“A Henderson institution smoking mutton and moving tons of its world-famous beans.”
Get mutton sopped with dip alongside a scoop of the legendary barbecue beans, with pork, ribs, and sandwiches to fill out the tray. It is closed Sunday and Monday, so plan a weekday or Saturday visit.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Mutton with Dip, BBQ Baked Beans, and Pork Plate
What to Order
Why It Stands Out
About 30 minutes west of Owensboro in Henderson, Thomason's smokes mutton, pork, chicken, ribs, ham, and turkey the traditional western-Kentucky way, mopped with gravy the locals call dip. It is nearly as famous for its baked beans, of which it sells more than 35,000 pounds a year.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 701 Atkinson St, Henderson, KY 42420
- Phone
- (270) 826-0654
- Website
- www.thomasonsbbq.com
- Price Range
- $$
Thomason's Barbecue — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Thomason's Barbecue?
Regulars point to Mutton with Dip, BBQ Baked Beans, Pork Plate, and Ribs.
Is Thomason's Barbecue expensive?
Thomason's Barbecue is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Thomason's Barbecue serve?
Thomason's Barbecue 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.