Full Moon Bar-B-Que calls its sides Trimmings, prices them at $3.99, and then does something no other chain on this site does: it sells three or four of them together as a proper plate for less than they cost individually. That quirk, plus a free cookie, makes the side board the most interesting part of this menu.
Full Moon Bar-B-Que prices at a glance
The prices referenced on this page, collected up front. They vary by location and change without notice.
| Order | Price | Same sides a la carte | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable Plate (3 veg) | $8.99 | $11.97 | $2.98 |
| Vegetable Plate (4 veg) | $9.99 | $15.96 | $5.97 |
The vegetable plate math
This is the single best-value line at Full Moon and most people walk past it.
Three Trimmings bought separately are $11.97. The 3-vegetable plate is $8.99. Four are $15.96 separately against $9.99 as a plate. It is also a legitimate meat-free meal at a barbecue restaurant, listed in the plates section next to the brisket rather than buried — City BBQ's 3 Side Plate is the only comparable thing at any chain we cover.
Two caveats, both standard at any Southern barbecue kitchen: greens and green beans are frequently cooked with pork, and the vegetable of the day rotates. Ask which of that day's vegetables are meat-free rather than assuming, and see the Full Moon allergen notes if it matters medically.
The sides worth paying extra for
Fried Green Tomatoes — $5.69 small (3 pieces), $8.69 large
The most Southern item on any menu covered on this site, and the one side genuinely worth breaking the $3.99 ceiling for. Three pieces at $5.69 is a shared starter for two; the large at $8.69 is a $3.00 upgrade. Eat them immediately — they are around 380 calories for the small and they do not survive a car journey.
Loaded Baked Potato — $6.99
The same price as a whole regular BBQ Pork Sandwich, which tells you how to think about it. It is a meal rather than a side. Order it instead of a plate, not alongside one.
Deviled eggs and onion rings — price varies
Both are on the board, and both are priced locally rather than chain-wide, so what you pay in Birmingham may not match what you pay elsewhere. The deviled eggs are the other unmistakably Southern thing here and are worth ordering when you see them.
The cheap end
- Potato Chips — $1.49. The cheapest thing on the menu. Useful for a child or as filler next to a $2.99 Moon Dog.
- Brunswick Stew, cup — $3.89. Technically a soup, functionally the most interesting side on the menu. Tomato-based, with corn, lima beans and smoked meat. Cheaper than a Trimming and far more regional.
- Homemade Chili, cup — $3.89. Same price, less specific to the region.
- Soup & Salad — $6.69. Two sides pretending to be lunch, and the cheapest complete meal on the menu.
The Half Moon Cookie
The most famous thing Full Moon makes is not sold. The Half Moon Cookie is a large chocolate chip cookie handed to you free with every meal — it is not a paid menu item, it is not advertised, and outside Alabama it is what the chain is known for. It runs around 280 calories, which is roughly a Trimming's worth, so if you are counting, treat it as a side you already ordered.
The practical advice is simply to take it. People who order at the counter and leave quickly miss it, and it is the one thing you cannot get by ordering more carefully next time.
How to build the side order
- Eating alone, cheaply: regular pork sandwich ($6.99) and one Trimming ($3.99), cookie free. Under $11.
- Eating alone, no meat: the 4-vegetable plate ($9.99). Best value on the menu per item.
- Sharing: small Fried Green Tomatoes ($5.69) for the table, then whatever plate you came for.
- With children: Moon Dog ($2.99) and Potato Chips ($1.49) is $4.48 and both of them get a cookie.
Full current pricing for the Trimmings board is on the Full Moon Bar-B-Que menu.