By Jeanni Ritchie
I’d been wanting to try Koal’s BBQ ever since moving back home two years ago. Last month I finally made it happen, and I loved it so much I went back two days later.
After Sunday church, the dining room was packed — a perfect blend of casual eatery and upscale dining, with no one minding eating barbecue in their best dress. Paying homage to Kansas on the ribs and Texas on the brisket, the melt-in-your-mouth goodness is pure Louisiana all the way.
On my first visit I ordered a pork brisket slider appetizer, a small plate of The Macs (creamy mac and cheese topped with brisket), and a side of potato casserole. It was hard to choose among so many tempting options, but this trio gave me a little taste of it all. The brisket seasoning added the right kick to the mac and cheese, but the real star was that pork slider. Pro tip: when catering your next event, order a tray of sliders — you’ll be the hit of the party.
Appetizers range from sausage bites and pulled pork nachos to brisket cheese fries and queso blanco. Small plates include Louisiana Fried (with seasonal crawfish tails), Steak and Cheese, and Koal’s Creole Shrimp. There’s also a salad station and specialty salads — I brought home the wedge salad for my mom.
The menu is packed with choices: loaded baked potatoes, sandwich and burger combos, the Prime Brisket Potato Casserole, and the signature Hobo sandwich — chopped prime brisket pressed hot on Gambino’s French bread. That’s what I ordered when I returned on Tuesday with my parents and family friend Pat. Dad ordered the brisket mac and cheese small plate, Mom had a loaded baked potato, and Pat chose the brisket plate. I also snagged a side of the popular dirty rice they’d run out of on Sunday. Every dish was a hit.
Beyond plates of brisket and ribs, Koal’s also serves slow-smoked chicken, steaks, salmon, seafood, and sides like mashed potatoes and cowboy beans. Weekday lunch specials rotate, including brisket tacos that are already on my list for next time. And for feeding a crowd, the Koal’s Klassic Sampler packs it all: brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, sausage, chicken quarters, rolls, and sauce.
Kids aren’t left out either. The Youngins’ Menu ($8) offers chicken tenders, grilled cheese, BBQ pork sliders, or brisket sliders, each with a side and drink. And for dessert? Fresh cookies, Koal’s bread pudding, and New York-style cheesecake.
I could eat at Koal’s every day for a month and still not make it through the whole menu. Whether dining in or taking out, this is a restaurant I’ll be returning to again and again.
Koal’s BBQ is located at 5803 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed on Mondays. For takeout or catering, call 318-613-8800.
