This is one of my favorite places to come to whenever I venture out to Louisiana. I first went in 2019 and came back in 2024. The quality is exactly how I remember it except this time, all of the food was hot on the first time around. You walk in and order at the counter. The staff is quite friendly and always willing to help you. There's also a drive thru however I've never used it. I ordered the two meat plate while my aunt ordered the rib plate. I told the employee which side I wanted and they explained that you serve yourself your own sides. I've never been to a restaurant that allows you to serve yourself your own sides but I am not complaining at all. They must have changed this since the last time I came here because I remember them serving me my sides. It's no big deal as I kindly helped myself to a side of beans and cole slaw. Everything was delicious! My favorite part of my meal were the baked beans. I wish I had that recipe because those beans were full of flavor and love. The sausage was tasty and so was the brisket (albeit it was a bit dry but it was fine with BBQ sauce). The two meat plate was around $12 which is a great deal for the amount of food you get. We sat inside the restaurant to enjoy our meal. Overall, this is one of my favorite BBQ spots and my Californian born self is sad that we don't have Hot Rod close by! I'll be back next time I'm in town.
Lauren M.
AMAZING FOOD! Great local spot! The staff was all super sweet! Great experience. We were just passing through & we are so happy we stopped.
Some of the most mediocre barbecue I’ve ever had! It was okay, but definitely not somewhere I would go out of my way to
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Frank Griego
Some items are OK but the brisket was way to dry even though I asked for moist with a little fat. Brisket is not to be served that dry and have to smother with sauce to make it taste better .
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Nicole Garr
Always great food and prompt service! Chef Salad with sausage 10/10!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Peach Cobbler, Brisket and Sausage Plate, Meat Plate, Pork Sandwich Plate, Large Garden Salad, Ribs That Fall Off the Bone, Loaded Baked Potato, Baked Beans, Add Plates & Silverware, Sandwich, Pulled Pork, Coleslaw
Madeline McDonald
I am new to Ruston & have been craving bar b que for months. Today, I finally discovered Hot Rod’s! This is what I will be serving Super Bowl Sunday. The brisket, ham, beans & potato salad is the absolute best. The bar b que sauce, is quite unique & unlike all the others. Not too sweet & with a little tang, Perfection!
Lil pricey but very good bbq. Freindly folks.Parking: Small lot but usually a open spot.Kid-friendliness: Local folks friendly non roudy atmosphere.Wheelchair accessibility: Yes easy access
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Peach Cobbler, Smoked Meats, 3 Meat Plate, Ribs That Fall Off the Bone, Loaded Baked Potato, Baked Beans
Ill preface this with i very much enjoyed my meal and this place holds its own with any Tx of kc or any foe that matter bbq ive had in my travels.that being said i feel this place could beTHE BBQ PLACE with just a few small tweeks. Cole slaw was one of the best as far as flavor goes however its so chopped up its almost a pureed texture a rough cut texture would make it perfect. The brisket had great smooe flavor just needs a bit more pepper and or salt to add that little extra dimension but that being said id prefer it as it is than over salted as. Too many places do so i can appreciate a deft hand in that area. Peach cobbler considering that batch size it must be made in hits on all levels.My biggest critique i guess is the bbq sauce im glad it was on the side. As soon as it hir the tongue and nose it screams sweet pickle juice that was the overwhelmingly dominant flavor and ir didnt go away or transition giving way to any other notes. Im all for being creative trying ro put your signature stamp on a bbq sauce to make it stabd out from the thousands of sauces out there but i feel this stands out for all the wrong reasons.. i know this sounds like a negative review buy i promise its not. Putting the bbq sauce. Aside, i still enjoyed everything. Id keep going back if i pass through again. Ive had Bbq at supposed award winning places in Tx that couldnt come close to this place. Brisket was tennder as can be. Wasnt pulled like most places do and. I detest that.. nice even smoke flavor. Lets you know its there but doesnt over power the meat.All in all id give them an 8.5 out of 10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amanda Ritchie
I stop in for take out every time we go to the deer camp. Their barbecue is delicious! I call ahead for a family pack, and they have everything ready when I come through. We have enough to eat the whole weekend and never get tired of it. We have tried everything on their menu. It's all good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Brisket and Sausage Plate, Baked Beans, Rib Plate, Slab of Ribs, Pulled Pork
Wren Burnham
It’s a hit and a miss… if you decide to go after 5 they NEVER have stuffed baked potatoes and I mean never but the BBQ is so
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Julie Mac
They served me old food that was not edible. I complained and was promised either a replacement meal or a refund for the next day. When I came by, the manager was very rude to me and to add insult to injury, she did so in front of other customers .She was argumentative and reluctantly gave me a refund. Her attitude was unwarranted and inappropriate. My family and I have been loyal customers for years and it's clear our business isn't appreciated and our support isn't deserved. We won't be returning and rightfully so.
Great food... generous servings...a little pricey, like everyone else ...the coleslaw is the best I've had in a very long
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, 3 Meat Plate, Baked Beans, 2 Meat BBQ Plate and Kids Chicken Plate, Coleslaw
This is one of my favorite places to come to whenever I venture out to Louisiana. I first went in 2019 and came back in 2024. The quality is exactly how I remember it except this time, all of the food was hot on the first time around. You walk in and order at the counter. The staff is quite friendly and always willing to help you. There's also a drive thru however I've never used it. I ordered the two meat plate while my aunt ordered the rib plate. I told the employee which side I wanted and they explained that you serve yourself your own sides. I've never been to a restaurant that allows you to serve yourself your own sides but I am not complaining at all. They must have changed this since the last time I came here because I remember them serving me my sides. It's no big deal as I kindly helped myself to a side of beans and cole slaw. Everything was delicious! My favorite part of my meal were the baked beans. I wish I had that recipe because those beans were full of flavor and love. The sausage was tasty and so was the brisket (albeit it was a bit dry but it was fine with BBQ sauce). The two meat plate was around $12 which is a great deal for the amount of food you get. We sat inside the restaurant to enjoy our meal. Overall, this is one of my favorite BBQ spots and my Californian born self is sad that we don't have Hot Rod close by! I'll be back next time I'm in town.
AMAZING FOOD! Great local spot! The staff was all super sweet! Great experience. We were just passing through & we are so happy we stopped.
I love
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Peach Cobbler, Cobbler, Rib Plate, Baked Beans, Sandwich
Some of the most mediocre barbecue I’ve ever had! It was okay, but definitely not somewhere I would go out of my way to
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Some items are OK but the brisket was way to dry even though I asked for moist with a little fat. Brisket is not to be served that dry and have to smother with sauce to make it taste better .
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Always great food and prompt service! Chef Salad with sausage 10/10!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Peach Cobbler, Brisket and Sausage Plate, Meat Plate, Pork Sandwich Plate, Large Garden Salad, Ribs That Fall Off the Bone, Loaded Baked Potato, Baked Beans, Add Plates & Silverware, Sandwich, Pulled Pork, Coleslaw
I am new to Ruston & have been craving bar b que for months. Today, I finally discovered Hot Rod’s! This is what I will be serving Super Bowl Sunday. The brisket, ham, beans & potato salad is the absolute best. The bar b que sauce, is quite unique & unlike all the others. Not too sweet & with a little tang, Perfection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Smoked Meats, Meat Plate, Cobbler, Baked Beans, Slab of Ribs
Really good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lil pricey but very good bbq. Freindly folks.Parking: Small lot but usually a open spot.Kid-friendliness: Local folks friendly non roudy atmosphere.Wheelchair accessibility: Yes easy access
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Peach Cobbler, Smoked Meats, 3 Meat Plate, Ribs That Fall Off the Bone, Loaded Baked Potato, Baked Beans
Restaurantji Recommends
Great people ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ill preface this with i very much enjoyed my meal and this place holds its own with any Tx of kc or any foe that matter bbq ive had in my travels.that being said i feel this place could beTHE BBQ PLACE with just a few small tweeks. Cole slaw was one of the best as far as flavor goes however its so chopped up its almost a pureed texture a rough cut texture would make it perfect. The brisket had great smooe flavor just needs a bit more pepper and or salt to add that little extra dimension but that being said id prefer it as it is than over salted as. Too many places do so i can appreciate a deft hand in that area. Peach cobbler considering that batch size it must be made in hits on all levels.My biggest critique i guess is the bbq sauce im glad it was on the side. As soon as it hir the tongue and nose it screams sweet pickle juice that was the overwhelmingly dominant flavor and ir didnt go away or transition giving way to any other notes. Im all for being creative trying ro put your signature stamp on a bbq sauce to make it stabd out from the thousands of sauces out there but i feel this stands out for all the wrong reasons.. i know this sounds like a negative review buy i promise its not. Putting the bbq sauce. Aside, i still enjoyed everything. Id keep going back if i pass through again. Ive had Bbq at supposed award winning places in Tx that couldnt come close to this place. Brisket was tennder as can be. Wasnt pulled like most places do and. I detest that.. nice even smoke flavor. Lets you know its there but doesnt over power the meat.All in all id give them an 8.5 out of 10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I stop in for take out every time we go to the deer camp. Their barbecue is delicious! I call ahead for a family pack, and they have everything ready when I come through. We have enough to eat the whole weekend and never get tired of it. We have tried everything on their menu. It's all good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Brisket, Brisket and Sausage Plate, Baked Beans, Rib Plate, Slab of Ribs, Pulled Pork
It’s a hit and a miss… if you decide to go after 5 they NEVER have stuffed baked potatoes and I mean never but the BBQ is so
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
They served me old food that was not edible. I complained and was promised either a replacement meal or a refund for the next day. When I came by, the manager was very rude to me and to add insult to injury, she did so in front of other customers .She was argumentative and reluctantly gave me a refund. Her attitude was unwarranted and inappropriate. My family and I have been loyal customers for years and it's clear our business isn't appreciated and our support isn't deserved. We won't be returning and rightfully so.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1