Coke dispensing fountain before, and could not get the drinks they were trying to get out of it, resulting in a major backup in front of the ordering area. Normally, I wouldn't hold that against the restaurant, but the staff made absolutely no attempt to help out and show people how to get their drinks. There were literally more than a dozen people standing there, watching one person after another failing to comprehend how to pick out a drink, and all ending up with the same grape Dasani water the last guy had got. Pretty sad. It was rib night, so I went with the half rack of ribs dinner which comes with two sides and toast. The ribs were overcooked, really dry. So much so that if you tried to cut one rib off the rack, the meat from 2 - 3 ribs came off with it. The potato salad was a sour cream based type I haven't really seen elsewhere. It was decent, but not really my cup of tea. The beans seemed to be just a can of Van de Camps with a couple strands of pork or brisket - not even big enough to determine which they were. Maybe the one on the north side of town is better, but I will not be returning to this establishment.
(2).angie H.
After eating here I questioned all the trophies and awards for "award winning" bbq. It was just okay. Meat was a little dry, potatoe salad was decent, cheesy corn was okay, and the ribs were alright but nothing I'd give an award out for. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad...it just wasn't great.
(3)Gretchen P.
The brisket was moist and flavorful. The sauces are varied and tasty. The side dishes, however, are lack luster; ours were served lukewarm. By in large this place was a disappointment. Perhaps I'm spoiled by really good KC barbecue, but this missed the mark in many, many ways.
(2)Mike B.
This place has the best beans I've ever had! The ribs are good, but the pulled pork and brisket were average. But for the price, I would say this place is great! I would come back just for the beans. No regrets about stopping her, that's for sure!
(4)Ashley K.
Best BBQ on Springfield! I have tried a few places and this one beats them hands down. We usually get the ribs or pulled pork special. Soooo good! All their sides are good, but the Potato salad is the best I have ever had. Plus they have a good BBQ sauce selection. Yum!
(5)David T.
While Hog Cafe is okay. The positive is the excellent side dishes. The potato salad and corn dishes were absolutely amazing. Those items deserve every award. I'm more skeptic about the meats. The brisket seemed corned beef, which is fine, but the seasonings seem to cover up all the natural beef flavor that makes award winning barbecue award winning. I paid for the bigger portion plate and received the same amount of meat as she did but I did get bigger sides. Buckinghams around the corner i place in a level above, but if someone wants to go to whole hog then feel free to tag along.
(4)Chris M.
Taste like BBQ from a tub. Got a special there that I believe was the various left over meats from the previous day chopped up and mixed together with BBQ sauce. Couldn't finish the meal.
(1)Jay B.
This place is great! I spend a lot of time in Kansas City so I wasn't expecting this place to be as good or better! Ribs were too notch! Service is great, and prices are very reasonable!
(5)Shane A.
Whole hog is one of if not the BEST BBQ joints in Springfield. The cheesy corn, and potato salad are to die for. Not to mention it's about the only place to get southern style sauce. The mustard sauce is amazing, and their prices are reasonable.
(5)Elana L.
Seriously the BEST pulled pork I've ever had! Although, I must note, that we went here two times in a week and one day it was super moist pork and the second time, it was much drier. They have 6 different BBQ sauces to try! That makes it fun! Their home fries, aka fried potato chunks are very good as are their rolls! You have your choice of beers and over 100 different soda flavors from their 'create your own' coke machine! That is fun, in itself! It is also fun to look at all their trophies from all the BBQ contests they have been in! I have to say, of all the places in town, this is definitely the best!
(5)David Z.
Everybody has their story. Mine is very positive.$6.99 for the lunch special at 7:30 p.m. Such a deal.Excellent pulled pork with slaw and two sides (great beans and a side salad.) The pork was among the best I've eaten and for $6.99 there was nothing to complain about. The other prices are also reasonable (one half chicken with two sides for $7.99, for example.) Definitely a winner!
(4)Camelia E.
100% deliciousness!!! I'm from Arkansas and we have several of these!! I was so happy when I saw this!! Everything was delicious and I recommend you come here if you're looking for some good, no, great BBQ!
(5)J L.
I started eating at the Whole Hog Cafe during my travels to Arkansas and I'm glad they have a location that I can stop in when in the Springfield area. I like that they serve the bbq dry and let the flavor of their meat stand for itself, with the option to dip their BBQ in one of 6 different sauces. I hate when BBQ places try to mask their lack of flavor by soaking the meat in sauce. Not at Whole Hog Cafe! Great tasting BBQ!
(5)Vic H.
My family and I ate here a couple weeks a go. Not impressed. All food was slightly warmer than room temp. Cheese corn was like it came from the bottom of the pot. Cost of food was a bit high to boot. Might try again in the future to see if this all was a fluke, but will be a while.
(1)Mister K.
Brisket was pretty good here. The ribs were outstanding and chicken was good. The pulled pork was pretty lacking though and not very tasty. Tree variety of sauces was pretty interesting.
(4)Miles G.
I am very familiar with Whole Hog Cafe in other cities and thoroughly enjoy their food. This was the first time at the Springfield, MO cafe, and I found that the food just wasn't up to par. The pulled pork was dry, chewy, and very stringy, with long strings that made it difficult to eat on a sandwich. I had to resort to a knife and fork to eat my sandwich. The meat didn't have its usual smoked flavor and required me to drench it in sauce to get some flavor onto the meat. Not the Whole Hog experience I was expecting.
(1)Sherry L.
How good is Whole Hog Cafe? Good enough for me to consider relocating to Springfield, MO. As long as I am guaranteed a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a fourth meal everyday. The exterior of the Cafe is unassuming, but the interior is nicely decorated and dimly-lit like a pub. There is ample seating within, although they offer speedy takeout service as well (if sitting in front of your computer devouring protein and carbs is more your thing). (: Everything on the menu sounded appetizing, which made it extremely difficult to narrow down my sandwich and side of choice. The 5 sauce options didn't help by exponentially increasing the number of different combinations either... I ended up going with the regular pulled pork sandwich (the regular is so filling already I can't even imagine how big the jumbo size is) with sauce option 1 and a side salad (to negate my guilty conscience). 100% delicious and totally hit the spot. They missed my coleslaw (boo!), but I'm not a huge fan of it anyway so I won't hold it against them. ...I don't know if the pulled pork has satisfied my craving or brought on a whole new one...but I hope to be back soon!
(5)Ashley A.
Yum yum yum yum YUM!!!! Best beef brisket I've ever experienced in my life. It literally melts in your mouth and there is not a bad sauce option although the evil twin is great if you love spicy sauce. I also got the potato salad, which was sooooo good, along with the burnt end cheesy corn, which was also surprisingly delicious. The only let down about the whole meal was the roll. It kind of just tasted store bought. But who cares about the roll anyway when everything else is so good!? My friend ordered the coleslaw with her meal and she loved it, just the right amount of fresh and crunchy ingredients. I'm so sad I don't live anywhere near the Midwest or I would come here at least once a week.
(5)John M.
This place has the best potato salad I've ever had...EVER! The pulled pork and burnt ends are delicious. They have a great selection of sides including Burt end cheesy corn. It's amazing. Also, try the potato salad. They have a selection of six different sauces on the table for you to choose from. All of them are good, but number 3 and 4 are my favorites.
(5)Sanford B.
Traveling from Texas to MI and stopped for what I hoped was good barbecue ribs. Disappointed to find only Baby Backs in MO. Quality of seven bone half slab was terrible. Very little meat with lots of bone showing. Overdone and dry. Wife's pulled pork sandwich although plentiful was also dry. We should have refused the order and requested a proper serving or a refund. Very disappointed
(1)Abigail W.
Great BBQ even better potato salad! Sad to see not full service. Staff was EXTREMELY slow at clearing and busing tables. It took a second with full hands to find a clean table.
(3)Michael T.
Hit or miss on the pulled pork. Sometimes it's spot on great, other times it's just average. Really good for the most part.
(4)J Bruce A.
Not just another barbecue joint. I had the pulled pork with slaw sandwich and a side of potato salad. The sandwich was large and tasty. The potato salad was the best that I have found. Far better than the potato salad from WalMart that people try to bring to parties.
(4)Vicky S.
this was excellent bbq very fast service and extremely clean. a must go back and eat. would highly recommend. located very close to bass pro. the ribs were to die for and so very tender
(5)Laura G.
I drool over the brisket. OH.MY.GOSH. Superb!! Love the potato salad. Love the cheesy corn. Love the atmosphere. My husband loves the pulled pork, the ribs, and the pulled rib sandwich Friday special. Sauces are pretty good, but honestly, eating the meat alone is quite delicious! It's a dangerous thing living in walking distance to this place! I always leave feeling happy and full. Did I mention the quick service, too?? Great fast service!
(5)Tim P.
My wife and I both ordered 3 meat combos, the brisket was delicious and moist, no sauce needed, same for the sausage. The chicken was OK, but the pulled pork was dry and tasteless, it did absorb a lot of the excellent sauces though. The burnt ends cheesy corn was outstanding but the coleslaw was nothing special. I would be a repeat customer if I lived here, but we were just passing through.
(4)Slim D.
It takes going to KC for me to find better barbecue. The brisket and pulled pork are almost impossible to choose between and the baked beans and smoked green beans are definitely my favorite sides. And for sauce you're all set no matter what you like since there's six options at the table and one more at the counter. I also really like the layout, it's spacious and has separate areas if you want to have a quiet lunch or dinner. It's great for eating in, and for buying in bulk for parties. There's never any left if you let people stay over long enough!
(5)Erick H.
Every time I come to Springfield I try a different BBQ place. This is by far the best I have had here. Love all of the trophies in the windows, because they were well earned, and the Memphis in May trophies are awesome. Now to the food. Rack of ribs was amazing. True competition style ribs. The pulled pork and chicken were tasty, tender, and just the right smokiness. The sides are great, too. Slaw was perfect, beans were descent, and the potato salad was creamy and delicious. I will be back.
(5)Teneka H.
I enjoy Whole Hog quite a bit. It's a huge building that never seems to have more than a couple tables filled, which I think is funny. My favorite is the baked potato with pulled pork, but if you go later at night, they have been known to run out of potatoes. Why they don't run up to Price Cutter and buy a couple spares, I don't know. I am a dipper, so I enjoy the fact that there are six sauces on the table to try, but you have to ask for the spicy volcano sauce at the counter. Also, If you get bbq sauce to go, they charge you for it... I am also a fan of the 'burnt end cheesy corn,' which doesn't have any burnt ends in it and tastes like cream cheese and frozen corn...but I like it anyway. :) The brisket has been cooked differently every time I have ordered it, which is funny for a chain restaurant. Makes me wonder if they stole all the trophies that they showcase in the windows.
(4)Sharon C.
Whole Hog BBQ is the only place we think of when we are hungry for BBQ..We have tried several menu items and LOVE them all.
(5)Cheri M.
Stopped in on our way through Missouri. What an amazing meal! We had so much meat leftover from a sample platter and 2 meat dinner that we bought extra sides and we can't wait for left-overs tomorrow!
(5)Amy G.
Honestly, This is the best barbeque in Springfield, in my opinion. Everything I've had there is amazing. They have a nice room that can be used for large groups/parties/extra seating. The prices are really good for what you get. One thing we commented on are the perfect portions. They don't give you too much food or too little. Just the perfect amount. I would say the only thing lacking is a good eating atmosphere. The whole building feels sterile and unwelcoming to me. They attempt to decorate strictly with trophies, cute and good for them, but it's not the gritty, down home, smoky, blues blaring barbeque joint type of atmosphere you usually expect. . It almost feels like a chain because of the lack of personality in the space. But seriously, once you taste the food, you won't care. It's awesome. Eat there. You won't be sorry.
(5)Jordan Z.
Ah, I just found out that this place is a chain. What did I expect in Springfield? Oh well, it was delicious! They even have 6 types of BBQ sauce! The space is large and comfortable with fast and friendly service. I was most impressed with the brisket (juicy and flavorful), the chicken (brined to perfection), and the potato salad (I'm almost certain it contains bacon). The pulled pork was rather dry and bland. Luckily, I had 6 types of sauce to test on it. Minus the pulled pork, I had an excellent lunch here. Then I decided to stop by the bathroom on the way out. 1 single person bathroom per gender with a line 3 deep. Not the greatest design for a space that likely seats 200+. I guess I'll just hold it next time.
(4)Tony B.
Good meats, really good sides. I always get the Whole Hog Platter: ribs, pulled pork, brisket, three sides, and a roll. It's basically two meals. Ribs fall off the bone; pork is tender and tasty; brisket is moist and sports the tell-tail red line along the edges. The baked beans with hunks of meat are awesome. The new green beans, also with hunks of meat, are awesome too. The potato salad is freakishly delicious, seriously the best I've ever had. Oh and everyone will love at least one of the six sauces at each big private booth. All things considered, this is my favorite BBQ place in town.
(4)Amber S.
Hands down the best BBQ place in Springfield, MO. I love everything I've tried here. The brisket practically melts in your mouth. All the sides are delicious. The portions are generous, and the service is great! Nice and fast, and they leave you in peace to devour your meal. 6 sauces at the table, all of which are great. Just TRY to pick a favorite! Lots of seating, and lots of good blues playing on the speakers. They have that sweet Freestyle Coke machine which is so fun to play around with. Pop is great, but their sweet tea is the best I've ever had. I really can't say enough about how great this place is. Give it a try, you won't regret it! PS: BBQ Nachos FTW. That is all.
(5)Erin M.
Great service, AMAZING corn and potato salad!! The meats are good, I enjoy their sauces. I would give a 5 star just for the sides, but I knocked it down to 4 because the meat is not as good as the sides. My husband is in love with this place though. So I would definitely give it a try.
(4)Nathan L.
This was the best BBQ I had during my stay in the area. I tried 3 other local spots and this was by far the best. I had a full rack, the mixed up corn stuff and potato salad and it was all very good. Maybe what I really liked the most was the choice in sauces. I know a lot of people think good BBQ is supposed to be good without a layer of sauce but I like my sweet and tangy sauce on my ribs and they had a couple really good ones to choose from. If you are in the area this is the place to get ribs.
(5)Mark K.
I loved everything about this place, I tried just about all the meat they had, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, sausage, everything was really good. That is until they've recently changed the sausage, this new kind they use is horrible, tastes like a spicy cheap version of breakfast sausage with no bbq appeal whatsoever. Wish they'd go back to the other sausage they had then I'd give them 4 stars. My friends and family agree we will NOT be ordering the "new sausage" anymore but everything else is fine.
(3)Elaine A.
We try barbecue places all over the country and this place is hands down the best ever!! Absolutely love the burnt end cheesy corn
(5)Sadie E.
The cheesy corn with burnt ends side is 100% genius. The potato salad is TO. DIE. FOR. The only BBQ you need in Springfield.
(4)Mike D.
Pulled pork is the meat that any good bbq place is judged for. That being said Whole Hogs Pulled pork was very dry and lacked flavor. You have to cover it in sause to even make it edible. The brisket is pretty good and the sausage is ok. Overall just another boring bbq place that doesn't stand out at all. Only good thing about this place is the Cheesy Burnt Ends Corn.
(2)BJ L.
This place uses pecan wood for their smoking, and it makes such a difference. I got a whole hog platter that consisted of brisket, ribs, and pulled pork..... I wanted to eat 3 more of them, but that wasn't a good idea. They accommodated our large party rather well (They have a room you can reserve that will seat a literal boat load, like warship size). The prices were great, and they have one of those fancy soda machines with a jazillion different flavor options. Go here.
(4)Dan M.
This place is pretty legit. Good ribs. Delicious sides. Friendly employees and a decent atmosphere for a BBQ joint. Prices seem just a tiny bit steep. I'm not blown away, but overall I'm impressed.
(4)Lee P.
Another surprisingly good BBQ joint in MO for a jaded BBQ snob. The ribs are the reason to come here. I tried the whole hog platter to hedge my bets in case the ribs were bad. Every other meat was good but not great. The ribs, however, had excellent texture with a solid, smokey flavor and were cooked just right. With 6 different sauces everyone should be able to find at least one they like. I especially enjoyed the burnt ends cheesy corn, which sounded bad but tasted delicious. My friend really liked the potato salad but I thought it was just OK. Bottom line: when you're feelin' for ribs, The Whole Hog does the business.
(4)Martin G.
Nice place but you have to stand in line to order and pick up your food. I am not eating at a restaurant that wont wait on you. This hurts their business badly. Is that better?
(2)Chris W.
Had lunch here recently while on a business trip. I would've given them 4 stars on the smell from the parking lot. Impressive number of bbq competition trophies and awards crowd the front windows. I was anticipating some excellent q and I got it. Had a pulled pork sammie with slaw. It was excellent. Also had baked home fries (so-so) and a side salad (also so-so) The sauce selection on the table was great. The service was friendly and quick. Located on the corner of a strip mall, this an unusual setting for championship bbq. Nevertheless, well worth the visit.
(4)Travis B.
The sauce, oh the sauce. The brisket was tasty and the sausage was flavorful but the best thing far and away was the variety of sauces they had. For those of us who like it tangy and spicy they have it covered with #3. For those of you out there who like it sweet and smooth the have the molasses sauce. The beans were ok but the cheesy corn....yes you read correctly, cheesy corn, was tasty as all get out. I will be going back here again. My only complaint was that they do not have a 2 meat or 3 meat combo for a single person. They only have larger portions for groups.
(4)Tim M.
First time here - ribs are excellent and have a great smoky flavor and they are the kind that snap off the bone instead of fall off (so if you're a fall off the bone kinda rib person, these may not be your fave - but if you're about the FLAVE - then you'll be quite happy). Try the cheesy brisket corn and tater salad to go with!
(4)Kassidy P.
I got the pulled pork plate which comes with two sides (I chose the potato salad and the baked beans) and my boyfriend got the brisket (with burnt ends cheesy corn and baked beans.) Both meats were really good, our favorite being the pulled pork. Like some other reviews have mentioned, the brisket WAS really salty but after you add some sauce (6 options available at the table) then it wasnt so bad. The sides were actually the best part, IMO. The baked beans were your average, nothing special really but the cheesy corn w/ chunks of meat in it was oh so good and I loved the potato salad. It was more of a German style (sans the mustard) with sliced potatos. It wasn't a cheap lunch (over $20) but I would say that it was for sure worth it. We'll be back...
(4)Shannon O.
Out of all the barbeque places we have tried, this is by far the best one. The service was fast and friendly.The pricing was just like any other good barbeque joint. The food was delicious, not a single complaint. Although the food could have been a little bit hotter once we got it, still not that bad at all! Whenever im in the mood for the some yummy barbeque im going here!! They have plenty of different sauces to choose from as well!!
(4)Craig B.
The brisket was ok a little dry for my taste. I don't like to rely on sauce to provide taste for my bbq.
(3)Ryan C.
I think this is one of the best BBQ restaurants in Springfield. I actually asked about restaurant and it is really Mephis style BBQ straight from our neighbors in little rock not Kansas city that would be hog wild. If you like spicy try the volcano sauce. Whooooo, it's got kick everyone should try at least once but you'll be back! Don't be decieved it might look like no one is in there but the place is huge! Great place, design of restuarant and BBQ. Give it a try and yelp what you think. I love it!
(5)Josh B.
Terrible service. I feel like im being quizzed everytime i come here but the food entirely makes up for that. Amazing tender brisker. And so many sauce choices. Always amazing food
(4)Aron C.
I've only had the ribs there, but they were some of the best I have ever had.
(5)David L.
Great BBQ. They offer a nice variety of sauces but manage to keep the BBQ both well smoked and moist. The pulled pork was better than the brisket but both were very good. Also, the addition of sour cream to the potato salad is a nice touch.
(5)C M.
Very good BBQ. Try all the sauces at teh table, they are all home made and can't miss. The pulled pork is the tastiest. Prices are good, staff is friendly and helpful. Decor is new, so no issues there.
(4)Doug R.
I noticed this place last night as I was making a rare trip on the main roads of Springfield at 5pm. It sits across the street from Bass Pro and is literally next door to McAllister's. I decided to try it out of curiosity more than anything, because I was a tad leery of its shiny new sign and strip mall exterior (more on this later). Right when you open the door you are hit with a strong, smokey smell, just like any good bar-b-que place. You then come to a big-ass menu with a dizzying array of choices for your meal; smoked chicken, pork tenderloin, ribs, and of course brisket and pork, then a whole load of sides-conspicuously absent are onion rings and fries-Seriously! WTF?? However, all are reasonably priced with sandwiches ranging from $5-$8 with the latter price being for a jumbo sandwich (which I only suggest if you are returning from being stranded upon a desert island for years). Our food: I went for the smoked pork tenderloin, "tossed salad", and baked beans. My friends grabbed a pork sammy, potato salad and a short, 4 rib plate. My tenderloin had a nice, subtle, smokey flavor and had a good pepper rub, but was a tad bit dry. *a quick note on the sandwiches-all come dry and "Wherever area we are in-Style", which means fucking coleslaw on top-an abomination! So be forewarned. Anyways, the pork is quite typical, but my friend did get a nice bit of bone in his, which I did not find out about until I tried to eat it, mistaking it for a piece of burnt end-it was a sad, sad moment. They have 6 different sauces at the table for your sandwiches. The flavor profiles are split between Tangy and Spicy, and Sweet and Molasses-all are pretty good. My friends ribs came sauced with one of the sweet/molasses sauces and had a lovely, bright pink, smokey look; unfortunately I did not try them, but they are from Kansas City and enjoyed the ribs if that means anything. I did see a brisket sammy while I was ordering that almost swayed me to get it, as it comes in long thing slices that show a lovely smoke ring. Next time. I have to talk about the decor now. This place is really clean and nice looking. Too nice looking in fact. Their color scheme comes straight from Gates BBQ in KC, being dark read and black. There is wonderfully cool track lighting and hanging lamps. There are nice, clean walls that have their award banners from Memphis in May and local, Springfieldian contests. There are flat screen TV's posted on the walls, nice booths, clean tables, and TONS of room. In other words it is "chain friendly". Evidently this chain has now taken over Arkansas completely, and has branched out to Louisiana and New Mexico. This is completely contrary to my notion of an enjoyable BBQ experience. I want to see the same guy who takes my order and his friend who works the smoker over and over. I want a small, personable, dining room with paper towel dispensers on the table. I want two sauces-regular and spicy. That being pressed into my mind, why did I still enjoy my meal? Why will I go back to a strip mall with a sterile looking kitchen with no smoke coming out the top of the building? Simple-their meat was good. Go check it out. It will be my new joint when I can't make it to Boxcar on N.Grant or the Rib Shack on Chesnut EXPWY.
(3)RD P.
I did not get this place at all. Too expensive, portions way too small, and the quality is not on the level with most barbecue chain restaurants. I guess it is possible that my family and I went there for lunch on an off day but there are many other places in this area for excellent barbecue.
(1)Lee P.
Another surprisingly good BBQ joint in MO for a jaded BBQ snob. The ribs are the reason to come here. I tried the whole hog platter to hedge my bets in case the ribs were bad. Every other meat was good but not great. The ribs, however, had excellent texture with a solid, smokey flavor and were cooked just right. With 6 different sauces everyone should be able to find at least one they like. I especially enjoyed the burnt ends cheesy corn, which sounded bad but tasted delicious. My friend really liked the potato salad but I thought it was just OK. Bottom line: when you're feelin' for ribs, The Whole Hog does the business.
(4)Martin G.
Nice place but you have to stand in line to order and pick up your food. I am not eating at a restaurant that wont wait on you. This hurts their business badly. Is that better?
(2)Chris W.
Had lunch here recently while on a business trip. I would've given them 4 stars on the smell from the parking lot. Impressive number of bbq competition trophies and awards crowd the front windows. I was anticipating some excellent q and I got it. Had a pulled pork sammie with slaw. It was excellent. Also had baked home fries (so-so) and a side salad (also so-so) The sauce selection on the table was great. The service was friendly and quick. Located on the corner of a strip mall, this an unusual setting for championship bbq. Nevertheless, well worth the visit.
(4)Travis B.
The sauce, oh the sauce. The brisket was tasty and the sausage was flavorful but the best thing far and away was the variety of sauces they had. For those of us who like it tangy and spicy they have it covered with #3. For those of you out there who like it sweet and smooth the have the molasses sauce. The beans were ok but the cheesy corn....yes you read correctly, cheesy corn, was tasty as all get out. I will be going back here again. My only complaint was that they do not have a 2 meat or 3 meat combo for a single person. They only have larger portions for groups.
(4)Tim M.
First time here - ribs are excellent and have a great smoky flavor and they are the kind that snap off the bone instead of fall off (so if you're a fall off the bone kinda rib person, these may not be your fave - but if you're about the FLAVE - then you'll be quite happy). Try the cheesy brisket corn and tater salad to go with!
(4)Kassidy P.
I got the pulled pork plate which comes with two sides (I chose the potato salad and the baked beans) and my boyfriend got the brisket (with burnt ends cheesy corn and baked beans.) Both meats were really good, our favorite being the pulled pork. Like some other reviews have mentioned, the brisket WAS really salty but after you add some sauce (6 options available at the table) then it wasnt so bad. The sides were actually the best part, IMO. The baked beans were your average, nothing special really but the cheesy corn w/ chunks of meat in it was oh so good and I loved the potato salad. It was more of a German style (sans the mustard) with sliced potatos. It wasn't a cheap lunch (over $20) but I would say that it was for sure worth it. We'll be back...
(4)Shannon O.
Out of all the barbeque places we have tried, this is by far the best one. The service was fast and friendly.The pricing was just like any other good barbeque joint. The food was delicious, not a single complaint. Although the food could have been a little bit hotter once we got it, still not that bad at all! Whenever im in the mood for the some yummy barbeque im going here!! They have plenty of different sauces to choose from as well!!
(4)Craig B.
The brisket was ok a little dry for my taste. I don't like to rely on sauce to provide taste for my bbq.
(3)