Hard Eight BBQ — Restaurant in Burleson

When you walk in, you pass by the smokers and then up to the first station where you select your meat. All of the meats available are on a smoker opened up for you to see and select. They are sliced here as well. Each meat is priced by weight. I went for the 3 meat with brisket, pork ribs, and jajapeno sausage with fries. My wife and our grandson chose the half chicken.

The next stage is inside. You can select complimentary slice bread, onions, pickled jalapenos, and pickles. You also get to select fries or fried onions, which are extra. You can also select some side dishes (also extra) as you approach the cashier.

Beans and BBQ Sauces (regular and spicy are available at a small bar in the eating area.

Our visit was just after noon. The feel of the place is hometown BBQ. The light BBQ smoke as you walk in, the super friendly staff at every station. Seating is communal and private (booths). The communal seating has no backing, but most are comfy. There is seating that is higher off the floor, but I found it uncomfortable. I'm 6 feet tall and found my feet dangling. There is vintage signing and smiling staff everywhere you look.

I cannot emphasize enough how friendly the staff was. Huge smiles and super helpful.

The entire establishment was super clean and presented very well. Lighting was more than adequate. If there is anything negative I have to say about this restaurant is the paper towels which are readily available at every table. I kept tearing them when I tried to get one. You have to be patient when tearing them.

The beans As far as I was concerned, the pinto beans were the superstar of the meal. I loved them. Sllices of sausage, pork, and whole jalapenos were floating in the pot. Good stuff. I was wishing for some cornbread.

The BBQ sauces. Regular and Spicy. The spicy was thin, lighter in color didn't seem to be very spicy. The regular was a little spicy, darker in color and thicker. The regular was my favorite.

The meal. My wife and grandson said they loved the half chicken. It was juicy and tender. They also had a side salad, potato salad, and mac and cheese.

The fries were hot and fresh. They were not the best I've ever had, but they were pretty doggone good.

The jalapeno sausage was flavorful and lightly spicy. It had a light snap to it. The brisket was very tender, and on this visit, the brisket was juicy, flavorful, and tender. The BBQ sauce still works very well with the brisket.

The pork ribs were much more tender and juicy on this visit. The BBQ sauce complimented instead of rescued the ribs.

I am happy to say I am able to add the fifth star. This visit was hitting on all cylinders. As with the last visit, we loved the people and the feel of the place. I highly...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Hard Eight BBQ and I must say, it was an outstanding experience. After driving past this place for years, I finally decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did. Not only is it a great midway point for dinner with friends, but the selection process straight from the smoker was truly unique and amazing.

Let's start with the brisket. Oh my goodness, it was absolutely phenomenal! Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, it was something to rave about. Each bite was a melt-in-your-mouth delight. But it wasn't just the brisket that impressed me; the shrimp poppers quickly became a group favorite. The perfect combination of crispy and succulent, they were a true treat for the taste buds.

Moving on to the chicken, turkey, and sausage, I was delighted to find that they were all hot and delicious, with that unmistakable smoked flavor throughout. Each protein had its own distinct taste, yet they all shared that mouthwatering smokiness that made them incredibly satisfying.

And let's not forget about the sides! The corn and Mac and cheese were both divine. The corn was sweet and perfectly cooked, while the Mac and cheese was creamy and rich, providing the perfect complement to the savory meats. It was a true comfort food experience.

To top it all off, a cold beer to wash it all down was the icing on the cake, so to speak. The staff at Hard Eight BBQ was super helpful and accommodating, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. Their friendly service added an extra layer of enjoyment to the already fantastic meal.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a BBQ joint that offers a unique selection straight from the smoker, mouthwatering brisket, delicious shrimp poppers, and a variety of other delectable smoked meats, Hard Eight BBQ is the place to go. Add in their mouthwatering sides, refreshing beverages, and attentive staff, and you've got a dining experience that is truly unforgettable. I highly recommend giving Hard Eight BBQ a try - you won't be...

Tried this place out for the first time tonight, and somewhat new to the area. The very good: The brisket was really good. I ordered it moist, and it was definitely that. It had a full flavor, and definitely something i would try again. The potato salad was flavorful, and had a bit of heat to it. I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but it worked. I also had banana pudding that tasted homemade, and had big chunks of banana in it. Definitely worth getting.

I'll add that I did have the bologna, but it's not a meat that I typically enjoy. This was a new place, and I wanted to try something different. I just don't care for the taste of it, but this is not the fault of the restaurant. That's my issue, and reminded why it's been years since I've eaten it.

Also, the full meat/bird/pork selection looked incredible, and smelled that way.

The bad: The ordering system is not the greatest, and pretty inconvenient. You get in line outside, wait, and order meat outside. Maybe when it's not 100 degrees out, it's not that bad, but couple the summer heat with being right next to at least 6 smoking pits that are cranking out serious heat and blowing smoke on you, and I was profusely sweating by the time I got to order my meat. The line was moving ridiculously slow, and I was very close to leaving. Once you order the meat, you go inside where it's very cool to pick out the sides, desserts, etc.

I got this to go, and was told once I got my food on the tray, I had to go to the back of the restaurant to get a to-go container. That just seemed like an completely unnecessary step that could have been done in the line. Keep in mind I'm very sweaty and irritated at this point.

The meat ordering process, heat, and the amount of time I waited is the reason I didn't give 5 stars on atmosphere and service. However, the staff were nice and polite.

All of that being said, I will go back there to eat, but will probably wait until the fall when it has...