Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack

Why go: Boss Hogg’s rubs or sauces its pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and half chickens by hand and smokes every bit of it on site, and it does so on a stretch of Wears Valley Road far enough off the Parkway that you can usually get a table without a wait.

About Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack

Boss Hogg’s is a small, locally owned barbecue room on Wears Valley Road, west of the Parkway and outside the stretch of Pigeon Forge that fills with traffic every evening. Everything smoked comes off the pit on site: pulled pork, pork ribs, beef brisket, smoked sausage, and half chickens, hand rubbed or hand sauced rather than run through a system.

The menu goes further than most barbecue joints in town. Alongside the smoked meats you will find chicken and dumplings, country fried steak, a catfish dinner, and a smash burger, which makes it a workable stop for a group where not everyone wants brisket. Sandwiches and plates come with two sides and a pickle, and the sides run to baked beans, collard greens, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, and fries.

The room itself is unfussy, with indoor tables and a covered outdoor seating area that roughly doubles the space when the weather is good. The restaurant also runs catering and books private parties directly.

Getting to Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack

Boss Hogg’s is at 1198 Wears Valley Road, on the road that leaves the Parkway near the south end of Pigeon Forge and climbs west toward Wears Valley and Townsend. That places it past the busiest part of the strip, so the drive in is calmer than almost anything on the Parkway itself, and it makes a natural stop on the way to or from the Metcalf Bottoms side of the national park. Look for the low building with the covered patio out front rather than a large sign set back from the road.

Why Choose Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack

The case for driving off the Parkway comes down to what the kitchen does and how the room is set up, both of which lean toward feeding a group well rather than turning tables quickly.

• Smoked on the premises. The pork, ribs, brisket, and chicken are all smoked at the restaurant and seasoned by hand, which is not a given among barbecue signs on the Parkway.
• Meat sold by the pound. Pulled pork, sliced brisket, smoked sausage, and ribs are all available by the pound, so you can build a spread back at the cabin instead of ordering plates.
• Value meals sized for a family. The pork and brisket value meals bundle bread, meat, and sides into one order and are meant to feed a table rather than a person.
• Not only barbecue. Country fried steak, catfish, chicken and dumplings, and a smash burger give the non-barbecue eater at the table something real to order.
• Covered outdoor seating. The patio is the better seat most of the year and gives a small room considerably more capacity.
• Catering and private parties. Both are booked directly with the restaurant, and delivery is available on those larger orders.

Menu Favorites

Sandwiches and plates are the same price at Boss Hogg’s, which means a plate is almost always the better order. Here is where to start.

• Pulled Pork Sandwich. The order most people arrive for. Hand-pulled pork with two sides and a pickle, and the item the kitchen is judged on.
• Ribs. Available as a small or large portion, and sold by the pound if you would rather take a rack with you.
• Brisket Sandwich. Sliced beef brisket, smoked on site. Brisket is also one of the by-the-pound options and the basis of the larger value meal.
• Chicken N Dumplings. A genuine surprise on a barbecue menu, available either as a full plate or ordered down as a side.
• Catfish Dinner. The alternative for anyone at the table who has hit their limit on smoked meat, and one of the sleeper orders here.
• Half Chicken. Smoked whole and served with two sides, a lighter route than the pork or brisket plates.
• Collard Greens and Mac N Cheese. The two sides worth ordering large. Both come in small and large portions.

What to Expect

Set your expectations for a small independent kitchen rather than a themed dining hall, and a few details are worth knowing before you make the drive out.

• It is a small room. Capacity indoors is limited and the patio carries a good share of the seating, so a rainy evening at peak hours is the hardest time to walk in.
• Order online for pickup. The restaurant runs its own online ordering page, which is the practical route if you are taking food back to a rental.
• Delivery is for large orders only. There is no everyday delivery service, but catering and large party orders can be delivered.
• Drinks are simple. The published menu lists soda and tea, and no alcohol is served.
• Kids order from the Little Pigglets menu. Available for ages 13 and under and it includes a drink and a side.
• Sides are worth planning. Plates include two, and most sides can be sized up, so decide before you order rather than adding on later.

Nearby in Pigeon Forge

• Jersey Hustle Pizzeria. East Coast style pizza by the slice just off Wears Valley Road, and the closest alternative if the shack has a line out the door.
• Bullfish Grill. Steaks, seafood, and a full bar back at the Parkway junction, a short hop east for a more polished sit-down meal.
• Puckett’s Restaurant. Southern plates and live music a few blocks up the Parkway, and a good landing spot for a longer evening.
• Tennessee Shine Co. Moonshine tastings and a bottle shop over on Teaster Lane.
• Mama’s Farmhouse. Family-style Southern cooking passed around the table, just off the Parkway and a short drive from Wears Valley Road.

Explore More

My Smoky Mountain Guide Pigeon Forge is a great resource for finding places to eat and things to do.

• Pigeon Forge Food & Beverage Guide. Restaurants, dinner shows, breweries, distilleries, and eateries throughout Pigeon Forge, from sit-down meals to grab-and-go stops.
• Pigeon Forge Outdoor Adventure. Mountain coasters, UTV rentals, rafting, helicopter tours, and other ways to experience the Smokies from outdoors.
• Pigeon Forge Attractions. Museums, escape rooms, mini-golf, arcades, and other family-friendly stops across the city.
• Pigeon Forge Entertainment. Dinner shows, live music, comedy, magic, and theater experiences throughout Pigeon Forge.