Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. In a semi-permanent location just off I-25 in Thornton lies Southern Pit, tucked away next to a steam and sauna business. Upon leaving your car, you are hit with a pleasant smell of smoke as you make your way to the entrance. Mario has his smoking trailer right next to his prep and serving truck, which is decked out in corrugated steel and random nick knacks, similar to what you might find in the south at a smaller roadside stand. I ordered the rib combo plate with two sides and two rolls, a hot link how he likes it and it came with mustard, onions, BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and jalapeños added to it, on a hotdog bun. Just as a heads up, there is no alcohol served here, only Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite. There was also a pulled brisket plate and sandwich option, but opted not to get it. In a more unique offering, he also has several hotlink options such as the Crave Dog, Junkyard Dog, Mac Daddy Dog, and Pepper Boy Dog. Additionally, in typical southern style, he also has turkey legs and chicken, with the ability to covert them to rice bowls as well. Outside of the food, the customer service was very on point, and even more impressive with the fact that it’s just him doing everything on his own. That said, even with taking and filling orders, he was still coming out and checking on all of the guests, making sure everything was tasting good. Super friendly guy and offers a nice barbecue ambience and environment with some R&B and hip-hop playing in the background, which is a large shake up from the typical options in Colorado. While the ribs were a little sloppily cut and over-sauced, similar to the pulled pork, Southern Pit still delivers an enjoyable and unique BBQ experience, especially as the state’s only Memphis-Style BBQ option as far as I can tell. Would come back again to get the pulled pork and coleslaw for sure, just making sure to get the sauce on the side

Date Visited: 4/12/2026

Address: 8476 Pearl St, Thornton, CO 80229

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 12:45 PM. Open at 12:00 PM

Owner: Mario Childs

Website: https://www.instagram.com/southern_pit/

Number of Years in Business: Opened at this location in November of 2025, but has been operating as a food truck for years

Number of People in Line: 2 in front of me, and 10 after

Regional Style of BBQ: Memphis Style

Total Cost: $68.90 with tip.

Type of Wood: Cottonwood today, but usually makes it with pecan or mesquite. Uses what he can find available

Type of Smoker: Refrigerator and custom ones he has built

Type of Seasoning: Multiple blends

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Original, but not reviewed

Best Side: Coleslaw

Interior Description: Somewhat of an open/outside design, with tabled seats and booths tucked under tent coverings. Very much a build from the ground up and from what’s reasonably available for resources, but also very limited on bathroom or typical restaurant services/amenities

Pro Tip: As a heads up, only soda and water sold here, since they don’t have a liquor license. Also, request the sauce on the side if possible

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but sauced

Description: These were some heavily sauced ribs for the platter option. That said, it came with three big ribs and the attached rib skirt/flap still attached. This was an odd trim that created some uneven texture and tenderness, as this is usually something that gets trimmed off at most places (Jabo’s BBQ being the exception). Outside of the trim, they did have a little bit of a rub on it as well, but again, heavily covered in sauce so it was hard to tell. Ribs fell off the bone when I went to pick them up, so just a little overdone. While they did have a little bit of smoke flavor coming through, the sauce flavor unfortunately dominates it overall. Finally, in terms of bite, the meat was tender and juicy, but still overdone. So while the ribs were sweeter and more sauced than I preferred, it was still an enjoyable rib and certainly one of the sweeter options in Colorado. Would split with others again, but would ask for the sauce to come on the side if possible..

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: I ordered a 1/2 pound, but there’s no way that it was only a half, and I’m pretty sure it came out closer to 3/4 to a full pound. Similar to the ribs, it was slathered in sauce for the 1/2 pound I ordered, which was sadly a shame, because the meat on the bottom had a nice bark and smokiness to it and was plenty juicy on its own. Will skip the sauce next time and tell him to hold off. One of the more flavorful pulled pork I’ve had In awhile in Denver, but also slightly over salted in some pieces. That said, would absolutely order again, but sauce on the side and would come back for this and the slaw 

Sausage – Beef Hot Link

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: A typical beef hot link, that I ordered just on its own, but he asked me if I wanted anything with the sauces or additional things. I asked him how he likes it and he said he puts mustard, barbecue sauce, coleslaw, jalapeños on it. I told him to give it to me like you make it, to which he quickly combined everything on a hotdog bun, which I’m pretty sure might just be the Crave Dog. Seems to be a commercially produced beef hot link, that was fine, but also was clearly pre-cooked before and was barely a little bit more than a spruced up hotdog. I’m not usually a fan of everything that went on top of it as a loaded hotdog, but if that’s your thing, it’s certainly a unique option here in Denver to go and grab

Sauces – Didn’t review

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: This mac started off pretty runny, but solidified quickly by the time I finished tasting the meats. Looks to just be Velveeta Mac and Cheese shells with some extra seasoning tossed in. Good, but nothing special and easily something you can recreate at home. Would skip next time 

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Red and white cabbage with carrots and seasoning sprinkled on top. Light mayo and slightly runny, it has a little sweetness to it that is followed by a nice fresh and crispy aftertaste to each bite. Seasoning on top was enjoyable as well. Would order again and was the better of the two sides and one of the better slaws in Colorado. Would recommend ordering  

Interior & Menu Photos: