BBQ ASAP

Went in expecting to get a plate with everything and was told they were out of 3 of the meats. I get they only smoke what they think they’ll need, but to run out at 6 in the evening seems a bit odd.
What I did have was just OK, I have much better options close to me in the western suburbs of Denver.

Why a 3 star? Well, to be honest it hasn’t been a three star any of the 6 times we have been there… three times it was a 5 star and three times a 1 star. It is a gamble that pays off 50% of the time. It has been over a year since we went there… since I am not a gambler, not sure if I will stop by again.

love their burnt ends, ribs, beans and the best corn soufflé!

A family owned establishment and great place to go for BBQ. There’s ample seating inside and also tables outside for those looking to enjoy the weather as they dine.
Real friendly atmosphere and the owner Jim was definitely fun to chat with about the whole process they go through with their BBQ preparation.
I ended up ordering their combo of brisket, burnt ends with baked beans, and potato salad. The portions were generous and very filling. I’m sure if someone is accustomed to eating a meal big enough to feed a family for a week these portions would be considered «small.»
The burnt ends were something I’ve never tried before and they were new to me. The meat was tender, moist, and flavorful. The brisket was also tender and had a real nice flavor. I enjoyed the different sauces they had to accompany their bbq. I think my favorite was the spicy and sweet sauce.
Their baked beans had bits of brisket in them and were smothered in rich sauce. The potato salad was tasty and both sides were a nice accompanyment to their bbq. I ended up finishing the meal with one of their chocolate chip cookies and was pretty stuffed.
If you’re looking for a great place to grab bbq, with great service, friendly atmosphere, and great prices definitely stop by asap.

I am a Kcbs master BBQ judge. I am so sorry that this place has lost it, if they ever had it. I have tried all their offerings and the grade was failing. Sides like cafeteria food. Meat was tasteless and can’t be called BBQ. They don’t know how to cook for the public. Try Arby’s it a lot better.

So far below the level of good bbq available now in the St. Louis area I won’t waste your time or mine with a review. Just DONT GO HERE! Find a Sugarfire near you or go to Pappy’s.

I liked the food, especially the sides which seemed to be made with care instead of treated like an afterthought. Nonetheless, I’ve only been here once. I came away thinking the portions are on the small side and it wasn’t a great value. If Sugarfire was located here instead I would have lost track of the number of times I’ve gone because it’s such a better value. Their vibe is also a lot better. Come on ASAP. You cats ain’t cool enough to compete on ambiance but your BBQ is good. Just kick up the value ratio and you’ll make a lot of people happy.

Can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this place since it morphed out of the old Mr. Harry’s Carnival Foods (BTW, I still miss the Sno Cones). This is our go to place for we’re-too-lazy-to-cook-but-don’t-want-to-eat-crap take out. The staff can be a little… casual…but the food is good, and that’s what matters to me. There’s nothing special about eating there, but we have. Mostly, we just get it to go. My toddler does appreciate the shelves of toys while we wait to order or if we decide to stay.
I can vouch for the turkey, pulled pork, pastrami, and brisket (though probably my least fave of the 4), and my husband is a fan of the burnt ends. The mac and cheese is ooey gooey cheesy goodness, but my go to side (in an attempt to behave myself) is the green beans. I also like the vinegar-​y slaw, which I tend to be picky about. If you’re a Ballwin resident and have your key fob, you can get 10% off your order!

Great food, great service, excellent hospitality! Thank you guys for accommodating our large group and especially our kids!

The food here is great but the portions are puny and the prices are insane. Doubt I would ever return even though the burnt end sandwich was good because it was tiny. Same for my two sides… BBQ beans and Mac and Cheese

This place has the worst bbq I’ve had in St. Louis, and that’s saying something, because I’ve lived here since 1997 (and we have the «B – s» chain for comparison).
We had burnt ends, ribs and brisket. The reviews lovin’ their burnt ends are either fake, or ignorant. Real brisket burnt ends are like a cross between brisket and bacon — somethat makes you want to cry for joy when you eat it, not crock-​pot beef cubes swimming in nasty braising liquid. Gross. Ribs were probably old; perhaps would have been passable if fresh. Brisket was relatively tasteless and poorly sliced. Portions were all small for the price.
Crazy thing on top of all that is that our party and one other guy were the only people in the restaurant, and the young blonde girl behind the counter was rude/​curt with us. How on the green earth does that happen when you’re trying to establish a bbq business in the Lou? Ever been to Pappy’s or Sugarfire for lunch? They’re sweetness and light with 150 people jammed out the front door!!!
If I had to guess, this place represents the difference between winning contests (which apparently someone has done — there are trophies there, including one from Memphis in May), and running a successful BBQ restaurant. When they close down, it won’t be a surprise.

I love this place, I’ve been going there since it opened. All the meat is great, my son loves the pulled pork, my wife the turkey and I love the ribs. The sides are great, I’ve been to many BBQ places that the meat is done very well but the sides are average at best. Not here, there is a great selection for everyone. My favorite is the potato salad and warm apple sauce. The corn pudding and baked beans are awesome as well. St Louis has turned into the BBQ place to be, BBQ ASAP is one of the best.

I should preface this review with the disclaimer that I have never actually eaten inside at BBQ ASAP, instead only getting it as take-​out and eating it at home. Therefore, this review is not based on service or such, but instead solely about the food.
First off, the Corn Soufflé dish is absolutely delicious and worth a star in and of itself. The thing is, with the side dishes you seem to get such small portions, making it necessary to order at least double of your sides if you expect to feel satisfied (and that can add up in cost). I’ve had the ribs every occasion I have gone and the sauces are good if not amazing and the ribs are solid.
So yes, tasty sides and good ribs. If you want to earn that extra star, BBQ ASAP, just increase your portions!

I ate here for the first time a few days ago. After driving by numerous times, my boyfriend and I figured we’d give it a try for dinner. I got the chicken sandwich and baked beans. I enjoyed my food, although it was a little greasy. The BBQ beans were sweet; quite tasty! The sandwich was served on a pretzel roll, which was yummy. My combo came with a «large» drink, and when I hear large, I think of at least 32oz. The glass they gave me was no bigger than 16oz and was something you’d find at grandmas house. It was alright, but not for the price we paid-​$ 35 for two people! Way too expensive for what we got.
Behind the counter it was disorganized and messy. I was a little worried about the sanitation of everything (I noticed they used one knife to cut everything). There were also numerous flies inside that wouldn’t leave me alone. My bf stated he wondered how they got a ‘grade A’. The staff was friendly and helpful. Overall, I’d say the food was pretty good (⁴⁄₅) but the atmosphere/​cleanliness was a different story (²⁄₅). If I go again, I think I’ll take my food to go.

My son wanted a burnt ends platter with homemade applesauce and sweet corn pudding.
I got that for him, plus a side of babyback ribs.
My son loved the food, but his biggest complaint is that the portions are so small.
And that’s why I get everything a la carte.
The ribs were incredibly wonderful, tasty and juicy. Very lightly sauced. I ate 5 ribs, and left the rest to my son.
He ate the rest, because the platter didn’t do the job.
Really, BBQ ASAP — step it up!
I know you’ve won a lot of barbeque competitions, but your portion sizes need to applaud the barbeque affection of your patrons.

To much $$$ and supper slow service!
Owner did not mind the slow service as he sat out front talking to some guy drinking Scotch.
Won’t be back!

I finally broke down and decided to get a Unilocal deal so I could visit BBQ ASAP again and I have to admit that this is one deal I wish I would have passed on.
When I arrived I looked over the menu and decided on the BBQ Nirvana Burnt Ends Sandwich, which is served on a pretzel roll. I figured for $ 7.99 this would be a filling lunch so I decided to only go with the One Side Combo for an additional $ 2.50. For my side I picked Mac & Cheese, which in the past was high on my list, however this time it was not as good and to be honest it tasted like it came from a box.
The BBQ Burnt Ends were more or less average, I think the pretzel bun was a really good choice however the meat didnt quite live up to my expectations. What was really disappointing was once I picked up the top part of the pretzel bun, I immediatly thought «where was the rest of my sandwich?» Seriously for $ 8 I expect a little more than what I received. I think they either need to be a little more generous with the burnt ends or adjust the price. I really wanted to like my meal because it has been great in the past but this time was a disappointment. I have to agree with Margo C, paying half price does make a meal seem like a better deal, but it really isn’t.
My meal would have cost $ 10.31 for the small sandwich and a side of Mac & Cheese with a soda, luckily the Unilocal Deal was $ 5.00 for $ 10.00 worth of food so I saved $ 5.00, which brought my overall lunch down to $ 6.31. I would have rather made the drive to SugarFire or even downtown to Pappy’s instead of fighting Manchester traffic at lunch. Call me spoiled, but I am sticking with what I know best.

Bobby a friend of the SO, put a link on his Facebook to BBQ ASAP suggesting them to his friends as a caterer for Super Bowl parties. Seeing the posting, I checked them out here on Unilocal and saw they had a Unilocal Deal and a 4 Star rating. I bought the Unilocal Deal which is $ 5 for $ 10 worth of food and before we knew it, we were getting our vaccination to cross 141 into the county. We then made the pilgrimage out to BBQ ASAP.
I had no idea it was so far out, I’ve got to start paying attention more to the county.
No, seriously I’ve got to start paying attention more to the county, they’ve got some good food out there and BBQ ASAP is a prime example.
We scheduled our arrival to be around 1 PM, to be after the typical lunch rush and it worked perfectly. Having the Unilocal Deal and now making our mid day meal our biggest meal of the day went ordered platters that include two sides. I am a sucker for Burt Ends and the SO loves Ribs, so he got a ½ Rack. What a deal, the portions were huge, I had to struggle to clean my basket.
These Burt Ends were not what I am use to as Burnt Ends. They were large, moist and flavorful cubes. I am use to odd shaped pieces with a crusty shell. These were a nice change, from the norm. My sides totally rocked. The Sweet BBQ Brisket Beans, were better then mom’s. They were a nice blend of brown sugar and molasses giving it a sweet taste and then accented with chunks of brisket blended in. My other side was Mac & Cheese and I was glad to see another BBQ place understands M&C. Theirs is large elbow pasta blended with rich creamy American and Cheddar Cheese. Who needs fancy M&C, when the good old fashion kind is so yummy.
The SO was thrilled with his thick, meaty, fall off the bone ribs. I got to eat two of them and I too was amazed how easily those bones came clean. Normally I order the best sides, but I think this time the SO got the win. They give potato salad a new twist by using baked potatoes. Giving their Creamy Baked Potato Salad an meatier texture. They also use Hellmann’s Mayo and we all know everything taste better with Hellmann’s. What really gave the SO the win on sides was the Sweet Corn Pudding. It may be a pudding, but it is no dessert. It was a warm cornbread casserole with sweet corn on the bottom. Paula Deen would love this dish.
We got to speak to both of the husband and wife team owners and they were very friendly. It’s a far drive, but I think we’ll be making the trek back out for a second helping.

I have been to BBQ ASAP numerous time over the last year. Last night was the tipping point for me, BBQ ASAP is one of the best restaurants in St. Louis (not just BBQ joints but restaurants in general!).
BBQ ASAP is a family owned restaurant in the western reaches of Ballwin on Manchester Rd. The décor of BBQ ASAP is one of the reasons that you can’t lump this place in with normal BBQ joints, the restaurant features: large wall art of their logo, a gleaming glass tile wall, the COOLEST ceiling you have ever seen, ect. The space is the perfect blend of elegance and fun. Family night, date night, week night take out, it doesn’t matter the occasion, BBQ ASAP is the perfect place.
Enough with the chit chat, lets get down to the BBQ at BBQ ASAP. From talking with the owners, apparently they use a smoker that steams the meat at the same time they smoke it to help with the moisture (I believe it, this isn’t the same Q that you get off of most of these commercial BBQ pits). The restaurant is flooded with BBQ contest trophies that were apparently all won using this same type of cooking device. Experience true awarding winning BBQ like this is very rare, and they knock it out of the park at BBQ ASAP! (not to mention the quality of their food is VERY consistent).
And what about the perfectly smoked meats:
Baby Back Ribs — These ribs have a perfect bite and are extremely tender. They feature a great balance of smoke, rub, and sauce. I know some places don’t sauce their ribs because they have nothing to hide… well BBQ ASAP has a flavor profile where the sauce takes these ribs to the next level. These ribs are a must have!
Beef Brisket — BBQ ASAP has won a national championship in beef brisket and I can see why! The brisket is a great combination of smoke, light rub flavor, and natural beefiness. The perfectly balanced flavor combine with the tender texture make this my favorite brisket in town, hands down!
Burn End — The burnt ends I am told come from a special part of the brisket and are little cubes of «BBQ Nirvana» that continue to be smoked long after the rest of the brisket is done cooking. Don’t let the name fool you, theses things are in no way burnt. These burnt ends are the best BBQ item you can find in the city. A beefy, juicy flavor explosion!
Pulled Pork — This pork is actually pulled and is served with a nice light coating of their secrete flavoring rub. The pulled pork is a home run and a nice change from the run of the mill pork that I have been having at other restaurants. I could eat this pork everyday if I had to. The flavor is a great balance of sweet and savory while retaining a good amount of tenderness.
Poultry — BBQ ASAP offers pulled chicken and a smoked turkey breast. The turkey breast is lightly kissed with smoked before being sliced thinly for your enjoyment. The turkey is refreshingly light while still packing a boat load of flavor. The pulled chicken offers a GREAT combination of white and dark meat don’t let is scare you white meat eaters, this chicken rocks)! I was new to pulled chicken before BBQ ASAP, and let me tell you, this is one yard bird that will change your view of chicken. Its amazing how moist this chicken is after being smoked all day!
Side Dishes — All of the side dishes are homemade and BBQ ASAP’s extra effort really shows through in the final product. While their are 2 different kinds of baked beans, the ASAP 5 bean is unlike any bean dish you have every had! You cant go wrong with any of these sides, they are all executed perfectly.
Sandwiches — The 3 «signature» sandwiches I have had at BBQ ASAP have all boarded on being life changing! The sandwiches are a great blend of gourmet while staying true to their smokehouse heritage. The Dip is a beef brisket french dip served with fresh au jus. The ASAP is a combination of brisket, texas hot links, and coleslaw served on a pretzel bun (…best sandwich in St. Louis…). And the Reuben is out of this world featuring house smoked pastrami, kraut, swiss, and house made dressing. All 3 of these sandwiches will make you rethink what BBQ is all about. BBQ ASAP shows that there is more to BBQ than just smoking meat, they place an emphasis on perfectly pairing proteins with ingredients to make sandwiches that are inspirational!
Beverages — BBQ ASAP is now venturing into the world of smoked cocktails and has yet again taken the cuisine of BBQ to the next level! I have been lucky enough to try their smoked lemonade with Jack Daniels. The smoked lemonade (how the heck do they smoke lemonade???) pairs great with the charcoaly flavor of the Jack. This drink is so simple in theory yet has an incredibly complex flavor, WOW! The other new drink is apparently a bloody mary with smoky/​BBQ flavor and rib bone garnish, next trip in this is a must try!
Verdict… You need to try BBQ ASAP, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

We have driven past BBQ ASAP many times and have never stopped. I guess we were a little skeptical of a west county strip mall barbecue place (that used to be called Carnival Foods with a little BBQ sign tacked up). This time we planned Saturday lunch armed with a Today’s Deal coupon. They open at 11:00 am and I noted that they are also open on Sunday, which is good to know. We arrived about 11:15 am and they really were not ready for customers. It was like they also had just arrived. I guess they were working on some catering jobs. We placed our order at the counter. We ordered plenty of food so we could try at least three meats; pulled pork, ribs and brisket (and one chili dog).
The ribs were excellent, very tender, but not cooked to mush. There was no evidence of braising or long oven finishing. They were pleasantly smoky and moist and were finished with a light coating of sweet sauce. I forgot to ask for them without sauce. I really liked them but would have preferred dry rub with no sauce. If they are rubbed, it is very light. Still these were very good ribs, very purist, except for the addition of the sweet sauce. I would choose them over Pappy’s for purest flavor. Pappy’s being over herbed, ASAP being under rubbed. I feel they were better than 17^th Street. 17^th Street seemed to be oven finished.
Brisket was next. This was also good, reasonably smoky and not dry. The serving on the platter was large and I took more than half home. It also needs a little more rub. It was not devoid of salt, but still needed a little something else on the outside. All in all though, this is also pure and clean brisket. Mainly it is cooked tender, not underdone but not dried out. I need to do a side by side comparo with PM. Based on recollection, I would say PM would get the nod, but not by much. I think PM is a little better seasoned, but both are properly cooked.
The pulled pork was the disappointment. It really had very little flavor. It was just flat and sort of mushy. I don’t want to be over critical, but it reminded me of crock pot pork with a mediocre sauce. Ms T agreed and she usually likes almost any pulled pork no matter what. In comparison, PM’s pulled pork is dramatically better. I also would not put barbecue on a pretzel roll. It just ain’t right.
Sides — Potato salad is mild and creamy, not over sweetened. I’d rather not have the raw onion, but this is good despite that. The slaw has light vinegar and oil dressing, slightly sweet and really a nice change from the heavy, over sweet creamy version. Toss it up a bit to be sure the dressing is not all in the bottom. We tried both kinds of beans. The basic barbecue beans are quite sweet and a pretty standard recipe, but good for the style. The five bean bake is tangier with tomato and sweet peppers. It is also good. I am not a big fan of a lot of onion cooked into the beans and these had plenty. These are quite acceptable sides.
I had to try a chili dog. Actually it was the chili cheese dog with no cheese. I just wanted to try the chili sauce. The dogs are Nathan’s and are very good. I like to find places that make their own chili sauce for chili dogs. I’m pretty sure this is a commercial canned sauce. It was very strong cumin and had that mouth feel of canned. I could be wrong and if they are making it themselves, I apologize, but that is how it comes out. It is not bad but not great, a little harsh. At least they are not putting bowl and spoon chili with beans on the dogs. Despite that, I could see getting one again. I like chili dogs and Nathan’s franks are good.
BBQ ASAP was a surprise to me. They know what they are doing on the ribs and brisket. The sides are decent. There is a fair amount of wannabe barbecue around but this is worth trying.