Wholly Smokes

Deliciousness BBQ beef brisket with fried cauliflower. Spicy & mild BBQ sauce with pickled onions with jalapeños balance the sweet/spicy/rich meaty flavors.Fast service and friendly folks. Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) wings with garlic soy was great, but I forgot to take a photo ‍

This review is an ode to the former Chimak House in Norwalk, which received my highest marks for Korean wings ever. Unfortunately, the legendary Chimak House that I frequented several times over the years is gone...but its spirit lives on through a new residency at Wholly Smokes. Now, Wholly Smokes, primarily known for great American BBQ, has taken Brian and his masterful Chimak creation and formed a new frankenstein menu that includes not just your typical brisket, tri-tip, pulled pork, etc... but also familiar Korean bar favorites like soy garlic wings, corn cheese, Buldak, and of course, you can't forget the Soju and Terra beer. You can tell that this intermixing of Korean bar food and American BBQ is ever-evolving at Wholly Smokes. Just recently, they came out with new menu items that includes Buldak noodles, except the twist is that they top it off with high quality brisket or bacon--something you just WON'T find at a traditional Korean establishment. I would like to throw in a selfish suggestion: try experimenting with a Korean sweet glazed pork belly burnt end... I know Moo's Craft BBQ in LA is up to something devilish with that idea.So, down to the details. Brian has changed his recipes just about every time I've visited, and while I was hesitant at first, I can't believe that the wings have genuinely gotten juicier, crispier, and more flavorful. I feel as though every visit I've made over the past few months is a new iteration, with just minor tweaks. It's never been for the worse, either. Truly, the soy garlic wings are the star of the show and why I continue to come back. But that's not it, either. You may have noticed that Wholly Smokes now closes pretty darn late. And you may be wondering how the BBQ is; after all, don't most BBQ spots close before 2PM? Well, I've tried the brisket and was thoroughly impressed. I ordered the last batch of the night and it was still extremely tender and flavorful--so don't let the late-hours fool you. The smoke masters know what they're doing. They're even experimenting with the binding, as well...the batch I recently had was smoked with a mayo binder, not your typical mustard. You don't taste the mayo itself but you can tell the brisket was different, in a good way. The house-made sauces are also incredible and pair great with just about everything, too. I love the fried cauliflower bites, as well; goes great with a spicy mayo dip. There's much more for me to try on the Wholly Smokes side, so those will be up next.While I do miss the more intimate booth seating at Chimak House, I recognize that I can only appreciate the past and embrace the new differences. The ambiance at night feels more like a dive-bar but inside it's much less rowdy than you'd think. I also have no clue how the restaurant feels during the day, since I'm here for the late-night delirious drinking.A huge thank you to Brian for hanging in there and continuing the business, despite all the hardships. I am a loyal customer for life and I can't wait to see how Wholly Smokes flourishes in this new light.My only concern, really, is how former Chimak House fans are going to find this new location...or how new fans will know this place also doubles as a late-night Korea spot after-hours.

Recently under new management, we wanted to try it out. We ordered their wings and longanisa burger and they were so delicious. For the wings, we tried a variety of flavors such as habanero, sweet and spicy, and lemon pepper. My favorite was definitely the habanero. It has the right amount of kick! If you're looking for that Filipino fusion/ bbq joint, this is the place to go! We also ordered a tray of wings for Superbowl, and they made sure our order was fresh! Can't wait to order again and see what this place develops into! Thanks, Wholly Smokes!

There's not a lot of BBQ spots in the local area so I was excited to try Wholly Smokes and it did not disappoint! Like the other reviews said, service was great and the owner was very friendly. We ordered the two combo plate and chose brisket and pulled pork. Meat was smoky and very tender- wasn't super fatty which I liked but I think this is up to personal preference. Their house bbq sauce is nice and tangy which is how I like it. Cajun fries were bomb- definitely recommend getting this as your side. Price is fair for the amount of food you get.4 stars- would come back if I was in the area

American BBQ and Korean Fried Chicken in one spot?! The food is fire, don't sleep on it!!! On Thurs-Sundays, the Chimak House portion of Wholly Smokes is open. I love their Korean Fried Chicken Wings. Make sure to get the wings in half Soy and half spicy soy, you won't regret it. The wings are crispy, juicy, oof, I'll be back soon. Service is phenomenal - from the staff behind the kitchen, to the owner smoking the meats, to Brian and Yunjin serving the tables and chatting it up. It's just a place with good all around vibes. This place is not as busy as it should be, you have to bookmark this place. You won't regret it!Sojus, beers, TVs, good food and vibes, this place got it all!!! Food: 1000000/10Service: 10/10Ambiance: 9/10 (it can be better)

went to the shop opening for the new owners it was busy food was mediocre didn't feel too good the next day didn't see too much improvements from the old owner to the new owner I hope he does better than Tony did I hope the prices are a lot better couldn't believe how much Tony was charging for his meals. Don't know when they're going to reopen again might give him another try

I love a good BBQ. Saw this BBQ spot on Yelp with all the great reviews and had to give it a try.I got the half pound of brisket by itself. I'm no longer on the Keto diet but I appreciate I didn't have to buy something with lots of carbs.Now for what I walked into Wholly Smoked for, BBQ!The brisket was super juicy and moist! It made me smile ! Many places I've tried brisket is usually pretty dry. Yes, I do enjoy the smokiness and the outer bark but not at the expense of the meat being dry.Here the outer smokiness gives you that beautiful smoky flavor while keeping the meat moist.Tony, the owner was super friendly, helpful and really made me feel welcomed. It was as if we've been friends for a long time.Tony gave me a taste of the tri-tip which I was very thankful for. However, I didn't really like the tri-tip. Tony even mentioned that their version of the tri-tip has different flavor.I did enjoy my brisket with a nice cold carb less (haha) beer. BBQ and beer, what else could I ask for.I'll be coming back to get a full pound of brisket and try their ribs.If you like a nice juicy, smoky brisket you may enjoy Wholly Smoked.

I wanted to anxiously try the Tri Tip Barbecue plate. My first time coming to this place after always driving by here. The barbecue is fresh , and the meat is tender with lots of barbecue sauce and seasoning. Nice workers and servers. Food portions are big, and they are less expensive here. Also their are spicy choices of food too.

Hidden gem for BBQ, fried chicken and fries. Friendly service, clean venue and easy parking, too. 10/10The exterior seemed dive-y, but once inside the experience was really nice. We were helped right away and the food arrived quick and piping hot. - My toddler and I loved the ribs, while my husband preferred the brisket. - The Sweet and Spicy fried chicken wings were a great texture with a bit of heat at the end -- and the fries are so good!! SO crispy.- The macaroni and cheese was a good choice for the toddler. We had a great time. Definitely will be returning to try the sausage options next!

Delicious food. Friendly and attentive staff. Pleasant and family friendly ambiance. It is under new management and there are new additions to the menu. Restaurant is open and has limited hours for now. Friday thru Sunday from 1pm to 7pm.