Tucked away on a modest stretch of Tampa’s 40th Street sits a culinary time capsule that’s been perfecting the art of smoke and fire since before many trendy food halls were even a concept.
Big John’s Alabama BBQ doesn’t announce itself with neon signs or flashy gimmicks – it lets the aromatic cloud of hickory smoke do all the talking.
The first thing that strikes you about Big John’s isn’t its appearance – a simple structure with a metal roof and straightforward signage that’s weathered decades of Florida sun.
What captivates you is the invisible but unmistakable scent that seems to wrap around you from the parking lot, a siren song of smoke and spice that’s been luring hungry Floridians for over half a century…