Steve's Gastronomic Home Page

Home INDEX Top Rated Recent Updates Asian Mexican Rating & Cost Info. Links

Swadley's Bar-B-Q
4000 N. Rockwell Ave.
Bethany, OK
(405) 495-5336
RESTAURANT INFO. RATING TYPE FEATURES BEST ITEMS/ SPECIAL RATINGS
Cost: $$
Hours: Open Daily
Swadley's web site
21 Barbecue Smoking: No Smoking
Alcohol: No
Brisket:
Sweet Brisket Beans:
Okra:
LAST TRIED TIMES TRIED
22-Aug-06 1
It seems that there are enough versions of barbecue in Oklahoma that one person can never try all of them, but a few restaurants have become particularly popular such as Swadley's Bar-B-Q. With the original location in the west Oklahoma City suburb of Bethany, Swadley's recently moved from NW 23rd & Council to NW 39th Expressway & Rockwell and has established several branches throughout the metro. It seems that the family's 80 years of experience in the food industry is paying off.

Swadley's is probably most famous for its ribs. The menu describes them as "Hand Rubbed Honey Rib Dinners," although I have yet to try them.

Brisket is probably the next most popular item. This meat is "24 Hour Sugar Cured" and while it is not meat that will fall apart when touched by a fork, is very tender with the kind of barbecue flavor that would be expected in a good Oklahoma "Q" restaurant. Three types of sauce are served--I tried two and did not think either one particularly merited a return trip to the restaurant. The meat, however, was definitely good quality.

Unlike many restaurants that offer beans and cole slaw as sides, Swadley's serves an array of choices that makes it difficult to try all of them. Baked Beans come in two styles--sweet and hot (I was told the hot one was really hot with jalapenos included). The sweet baked beans were not the best I have ever eaten, but were good quality and are something I would order again.

Okra is one of the choices for a side dish. The one here is extremely non-greasy compared to most versions, and although I did not think it was the most flavorful okra I had ever eaten, the fact that it was non-greasy would make this something I would order in the future.

I believe the secret to Swadley's success is that even though it is so big it almost falls into the "mass production" category of barbecue, the flavor is very much like the small "mom and pop" places for which Oklahoma is famous.

Go To Top

Back to Oklahoma Index

©2006 Steve's Gastronomic Home Page