It's not just the smoky meat and tangy sauces pulling in the customers. It's a little spot along State Road 32, that, unless you live in Westfield, you'd probably drive on by without even noticing.
If you like barbecue, you know people can be passionate about the flavorful meat. In fact, I posted a question on my Facebook page, asking people where their favorite BBQ joint in central Indiana is. I received over 200 comments on the topic! We clearly love our barbecue in Indiana.
One of the places that stood out to me, a local favorite in Westfield, Indiana, called
Big Hoffa's BBQ.It's not just the smoky meat and tangy sauces pulling in the customers. It's a little spot along State Road 32, that, unless you live in
Westfield,you'd probably drive on by without even noticing. In fact, I've driven by a number of times, and just thought it was a small stand in the summer.
Adam Hoffman, owner and top chef at
Big Hoffa's BBQ, says he hears that 30 times a day from customers. "They'll say, 'oh, we've driven by here five or six years and smelled smoke, saw the smoker. We had no idea you had a restaurant inside!'" said Adam.
Hoffman started his barbecue business in a food truck, opening his current location location four years ago, inside the front of an antique mall with just 25 seats. Adam says what sets him apart from other barbecue joints is his off-the-wall menu items.
"We formulate in our small little kitchen here these crazy recipes. I have a sauce that has over 25 INGREDIENTS in it. It takes me half an hour just to make a gallon of sauce!" he said.
Now at his restaurant, with over 170 seats inside and out, people line up for his specialties as soon as the doors open for lunch.
One of his unique specialties is called the El Sugundo, and don't think health food here. Adam starts with a bed of jasmine rice, tops that off with French fries, mac and cheese and pulled pork.
Sounds crazy, but Adam says, "The idea is good taste, a combo of spicy mayo, cilantro, jasmine rice. Once you get all those tastes together it's a super taste."
I will say, it was yummy, and I never thought this would be something I would like the taste of!
The meat was for sure the highlight, and it should be.
Adam puts 800-900 pounds of meat on his smoker a day for up to 30 hours. He makes 60 gallons of his BBQ sauces a week. Of course all home-made of his own recipes!
The one item that Adam says he sells the most of at Big Hoffa's, the Hoffanator. This one starts with a bed of French fries, and then comes the mac and cheese, baked beans, pulled pork, BBQ sauce and finally, Ranch dressing. How crazy does that sound!
"Yeah, let me tell ya', we never thought that would be such a hit," said Adam.
My favorite thing that Adam made for me when we visited was the Saigon Special. Adam says it's a twist to the popular Vietnamese favorite sandwich the Bahn Mi.
For this one, Adams starts off with a baked French roll, pulled pork, spicy mayo, homemade pickled vegetables, shredded homemade pickles, cilantro and jalapenos. Yea, that's a mouthful for sure, and it was delicious.
Big Hoffa's BBQ- See menus, directions and more
Big Hoffa's BBQ Facebook Big Hoffa's BBQ Twitter800 E Main St
Westfield, IN 46074
317-867-0077
Hours of Operation
Now Open 7 Days a Week!
Mon – Sat: 11 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 12 – 8 pm
* Hours subject to change in various seasons
