House of Blues Opens The Smokehouse, a New Barbecue Quick Service Restaurant

With Disney Springs construction ramping up and parts of what is currently Downtown Disney behind construction walls, Disney is working on boosting the West Side’s dining appeal during the midday hours. This afternoon, House of Blues opened its newest quick-service location, The Smokehouse, a barbecue-and-sides joint.

Just a little booth in front of the House of Blues, Smokehouse (see the menu) serves pulled pork sandwiches, half-racks of ribs, a brisket sandwich, pulled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and a turkey leg, with various barbecue-friendly sides like slaw and fries. Sandwiches are served on fresh brioche buns, which is always a nice salty addition to a sweet or tangy sauce. While I didn’t get to see the turkey leg to compare its size to those in the parks, at $7.99 it’s nearly FOUR DOLLARS LESS than legs at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (Toluca Legs).

Though Smokehouse was only open to Cast Members at lunch today, House of Blues servers said they plan to soft open to guests tonight for dinner. Regular hours haven’t yet been determined, but they hope to serve lunch and dinner, probably opening around noon. After a bit of an awkward stare, one of the Cast Members in line agreed to let me snap a picture of her brisket sandwich, which looked delicious. 

According to the menu posted (sorry the picture is a little dark from the hulking shadow that is Disney Quest), Smokehouse does not accept Disney Dining Plan. Cast Members were unsure as to whether discounts would be offered to Passholders or DVC members, but the prices were fairly reasonable, even without discount.

House of Blues has added a small seating area just behind the barbecue outpost, which is almost completely shaded until later in the afternoon.

While I didn’t get to actually taste anything, if the smell and CM reactions are any indicator, Smokehouse could become a favorite new barbecue stop on property in the very near future.