Who knew Ohio was hiding a treasure trove of mouthwatering barbecue joints?

From hole-in-the-wall smokehouses to unassuming strip mall gems, these nine spots prove that sometimes, the best flavors come without the frills.

Let’s kick things off with a place that’s not afraid to tell you exactly what to do: eat meat here.

Big shoutout to the New Day Cleveland crew for being so welcoming to a hucklebuck from Warren and making our small business feel special. We’re all about keeping it real, feeding our community, and having fun while we do it.

Indulge In 14-Hour Smoked Meats And Made-From-Scratch Sides At Cockeye BBQ In Ohio

Cockeye BBQ in Warren, Ohio, is an award-winning barbecue restaurant known for its slow-cooked meats and made-from-scratch sides.

Do you have a go-to barbecue restaurant in the Buckeye State? If you don't, you're about to. Cockeye BBQ in Warren, Ohio is an award-winning barbecue restaurant that slow cooks meat to perfection and creates made-from-scratch sides that will make your tastebuds sing. Here's why you'll want to visit this exceptional BBQ restaurant in Ohio:

Welcome to Cockeye BBQ, a tiny but mighty restaurant that will change the way you think about barbecue.

Great barbecue takes a long time, and Cockeye BBQ’s 14-hour smoked pulled pork sandwich is an example of why it’s worth the wait. The lightly sauced pork shoulder is served with a dollop of creamy house slaw. If you’re willing to forgo the bun, the Mess Plate comes with the same pulled pork (this time topped with cheese and sauce) along with house-made macaroni and cheese, and onion rings. The Warren spot, which Erik and Stacey Hoover started in 2015, also has an outdoor seating option and on-site ice cream stand that make a visit all the sweeter.

We had a blast visiting and talking show with Casey and her amazing crew. BBQ, ice cream, pizza and so much more!

Cockeye BBQ and Creamery invited members of the press and community leaders to announce their renovated manufacturing plant located at 387 Chestnut Avenue Northeast.

“We love to sell food that people like to eat,” said Ben Hoover of Cockeye BBQ and Creamery.

That’s an understatement.

The Hoover family’s company is known for its delicious barbecue and ice cream. Soon, it will add pizza to that list.

A Warren-based ice cream business now has the room it needs to continue to grow its brand.

Cockeye Creamery’s new manufacturing plant on Chestnut Avenue is now producing the creamery’s ice cream.

Plant manager Max Hoover said it’s an exciting expansion for the company that has had great success since it opened five years ago.

Hoover said that in the last three years, they have seen substantial growth and demand for their products, and they were running out of space at their first location.

Second Harvest Food Bank received more than $1,000 through the program.

The Cockeye Cares Pint Program has collected money for Second Harvest Food Bank.

You really can't go wrong with ranch, cheddar, and bacon, and this chicken is no exception. We advise piling it high on potato rolls, but it'd also be great as a dip, in lettuce wraps, or straight from the Instant Pot; the possibilities are endless!

From fried chicken to creative burgers to classic diner fare, check out these spots to grab a bite throughout Ohio’s Appalachian region.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — One of the top ice cream makers in the country is churning out some award-winning sweet stuff right here in Ohio. Max Hoover is the owner/operator of Cockeye Creamery. The 26-year-old has been honing his skills since opening the shop about four years ago.

What a great article featuring Trumbull County, Ohio. So many cool things to see and do right here in our backyard!

Erik Hoover, a Portage County native and a classically trained chef, opened Cockeye BBQ in 2015 with his wife and sons. What began as a hobby of hosting backyard BBQs and catering graduations, weddings and parties grew to a size that was just too big for their garage. With the money they saved doing what they loved, they purchased a building and opened Cockeye offering old-style smokehouse BBQ, specializing in beef brisket, chicken, pulled pork and pork ribs. Stop and visit for old-style, slow-cooked BBQ and check out their menus special for sandwiches and sides made to order.

We love being a guest on WFMJ in Youngstown and enjoyed sharing one of our families favorite grilled sandwiches, the Chicken Spiedie!

We earned the HBK Growth Award at the annual Chamber of Commerce meeting. Here’s a short video about our little restaurant and growing business.