I spent years driving past a small storefront on 7th Street in Canton, Ohio, never realizing I was missing out on some of the finest pulled pork this state has to offer. Kennedy Barbecue doesn’t advertise with flashy signs or modern branding.
Instead, this place has been quietly smoking meats and serving hungry locals since 1922, relying entirely on word of mouth and repeat customers who know exactly what they’re getting. The building itself looks modest, almost easy to overlook among the other shops on the block.
But step inside, and you’ll immediately smell the smoky perfume that’s been wafting through Canton for over a century. I finally made the stop, and I’m here to tell you why this at-the-first-glance ordinary spot deserves a permanent place on your lunch rotation.
A Century-Old Tradition at 1420 7th Street NW
Kennedy Barbecue sits at 1420 7th Street NW in Canton, Ohio, and it’s been holding down that same address since the early 1920s. Walking through the door feels like stepping into a time capsule, and I mean that in the best possible way…