Rigdon’s Trackside BBQ Madisonville KY Is The Tops

You can travel all across the country and eat great barbecue but sometimes the best is right in your own back yard. Such is the case with Rigdon’s Trackside BBQ in Madisonville, KY.  This place has only been open in Madisonville for a couple of weeks (they have another location that I have not eaten at near here – I need to find out where and check it out).  Trackside is located at the Big Springs Inn next to the Wal-Mart in Madisonville.  I had seen it a couple of times but until today had not stopped in.  Cecil, my barbecue eatin’ partner and I decided last week that we were going to find some good barbecue on Friday.

As it turned out Friday was quite a day with a torndado in the area and some serious thunder storms. We joked that we were “eatin’ bbq and watchin’ tornados” just some good ole Kentucky fun.

We decided to stop at Trackside BBQ and what a suprise!!! Cecil and I have eaten at some of the top bbq joints in the south including Jim Neeley’s Internstate BBQ in Memphis , TN and Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue in Decataur, AL.  Well, let me tell you— Rigdon’s Trackside BBQ can stand up to those big boys any day of the week. The barbecue was off the hook and we will definitely be back.

We both had a 2 rib plate with baked beans and cole slaw as well as a pulled pork sandwich. It was unbelievable!!I picked up one of the ribs and the meat just started to slide off the bone and when I bit into my first bit I knew I had found a truely great bbq joint. The ribs were of the dry persuasion and Cecil said that was the first time he had ever had ribs that required no sauce.  I could have eaten an entire rack (which they do serve). The sides are all home made and you can tell that they are not out of a food suppliers can.  The baked beans had a great taste that made the sides of your tongue tingle and the cole slaw was just right, not to dry and not to wet and seasoned to perfection.

The pulled pork sandwich was something to behold. There are seveal other bbq places in the area and when I have visted and had a pulled pork sandwich they now seem a little stingy compared to Trackside.  Barbara ( one of the owners ) brought our sandwiches and my eyes about popped out of my head. This thing must have been stacked about 6 inches high.  There was no doubt this place believed in good sized portions.  The pulled pork was great. After a couple of bites I decided to try some of their home made sauce. The sauce was what Tim called a combination of North Carolina and Kentucky and it was definitely good. I tried some of his hot sauce as well and that left a definite taste which I thorougly enjoyed. Even thought it was hot it did not take away from the flavor of the sauce or the pork.

All in all this was definitely a FIVE STAR eating experience and I only had to drive about 2 miles.  Tim, the owner told us they haven’t even started advertising yet and business is growing quickly. They are hoping to have their new smoker in very soon so they can ramp up the quantity.

Tim said he started learning about barbecue at the age of 15 when he helped an older friend at his bbq pit. Tim learned the secrets that had been passed down for 3 generations and now has mastered his art.

So, if you are looking for some good barbecue and you are any where near Madisonville, KY (between Evansville, IN to the north, Clarksville, TN to the south, Paducah, KY to the southwest and Louisville, KY to the northeast) be sure to stop in and have some “world class” barbecue. Tell them you read about them at BBQHub.com

Rigdon’s Trackside BBQ Madisonville KY

Tim and Barbara Rigdon – Owners