“A cozy KY-54 buffet where mutton, burgoo, and breakfast draw a loyal local crowd.”
Hit the lunch and dinner buffet for tender mutton, pulled pork, ribs, fried chicken, burgoo, a salad bar, and warm bread pudding, or stop in for a hearty morning meal. It is an easygoing, homestyle spot on Highway 54 east of downtown.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Mutton, Burgoo, and Buffet
What to Order
Why It Stands Out
The newest of Owensboro's 'Big Three,' Ole South opened in 1995 and rounds out the mutton scene with a daily hickory-smoked buffet and one of the city's best breakfasts. Owner Greg Floyd has refined its recipes while keeping the traditional pit meats front and center.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 3523 KY-54, Owensboro, KY 42303
- Phone
- (270) 926-6464
- Website
- olesouthbbq.com
- Price Range
- $$
Ole South Barbeque — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Ole South Barbeque?
Regulars point to Mutton, Burgoo, Buffet, and Bread Pudding.
Is Ole South Barbeque expensive?
Ole South Barbeque is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Ole South Barbeque serve?
Ole South Barbeque serves Western Kentucky barbecue — Western Kentucky barbecue is America's mutton country, centered on Owensboro, the self-proclaimed 'Barbecue Capital of the World' and home to the annual International Bar-B-Q Festival. Older sheep are slow-smoked over hickory coals in masonry pits until the dark, gamy meat turns tender, then chopped or sliced and mopped with a thin, tangy Worcestershire-and-vinegar black 'dip.' The other regional signature is burgoo, a thick, long-simmered stew of mutton and other meats with vegetables. Pork, chicken, and ribs round out the pits, but mutton and burgoo are what make this the most distinctive barbecue tradition in the country.