Hon’s BBQ is one of the most talked-about new restaurants in Hackney Wick, bringing together Texas-style smoked meats and Asian flavours from its permanent home in Queen’s Yard.
After seeing some seriously impressive reviews, we decided to try Hon’s BBQ for ourselves – and ordered enough of the menu to get a pretty good idea of what it does well.
And when Hon’s gets it right, it gets it very right.
The pork ribs were the best we’ve eaten, while the brisket, beef short rib, ox cheek and duck pancakes were all dishes we’d happily order again. However, not everything lived up to the same standard. Several of the sides were surprisingly underwhelming and, at roughly £100 per person for our meal, Hon’s certainly isn’t a cheap BBQ restaurant.
Our verdict? Hon’s BBQ is well worth trying, particularly if you’re visiting as a group and can share several different meats – but we’d be selective about what we ordered next time.
In this Hon’s BBQ Hackney Wick review, we’ll show you the menus, everything we ordered, what we’d recommend and which dishes we’d probably skip.
What Is Hon’s BBQ in Hackney Wick?
Hon’s BBQ is a BBQ restaurant in Hackney Wick specialising in slow-smoked meats with a mixture of Texas BBQ techniques and Asian-inspired flavours. You’ll find it in Queen’s Yard, above CRATE Brewery, right in the heart of Hackney Wick.
The menu revolves heavily around meat, with cuts such as pork ribs, beef short rib, brisket, ox cheek and lamb designed for sharing alongside a selection of starters and sides.
It’s certainly not your typical cheap-and-cheerful BBQ joint. Hon’s has attracted plenty of attention since opening, and with some seriously enthusiastic reviews already out there, we went in with fairly high expectations.
If you’re exploring more of the capital beyond Hackney Wick, you can also read our London Travel Guide for our first-hand recommendations on what to see and do around the city.
Hon’s BBQ Menu
The menu at Hon’s BBQ is centred around smoked meats designed for sharing, alongside a smaller selection of starters, vegetables and sides. There is plenty to choose from, but if it’s your first visit, we’d recommend making the meat the main event – that’s where Hon’s really impressed us.
We’ve included photos of both the food and drinks menus from our visit below, so you can see what was available and get an idea of prices.
Drinks Menu
The drinks selection includes beers, cocktails, wine and soft drinks. We kept things simple and went for a CRATE Lager, which was exactly what we wanted alongside a table full of rich smoked meat.
Menus and prices can change, so we’d recommend checking the latest menu before visiting.
What We Ordered at Hon’s BBQ
We ordered a good selection of the menu at Hon’s BBQ, including most of the main meats alongside a few starters and sides. This gave us a pretty good idea of where Hon’s really excels – and which dishes we’d probably leave off our order next time.
Duck Pancakes
We started with the duck pancakes, which come as three pieces and are served for you to build yourself.
You get a generous amount of duck breast for the three pancakes, and the duck itself was cooked really well. There was plenty to load into each pancake without having to ration the filling, which made the portion feel more substantial than we expected.
A very good start to the meal and definitely something we’d order again.
Tomato & Melon Salad
The tomato and melon salad worked well as a fresh palate cleanser between some of the much richer dishes.
It was refreshing and a nice addition to the table, although with so much other food available, we wouldn’t consider it an essential order.
Beef Short Rib
The beef short rib was one of the standout meats at Hon’s BBQ and definitely one we’d recommend ordering, particularly if you’re sharing.
It’s a seriously substantial piece of beef, arriving on the bone with a dark, smoky bark and topped with Sichuan peppercorn sauce, crispy garlic and chilli.
The beef itself was beautifully tender with a deep smoky flavour, but it’s the Asian influence that makes the dish more interesting. The Sichuan peppercorn and chilli give the richness of the beef a spicy, slightly numbing kick, while the crispy garlic adds another layer of flavour and texture.
It’s rich, smoky and very filling, so we wouldn’t recommend ordering one per person. This is a dish made for sharing, especially if you want to work your way through several of Hon’s other smoked meats.
For us, the beef short rib was a must-try.
Brisket
The brisket was another highlight and exactly what we wanted from a BBQ restaurant.
It was well cooked, juicy and had a lovely smoky flavour without being overpowering. Most importantly, the meat hadn’t dried out – something that can easily ruin brisket.
It might not have stolen the show quite like the pork ribs, but this was still one of the better meats we tried and something we’d happily order again.
Pork Belly
The pork belly was one of the more disappointing meats we tried at Hon’s BBQ.
It was very fatty – which, of course, is to be expected with pork belly – but we didn’t think there was enough flavour to balance out the richness. After how impressed we’d been with some of the other smoked meats, we simply expected a little more from this dish.
This will naturally come down to personal preference, but with so many better options on the menu, the pork belly is one we’d avoid if we visited Hon’s again.
Ox Cheek
The ox cheek was delicious and an absolute must-try.
The smoked ox cheek is served with a black pepper sauce, which works brilliantly with the richness of the beef. The meat itself was incredibly tender, with the deep smoky flavour you’d expect from Hon’s coming through alongside a good peppery kick from the sauce.
It’s another fairly rich dish, but when you’re sharing several different meats across the table, it works really well.
Alongside the pork ribs, beef short rib and brisket, the ox cheek is one of the meats we’d definitely order again.
Lamb Breast
The lamb breast packs a serious punch of flavour and was one of the more distinctive meats we tried at Hon’s BBQ.
It’s rich, fatty and has that unmistakably strong lamb flavour, so this is definitely a dish for people who already enjoy lamb rather than something we’d recommend to everyone.
We enjoyed it, particularly when sharing it alongside the other meats, but a little goes a long way. If you’re a fan of lamb, it’s well worth adding to the table.
Pork Ribs – The Star of the Show
The pork ribs were comfortably the best dish we ate at Hon’s BBQ – and we’d go as far as saying they are the best pork ribs we’ve ever eaten.
The meat was incredibly tender, packed with flavour and had exactly the kind of deep smokiness we were hoping for from Hon’s. Everything about them worked.
There were several meats we’d happily order again, but the pork ribs were on another level. They’re not just our number one recommendation from the menu – we think they’re worth visiting Hon’s BBQ for alone.
If you’re only going to order one meat, make it the pork ribs.
Cauliflower Steak
The cauliflower steak was underwhelming and one of the weaker dishes we tried. As the main vegetarian option, we expected more flavour and wouldn’t order it again.
Hon’s BBQ is definitely at its best when it comes to the meat.
Mac & Cheese
The mac & cheese was another disappointment. It was perfectly fine, but lacked the rich, indulgent flavour we expected from a BBQ side.
With so many excellent meats available, we’d skip this one next time.
Green Beans
The green beans were a nice enough side and added something lighter alongside all the rich smoked meat, but ultimately, they were nothing to write home about.
How Much Does Hon’s BBQ Cost?
Hon’s BBQ isn’t cheap. Our meal came to roughly £100 per person, although it’s worth pointing out that we ordered a lot of food because we wanted to try as much of the menu as possible.
For us, Hon’s is best visited with four or more people. Many of the larger cuts of meat are perfect for putting in the middle of the table and sharing, which means you can try several different dishes without everyone needing to order their own.
It’s certainly on the pricier side for BBQ food in Hackney Wick, but ordering as a group and being selective with the sides would be how we’d approach it next time.
Is Hon’s BBQ Worth It? Our Verdict
Overall, we had a very good meal at Hon’s BBQ and would recommend giving it a try, particularly if you’re a fan of smoked meat.
When Hon’s gets it right, it’s seriously good. The pork ribs were the best we’ve ever eaten and are worth visiting for alone, while the beef short rib, brisket and ox cheek were all dishes we’d happily order again.
Where Hon’s fell slightly short for us was outside the main meats. Several of the sides were underwhelming, the pork belly didn’t impress us, and it can quickly become an expensive meal if you want to explore a large portion of the menu.
For that reason, we’d recommend visiting with four or more people, ordering several of the standout meats for the table and being selective with the sides.
Did Hon’s BBQ live up to all the rave reviews? Not quite for us. But there were some genuinely exceptional dishes, and we’d return for those pork ribs without hesitation.
Hon’s BBQ Hackney Wick FAQ
Is Hon’s BBQ Hackney Wick worth visiting?
Yes. We’d recommend Hon’s BBQ for its smoked meats, particularly the pork ribs, beef short rib, brisket and ox cheek. We weren’t as impressed by several of the sides, but the best meat dishes are genuinely excellent.
What is the best dish at Hon’s BBQ?
For us, it’s easily the pork ribs. They were the best ribs we’ve ever eaten and the one dish we’d return to Hon’s specifically to order again.
What should you order at Hon’s BBQ?
Our top picks would be the pork ribs, beef short rib, brisket and ox cheek. We’d also recommend the duck pancakes to start, while lamb lovers should consider trying the lamb breast.
How much does Hon’s BBQ cost?
We spent roughly £100 per person, although we deliberately ordered a large amount of food to try as much of the menu as possible. You could certainly spend less by being more selective with your order.
Is Hon’s BBQ good for groups?
Yes. In fact, we’d recommend visiting Hon’s BBQ with four or more people. The menu is designed for sharing, and visiting as a group makes it much easier to order several different smoked meats and try a little of everything.
Does Hon’s BBQ have vegetarian food?
There are vegetarian dishes available. We tried the cauliflower steak but found it underwhelming compared with the quality of the smoked meats. Based on our experience, we’d primarily recommend Hon’s to people visiting for the BBQ meat.
What type of food does Hon’s BBQ serve?
Hon’s combines Texas-style BBQ with Asian influences, with meats smoked low and slow alongside Asian-inspired sauces, seasonings and accompaniments.
Where is Hon’s BBQ?
Hon’s BBQ is located on the first floor of Unit 7, The White Building, Queen’s Yard, London E9 5EN, above CRATE Brewery in Hackney Wick.
Do you need to book Hon’s BBQ?
We’d recommend booking, particularly if you’re planning to visit with a group. Hon’s takes table reservations online, and because the meat is smoked in limited quantities and sold until it runs out, you can also request a particular cut in the notes when making your booking.
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