Unearth The Voyage
There is a barbecue spot in Matawan, New Jersey, that has been quietly winning over rib lovers for more than three decades. No flashy billboards, no celebrity endorsements, just rack after rack of ribs that keep people coming back week after week.
The all-you-can-eat setup alone is enough to raise an eyebrow, but the menu goes well beyond that single selling point. By the time you finish reading this, you will have a very clear idea of why this place has earned over 2,300 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, and why the debate over the best ribs in New Jersey might just end at one particular address on Route 34.
Where to Find Big Ed’s and What to Expect When You Arrive
Right off Route 34 in Matawan, New Jersey, at 305 NJ-34, Matawan, NJ 07747, Big Ed’s Barbecue sits in a barnlike building that gives you a pretty clear signal about what kind of meal you are in for before you even walk through the door.
The large parking lot is decorated with fun animal farm figures and other quirky outdoor decorations that make the arrival feel more like an event than just pulling into another restaurant.
The building itself is spacious, with wooden booths and tables that fill up fast, especially on weekends. Big Ed’s is open every day of the week from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, which means lunch and dinner are both on the table, literally.
One thing worth knowing before you go: an 18% gratuity is added to dine-in checks automatically, so factor that into your budget. The restaurant’s website at bigedsbbq.com also offers coupons that can save you 10% on your order.
Over 30 Years in Business and Still Packing the House
A restaurant does not survive more than 30 years in New Jersey by accident. Big Ed’s Barbecue has been serving the Matawan community since the early 1990s, and the consistency is one of the most talked-about qualities the place has going for it.
The interior has been renovated over the years, with updated flooring, wall coverings, and tables that give it a fresh look while keeping the casual, barnlike character intact. Vintage touches like New York World’s Fair posters and a Lincoln Highway sign add an unexpected layer of Americana to the walls.
The crowd on any given weekend tells the whole story. Families with young kids, groups of friends, couples, and solo diners all share the same wooden booths, united by the same mission.
Longevity in the restaurant business is earned one plate at a time, and Big Ed’s has clearly been earning it for a very long time. That track record is not easy to fake.
The All-You-Can-Eat Ribs Deal That Keeps People Coming Back
The centerpiece of the Big Ed’s experience is the all-you-can-eat rib option, and it is exactly what it sounds like: keep ordering until you are done.
The ribs come in multiple flavors, including original BBQ, honey BBQ, and spicy, giving you a chance to work your way through the menu without committing to just one style. Baby back ribs and St. Louis style ribs are both available, and regulars tend to have strong opinions about which one wins.
There is a strict no-takeout policy on the all-you-can-eat option, which is how the restaurant keeps prices reasonable. That policy is worth knowing ahead of time so there are no surprises at the end of the meal.
One reviewer noted being out-eaten by a five-year-old at the table, which is both humbling and a testament to how good the ribs actually are. The all-you-can-eat format turns dinner into a friendly, low-key competition that the whole table ends up enjoying.
Baby Back vs. St. Louis Style: The Great Rib Debate
Ask any regular at Big Ed’s which rib style to order and you will likely spark a ten-minute conversation. Baby back ribs and St. Louis style ribs each have their loyal fans, and both are available as part of the all-you-can-eat menu.
Baby back ribs are leaner and slightly shorter, with a tender bite that works well with the sweeter BBQ sauces on offer. The St. Louis cut is wider, meatier, and carries more fat, which translates into a richer result that many visitors say edges out the baby backs.
The St. Louis ribs also pick up a smokier character from the charbroiling process, which adds another layer of complexity that keeps them interesting rack after rack.
Both options arrive meaty and well-prepared, and the honey BBQ glaze pairs particularly well with either cut. If this is your first visit, ordering both styles is the most efficient way to settle the debate for yourself, and it is completely allowed.
The Beef Brisket That Earns Its Own Conversation
Ribs get all the headlines at Big Ed’s, but the beef brisket has built up a quiet reputation of its own that deserves a proper mention.
The brisket is slow-cooked to the point where it pulls apart without much effort, and the texture is consistently described as tender throughout. It carries a mild smoky quality that works well with or without additional sauce, depending on your preference.
For Thanksgiving one year, a group of regulars ordered half trays of brisket and pulled pork to replace the traditional holiday dinner, reheated everything the next day, and reported that it tasted just as good the second time around. That kind of staying power is not something every barbecue restaurant can claim.
The brisket is available both as a dine-in order and as a catering tray option, making it one of the more flexible items on the menu. It holds up well and travels better than most slow-cooked meats, which is a genuine practical advantage.
Pulled Pork, Fried Chicken, and the Rest of the Menu
Beyond the ribs and brisket, Big Ed’s runs a broader menu that gives non-rib-lovers plenty of reasons to show up. The pulled pork is available as a sandwich and as a catering tray, and the chicken options include BBQ chicken and fried chicken.
The fried chicken gets specific praise for its crispy exterior and juicy interior, which is exactly the balance that makes fried chicken worth ordering. It is the kind of dish that makes you forget you originally came for the ribs.
Big Ed’s Burger also shows up in reviews as a solid choice for anyone who wants something outside the barbecue category entirely. The menu covers enough ground that a group with mixed preferences can all find something worth ordering.
The pulled chicken sandwich is another option that leans lighter than the pulled pork, which is a useful alternative if you want something a little less rich. Variety is not usually the first thing people associate with a barbecue joint, but Big Ed’s handles it well.
The Sides That Round Out the Meal
A great barbecue meal lives and falls with its sides, and Big Ed’s puts real effort into the supporting cast. The mac and cheese is consistently mentioned as one of the best items on the table, with a creamy texture that holds up well next to the heavier protein options.
Baked beans, coleslaw, homemade fries, corn, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, and onion rings all appear on the menu, giving you more than enough options to build a well-rounded plate. The coleslaw is light and well-balanced, and the homemade fries come out fresh and properly seasoned.
Apple fritters are a standout that not everyone expects to find at a barbecue restaurant. They arrive warm and sweet, with a crispy outside that makes them work equally well as a side or a pre-dessert treat.
The garlic bread at the table is a polarizing item, with some visitors loving it and others finding it average, but most agree it is a fine way to start while you wait for the main event to arrive.
Apple Fritters and Lava Cake: Dessert at a BBQ Joint
Most people do not walk into a barbecue restaurant expecting a dessert worth talking about, but Big Ed’s has a couple of options that manage to leave an impression even after a full round of all-you-can-eat ribs.
The apple fritters are the more surprising of the two. They come out warm, with a lightly crispy outside and a soft, sweet center that makes them feel almost like a proper dessert course rather than just a side dish that got promoted.
The lava cake is the more traditional dessert choice, served with vanilla ice cream and cream. The combination of warm chocolate cake and cold ice cream is a reliable crowd-pleaser, and the version at Big Ed’s delivers on that classic formula without overcomplicating it.
Finishing a full barbecue meal and still finding room for lava cake is an optimistic plan, but it is one that several visitors have reported pulling off successfully. The dessert menu is small but genuinely worth saving space for.
The Atmosphere Inside: Barnlike, Comfortable, and Genuinely Fun
The inside of Big Ed’s leans hard into the barnlike theme, and it works. Wooden booths and tables fill a large, open dining room that can handle big groups without feeling chaotic, which is a practical advantage on busy weekend nights.
Sports are a constant presence, with televisions positioned throughout the space, making it a natural destination for game-day crowds. The combination of good food and live sports on screen turns Sunday afternoons into a reliable gathering spot for regulars.
The Americana decorations throughout the room, including the vintage World’s Fair posters and highway signage, give the walls some personality without trying too hard. It is the kind of decor that rewards a second look.
The overall vibe is casual and unpretentious, which matches the food perfectly. There is no dress code, no formality, and no pressure to rush through the meal.
Big Ed’s is the kind of place where you settle in, order another round of ribs, and let the evening take care of itself.
The Animal Farm in the Parking Lot
Before you even reach the front door, the parking lot at Big Ed’s gives you something to look at. A collection of animal farm figures and other decorative pieces are spread across the large lot, turning the approach into a small spectacle that catches first-timers off guard in the best way.
It is the kind of roadside character that feels genuinely earned rather than manufactured, and it fits naturally with the barnlike building behind it. Kids tend to notice it immediately, which helps set a relaxed, playful tone before anyone has even sat down.
The outdoor setup also reinforces how much space the property has, which translates to generous parking availability even on busy nights. Finding a spot is rarely a problem, which removes one of the more common frustrations of dining out in a popular New Jersey restaurant.
The animal farm detail is a small thing, but it is the kind of specific, memorable quirk that makes Big Ed’s feel like its own world rather than just another stop along Route 34.
Service That Regulars Keep Mentioning by Name
Service at a restaurant with all-you-can-eat ribs has to move fast and stay organized, and Big Ed’s staff consistently gets recognized for doing exactly that. Multiple visitors have specifically called out servers by name in their reviews, which is a level of appreciation that goes beyond a standard dining experience.
The servers handle large parties, busy weekend rushes, and multiple rib refill requests without losing their composure, which requires a specific kind of efficiency. Attentiveness and accuracy come up repeatedly as qualities that make the service stand out.
One first-time visitor noted that their server made the entire experience feel welcoming and comfortable from the start, which is the kind of impression that turns a single visit into a regular habit. It is easy to overlook good service when the food is this compelling, but it is clearly part of what keeps people returning.
Big Ed’s also responds to reviews directly and thoughtfully, which reflects a management style that takes customer feedback seriously and treats the dining experience as an ongoing conversation.
Pricing, Coupons, and Getting the Best Value
Big Ed’s lands in the mid-range price category, which puts it firmly in the territory of a special weeknight dinner or a comfortable weekend outing without requiring a major financial commitment. The all-you-can-eat rib pricing is considered fair by most visitors given the volume and quality of what arrives at the table.
The restaurant’s website at bigedsbbq.com offers a printable 10% coupon that is worth checking before any visit. That kind of straightforward discount is genuinely useful, especially for larger groups where the savings add up quickly.
The automatic 18% gratuity on dine-in checks is something to factor into your budget ahead of time. It is not hidden, but it can catch first-timers off guard if they are not expecting it when the bill arrives.
One visitor framed the pricing this way: three times the cost of a fast-food combo meal, but fifty times better in quality. That math is hard to argue with, especially when the all-you-can-eat option means the price per rib goes down the more you order.
Why Big Ed’s Belongs on Your New Jersey Barbecue List
New Jersey has no shortage of good food, but finding a barbecue restaurant with genuine staying power, a loyal following, and a menu that delivers on its promises is a more specific challenge. Big Ed’s clears that bar consistently.
The combination of all-you-can-eat ribs, a broad menu, solid sides, quirky atmosphere, and dependable service creates a dining experience that is hard to replicate at home and hard to find at this price point. Every element of the visit, from the animal farm in the parking lot to the lava cake at the end, feels intentional.
First-time visitors often leave already planning their return, which is the clearest possible signal that a restaurant is doing something right. The ribs are the main draw, but the full package is what keeps people loyal.
Big Ed’s Barbecue at 305 NJ-34 in Matawan, New Jersey, is open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, and the only real preparation you need before going is arriving hungry enough to do the menu justice.
