If you are serious about barbecue, it’s time to head to The District in South Jordan. That’s where you’ll find Kenny J’s BBQ which, IMHO, is the best ‘cue in the Beehive State. It’s legit Texas-style barbecue, smoked low and slow as it oughta be. 

You know that this is serious BBQ from the machinery Kenny Jackson uses to make it. In 2023 he and his wife Mary purchased a top-o-the-line 1000G LV Smoker, custom built for Kenny J’s BBQ. I don’t know what Kenny and Mary paid, but these bad boys can cost tens of thousands of dollars and are the size of a small submarine. What really amazes me though is that Kenny and his wife have only been doing authentic BBQ since 2018, when Kenny bought his first backyard smoker. During the pandemic, they really got serious about smoking and helped to feed their community with “meals made from the heart.” They must be fast learners to be able to produce such great BBQ with just a few years of practice. 

Brisket

According to Kenny J, “Everything at Kenny J’s BBQ is made from scratch—no shortcuts, no compromises. Our brisket comes from Creekstone Farms, known for the highest quality beef, and we put in the time and effort to hand-trim, season, and smoke everything to perfection.”

In a nod to Texan authenticity, most of the BBQ at Kenny J’s is cut up and weighed right in front of you and sold by the pound. There aren’t the two-, three-, and four-meat platters that most local BBQ spots offer. Rather, you just decide what meat(s) you want and pay for it by the pound, ranging from $9 per link for their Signature Sausage, and $19 for a half rack of Park Spare Ribs, to $24/lb. for smoked Chicken Thighs, $26/lb. for pulled pork, $34/lb for burnt ends, and $39/lb for Kenny’s bodacious Prime Brisket. 

The staff at Kenny J’s are very helpful and a super friendly dude named (for real) Tom Hanks sliced up our meats and gave suggestions about serving amounts. In the end, we wound up with enough BBQ and sides for three different meals for two people for around $60 – a great bang for the BBQ buck. 

You’ll definitely want to try the Prime Beef Brisket. It’s out of this world, especially if you asked for the not-so-lean point end pieces which are fatter, thicker and more marbled, as opposed to the flat end, which is leaner. I would stack up Kenny J’s brisket against any I’ve eaten in Texas – it’s that good. Kenny’s offers two homemade BBQ sauces – both red and somewhat sweet, but one is spicy. To be honest, the brisket is so damned delicious that it doesn’t even need sauce. 

For our BBQ takeout dinner, my wife and I ordered brisket, smoked turkey breast, chicken thighs, pulled pork, and some sides. All were outstanding, but I especially liked the chicken thighs, which were perfectly spiced. 

Potato Skinzz

Side dishes are priced at $3.99 for a single serving, $7.49/pint or $14.49/quart and include Funeral Potatoes, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Green Beans, Fries, Side Salad and others, including Potato Skinzz – crispy skins fried in beef tallow and smothered with cheese, onion, and sour cream. 

The sides we tried – and all were very good and homemade tasting – included Mac n’ Cheese, Coleslaw, and Sweet Corn. I especially loved the Mac n’ Cheese, which is made with Hatch green chiles, giving it a nice spicy kick. 

I mentioned that Kenny J’s doesn’t do standard BBQ plates/platters. However, they do offer “Pitmaster Deals” such as Sandwiches ($13); Nachos ($13), Baked Potato ($13); and a Brisket Burger ($15/Tuesdays only), to which you can add your choice of any meat (one-third pound) or Brisket for an additional $2.49. There are also desserts and beverages, including beer. 

We visited Kenny J’s in the late afternoon when the restaurant wasn’t busy. But they’re well equipped for large crowds when the word gets out how good this barbecue joint is. It looks like they’ve got seating for hundreds in the spacious restaurant. 

There’s another reason – besides just bodacious BBQ – to love Kenny J’s BBQ: Kenny and Mary say, “At Kenny J’s BBQ, we believe that great food brings people together. That’s why we’re passionate about giving back to the community that’s supported us from the beginning. We’ve catered and donated food for events across Salt Lake Valley, supporting local charities and causes that matter—because there’s no better way to serve than through good food and good company.” Amen to that, and pass me a spare rib! 

Photos by Ted Scheffler & Courtesy of Kenny J’s

Culinary quote of the week: “Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” – Anthony Bourdain