LOCAL LOVE | TrueQue: A Taste of Cape Girardeau’s Soul 

You pull up to two unassuming portable buildings on Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. To the south is the beautiful and historic River Campus in the shadow of the Emerson Bridge. To your west is a street that was once packed with businesses, bars, restaurants—massive two-story brick buildings, some of which have fallen and others of which stand, ready for rehab and new businesses.  

This area of Cape Girardeau used to be its downtown before our current downtown grew up and continues to develop into the modern attraction that it is. 

But that spirit still lives in a culinary gem called TrueQue. This small, community-driven and community-concerned business delivers what I considered to be not just some of the best BBQ for your money in Cape Girardeau, but just some of the best BBQ, period.  

It’s so friggin’ good.  

I frequent this walk-up-order-at-the-window joint enough that we’ve had just about the entire menu at least once. The pork steak, which is plastic fork tender—if you know you know—smoked and sauced to perfection, is what I would recommend for your first visit. Follow that with wings—an order of smoke and fried, because they’re both affordable and full of flavor before sauce—and then, I don’t know … the catfish, as the kids say, slaps. I mean, I think they still say that.  

Oh! And the pulled pork special—two sandwiches with a side for under ten bucks—winner winner, pork’s for dinner, man. It’s always good, always tender and the sauce selection and just sheer affordability make it a menu item you should have when you can’t make up your mind. 

The number of smoked meats makes it a good place to get some healthy proteins, but this place is more than a shack with healthy options—it’s a walk-up with a soul. Its food is good for your mental health, maintaining the highest standards of quality, and if you’re lucky and like to talk to people you may not know—you might just get a good conversation for your trouble.  

TruQue does have available delivery options through third-party vendors, like DoorDash, but if you can, I’d recommend a visit. It’s not fancy or extravagant, but it is good local people, making great local food, with a couple concrete tables with umbrellas if you’d like to sit a spell.  

So do yourself a favor and turn on Good Hope, towards the mighty Mississippi—unless you’re on Spanish or Water, then turn East—get literally anything, and tell Byron Bonner—owner, operator, pastor, and a heck of a good guy—“Hello,” from Cole from Rooted Web.