Omaha BBQ Restaurants: How to Order Like a Regular at Porky Butts

Sep 29, 2026 | BBQ, News

Walking into one of the top Omaha BBQ restaurants for the first time can feel like a lot. There are meats sold by the plate and by the pound, platters built for groups, sides, sauces, and specialty items you won’t find anywhere else. At Porky Butts BBQ, we want every guest to walk out full and happy, so we put together this guide to help you order like one of our regulars from the very first visit.

Competition Standards at an Everyday BBQ Restaurant

Before we get into the menu, it helps to know how we think about barbecue. Our team got its start on the competition circuit, where judges score every entry on three things: appearance, taste, and tenderness. The Kansas City Barbeque Society, the largest sanctioning body in competitive barbecue, uses those same three categories at hundreds of contests every year.

We cook for those same standards every day in our West Omaha kitchen. That means brisket with a deep bark, ribs with just the right bite, and pork that’s juicy on its own. It also means we smoke fresh daily and serve until we sell out. Everything you order was cooked for today, not yesterday. You can learn more about our competition history on our about page.

How Ordering Works at Our Omaha BBQ Restaurant

When you walk in, you’ll order at the counter. Most guests go one of three ways: a plate, a sandwich, or a platter to share. From there, you pick your meats, choose your sides, and grab your sauces.

If you’re not sure where to start, just ask. Our team is happy to point you toward what’s fresh off the smoker, what’s running low, and what pairs well together. Regulars do this all the time, and it’s one of the best ways to find a new favorite.

Plates, Sandwiches, and Platters: Picking the Right Order

Plates are the best choice for a solo visit. Pick two or three meats, add your sides, and you’ll get a real sampling of what we do. For a first visit, we recommend brisket, burnt ends, and ribs.

Sandwiches are perfect for a quick lunch. We take a lot of pride in being a go to pulled pork sandwich restaurant in Omaha, and our OG Porky is the one to try. It’s our award winning pulled pork piled high with apple coleslaw on a toasted brioche bun. For something bigger, The Tank loads chopped brisket, jalapeno cheddar sausage, and cheese sauce onto toasted jalapeno cornbread.

Platters are made for sharing. Our Family Platter feeds two to three people with a half rack of ribs, two meats, two sides, and cornbread. Feeding a bigger crew? The Porky’s Platter feeds four to six with a full rack of ribs and a portion of every meat we smoke, plus sides and cornbread.

You can see everything we offer on our full BBQ menu.

The Brisket and Burnt Ends Worth the Drive

Among barbecue restaurants in Omaha, we’re best known for our brisket and burnt ends, and for good reason. Brisket is the meat that helped us win on the national stage, including top brisket honors at the American Royal Open. We season it simply and smoke it low and slow until it’s tender with a peppery crust.

Our burnt ends come from that same brisket. They’re rich, smoky, caramelized bites that tend to be the first thing to sell out each day. If burnt ends are on your list, come in early.

Specialty Items Our Regulars Love

Once you’ve tried the classics, branch out. A few of our regulars’ favorites include:

Our BBQ boudin, made with smoked pork, rice, cheese, and fresh herbs, fried golden brown and topped with our house BBQ sauce and green onions.

Texas poutine, which piles chopped brisket or pork, cheese sauce, bacon, green onions, and BBQ sauce on our house made kettle chips.

Jalapeno cheddar sausage and pit ham, two meats that don’t get as much attention as brisket but deserve a spot on your plate.

A Quick Guide to Our Sides and Sauces

Our sides are made from scratch, and they’re a big part of what makes a plate great. Popular picks include mac and cheese, brisket chili, loaded grits, cucumber salad, apple slaw, and green beans. Every order goes better with cornbread.

We make three house sauces. Mild is sweet and easygoing, Sassy brings medium heat, and Fiery is for anyone who wants a real kick. Our tip: taste the meat on its own first, then add sauce. Good barbecue doesn’t need it, but the right sauce can make a great bite even better.

Bringing the Whole Family

We’re a family friendly BBQ restaurant, and kids are always welcome. Our Lil’ Butts menu has kid sized portions of chicken tenders, pulled pork, and mac and cheese, so even the pickiest eaters leave happy.

Dine In, Takeout, or Order Ahead

You’ll find us at 15475 Ruggles St., Suite 105, in West Omaha. We’re open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until we sell out, and we’re closed on Mondays. For anyone looking for BBQ in Omaha, NE without the wait, you can order online ahead of time and pick up your food when it’s ready.

Here’s the most important tip we can give: come early. Because we smoke fresh every day, popular items like burnt ends and brisket can run out before dinner, especially on weekends. Find directions and parking details on our Omaha BBQ restaurant location page.

When Your Group Is Too Big for a Table

Some gatherings need more than a platter. As one of the Omaha restaurants that cater events of every size, we bring the same award winning barbecue to weddings, office lunches, family reunions, and backyard parties. Catering orders need a 5 lb minimum and 48 hours notice.

Take a look at our BBQ catering menu, learn more about catering from Porky Butts, or check out our graduation catering options for open houses and grad parties.

Still deciding where to eat? Our guide to the best BBQ places in Omaha breaks down what separates great barbecue from the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Omaha BBQ Restaurants

What should I order on my first visit to an Omaha BBQ restaurant?
Start with the meats a restaurant is known for. At Porky Butts BBQ, we recommend a plate with brisket, burnt ends, and ribs, since those are the meats that helped us win national barbecue championships.

Do Omaha BBQ restaurants sell out?
The best ones often do, because they smoke meat fresh each day. At Porky Butts, we stay open from 11 a.m. until we sell out, so coming in for lunch or early afternoon is your best bet.

What is the best order for a group at a BBQ restaurant?
Platters are the easiest way to feed a group. Our Family Platter feeds two to three people, and our Porky’s Platter feeds four to six with a full rack of ribs and every meat we smoke.

Is Porky Butts BBQ family friendly?
Yes. We welcome families and offer a Lil’ Butts kids menu with chicken tenders, pulled pork, and mac and cheese.

Can I order ahead at Porky Butts BBQ?
Yes. You can order online and pick up at our West Omaha restaurant. For events, we offer catering with a 5 lb minimum and 48 hours notice.

Stop In and Order Like a Regular

The best Omaha BBQ restaurants make every visit feel easy, and that’s exactly what we aim for at Porky Butts. Come hungry, come early, and don’t be afraid to ask our team what’s good today. You can find out more about our award winning BBQ in Omaha or reach out to our team with any questions. We’ll see you soon.