Review of Smokey Mo's BBQ (@Georgetown, TX) 

Smokey Mo's Website & Facebook page 

 

I'd never actually been to a Smokey Mo's before, and decided to stop by this one to pick some up on the way home. They are a regional chain (13 locations). One thing I notice is that they use electric smokers. This isn't really a surprise given that they are in a strip shopping center. I order two three-meat plates (ribs/sausage/brisket, and turkey/chicken/pork loin). However, I discover when I get home that both plates contain ribs instead of one having the pork loin. Note to self: double-check the order.

 

Brisket: The brisket is far and away the worst item here. It's dry, and doesn't have much flavor. While the bark looks impressive, there's not much going on even in the bark itself, much less in the meat itself. 3.0/10.

 

Sausage: The sausage is a little better. It is tender, but the flavor isn't anything to brag about. Tastes a little like Elgin sausage, but the casing has lost some of its snap. 4.0/10.

Chicken: The chicken is actually pretty tender and juicy. This is the first place I notice the smoke flavor, and there's an interesting metallic taste to it that makes me assume they are using liquid smoke (as opposed to an electric smoker with wood pellets). It's not bad, but definitely not the same as real pit-smoked BBQ. 5.0/10.

Ribs: Ribs are also tender and juicy. As with the chicken, there's that weird metallic smoke flavor again. I've had worse ribs elsewhere, but it is distracting. 5.5/10.

Turkey: Turkey is pretty tender and juicy. If it wasn't for the weird flavor in the smoke, it might be top-notch. 6.5/10. 

So my first visit to Smokey Mo's. Two misses, and three decents (and one no-show). 

 

Is it worth a visit? Yeah, if you are in the mood for a quick BBQ fix and don't feel like spending a lot it's not a bad place to stop. Stay away from the brisket and stick with the white meats. 

 

Is it worth a trip? Absolutely not.

-Tom

(Scott's comment: "As the dogs as my witnesses, you were warned!")