Roy's Hickory Pit BBQ - Hutchinson, Kansas Roy's Hickory Pit BBQ is a small family run restaurant that has been in operation in Hutchinson, Kansas since 1982. Roy's is only open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM until 2 PM, or until the meat runs out. My first meal at Roy's was in February 2009. Arriving at the small old building about noon on a Saturday, I opened the door to find the line waiting to get the counter was backed up to the entrance. Although a few of the people in line left when they heard that the turkey was all sold for the day, it took perhaps 15 minutes for me to get to the counter. I dined at Roy's again on the first Saturday in July of 2011. Arriving a bit before noon, the line of people waiting to order food was the width of the main room and 3/4 of the length of the exterior of the restaurant. We made friends with other people in line and discovered we might as well have arrived a little bit later. We were inside the building before more people got in line behind us. But it is a good thing that we didn't wait very much later - they were out all but the hot links by 1 PM. Over the years since then, I've learned to arrive at 11 AM when there are only about 8-12 people in line. Coming at 1 PM or later also avoids what can be a very long time, but risks Roy's being out of what you want to order. As you reach the counter, you can see the meats available displayed in a glass case. The lady working the counter works quickly and the food is plated by two people working right behind her. She is friendly & funny and seems to know about a third of the customers in line. I've now sampled most of the meats and my favorite is the mild Polish sausage - which surprised me, I am a "hot" food lover. I also liked the brisket & ribs. Linda and other people we spoke with were big fans of the turkey. None of the smoked meats have been disappointing. The Texas toast is fried on a grill and is very good. They go through so much toast that one person is dedicated to preparing it. The side dishes at Roy's are part of a tiny bar where people dish their own items to eat in or take out. I'm not impressed with the side dishes. The regular coleslaw was OK, but none were a real treat. With the exception of the beans, the sides are all cold and there are no French fries, onion rings, cheesy corn or anything like that. I noticed that many of the regulars buy only meat. Most of the meat dishes are served with a lot of sauce on top. I recommend ordering the sauce on the side so you can control how much there is. Although there are only 7 or 8 tables, there has been no problem finding a free table. Most people get their barbecue to go. After 42 years under Anne Armstrong & her son Ryan Collum, ownership of Roy's transferred to Kirk & Julia Johnson in June 2024. Having seen the wonderful way the Johnson's have maintained fine old R-B Drive In since they purchased it in 2016, I expect this transition will be good as well and look forward to visiting here again.
Hutchinson Kansas Restaurant Guide
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