Klemm’s Smoke Haus
Klemm's Smoke Haus originally began as a family catering company. Next, the family ventured into the world of food trucks. And now, they do it all, with a catering business, a food truck, and a brick and mortar restaurant! Klemm’s has become a part of the fabric of Oklahoma barbecue.
“My parents are awesome home chefs,” says JJ Clem, Chief Sides Maker at Klemm’s Smoke Haus, “and I was the only one with any restaurant experience, so we decided a food truck was the best way to fine tune our skills and the most forgiving if we had a bad day or night.”
“In retrospect,” Clem explains, “it’s actually a little harder than the restaurant. There are so many variables to food trucks. But, we seriously loved every minute of it and still do.”
Today, Klemm’s Smoke Haus keeps that family-owned and operated feel at their location on S. Broadway. Most days, Jan Clem can be found greeting people at the register while John Clem serves as pit master. Their son, JJ, does his thing with the sides in the kitchen.
Klemm's is BBQ with a German influence. Their homemade bratwurst is served with apple slaw, perfected with a dip of German mustard, and completed with a good dose of fresh ground mustard seeds.
Their meat is hormone-free, raised and slaughtered humanely. They serve classic pork spare ribs, trimmed into a large and delicious St. Louis cut, and paired with either their house sweet tangy sauce or hot and spicy sauce. Their smoked chicken is also a tasty choice.
“Every single thing we make comes from family recipes,” JJ explains. “My father has a laptop, literally, for food ideas and recipes. We try to make just about everything we serve. So far, ketchup and the bread are the only things we don't make on a constant basis and serve. If you haven't had our ranch dressing, you've got to try it.”
And, don’t overlook those sides. That’s where JJ works his particular magic. The Smokehaus Corn is the happy result of sautéing veggies and corn in bacon fat and then adding a helping of cream cheese and spices. The mac and cheese, cowboy beans, and potato salad are also easy crowd pleasers. Same with their loaded, hand-cut fries.
Of course, what German smoke haus would be complete without a schnitzel option? Theirs comes hand-breaded and fried in a sandwich combo. If you thought it couldn’t get any better, currently Klemm's Smoke Haus is working with some partners on a beer menu and is planning to open a beer garden in the near future!
> Klemm’s Smoke Haus, 2000 South Broadway, Edmond
