4 Rivers Smokehouse
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4 Rivers Smokehouse is a Florida barbecue chain that started on West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park in October 2009, after founder John Rivers spent five years cooking barbecue for charity. It now has 16 stores in Florida, six of them around Orlando: Winter Park, SoDo, UCF, Winter Garden, Kissimmee and Longwood.
It is counter service with honest prices. A brisket sandwich is $10.99, a platter with one meat and two sides is $13.99 (brisket adds $2.79), and a family sampler that feeds four is $54.99. The company notes that prices can vary by location. Most stores open at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
At a glance
- Price
- Sandwiches and burgers $8.79 to $14.99; platters from $13.99 (one meat, two sides); half rack of ribs $19.89; classic sides $3.19. Prices vary by location
- Hours
- Winter Park: Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Orlando-area stores
- Winter Park (1600 W Fairbanks Ave), SoDo, UCF, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, Longwood
- Ordering
- Counter service; online ordering for pickup; call-ahead 844-474-8377
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
In this guide
What to order
- Signature Angus brisket ($10.99 as a sandwich): 30-day wet-aged, smoked for 18 hours and sliced to order. This is what 4 Rivers is known for.
- Texas Destroyer ($10.99): brisket with onion rings, jalapeños and provolone on brioche. The photogenic one.
- Burnt ends ($9.29): chopped brisket and pulled pork in the signature sauce.
- St. Louis ribs: $19.89 for a half rack with two sides, $34.29 for a full rack.
Sides are $3.19 each. Get the baked cheese grits, the Texas cornbread with jalapeños, or the fried okra. Add two sides or a side and a drink to any sandwich for $4.99.
Feeding a family or a group
This is where 4 Rivers makes the most sense for visitors. The Happy Herd sampler ($54.99, $3.49 more with brisket) feeds four with four meats, two sides and four breads. The party package is $61.79 for six or $122.99 for twelve. If you are in a vacation home in Kissimmee, ordering a sampler for pickup is cheaper than a sit-down dinner for the whole group anywhere near the parks.
Which location
The original is the Winter Park store on West Fairbanks Avenue, near Park Avenue and Rollins College; pair it with a Winter Park day. For visitors based near Disney or on US-192, the Kissimmee store at 874 W Osceola Parkway is the practical one. The SoDo store on South Orange Avenue is closest to downtown.
Check Sunday hours. Winter Park closes at 7 p.m. on Sunday instead of 9 p.m. The company lists most of its stores as now open on Sundays, but that list does not name SoDo, so check that one before a Sunday visit.
How it compares
It is better barbecue than a theme-park turkey leg, and a $13.99 platter with two sides is a full meal at a price most park counters do not match. It is not destination barbecue. Smokemade Meats + Eats, a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, is the Orlando barbecue the Michelin inspectors picked. Treat 4 Rivers as the easy, dependable choice near where you are staying.
Frequently asked questions
Where did 4 Rivers Smokehouse start?
On West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park, in 2009. The company's store at 1600 W Fairbanks Ave describes itself as the place 4 Rivers was born.
How many 4 Rivers locations are in Orlando?
Six in the Orlando area on the company's list in September 2026: Winter Park, SoDo, UCF, Winter Garden, Kissimmee and Longwood.
Is 4 Rivers open on Sunday?
Most stores are. The Winter Park store's Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company's Sunday list does not name the SoDo store.
How much is a brisket sandwich at 4 Rivers?
$10.99 on the company menu in September 2026. Adding two sides, or a side and a drink, costs $4.99. Prices can vary by location.
Does 4 Rivers do takeout for groups?
Yes. The Happy Herd sampler feeds four for $54.99, and party packages cost $61.79 for six or $122.99 for twelve.
Further reading
Official sources
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse - menu (official) – All sandwich, platter, rib, sampler and side prices; prices vary by location; checked September 22, 2026
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse - Winter Park location (official) – Address, full weekly hours, 2009 founding on W Fairbanks Ave, Sunday opening list
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse - all locations (official) – 16 stores, Orlando-area addresses, call-ahead number
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse (official) – John Rivers, 2004 Barbecue Ministry, October 2009 first smokehouse
- Visit Orlando - 2026 MICHELIN Florida Guide press release – Smokemade Meats + Eats listed as a 2026 Bib Gourmand
