★★★★★
Food was excellent and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming — everything was delicious, flavorful, tender, and truly satisfying. One of the best brisket plates in Jacksonville.
BBQ · San Marco · Jacksonville
The
Bearded Pig
01
The place
The Bearded Pig is a Southern barbecue restaurant in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, located at 1808 Kings Ave. Founded in 2016 by Chad Munsey and Michael Schmidt, the restaurant serves dry-rubbed, slow-smoked meats with Southern sides in a counter-service beer garden setting. The menu features brisket, spare ribs, pulled pork, and smoked chicken, plus five house-made BBQ sauces and a rotating draft beer list. The covered patio is dog-friendly with umbrella-shaded tables, heaters for cooler nights, and TVs tuned to sports. The Bearded Pig holds a 4.6-star rating on Google with over 5,350 reviews and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Monday. Orders are placed at the front counter and takeout is available.
Tucked along Kings Avenue just off the San Marco Square corridor, The Bearded Pig is the Southern-style BBQ joint and beer garden that locals point newcomers to when the question is "where's the best brisket in Jacksonville?" Co-founders Chad Munsey and Michael Schmidt opened the spot in 2016 and built it around a long covered patio, picket-fence trim, picnic-bench seating and TVs for game day — a casual, family-friendly room where the smoker out back does the heavy lifting.
Order at the counter and start with the slow-smoked brisket, St. Louis-cut spare ribs, pulled pork or quarter chicken — all dry-rubbed and sliced to order, then finished with one of five house BBQ sauces ranging from sweet Carolina mustard to a smoky hot. The San Marco Platter pairs a quarter rack of ribs with a quarter chicken and two sides, and the Bearded Poutine — crispy fries piled with cheese curds and pulled pork — is the cult appetizer, alongside smoked jalapeño poppers and dry-rubbed wings.
The Bearded Pig does not take reservations — seating is first-come, first-served, with a large dog-friendly patio that fills up fast on Friday and Saturday nights. There is street and small-lot parking around the Kings Avenue block, takeout is available by walking up or calling (904) 619-2247, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio with umbrellas and heaters for cooler nights.
Dog-friendly covered beer garden patio
Slow-smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and chicken
Five house-made BBQ sauces
Craft beer on tap — rotating local lineup
What to expect
Order at the walk-up counter, grab a number, find a seat on the covered dog-friendly patio or inside near the bar, and the kitchen runs your food out. Expect classic Southern BBQ — brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and Southern sides — served on butcher paper, plus craft beer on tap. The vibe is laid-back beer garden meets sports bar, with TVs tuned to the game and a steady local crowd from San Marco.
Then come for the photos
03
The shop, in frames
Sponsored · Florida Hidden Spots
04
What people are saying
★★★★★
Menu has lots of choices, multiple sauce selections from savory to hot, and plenty of sides to choose from. The dog-friendly patio is a huge plus — we brought our pup and the staff brought him a bowl of water.
★★★★★
Fun mix of sports bar and BBQ joint with a laid-back vibe and seriously good food. The San Marco Platter is the move if you're feeding two — ribs and chicken were both on point.
06
Frequently asked
Does The Bearded Pig take reservations?
No — seating is first-come, first-served at both indoor tables and the large covered patio. Walk-ups are the norm; expect a short wait on Friday and Saturday nights.
Is The Bearded Pig dog/pet friendly?
Yes. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio, which has umbrella-shaded tables and heaters for cooler nights. Staff are known to bring water bowls for guests' dogs.
Where do I park near The Bearded Pig?
There is free street parking along Kings Avenue and adjacent San Marco side streets, plus a small lot near the restaurant. Spots fill quickly on weekends and game nights.
What are the most popular dishes at The Bearded Pig?
The slow-smoked brisket, St. Louis spare ribs, pulled pork and the San Marco Platter (quarter rack of ribs and quarter chicken with two sides) are the most-mentioned. The Bearded Poutine — fries with cheese curds and pulled pork — is the cult appetizer.
What are The Bearded Pig's hours?
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Mondays. Holiday hours can vary — confirm by calling (904) 619-2247.
Does The Bearded Pig offer takeout or delivery?
Yes. Takeout is available — order at the counter or by phone at (904) 619-2247. Delivery is available through major third-party apps in the San Marco area.
07
Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from The Bearded Pig.
08
From Instagram
@thebeardedpigbbq