Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que is a Westfield favorite

Writer / Matt Keating

Photographer / Jamie Sangar

Adam Hoffman is the owner of Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que.

Adam Hoffman, owner of Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Westfield, receives great satisfaction serving food people enjoy and keep coming back for.

“If complete strangers keep telling me they have been craving something they ate here before and can’t wait to eat it again, that’s a great feeling,” Hoffman says. “After that, they aren’t strangers anymore. They become our friends, and we can’t wait to see them again.”

Guests at Big Hoffa’s know Hoffman is meticulous about all his specialties, meals, sides, sandwiches and other food items.

“I really do get completely involved in everything we make here,” Hoffman says. “I’ve also appreciated how our guests trust us to make the best meals possible.”

Hoffman, who is originally from Los Angeles, had friends on the west coast who would regularly devour his special ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and barbecue sauce. They encouraged him to take his culinary talents to the Midwest, so Hoffman moved to Indiana to cook his specialties.

Hoffman says he operated a traveling smokehouse on wheels for three years before starting Big Hoffa’s in Westfield in 2007.

“I thought the time was right,” Hoffman says. “I spent a lot of time perfecting my ribs, barbecue sauces, sandwiches and other items and decided the time was right to open a restaurant in Westfield. I love this area, and I’ve been able to get people coming back for more.”

Hoffman credits Big Hoffa’s success to his loyal staff who create a fun atmosphere for guests.

“I have a great staff, and that’s half the battle,” he says. “We have a pirate theme at Big Hoffa’s, and the staff enjoys it as much as the guests. There is a lot of pirate memorabilia here. The kids love it, and so do their parents, and all the adults. Barbecue started in the Caribbean, so we wanted to acknowledge that.”

Hoffman and his staff spend up to 25 to 30 hours cooking their pork and beef in a big smoker outside using firewood.

“The smoker really makes the pork and beef taste better,” Hoffman says. “My smoked pork ribs are smoked for more than 12 hours and fall right off the bone.”

The delicious smell also whets the appetite.

“Our beef brisket is smoked for more than 30 hours, and the pork is smoked for almost 25 hours,” Hoffman adds. “We put a lot of attention and detail to what we make. We want it to be perfect.”

Hoffman’s favorites include The Teriyaki Bowl, a Jasmine rice topped with your choice of any smoked meat and teriyaki sauce.

“Anything with rice is my favorite,” Hoffman says. “I also love The Butcher’s Bill.”

The Butcher’s Bill is a half pound chicken sandwich topped with Big Hoffa’s secret scurvy sauce, Mac and cheese, fries and ranch dressing on a garlic butter bun.

Hoffman also enjoys The Saigon Special, a pulled pork topped with spicy mayo, pickled vegetables (including onions, carrots and radishes, shredded pickles, cilantro and jalapeños, all atop a freshly baked French roll.

Customer favorites include The Buccaneer, Big Hoffa’s flagship sandwich, which is over a half pound of pork topped with coleslaw, fries and ranch dressing on a garlic butter bun. Davey Jones, a creamy macaroni and cheese topped with pulled chicken and ranch dressing and Barbeque Sundae, brown sugar baked beans topped with your choice of any smoked meat and Barbeque sauce.

Other favorites include The Captain, a pulled chicken in a boat topped with creamy mac & cheese, fries, buffalo sauce and ranch dressing, The Hoffanator, seasoned fries topped with Mac & cheese, baked beans, pulled pork, Barbeque sauce and ranch dressing and The Amendment, a bed of Jazmine rice topped with beef brisket, teriyaki glaze, giardiniera, cilantro, onions and spicy mayo.

A wide variety of sandwiches, meals and sides are also available. Family meals include The Hungry Hoffa Meal, one full rack of ribs, one pound of any meat, two pounds of rib tips, two sides (pints) and six garlic butter rolls (which feeds four to  six) and The Family Rib Meal, two full racks of ribs, two sides and six garlic butter rolls.

Deserts, ice cream and Little Hoffa Meals for the kids are also available.

Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, 800 E. Main St., Westfield, In 46704.

Phone: 317-867-0077.

Hours of Operation: Closed Monday. Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday: noon-8 p.m.

 

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