If you're looking for real slow cooked smoked meat in the area, your choices are fairly limited. With that said, Hambone Opera really delivered when I tried them for the first time the other week, and those 5 stars are not a sliding scale. I kept it simple and went with the brisket sandwich and boy howdy was I happy with my choice. They really let the quality of the meat do the talking, no need to slather it in cover-up bbq sauce. Beans and slaw were solid sides. Now that I've had a sample, I'll be back soon to sample more of the menu.

Highly recommend.Best brisket in this area. Good size portions as well. The only negative thing is they don't accept cards.

I moved from Texas 15 years ago and just found out about this place. Crazy good food. A proper cornbread, melt in your mouth brisket. Pulled pork and ribs are not to be missed. My family's life is now complete with proper BBQ.

Tried Hambone today for the first time. I did a sampler of brisket, ribs and pulled pork - all delicious. The ribs have a nice kick. The pulled pork was juicy and delicious. The brisket was super tender and flavorful. The service was fast and friendly. The ambiance was clean and typical of a real barbecue restaurant- not a chain. This is a great place for barbecue.

Finding real barbecue anywhere in New Jersey is certainly a happy find, but finding top-shelf, "are we in Texas" barbecue is a godsend. Jeff started supplying good wood to pitmasters out West, then heard there was no good Q in Jersey. Using, cherry, apple, oak and huge amounts of time, he produces meats (and chicken) that will make you moan. No gloppy strip mall ribs here, the baby Backs and St Louis are done to perfection. Beans and slaw are homemade and fabulous, as are the two sauces. "How is this in New Jersey?" you might ask. Still a minor miracle, 7 yrs in.

Holy slow-smoked bbq, Batman! This spot is legit! The 22-hour slow-smoked local wild cherry wood brisket is falling apart on my fork as I bring it to my lips. Wow. Trenton Farmers Market is a chintz and organic veg browser's dream come true. Committed only to "check it out" you go from booth to booth making mental notes. BUT.. HAMBONE OPERA WILL STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS Carving station at the counter featuring the best brisket you've ever had beckons you to go big. Electric knife shaves the hunk into small strips for weighing. Choose on its own, sandwich, or platter. Tip: go for the platter. PLATTER flavors and textures so perfectly selected to bring you the maximum flavor intensity and pleasure possible. ++ squishy bun soaks up all the sauce you can hit it with ++ slaw not to crunchy and spiked tart with celery seed ++ baked beans are perfectly sweet and soft ++++ add pickles, jalapeños, hot pepper ragu, and sauce with all your hot and spicy favorites. Enjoy your platter at the family dinner table, complete with leather covers (just like at grandma's). Buffet of sauces, pickles, peppers, sours, sweets, picantes, and napkins (!!) immediately behind.

Gerald S's recent review caused me to rethink my neglect for this incredible place. I'm in the farmers market several times a season and have only 1 excise as to why it's taken me so long to finally try it. That being my near total ignorance as to what constitutes good BBQ. But I'm a Joisey boy , the recent local options have been limited and not nearly on this level. And I've not made pilgrimages to any of the regions who can boast about making the real deal. A new place opened up that I was about to try, but I felt like I needed to start here before anyplace else. I decided on the brisket after consulting the reviews and the family member who would share it with me. To be honest I've not had brisket anywhere that really wowed me. But in hearing others talk, and seeing it on food shows, I felt it had to exist somewhere. It does, in a non descript shop in a forgotten farmers market. I ordered a lb of meat, a lb of beans and 4 rolls. $25 or so with tip. The meat was unlike any I've had, zero fat, great ratio of tasty burnt bits and a smooth but pronounced smoky flavor. Add to it the tart and smoky sauce, which was also possibly a best I've had, and this was carnivoral perfection. The kaiser rolls were fresh and doughy, a great delivery vehicle for the beef. The smoky baked beans were also incredible, a little spicy to my family member but he loved the peppers onions and overall flavor. Im ready to go back next week or sooner. Personally I'm getting the brisket again but told my uncle I'd get him the ribs. I'll likely get around to trying their other offerings too, but maybe after a few more fill ups. As for that other place, I think I might just hold off. When you've found true love, there is no need to stray.

Aside from the high price found across the board at Trenton Farmers Market, the baby back ribs offered by Smoke Chef Jeff of Hambone Opera are terrific. Meaty, tender, pull off the bone and barky, this hole in the wall is considered the best Q in New Jersey by those who know. The main man himself learned the wood science while in Texas and brought his experience and original notions with him when he came here. The sauce is Kansas City red tart, but the secret lies in the wild cherry wood logs with which the meats are smoked for 12-13 hours in the huge closed steel smoker out back of the market. The wood is the thing in the hands of a well trained smoke chef, and Jeff has developed it to the height of culinary arts it was meant to be. You can taste it in the mild sweetness in the heart of each rib before it is overcome by the spicy Kansas City rub and sauce, and yet again by the more tangy squirt squeezed on as the final step before eating. This was great BBQ. At $14/lb, it was not cheap, but what you would pay for eat in platters, not takeout. Nonetheless, sometimes the splurge is worthwhile. It certainly was this time. The brisket looked just as good, as did their smoked beans. Next time for those.