Old Canal Smoke House: Smoked Meats, Canal Winchester Roots, and How It Stacks Up Against Columbus BBQ
Tucked into the small-town square of Canal Winchester, about 15 miles southeast of Downtown Columbus, Old Canal Smoke House is a wood-smoke barbecue restaurant specializing in low-and-slow smoked meats served in a casual, counter-order format.
What It Is and Where It Sits
The location itself is part of the draw. Canal Winchester's historic district gives the restaurant a setting you won't find at a suburban strip-mall BBQ chain, and regulars from Columbus proper make the drive specifically for that combination of atmosphere and food. The building has the worn-in character of the surrounding downtown block, with indoor seating and, depending on the season, outdoor options close to the canal-adjacent streetscape.
This is not a large operation. It runs on a focused menu built around smoked proteins, sides made in-house, and a no-frills service style where you order at the counter, grab a number, and settle in.
The Menu and What to Order
The backbone of the menu is the smoked meats: pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and smoked chicken are standard offerings. Brisket and ribs are the items most frequently cited by regulars as the reason to make the trip. The smoke flavor is wood-forward rather than sauce-forward, which puts Old Canal in the Texas-influenced camp rather than the saucier Kansas City style you'll find at several Columbus competitors.
Sides include coleslaw, baked beans, and mac and cheese, rotating with seasonal additions. Combo plates that pair two meats with two sides are the practical way to sample the menu on a first visit, and pricing for those plates typically runs in the $14 to $18 range, though menu prices shift with ingredient costs, so checking their current menu before visiting is worth the 30 seconds.
Sandwiches are available for those who want a lighter format, generally priced in the $10 to $13 range depending on the protein.
How It Compares to Columbus BBQ Options
Columbus has a growing number of serious barbecue spots, and the comparison that matters most is between Old Canal and the two most discussed alternatives in the metro.
Smoked on High in the Short North operates out of a food hall inside BrewDog, leans heavily Texas-style, and caters to a younger, nightlife-adjacent crowd. It's more accessible if you're already in the city, but the setting is markedly different.
Hot Chicken Takeover and Hickory House serve different niches, but the most direct comparison for Old Canal is Ray Ray's Hog Pit, which started as a Columbus food truck and now has brick-and-mortar locations. Ray Ray's carries more name recognition and is easier to reach from most Columbus neighborhoods. Old Canal's advantage is a sit-down experience, the historic Canal Winchester setting, and a brisket that holds up against anything Ray Ray's puts out.
If proximity and convenience are your main criteria, Ray Ray's wins on access. If the outing itself is part of the point, Old Canal is the better choice.
Who This Works For (and Who It Doesn't)
Old Canal suits Columbus-area barbecue fans who want a full sit-down meal rather than a quick lunch, people who enjoy combining food with a short day-trip, and anyone specifically chasing brisket or ribs over pulled pork. Families work well here given the casual counter format.
It's a harder sell for anyone who needs to be in and out quickly during a workday, or for downtown Columbus diners who aren't willing to build a 30-minute drive into their plans. Vegetarians will find very little to work with, and the menu doesn't attempt to accommodate that.
What a First Visit Actually Looks Like
You walk in, scan a posted or counter menu, order and pay at the register, and find a table. Food comes to you. The vibe is unpretentious. On weekends, particularly Friday and Saturday lunch, the space fills up and popular cuts like brisket can sell out before close. Coming before 1 p.m. on a weekend is the practical move if specific proteins matter to you.
Portions are generous enough that most people leave full without ordering extras.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Old Canal Smoke House is generally open for lunch and early dinner hours, with Thursday through Sunday being the most reliable days of operation. Hours have varied seasonally, and the restaurant has kept a smaller schedule at times, so checking their Facebook page or calling ahead before making the drive from Columbus is practical advice, not a hedge. The Canal Winchester downtown square has street parking and a small lot nearby, and by Columbus-area standards it's genuinely easy to park.
The drive from Columbus takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes from the Southeast Side and closer to 30 to 35 from the Short North or Clintonville. For the right meal, it's an easy yes.