Porky's Pride Smokehouse — Restaurant in Gardendale

Porky’s Pride Smokehouse – A Hidden Gem That Hits All the Right Notes

If you ever find yourself in Hayden, Alabama, do yourself a favor and make a beeline to Porky’s Pride Smokehouse—a place where Southern hospitality meets smoked-meat perfection. From the moment you step through the doors of this cozy and welcoming BBQ joint, you’re greeted not just with the rich aroma of slow-cooked meats, but with a sense that you’ve just entered somewhere special.

Let’s talk food first—because it’s spectacular. The smoked pork plate was nothing short of divine. Piled high and juicy with just the right amount of char, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with deep, smoky flavor. Paired with a side of creamy coleslaw, smokey baked beans, and a buttery slice of Texas toast, every bite was a reminder of what real BBQ should taste like. The pickles added a perfect tang, and the house-made sauces (both the red and the zesty Bama white) were so good, I’d take them home by the bottle if I could.

Now, if the food doesn’t win you over—and believe me, it will—the staff certainly will. We had the pleasure of being waited on by Mary Beth, and let me tell you: she is a true treasure. From the get-go, Mary Beth treated us like family, not customers. Her passion for her work and her genuine commitment to making every single person feel welcome and appreciated is something you rarely see these days. She’s the kind of server who doesn’t just bring your food—she brings warmth, personality, and a smile that makes the whole meal even more memorable. Her energy lit up the room, and it’s clear she takes immense pride in delivering not just a meal, but an experience.

Between the incredible food, the charming decor, the hometown atmosphere, and staff like Mary Beth who truly care about what they do, Porky’s Pride Smokehouse isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a destination.

Five stars across the board. Don’t just take my word for it—go see (and taste) for yourself. You’ll leave full, happy, and already planning...

My husband and I recently tried to place an order for pick up, and we encountered several issues. Firstly, the restaurant's Uber Eats page was unfortunately non-functional, as the app did not allow us to select "pick up" and indicated that "delivery" was unavailable. Additionally, we found that the phone number provided did not connect us properly, as it only played a recorded message stating that the mailbox is full. This experience was quite frustrating, and we hope for improvements to streamline the ordering process. I will update my review on the food and restaurant ambiance at a later date, as I can only comment on the service I received (or more accurately, did NOT receive). Thank you for your attention to these concerns.

UPDATE After calling 16 times (thankfully my husband is persistent)... someone finally answered the phone and we were able to place an order.

Pick-Up Process The wait time to complete the payment and collect our food was under 5 minutes.

Ambiance The restaurant features typical Southern bar decor, including signage from local breweries, American flags, Porky's merchandise, and various beer, liquor, and BBQ signs. The  restaurant is adorned with colored Christmas lights both inside and outside, and the front windows display festive artwork inspired by scenes from the original Home Alone movie.

Food Our order was accurate and complete; however, the flavor was VERY bland. We tried the Pimento dip, Brisket Philly, Ribs, Cheese grits, Slaw, and Mac and cheese.

Parking With a limited number of customers during our visit, parking was not an issue. However, the small size of the lot and the restaurant's location may pose challenges on busier days.

Overall, this dining experience can most accurately be described as...

So to preface, I am not a BBQ coneseur, just drawing on personal taste and previous experience. I've been to Porkys Pride three times and one thing that stands out is the service. Friendly, fast and attentive. On two of my visits I ordered the brisket to make sure it wasn't a fluke. In the event I was there on an off day. In both cases all the food was very consistent. The brisket was tasty, it seemed a little dry and broke apart and was visually akin to chipped beef (picture) and lacked a bit of that smoke flavor that I prefer. I don't know if that is by design or the cooking process they use. I'm not saying it's a bad or good thing. Just an observation. The sides are a standout here. The vinegar based Cole slaw was wonderful. And the loaded potato salad was delightful. The mac n cheese is solid but I wouldn't say a show stopper. On my second trip I happened by on Taco Tuesday and was quite surprised how good the tacos were. They put larger chunks of asada in their tacos, but it was so tender and tasty. The pork tacos were every bit as good. I even ordered a couple more. On my last visit I opted to have a dessert, and I was not disappointed. Tried the banana pudding. And it was outstanding. I don't know the process, but actually tastes like real banana. Not puddings and vanilla wafer with bananas. I can't quite put it into words. You will hust have to give it a go. In summation, you should definitely stop into Porkys Pride. Overall it's an excellent...