Barbeque is a cornerstone of Alabama’s culinary identity, and a growing national chain, City Barbeque, is betting on Huntsville for its first location in the state.

That was evident as the eatery’s parking lot remained full several days after its official soft opening on Monday, Feb. 9, in south Huntsville.

David Steiger, City Barbeque’s regional director of operations, said the eatery received an impressive amount of community support upon opening. The business even welcomed 30 Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce representatives who stopped by to try the food and drink offerings.

“Huntsville’s been extremely welcoming. I mean, one of the largest welcomes we’ve had. Everyone who’s come so far has really been really appreciative that we’re here. They seem to really like our flavor profile,” Steiger said.

Steiger said the company strategically targeted Huntsville for its first location in the Yellowhammer State because of the area’s rapid growth and ability to support multiple locations.

“We’re starting with Huntsville. It’s an opportunity for us to be able to open two or three in one spot. We don’t want just one restaurant. We’re going to open up a couple in this area and really start expanding our footprint in Alabama,” he said.

City Barbeque specializes in slow-smoked, on-site barbequed meats, scratch-made sides, and a welcoming atmosphere. Special signature sauces that are available at the joint include: Original, Brush Fire, Sweet City, LoCo, and Swine Wine.

Customers can enjoy their meals inside the restaurant, on the patio, or take them home via drive-through or in-store pickup with online ordering.

Tom Harrison, manager of the Huntsville location, is passionate about customer satisfaction and is well-versed in the menu’s finer details. He noted that the pulled pork and brisket are smoked on-site for roughly 18 hours.

At the restaurant, he highlighted a popular menu item that can be shared among friends, the Judge’s Sampler. This large variety of menu items contains City Barbeque’s award-winning Brisket, pulled pork, half slab ribs, choice of breast & wing or leg & thigh, two sides, and Texas toast.

Harrison described City Barbeque’s process for cooking the St. Louis Ribs.

“We smoke them to a point to where it’s not fall off the bone, but it’s bite off the bone. So it gives you a little texture, a little bit of snap when you bite into it. They’re seasoned, smoked, and then we sauce them, then we grill them. Then we sauce them again, cut ’em up and serve ’em to you,” Harrison said.

Other popular items include the banana pudding, mac & cheese, cornbread, creamy slaw, and potato salad.

For local businesses and event planners, the barbecue joint offers catering for gatherings ranging from small family celebrations to corporate events serving thousands. Steiger said the company has handled orders for as many as 5,000 people.

“Our team is excited to bring our first City Barbeque in the state of Alabama to Huntsville,” said Mike Muldoon, CEO and president of City Barbeque.

City Barbeque was founded in 1999 by Rick Malir and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. The restaurant has almost 80 locations in more than 10 states.

“We’ve been smoking barbeque for over 25 years, and we are proud to now be part of the Alabama barbeque community. Since 1999, everything we do—from smoking meats on-site to preparing our house-made sides to becoming a trusted member of the community—is rooted in family, community, and togetherness,” Muldoon said.

City Barbeque is located at 11544 Memorial Pkwy SW near the intersection of Hobbs Road and U.S. 231.