Hawg Jaws brings riverside barbecue to Hinton

By Jenny Harnish, RealWV

Brad McDaniel had never worked in a restaurant, but he’d always loved to smoke meat. 

“My whole family, for years, has always told me I need to open my own restaurant, so I kind of just dove into it. I’m not one to retire and just sit at home. Diving into it was completely insane on my part, but I’m glad I did,” he said.

McDaniel grew up in Beckley and worked in law enforcement for 18 years before a stroke left him with some deficits, and he decided it was time to retire from that career.

While visiting Hinton to fish with his son, he noticed a “For Sale” sign and called the number. 

“It just happened to be the best view of the New River in the Hinton area, in my opinion,” he said. 

Hawg Jaws opened in April and sold out of food on the first day of opening weekend. 

“We fed more than 600 people on the first day and had to stay closed the next day. I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. 

“It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve surrounded myself with the right people,” he said, as he recalled that first weekend. “By bringing in the right people, it’s gotten a whole lot smoother.”

The restaurant sits directly on the river and features made-from-scratch family recipes.

“Everything is made daily, and if we’re out we’re out,” he said.  “All of our meats are sourced from family farms that I’ve conducted research on.” 

The brisket comes from a farm near Roanoke, Virginia,  and the chicken from Alderson.  Local bakers showcase their desserts. 

The menu features pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken, various smoked sausages, and ribs cooked in a smoker at 220 degrees with apple and cherry wood. 

Sides include collard greens, beans and cornbread, smoked mac and cheese, and fiesta corn.

“It’s sentimental to me because I named it after my grandpa,” McDaniel said. “Hawg Jaws was his nickname in the coal mine. He was a big part of my life.” 

“We want to remain small and be a place where people can gather around a table,  have a pretty view, and enjoy a good meal,” McDaniel said.

Hawg Jaws is located at 846 Hinton Bypass, Hinton, W.Va. Hours are 11.a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.