Ray's To Go

Ray’s To Go BBQ and More is a family business that takes pride in putting out the best quality barbecue, emphasizing the “More.” The menu is full of classics like brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, but the salmon, Baby Rays, and Ray’s Special add a distinctive flair to the menu and the Ray’s brand. The Baby Ray is grilled chicken, shrimp, and loaded broccoli. Ray’s Special is a ribeye, grilled chicken, shrimp, and loaded broccoli. It’s traditional but uniquely identifiable.

“Barbecue has always been on the menu, but we do way more,” said Natasha Kennedy. “We’ve even done an Asian wedding. Just tell us what you want, and we’ll create something for you. We can cook anything.”

Jackson natives Raymond and Natasha Kennedy birthed Ray’s from their love of cooking together fostered by Raymond. They named the restaurant not after Raymond but a derivative of the “Ray” in most of their eight children’s names. The owners were each raised by their grandmothers and have a strong bond through sharing food from their childhoods.

Raymond owned a large smoker he’d been using for big family events. Natasha convinced Ray to start monetizing his hobby. After abundant positive feedback, they made it a business. The Kennedys have served their food via a billiard hall, a food truck, and a brick-and-mortar since 2014, using Ray’s housemade seasoning, hot sauce, and barbecue sauce. They only have one request: to be patient because, except for only a few items, all selections are made to order.

“Our biggest problem is they want us to be a fast food restaurant, but you can’t get this taste at a fast food pace,” Raymond said. “We make sure we get it right. We take pride in this. We cook everything as if we’re going to eat it.”

Natasha misses the food truck’s mobility, but many loyal customers have suggested a permanent location to sit down and enjoy some of their favorite menu choices. The downtown location is new territory for a different crowd and convenient enough for their day-one patrons. Ray’s is also a frequent caterer of Belhaven football games and various events in Jackson.

“I really can’t say what’s the best on the menu because everything is good,” said Natasha. “We’ve had people in here from Germany, London. A traveler from Texas said it was the best barbecue he’d ever tasted.”

Raymond added, “We don’t miss.”