Harold's Barbecue

(404) 627-9268

171 Mcdonough Blvd SE
Atlanta, GA 30315 33.7177 -84.3826

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Neighborhoods: Southside, Southside

Years in business

Established in 1947

Price:

$

Last updated 8.06.11

Category:

Restaurants, Barbecue Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Brunch, Hidden Find, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

What People Are Saying About Harold's Barbecue

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Opened more than half a century ago, this barbecue shack is straight out of central casting, from its run-down neighborhood to the red-and-white checkered tablecloths, wood paneling, straining AC units and burglar bars on the windows. Blue-collar regulars saddle up to the main dining room's wooden bar. Weathered waitresses provide proficient, friendly service at a leisurely gait, and address diners as "honey" and "sugar." – – The Food – The diner's-eye-view of the kitchen is less than flattering, but there's barbecue magic at work back there. Pork ribs pack…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Although the restaurant posts an 8pm closing time on weekdays, call ahead if it's close to 7pm and you're more than 15 minutes away. Doors often close at 7:30pm on the staff's whim.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Their location in Jonesboro is convenient to anyone on the southside and is easy to get to from the freeway.
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. would have to say harolds is the best bar-b-q i have ever put in my mouth and there brunswick stew and cornbread is unbelivable.
  2. Good basic waitress service, and sweet tea for the Southern purist's.
  3. By the way, the tea tasted like it was mix with artifical sugar and the cole slaw was nasty too.
food quality
63.15999984741211% positive
  1. Outstanding sliced pork sandwiches, excellent stew and the gamut of atlanta's whose who, particularly at Friday lunch.
  2. great food
  3. Both the Pork & Beef were extremely dry and beef slices were more like beef jerky.
  4. The pork was oustanding along with some of the best stew I have ever had.
  5. Borderline nasty food overall.
  6. Stupendously good barbecue, brunswick stew, and cracklin' corn bread.
  7. If you like ketchup instead of barbecue sauce, Harold's is what you're looking for.
  8. The ribs were ok - not much meat and kinda dry.
  9. She gave me a plate of cheap white bread and potato chips along wit brunswick stew ,in which the stew could have been the best I ever had if wasn't cold.
  10. The ribs are great, the sandwiches divine, the brunswick stew exquisite and the crackling cornbread the best thing this side of heaven.
  11. The meat was most , flavorful, and the sauces were outstanding.
  12. Its great food and great people.
  13. then told the Manager about my beef his response was "we specialize in pork", wow that would have been nice to know before I ordered it, or better yet, why even have it on the menu?
  14. The place is not much to look, you almost want to keep driving past it, but the food is excellent!
  15. The meat was dry and had no flavor.
  16. Rough neighborhood, rough staff, overhyped, nasty, craklin bread full of gristle and fat back.
  17. Portions are smaller, the pork was lame, at best, chips are no longer served with the plate and the prices have increased.
  18. And also the pork, wow the slices was nasty,dry,no flavor at all.
  19. The barbecue sauce has a nice taste.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. then told the Manager about my beef his response was "we specialize in pork", wow that would have been nice to know before I ordered it, or better yet, why even have it on the menu?
overall
100.0% positive
  1. have to admit the stew was good, nice flavor, but I didn't try this place for the stew or to spend $15 to try brunswick stew.
  2. Having been to great BBQ restaurants all over our great country, this place was a joke.
service
73.33000183105469% positive
  1. Don't expect a great sit-down resaraunt- just friendly faces and great barbque.
  2. Its great food and great people.
  3. Rough neighborhood, rough staff, overhyped, nasty, craklin bread full of gristle and fat back.
  4. The portions are huge, the staff is quick and friendly, and you usually need a to-go box!
  5. Good basic waitress service, and sweet tea for the Southern purist's.
value
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. She gave me a plate of cheap white bread and potato chips along wit brunswick stew ,in which the stew could have been the best I ever had if wasn't cold.
  2. The portions are huge, the staff is quick and friendly, and you usually need a to-go box!
  3. Portions are smaller, the pork was lame, at best, chips are no longer served with the plate and the prices have increased.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. The portions are huge, the staff is quick and friendly, and you usually need a to-go box!
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/09/11

Terrible bbq

by bisyazabee

My husband and I both ordered the pork plate ($10 each and they only take cash) which came with chopped or sliced pork, coleslaw (could trade for fries), brunswick stew, and cornbread. Brunswick stew was good. HOWEVER, the pork had obviously been baked. Completely white, no pink, and no smokey flavor. Sauce is basically ketchup cut with vinegar and LOTS of white sugar. Cornbread was very dry. If they served this crap in Alabama, they'd be kicked out of the state. Ain't no way I'm eatin' here again!

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/03/10

Not what it used to be.

by playswithtrains

Stopped by for the first time in several years and was very disappointed. This place used to rock and now it was a total letdown. Ordered the pork plate. The pork showed up quick but was dry and had zero smoke flavor or color. It was white with not even a touch of pink smoke color. The cornbread was bone dry as well. My wife ordered the pork ribs and while they were not dryed out like the sliced pork they had no smoke flavor either. They at least were nice enough not to charge us but it's sad to see such a great place fade away.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/16/09

Best in atl

by Andi4564

best bbw in atlanta- no thrills just done right everytime

  • Pros: Love it
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/06/09

One time best BBQ, has REALLY gone down hill

by southsidediner

My Grandfather patronized Harold's over sixty years ago, and for decades, it's been a family tradision.

I would eat there at least twice a month, but my last time eating there will probably be my last.

I took a friend, we arrived early so no one was in the restaurant. Our waitress was rude and argued with me with I complained of grizzle in my sandwich the previous time I ate there.

Portions are smaller, the pork was lame, at best, chips are no longer served with the plate and the prices have increased.

Futhermore, the place is just dirty, (tables,walls, etc), which makes you question eating there. No soap or paper towels in the restroom, the parking lot is impossible, espesically when they have delieveries, the neighborhood is scary, at best, and the waitress was such a b it ch, even her co-workers were appologizing to me.

Sadly, Obviously, someone has passed away and the family member who inherited the place, is simply not doing the a good job.

Very sad indeed.

  • Pros: Brunswick Stew
  • Cons: Parking, Portions, Quality, Environment
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/01/08

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, MAYBE they WERE the best at one time, but as of today, worst BBQ we have eaten.

by JoeCal

We drove a good distance arriving shortly after lunch. We ordered their "SPECIALTY" Pork Ribs only to find out they were completely out! I guess you might say that says a lot about their ribs and/or you need to do a better job of having more of your "specialty product AVAILABLE". Anyway we ended up going with what we thought would be the next best thing: Chopped Pork Plate & Sliced Beef Plate. Both the Pork & Beef were extremely dry and beef slices were more like beef jerky. Furthermore, the meats were completely lacking in any type of smoked/great bbq flavor. When we advised the waitress, her response was "they must have over microwaved it ?" GREAT, just what we need to hear at a BBQ restaurant! I then told the Manager about my beef his response was "we specialize in pork", wow that would have been nice to know before I ordered it, or better yet, why even have it on the menu? His response was followed up with "well we can't please everybody."

Having been to great BBQ restaurants all over our great country, this place was a joke. They may have been great at one time, but we could not figure out how? In short, don't believe the hype. It was so bad, I had to take time out of my busy day to save another victim. What a joke! Truly Disappointed

  • Pros: Decent Cornbread & Brunswick Stew
  • Cons: Everything else, oh including the BBQ.

The Details on Harold's Barbecue

Place Categories:

  • mediocre barbecue
  • great food
  • best bruswick stew
  • extremely dry bbq pork
  • mediocre ribs
  • best brunswick stew
  • just dirty place
  • convenient location
  • loves bbq
  • full bread
  • nice wow
  • great cornbread
  • great country
  • nice taste
  • extremely dry beef
  • best allaround que
  • like ketchup
  • friendly faces
  • full slabs
  • outstanding sliced pork sandwiches
  • clean dam
  • good sweet tea
  • recommended harolds
  • nice folks
  • good corn bread
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