Pop's Smoke Shack — Restaurant in Branson

We came to Branson in 2022 and fell in love with the take-n-bake pizza that was sold at this location in Branson West. When we returned to the area in 2024, we were so disappointed to see it had closed. (We rented a condo with an oven specifically because we wanted to bake this pizza! Ha…) Despite our disappointment, we decided to give this place a try as it was highly rated.

We ordered a 1/2 pound of pulled pork, an order of the kellybeans, and a slice of the lemon blueberry cheesecake. I also helped myself to 4 types of sauce: garlic sauce, peach whiskey, sweet mustard and shack sauce. (PS - thanks for the to-go containers and sharpie so I could keep the sauce straight! Very smart…)

It was all incredible. Sooo delicious! The pulled pork was perfection. Every sauce was amazing. The Garlic Sauce was especially tasty. But the cheesecake - probably the best cheesecake I have ever had! Although we will still remember the old Lake Take-n-bake pizza with fondness, Pop’s Smoke Shack is a new favorite. We live 10 hours away (Minneapolis, Mn area) but we will be back!

The staff was super friendly and fun, too.

Highly recommend!!!

(I gave the ambiance a lower score mainly because seating is limited. It’s more of a take-out restaurant, in my opinion. You don’t necessarily come here for the ambiance. It’s the FOOD!!! Fantastic! They do have a few tables indoors as well as some nice tables set up outside, weather...

This was my first visit to the new location as both pop's and I moved about the same time. I will not wait so long to go back! Ordered a two meat plate and split it with my wife. In retrospect, leftovers would have been awesome to have but it worked out perfectly. We had Mac and cheese, potato salad, and cukes and onions for sides with turkey and brisket for meats. The corn bread muffins are amazing with real corn in the muffins. Sauce selection was awesome, all hand made and unique. Bourbon peach was fire on brisket and garlic sauce was pretty tasty on turkey. All the sauces were phenomenal. Brisket was tender and tasty, the turkey was on point! Mac was saucy and delicious, potato salad was also very good. I'm very picky on my cucumber onion and it was not my flavor fit, but wife loved them...they were not sweet enough for me but again personal taste thing. Again, back to good idea to save room, because Cheesecake!!! Always different varieties, we had bourbon pecan it was delicious. They have them available to order ahead for special functions as well. I really want to shout out to Pop for 1 always being there when I go in. Running a small business is no joke and you sir are doing a great job, and 2 for evolving and growing his flavor profile there. The love is there in this food. Keep up...

We had to try the new location and were disappointed. We ordered brisket sandwiches. Pita bread has nothing to do with bbq! Think about it! "Pita"? Anyone who thinks they belong together would probably like sauerkraut with Mexican food! We wanted a large bun like most bbq restaurants serve! Likely, pita was selected to avoid having to keep fresh buns available.

We elected to have brisket on the slider buns. Two little strips of dried burnt ends about two inches long were on each. It was very disappointing, especially at that price.

The plate meals had been our favorite even though the sides aren't good except for the beans.The ribs are our favorite, but we wish the sides were better.

We'll be back occasionally for plate meals, but never for sandwiches. In fact we're afraid to get brisket on a plate meal now.

When asked the simplest of questions the lady who appeared to be running the place reacted defensively! I made the mistake of asking two questions and was lectured on the high cost of running a business!

The new restaurant won't make it with such a person at the helm! Think about it!...