Cubby's BBQ Ribs Restaurant Review: A must try spot in Hackensack, NJ

Cubby's BBQ Ribs Restaurant
249 South River Street
Hackensack,NJ

Cubby's BBQ is a longtime Bergen County destination for hearty barbecue, especially its famous ribs. Cubby's operates as a casual, counter-service restaurant rather than an upscale barbecue dining room, making it a good choice when the priority is a filling, straightforward meal.

Fare & Price

Cuisine: American barbecue, ribs, steaks, burgers and comfort food

Price: Moderate

What Kind of Food Does Cubby's BBQ Serve?

Cubby's specializes in hearty American BBQ and comfort food. Its signature ribs are served as a half rack or full rack with fries, baked or mashed potatoes and garlic bread. The menu also includes smoked BBQ pork sandwiches, BBQ chicken, Buffalo wings, Black Angus burgers, steaks, roast beef sandwiches, shrimp, salmon and a wide range of sides.

Popular Menu Highlights

Full Rack of Famous Ribs — served with fries, baked or mashed potato and garlic bread
Half Rack of Rib — served with fries, baked or mashed potato and garlic bread
Chicken & Rib Combo
Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwich
Black Angus ½-pound Burger Platters
BBQ Chicken Platter
Buffalo Wings
Steak dinners

BBQ Cooking Style

The kitchen's approach is centered on homestyle American barbecue, with ribs as the signature attraction and smoked BBQ pork.

The BBQ profile is sauce-forward and designed around familiar comfort-food flavors. The menu pairs the meats with substantial sides such as mashed potatoes, fries, baked potatoes, BBQ beans, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, coleslaw and homemade garlic bread.

Ambiance:

Casual, Comfortable and No-Frills. The atmosphere is casual, practical and family-oriented, with booth seating, a dining area and a counter-ordering setup.

For diners who enjoy restaurants where the food—not the décor—is the main attraction, that simplicity can be part of the appeal.

Service:

Service at Cubby's is different from a traditional full-service restaurant. Ordering is generally handled at the counter, with food brought into a casual dining environment. This makes the experience relatively straightforward and can work well for families, groups and diners who prefer a quick, uncomplicated meal.

Alcohol: Limited menu includes red and white wine, 10 premium craft beers are available on tap

What Do I Like About Cubby's BBQ?

The biggest appeal is the focus on substantial, familiar food without unnecessary fuss. The ribs remain the star attraction, while the broad menu gives a group plenty of choices if not everyone wants BBQ.
I particularly like the combination of ribs, classic sides and homemade garlic bread. The menu makes it easy to build the kind of hearty barbecue meal many diners expect: a substantial meat portion, a filling side and something savory to accompany it.
Another advantage is the restaurant's longevity and local identity. Cubby's describes itself as having served the community for decades, giving it the feel of an established Bergen County institution rather than a recently opened BBQ concept.

What Sets Cubby's BBQ Apart From Its Competition?

Cubby's differentiates itself through longevity, menu breadth and its signature ribs. Many contemporary BBQ restaurants concentrate on a narrower selection of smoked meats. Cubby's combines ribs and BBQ with steaks, Black Angus burgers, chicken, hot dogs, seafood, salads and traditional comfort-food sides.

Its full-rack and half-rack rib meals, four-person combination platter and catering options also make it particularly suitable for families and groups. The restaurant's long-running presence in Hackensack gives it a loyal, local following that is difficult for a newer BBQ restaurant to duplicate.

Best For

Cubby's BBQ is particularly well suited for:

Rib lovers looking for generous portions
Families seeking a casual restaurant
Groups with different food preferences
Diners who enjoy traditional American comfort food
Casual lunches and dinners
Takeout and catering
Diners who prefer a relaxed, no-frills environment
People looking for a long-established Bergen County BBQ restaurant

Not Ideal For

Cubby's may not be the best choice for:

Diners seeking fine dining or upscale décor
People expecting formal table service
BBQ purists looking specifically for highly regional Texas, Carolina or competition-style barbecue
Diners looking for an intimate or romantic restaurant
People who are particularly price-sensitive about counter-service dining

Managing Expectations: A Balanced Look at Your Visit

To really enjoy Cubby's, it helps to align your expectations with what the restaurant is designed to be:

Here's where expectations matter.

Cubby's BBQ should be approached as a long-established, casual Hackensack barbecue restaurant—not as a modern destination smokehouse or upscale dining experience.
The strongest reason to visit is the food, particularly the ribs and traditional BBQ sides. The restaurant offers generous portions, a broad menu and a relaxed atmosphere. At the same time, the counter-service format, simple surroundings and occasionally debated pricing may not appeal to everyone.
BBQ preferences are also highly personal. Some diners praise Cubby's ribs for their tenderness and flavor, while others criticize the sauce level or question the restaurant's traditional BBQ credentials.

Bottom line: If you want a casual Bergen County restaurant with a long history, hearty portions and famous ribs, Cubby's BBQ is worth considering.

Go expecting big portions, classic comfort food, a casual counter-service experience and a sauce-forward BBQ style—not an upscale craft-BBQ destination. That distinction is the key to having the right expectations and enjoying what Cubby's does best.

Updated August 12, 2026