As a general tenet, the more unassuming a restaurant is, the more incredible its food. This is certainly the case with Starnes Bar-B-Q. A Paducah institution, Starnes has been dishing up delicious, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue since the 1950s. This humble little BBQ joint in Kentucky was recently named one of the “most legendary” in the South, and we couldn’t agree more.

You'll find Starnes Bar-B-Q in Paducah's Midtown neighborhood, in a bright green cinderblock building.
Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Family-owned and operated since 1955, this unassuming little joint is a local favorite.
Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook
And recently, the restaurant gained national acclaim, being named as one of the "South's Most Legendary Barbecue Joints" by Southern Living.
Mark T/Google Local
Of course, this Paducah institution has long been known for its finger-licking barbecue and smoked meats, all of which come smothered in its signature, sticky, spicy-sweet sauce.
Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook
This place is the real deal. There's a smokehouse out back, where Starnes slow smokes their meat to perfection.
texaswillie/TripAdvisor

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Using old-school techniques and real wood, the barbecue comes out with a smoky char that can only come from a low, slow cook.
Chris F/TripAdvisor
The menu here is perfect in its simplicity.
Chris F/TripAdvisor
Starnes takes a "no-frills" approach to their fare; sandwiches are wrapped in paper, with styrofoam sides of 'slaw and potato salad.
Kenneth Beynon/Google Local
(And, of course, fresh-from-the-fountain glasses of RC Cola.)
To really get the full Starnes experience, Southern Living recommends patrons do as diners do in Paducah: order one pork and one smoked bologna sandwich. Served between two slices of toasted white bread, these tiny little packages pack a big, wood-smoked punch.
Michelle Champion/Google Local
Starnes Bar-B-Q is the kind of place where the food truly speaks for itself.
Aur Beck/Google Local
This is why the restaurant has garnered national attention, yes -- but it's also something Kentuckians have known all along.
Matthew Mac/Google Local

Have you had Starnes Bar-B-Q before? If so, what’s your favorite item on the menu? Let us know in the comments below!

And for more award-winning fare in The Bluegrass State, be sure to check out these seven Kentucky restaurants.

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Featured Addresses
Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA