It’s not unusual for barbecue joints to create an over-the-top signature sandwich to stand out on the menu. If you had access to a variety of slow-smoked meats and delicious side dishes, you’d do the same.
The new Steve’s Pig Pikins BBQ on Rainbow north of Charleston has truly created a monster with the Hank ($17), a soft roll piled with tender pulled pork and beef brisket, American and cheddar cheeses, fried onions, green onions, and two of its most popular sides, sugar pickles and whiskey barbecue beans. The mountainous sandwich easily feeds two people and was inspired by much more than the creativity of owner Steve Roy.
“We just wanted something wild, so we loaded it up with meat and thought, what else can we put on it? The whiskey barbecue beans are the No. 1 side, and everybody rants and raves about them,” he said. “It’s everything you love in one big package, and it’s named after a good friend of mine who passed away. He was exactly that kind of guy—everything you love in one big package.”
Roy, a first-time restaurateur but longtime barbecue competitor, named the sandwich after Hank Houston, who served as president of the nonprofit Nevada Barbecue Association. A native Las Vegan, Roy worked in the automotive industry for the past 21 years and began dabbling in food by making and selling his mother’s barbecue sauce recipe. Soon, he started smoking meat for barbecue festivals and competitions but wasn’t interested in the restaurant business until recently.
He left his job and went all-in on Steve’s right before the pandemic struck, then was able to move forward and open in mid-July. Business has been decent, but he’s hoping it will pick up with the expansion of curbside pickup, takeout and delivery options.
The top-selling brisket ($13 as a sandwich, $20 per pound) is sliced thick and imbued with just the right amount of smoke. Steve’s also serves platters ($15-$22), allowing you to choose your own meat and sides and smothered tater tot creations like the Pig Pen ($16), loaded with those beans, cheddar cheese and the meat of your choice. Be prepared to be full no matter what you order.
STEVE’S PIG PIKINS BBQ 873 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-331-7118. Daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
