The hickory smoked flavors of Charleston’s newest restaurant offers a diverse menu that Charleston has long lacked.

Smoky’s House BBQ opened April 27 and has local residents rushing in to try Charleston’s first barbeque restaurant near campus. It is located at 300 W. Lincoln Ave. between University Drive and B Street.

Smoky’s owner, Joe Evans, and his wife, Chao Yang, reside in the Champaign area but felt that Charleston was the perfect place to bring their business.

“There was a need for a place like this in Charleston,” Evans said. “there’s mostly just Jimmy Johns and pizza in the area. we offer something different.”

Smoky’s offers an extensive menu that has something for everyone. Its menu includes: ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, wraps, chicken fingers, salads, fried catfish, smoked brisket, fruit smoothies and desserts.

It even offers an assortment of bottle import and domestic beers.

Evans says that the pulled pork sandwich and the sliced beef brisket are the top sellers thus far but the Hungry Man’s burger is also quickly becoming a favorite.

The Hungry Man’s is a classic burger topped with barbecue pork.

The recipe that Evans uses is one that he has crafted through a lifetime of barbequing.

“My friends call me ‘Smokin’ Joe’ because I’ve always had a passion for cooking and barbeque,” he said.

Delivery driver, Keith Van Tassel, said that business is going well, and that even though business has slowed a bit during the summer, daily customers still tell them that they are doing a good job.

Still, Evans is hoping to expand his menu.

Evans and his wife, whose family own several Asian restaurants in the Champaign area, are hoping to add a Pho Noodle Soup in the fall.

The soup is a Vietnamese noodle soup that is typically served with either beef or chicken along with basil, lime, and bean sprouts.

Evans believes that this soup will perfectly compliment his beef brisket.

Smoky’s is open for dine-in, carry out, drive thru and they also cater to Charleston and other local areas. They also deliver until 11 p.m. in the summer and 2 a.m. during the school year.

“We deliver late,” Evans said. “Most people are getting out of bars late and don’t need to be driving. So we’ll bring it to ya.”

Eric Robinson can be reached at 581-7942 or etrobinson@eiu,edu.

Joe Evans, owner of Smokey’s BBQ, demonstrates cutting beef brisket on Wednesday afternoon in Smokey’s kitchen. Smokey’s opened its doors at the end of April and features house smoked beef, pork, turkey and chicken plates amongst other homestyle favorite

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