The moment you spot that glowing red Saddleback BBQ sign in Okemos, Michigan, your stomach starts rumbling in anticipation of the smoky feast that awaits.
There’s something magical about a place that doesn’t need fancy gimmicks or elaborate decor to draw crowds – just the intoxicating perfume of properly smoked meat that wafts through the air and pulls you in like a tractor beam.
Michigan might not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of barbecue destinations, but Saddleback BBQ is changing that perception one perfectly smoked morsel at a time.
Tucked away in Okemos, this unassuming spot has locals planning their weeks around burnt end availability and out-of-towners plotting special detours just to get their hands on those legendary pork rinds…