Famous Dave’s Secret Menu: 10 BBQ Hacks & How to Order
FAMOUS DAVE’S USA • SECRET MENU
Famous Dave’s Secret Menu: 10 BBQ Hacks & How to Order
Famous Dave’s does not advertise a separate nationwide hidden menu, but its regular BBQ format gives you plenty of room to customize burgers, sandwiches, ribs, wings, meat combos, sides, sauces, and family-style orders.
Availability varies by restaurant. Use the listed burger, sandwich, rib, wing, side, and catering choices shown by the location you plan to visit.
10
BBQ hacks
Build it
burgers & sandwiches
Naked
ribs without sauce
Mix meats
combo flexibility
Famous Dave’s secret-menu-style orders work best when they stay close to the regular menu. Build Your Own burgers, Memphis-style sandwich add-ons, naked ribs, meat combinations, sauce choices, side swaps, and family-style BBQ components are all easier to order than internet-only nicknames.
Does Famous Dave’s Have a Secret Menu?
Famous Dave’s does not advertise a separate nationwide secret menu. The useful customization comes from the structure of the regular BBQ menu. Several restaurants list Build Your Own burgers, sandwiches with add-ons, ribs that can be ordered without sauce, multi-meat combos, wings with sauce choices, and plates that include a side choice.
For standard menu categories and future price coverage, use the fixed Famous Dave’s menu. Deal-focused information belongs on the fixed Famous Dave’s happy hour page, so this article stays focused on customization rather than temporary specials.
For other BBQ and comfort-food customizations, compare the Mission BBQ secret menu, the Cracker Barrel secret menu, and the Red Robin secret menu.
Famous Dave’s Secret Menu: 10 Hacks at a Glance
The first five hacks use Famous Dave’s burger and sandwich add-ons. The next five focus on ribs, meat combos, wings, sides, and family-style BBQ. Every idea starts with a menu structure Famous Dave’s already uses at participating restaurants.
| Hack | Start with | Change | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Your Own Burger | Burger | Choose toppings and cheese | Official build-your-own format |
| Memphis-Style Sandwich | BBQ sandwich | Add creamy coleslaw | Official sandwich add-on |
| Brisket-Topped Burger | Burger | Add Texas beef brisket | Official premium add-on |
| Pork-Topped Burger | Burger | Add Georgia chopped pork | Official premium add-on |
| Mac & Cheese Burger | Burger | Add Dave’s cheesy mac & cheese | Official add-on |
| Naked Ribs | Rib order | Ask for no sauce | Official rib option |
| Mix-and-Match Meat Combo | 2- or 3-meat combo | Choose different meats | Official combo structure |
| Wing Sauce Swap | Traditional or boneless wings | Choose available sauce | Official sauce choice |
| Side Swap | BBQ plate or sandwich | Pick another listed side | Most plates include side choice |
| Family BBQ Sandwich Kit | Meat by the pound | Add buns + sauce + sides | Official catering components |
The simplest approach is to change one part of the order rather than rebuilding the entire plate. A side swap, sauce choice, or single topping can make a large difference while keeping the order easy for the kitchen. For broader value context, see the best fast-food meals under $10 page.
5 Burger and Sandwich Hacks
1. Build Your Own Burger
Several Famous Dave’s menus use a Build Your Own burger or sandwich format. The base can include a beef burger, grilled chicken sandwich, or another restaurant-supported option, followed by choices such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, jalapeños, pickles, and cheese.
This is the cleanest route when you want a combination that does not match a named burger. Start with the base protein, choose one cheese if you want it, then add the vegetables and sauce that matter most. Premium meat or side-style toppings can raise the price, so keep the build intentional.
2. Order a BBQ Sandwich Memphis-Style
Famous Dave’s menus have used a Memphis-style add-on for BBQ sandwiches, which means adding creamy coleslaw directly to the sandwich. It works especially well with chopped pork, pulled chicken, or brisket because the cold slaw adds crunch and acidity to the smoked meat.
Order the sandwich first, then ask for the Memphis-style add-on if the location lists it. If the restaurant only offers coleslaw as a side, ask whether it can be placed on the sandwich rather than assuming the request is standard everywhere.
3. Add Brisket to a Burger
Texas beef brisket has appeared as a premium Build Your Own add-on on Famous Dave’s burger menus. That lets you turn a standard burger into a beef-on-beef BBQ build without switching to a separate specialty sandwich.
Because brisket is a premium meat, this is one of the pricier customizations. It makes the most sense when you specifically want smoke and beef flavor together. If the burger already has bacon or several cheeses, consider keeping the rest of the toppings simple.
4. Add Georgia Chopped Pork to a Burger
Georgia chopped pork is another premium topping used in Famous Dave’s Build Your Own format. Compared with brisket, chopped pork gives the burger a softer texture and a sweeter BBQ profile when paired with the restaurant’s tomato-based sauces.
This is useful if you want a pork-and-beef combination without ordering two separate entrées. Choose one cheese or one sauce rather than stacking every available add-on, because the pork already adds moisture and richness.
5. Add Dave’s Cheesy Mac & Cheese
Famous Dave’s has also listed Dave’s Cheesy Mac & Cheese as a burger or sandwich add-on. It creates a comfort-food style build by putting a creamy side directly on top of the protein.
This works best with a burger, brisket sandwich, or chopped pork sandwich when the restaurant supports the add-on. If you want the flavors separate, order mac and cheese as the side instead. That gives you the same pairing without changing the sandwich texture.
5 BBQ, Wing, Side, and Family Hacks
6. Order the Ribs Naked
Famous Dave’s menus have explicitly offered ribs without sauce, often described as ordering them naked. This is useful when you want the smoke and rub to stand on their own or when several people want to use different sauces at the table.
Ask for the ribs without the finishing sauce, then use an available sauce on the side. Famous Dave’s sauce lineup has included Rich & Sassy, Georgia Mustard, Texas Pit, Devil’s Spit, Sweet & Zesty, and other location-specific choices. The exact lineup depends on the restaurant.
7. Build a Two- or Three-Meat Combo
Famous Dave’s platter menus commonly support two- and three-meat combinations. The available meats can include chopped pork, pulled chicken, rib tips, sausage, chicken tenders, wings, ribs, brisket, burnt ends, or other restaurant-supported proteins.
Use the combo as a tasting plate rather than choosing three similar meats. Pair one sliced or chopped meat with one rib or chicken option, then use the third slot for something with a different texture. Some premium meats can carry an added charge.
8. Change the Wing Sauce
Traditional and boneless wings can be served with different Famous Dave’s sauces. Nutrition materials also list several sauce choices separately, which makes a sauce change one of the easiest supported wing customizations.
Keep the piece count the same and change only the sauce when you want to compare flavors. A hotter sauce can work well with a milder BBQ plate, while Rich & Sassy or a mustard-style sauce can be easier to share with a mixed group. For another sauce-heavy chicken chain, compare the Chicken Express secret menu.
9. Swap the Side
Many Famous Dave’s burgers, sandwiches, rib plates, and combo meals include a choice of side. The exact list varies by restaurant, but common BBQ sides can include fries, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, or other regional choices.
If the main entrée is rich, a lighter side can balance the plate. If the meat portion is smaller, a heavier side can make the meal more filling. Treat premium side upgrades separately because they may add to the total.
10. Build a Family BBQ Sandwich Kit
Famous Dave’s catering menu sells smoked meats by the pound, sandwich buns, sauce bottles, and pint or quart sides. That makes it possible to build a family-style sandwich setup without ordering one fixed sandwich for every person.
Choose one or two meats by the pound, add enough buns for the group, then add one or two sauces and a side. This works well when people want different sauce levels or different meat combinations. For another group-style BBQ comparison, the Mission BBQ secret menu is a useful reference.
How to Order Famous Dave’s Secret-Menu Hacks
The easiest way to place a custom Famous Dave’s order is to start with a listed base item, then give one change at a time. That keeps the request close to the restaurant’s normal ordering flow and makes any added charge easier to understand.
- Choose the base burger, sandwich, ribs, wings, platter, or family-style order first.
- Use the exact meat, cheese, side, or sauce names shown by the selected restaurant.
- For Build Your Own items, add one topping group at a time so the price is easy to follow.
- For rib orders, say clearly whether you want them sauced or naked.
- For meat combos, choose different proteins rather than repeating the same meat unless the menu allows it.
- For family-style orders, confirm the amount of meat, buns, sauce, and sides before checkout.
For a burger or sandwich, decide on the base protein before adding meat, cheese, mac and cheese, or Memphis-style coleslaw. For ribs or wings, decide whether the sauce should be on the meat or on the side. For group orders, build the meat quantity first, then add buns, sauces, and sides.
Prices and Availability
Famous Dave’s prices and menu structures vary by restaurant. Premium meats such as brisket or burnt ends, added cheese, extra toppings, upgraded sides, sauce bottles, and larger family-style portions can all raise the final total.
Use the fixed Famous Dave’s menu with prices as the planning destination on this site once that page is available. Until then, the selected restaurant’s own menu and cart are the best sources for exact pricing and participation.
For more restaurant-specific customization ideas, browse the Secret Menus category. If your goal is lower-cost chicken rather than full-service BBQ, the cheapest chicken restaurants in the USA page adds broader price context.
Nutrition and Allergen Notes
Customizing the meat, sauce, cheese, side, and toppings can change the nutritional total substantially. A naked rib order differs from the same ribs with a sweet sauce, and a burger topped with brisket, cheese, bacon, or mac and cheese will be very different from the base burger.
Famous Dave’s states that nutrition and allergen information can vary, cross-contact can occur, and its restaurants do not operate gluten-free kitchens. Use the official Famous Dave’s nutrition and allergen information when dietary restrictions matter.
For family-style ordering, Famous Dave’s official catering menu is also useful for checking meats by the pound, buns, sauces, and side quantities before placing a larger order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Famous Dave’s have a real secret menu?
Famous Dave’s does not advertise a separate nationwide hidden-menu board. The most reliable secret-menu-style orders use regular Build Your Own items, meat add-ons, rib preferences, sauce choices, combos, sides, and catering components.
Can I build my own burger at Famous Dave’s?
Many Famous Dave’s menus list a Build Your Own burger or sandwich format with free toppings, cheese choices, and premium add-ons.
What does Memphis-style mean at Famous Dave’s?
On menus that offer it, Memphis-style means adding creamy coleslaw to a BBQ sandwich.
Can I add brisket to a Famous Dave’s burger?
Brisket has appeared as a premium burger add-on on Famous Dave’s Build Your Own menus. Availability and added cost depend on the restaurant.
Can I add chopped pork to a burger?
Georgia chopped pork has also appeared as a premium Build Your Own add-on at Famous Dave’s.
Can I put mac and cheese on a Famous Dave’s burger?
Some Famous Dave’s menus list Dave’s Cheesy Mac & Cheese as an add-on for burgers or sandwiches.
Can I order Famous Dave’s ribs without sauce?
Yes. Famous Dave’s menus have specifically noted that ribs can be ordered naked, meaning without the finishing sauce.
Can I mix different meats in a Famous Dave’s combo?
Yes. Two- and three-meat combo formats are designed around choosing different available meats. Premium selections can cost extra.
Can I choose a different sauce for Famous Dave’s wings?
Yes. Famous Dave’s wings can use different available sauces, with the exact sauce lineup depending on the restaurant.
Can I build a Famous Dave’s family sandwich setup?
Yes. The catering menu sells smoked meats by the pound, sandwich buns, sauce bottles, and larger side portions, which can be combined into a family-style sandwich meal.
Bottom Line
The Famous Dave’s secret menu is really a BBQ customization playbook. Build Your Own burgers, Memphis-style sandwiches, brisket or pork add-ons, mac and cheese toppings, naked ribs, mixed meat combos, wing sauce choices, side swaps, and family-style sandwich kits all use recognizable menu structures.
Start with the base item, make one or two supported changes, and confirm the restaurant’s available sauces, meats, and sides before ordering. For more BBQ and comfort-food ideas, compare the Mission BBQ secret menu, Cracker Barrel secret menu, or browse the Secret Menus archive.