Ben's BBQ Shack — Restaurant in Westfield

This is the best BBQ I've had since I was living and working in North Carolina and South Carolina in 2012. I hadn't found any truly good and satisfying BBQ here in Indiana, 'til today.

I was extremely impressed and smiling as I was greeted before I even reached the order/pickup window/door of Ben's BBQ Shack - Westfield (north suburb of Indy) on my first-ever visit today, for the online pre-order I placed Wednesday (they sell out every day they're open – Fri-Sat-Sun – carry-out only, although there are several picnic tables for fair-weather dining).

As I walked up, a team member stepped out of the doorway, with a big smile, a genuinely welcoming attitude, and asked if I was picking up.

I gave him my name. HIs face lit up as he seemed to know my order. I had included a message, in the special notes section of my online order, mentioning that this was my first time and that I didn't see an option to specify sauces, if there were any available. I wrote, "First time ordering. If there are side BBQ sauce options I missed, a sweet / medium-heat variety would be the best fit for us. Otherwise, smokey-and-delish-as-they're-served is what we're looking forward to trying. See y'all Friday! Cheers!" (the sauce I described IS available and, Oh My! ... so, so good.)

He said, "So this is your first time here!"

"Yeah!" I smiled back ...

He ducked inside and soon returned with my bagged order and added, "Ben threw in a sample of pulled pork for you to try."

Then, "Ben" looked out the window and offered an enthusiastic, "Hey! Thanks, bud! Thanks a lot!" ... Although obviously busy in the midst of rush work as folks were lining up for walkup orders, they had time to express appreciation and inspire smiles with their guests.

Ben and his team get it. They are sincerely welcoming as they actively engage with and serve their customers. My spouse, sister-in-law, and I opened a restaurant just over a year ago. We also know how rewarding it is to engage with guests and deliver a truly enjoyable experience; and we do our best to inspire our team to "get it" too.

It was still warm when I got home to stash it for reheating, later, when my spouse arrives home from work ... but there was that unexpected sample of pulled pork calling out to me. I opened up the trays and was very happy to find that the brisket was a very GENEROUS 2 lbs ... and the sample of pulled pork that I expected to be bite-size or, perhaps, a slider-size serving ... was also very generous – enough for a couple full-size sandwiches, or four or five sliders, at least!

Anyway, since there was such an abundance and no one else home to see ... I sampled a serving of the beef brisket ... and made myself two pulled pork sliders ... and suddenly found myself in smokey BBQ bliss! Just-right smokiness, perfectly juicy, beautiful to behold, and oh-so-savory to taste!

Ben's BBQ Shack is likely to become a monthly ritual ... or at least my go-to when the smokey BBQ...

Ben's is the best BBQ! My previous favorite is Oklahoma Joe's/Joe's in Kansas City.

Similar origin stories.

It starts with the smoker. Oklahoma Joe built his own and so does Ben. I was invited into the inner sanctum of the smoke house to see the "Red October" offset.

All of the BBQ is smoked with local Indiana cherry.

Ben's is located in an old used car lot in old downtown Westfield where parking can be very dear. Prime spots are located back by the picnic tables.

If you don't preorder and walk up you will need to be there at noon if you want BBQ before sell out.

I did a walk up visit on Saturday Apr 6 for brisket and pulled pork and returned Apr 7 Sunday for ribs, pork belly and turkey. The ribs are spare vs baby back so plenty of meat and finished with a rub. All meats are fork tender.

My preference for pulled pork is Carolina style referred to as just BBQ in the Carolinas. Served family style in a bowl with finishing sauce choices of mustard or apple cider vinegar available if desired. Ben's serves his pulled pork chopped and lightly sauced, all good but not my preference. Ben would most likely indulge Carolina BBQ presentation if requested.

Ben's is a BBQ shack but has picnic tables out back if you wish to eat while there.

If you don't visit Ben's BBQ Shack you don't know what you missing and if you wait until next weekend you will only be a week older...

This is my 3rd time visiting Ben’s in the last 3 years and I must say, I am not doing myself any justice by not putting Ben’s in my weekly meal rotation. The meats are out of this world. First time I got there early enough to get Brisket as a walk-up. 2nd time he was all sold out of meat, but was gifted pies, beans, and slaw since they were closing for the day. Pure love. Thank you all. 3rd time, which was today, all sold out of Brisket but the ladies in line in front of me gave me some of theirs to eat while I waited for my order. Again, pure love. Thanks ladies!! I tried the Pulled Pork today… OMG! 😭The best ever! Now I know to place a preorder because he ran out of ribs and brisket by 12:40 pm. He even threw a pie in my bag. A lovely surprise! Thank you!! Again, another example of the love he gives to his customers and his customers are passing it along to each other in the line. The smoke, the flavor, the juiciness. It’s all there in the meats. Now, I’m hooked for sure and will be placing my weekly preorder. Oh, and the BBQ sauce, pickles, and onion are divine. But, I couldn’t decide if I wanted the sauce or not, because the meat stands on its own. So, I just drizzled it on the meat and it was a perfect combo. This man knows what he’s doing and I’m just blessed to be able to...