The dry-rubbed brisket at La Barbecue is smoked from 12 to 15 hours at a low temp; when its sliced, you can see the distinct pink ring that indicates a textbook smoke and melt-in-your-mouth moisture. They run the gamut, from choices like smoky mango and pecan to mustard-based. Featuring lesser-seen items like pork steaks, chopped whole hog, and beer-bacon-and-beef sausages. A blowtorch helps caramelize hisapricot-glazed ribs, while a rotisserie-style Ole Hickory Pits smoker adds flavor to the beans. Austin, TexasAt his truck parked at Meanwhile Brewing in South Austin, pitmaster Damien Brockway cooks mind-blowing dishes that honor the flavors of the African diaspora and their contribution to barbecues culinary history. Order any of Martins meats on a corncake, known as a Redneck Taco, for a singular experience. 's Smokehouse, click here >. On the menu you'll findcherry-wood-smoked barbecue, homemade sides, and some upscale dishes mixed in. Brooklyn, New YorkIt's pretty safe to say that Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que is NYCs current cue king. The housemade sausage, pulled pork, house vinegar-based sauce, and spicy mac and cheese likewise shine. Along with the traditional wood, this popular spot combines high-quality meat and a simple dry rub with low-and-slow cooking that results in a beautifully fatty and moist brisket. Seattle, WashingtonAfter trying over 200 barbecue places across the country, esteemed barbecue judge and writer Adrian Miller named Little Reds one of the 20 best black-owned barbecue joints in the nation in his book Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. Los Angeles, CaliforniaAndrew and Michelle Muoz played a major part in the rise of backyard barbecue, pumping out stunning Texas-style brisket and Mexican American sides from their home in East LA in 2017. She grew up busing tables at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor and now helms one of Austins finest barbecue operations. Now Rickys son Zach carries on the tradition of whole hog barbecue, muscling huge pigs onto grates set atop cinderblock pits stoked with shovelfuls of glowing embers to provide the heat and the flavor. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences delivered daily to your inbox. By combining different barbecue styles from around the country, Smoque serves up a flavor allits own. The signature meal here is a 2-inch-thick, 1-1/2-pound pork chop with a side of bacon-jalapeno mac and cheese, gratis beans, and pecan cobbler topped with ice cream. The shops star is Texas-style brisket that is oak-smoked and made from wagyu-grade beefmaking one of the most decadent interpretations of the dish in town. To learn more about Smoque BBQ, click here >. "I learned how to make ribs when I was growing up in Memphis," owner Andy Marshall says on the restaurant's website. At Beast, Old Hickory pits smoke only the finest proteins, from Duroc pork to Wagyu brisket. Check out the best barbecue joints in Phoenix. To learn more about Double J Smokehouse & Saloon, click here >. Three generations of Paynes have kept this modest cinder block building with a recessed pit set into the wall full of hickory coals going for four decades. Anthony Bourdain named it one of his "13 Places to Eat Before You Die." To learn more about Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, click here >. He started the business with a mere $6,000, and ithas been going strong for 44 years. Five days a week she works maintenance at a local high school, but on Saturday mornings the octogenarian Texas legend turns into a barbecue Superwoman. Hit up Truth to snag fatty, 18-hour-smoked Brisket and succulent and crisp burnt ends, peppery pork ribs, and sides from old-school tater tot casserole to a corn pudding that you absolutely need in your mouth right now. Check out the best barbecue joints in San Diego. Sweet Lews lives inside an old service station in a historically working-class neighborhood, and its exactly what a barbecue joint should beunfussy and homey, with casual counter service and a concise menu of chopped-pork sandwiches with Lexington-style slaw, barbecue spare ribs, smoked chicken, and classic sides (dont sleep on the boiled potatoes) along with a rotating list of daily specials. One of the chef/owners grew up eating barbecue in Southwest Texas and the other used to be a Korean pop star. An order of black angus beef brisket comes with a half-pound of delicious, slow-smoked meat coated in a house-made dry rub; and the restaurants renowned burnt end baked beans is made with pork and beef. Youll even find a few plot twists, like chopped brisket tacos, strewn with fresh cilantro and chile de arbol salsa. The burnt ends plus the pork ribs with jerk sauce is the way to go at Reds, but its impossible to not recommend the escovitch fish, curry goat, and the jerk chicken. Portland, OregonEem is a tiki drink-fueled oasis where Texas-style barbecue meets bold Thai flavors. Richmond, VirginiaThe Lone Star States barbecue style is perhaps the most exported of any region so its natural to be skeptical of imitators, but Richmonds ZZQ is the real deal, started by a native Austinite (raised in Mesquite), who honors his home state by cooking some of the best brisket youll find outside its boundaries. To learn more about Franklin Barbecue, click here >. Cooking teams have even won competitions with our ribs. The meats are slow-cooked over a fire made with mesquite and oak wood; delectable brisket, jerk chicken and homemade Texas or hot sausages dont need any saucy embellishments, but we wont judge you for adding them. Denver, ColoradoThis spot is easy to overlook, but then youd be missing out on owner Dwight Jabo Lawsons hickory-smoked offerings and more than 20 sauce varieties. And because meats are only part of the balanced barbecue diet, braised greens, Brussels and cauliflower au gratin, roasted squash casserole, and pea salad headline a huge list of creative takes on typical sidessome of the best in Texas. Miami, FloridaFusion maestro Richard Hales, of Sakaya and Blackbrick Chinese fame, dips his hand into the barbecue world, eschewing his usual cuisine-merging for strict Texas-style eats. But the lengendary hot links are cured for 16 hours and smoked for six. most essential dining experiences in Las Vegas, selling brisket that took a decade to perfect, esteemed barbecue judge and writer Adrian Miller. Houston, TexasThis family-run fan favorite from pit boss Greg Gatlin underwent a bigger, better facelift when it moved to its new location. Dreamland is known for its ribs and homemade sauce. Without further ado, here are the 57 best barbecue joints in America. Ocean Springs, MississippiCompetition circuit phenoms and Food Network reality stars the Orrisons paint the picture of the ideal barbecue family. Now hes the undisputed smoke beef king of Nashville and a welcome addition to the local barbecue scene. Chicago, IllinoisThe tradition of Chicago barbecue (yes, it's a thing) lost one of its titans a few years back when longtime Lems owner and operator James Lemons passed away, the last survivor of a group of brothers that made a mark on the Chicago meat map that goes back to the 1940s. He traveled around the countryto hone his smoky craft and opened Hometown in 2013. Lil Red is a mix of owner Erasto Red Jacksons love of barbecue and Leleiths Jamaican heritage. Washington, DCAfter having a successful stint at a farmers market stand for over a year, 2Fifty BBQ finally solidified a storefront in DCs Riverdale Park neighborhood. Oakland, CaliforniaOaklands Horn Barbecue comes from pitmaster-extraordinaire Matt Horn and, believe us, youll want to get his Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed, West Coast-style barbecue featuring brisket, spare ribs, pulled pork, and more. Choose wisely then throw your sauce on the super-sized pulled pork sandwichand absolutely opt for Carolina-style which comes complete with slaw on top. B.T. Pitmaster Fernando Gonzlez and his wife Debby Gonzlez also offer St. Louis-style pork ribs, pulled pork, and mustard-laced potato salad. It is an ancient craft, after all, with simple instructions: fire plus meat equals mealtime. Houston, TexasBefore the world was turned upside-down, everything felt right when owner-pitmaster Leonard Botello IV brought Brenhams finest barbecue joint to H-town. Fugitt describesPayne's as "the holiest of all holes-in-the-wall" beforeraving about its chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw and "runny sauce." In an era when so much KC barbecue comes off propane-assisted commercial pits, the Jones sisters only burn logs in the weathered old locker smoker in the parking lot of their cinder block shack. Nashville, TennesseeBeef brisket used to be an afterthought at Nashville barbecue joints: rarely attempted and basically tolerated as a change of pace from the usual porktopia. Somehow said brisket isn't the most exclusive beef on the menumassive, beefy short ribs are served strictly on Saturdays. Check out the best barbecue joints in Memphis. Owner and Pitmaster Billy Durney spent nearly 20 years in celebrity security and private protection before turninghis barbecue hobby into a business. Fugitt suggests the brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, and beans. This Memphis restaurant excels at a St. Louis classic the pork steak. Once Bill Laviolette started importing prime brisket and sausages from his home state of Texas and cooking them in his massive smoker, local barbecue lovers finally discovered what they had been missing. Kansas City, KansasYou might be skeptical of its TV-spurred fame, but this low-key pit operated by sisters Deborah Shorty and Mary Little Jones are getting a much-deserved praise since its appearance on season 3 of Queer Eye. With credit due to many storied foundations of barbecuethrough indigenous peoples, immigrants, enslaved peopletodays smoked meats are, in some parts, tried-and-true traditions and, in others, contemporary approaches. Durneys spots serve up Brooklyn-style barbecue (true to the namesake) that utilize southern cooking techniques reflecting the diverse flavor profiles found in Durneys home borough. The sidespotato salad, jalapeo cheese grits, housemade breadprove this no-frill joint on the outskirts of Fort Worth knows how to complement their post oak-smoked meats. San Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaWhile we were looking the other way, San Juan Capistrano turned into a miniature food paradise along the Orange Coast, led in large part by Brenda and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue. Check out the best barbecue joints in Washington, DC. Fugitt says Smoque, home to some of the Windy City's best Austin-style brisket, is the most recognized barbecue restaurant in Chicago. Lexington, TennesseeFirst about the convoluted name of this West Tennessee barbecue institution: This isn't some odd Ruths Chris Steak House situation. To learn more about Skylight Inn BBQ, click here >. When in Kentucky, make time for some Moonlite mutton. Cooking teams have even won competitions with our ribs.". Phoenix, ArizonaNab a spot in line and experience the bliss that is Little Miss BBQ and its impressive offering of wonderfully smoked meats. This Philly go-to offers counter service only, which makes it easy for everyone to order and pay for themselves, and the long picnic tables beg for a group to pile in. Iron Star Urban Barbecue, open since 2002, pays homage to Oklahomas most notorious outlaw, Belle Starr, with a polished saloon motif that looks like the kind of place for an old-timey bar brawl. Fugitt describes Dreamland as a"bib wearin', sauce slatherin', old-school Southern joint that wouldn't pass a building safety inspection in most cities." Folks in Western Kentucky have a completely different dog in that fight. Check out the best barbecue joints in Philadelphia. Chopped or sliced, mutton is similar to traditional brisket, if a bit richer in flavor, and it holds up to whatever kind of sauce you want to throw its way. To learn more about Gates Bar-B-Q, click here >. A food truck in Austin purveying cue kissed with flavors of the African diaspora. The barbecue here is great, but the pulled-pork barbecue nachos are next-level. With smoked jalapeo cheese sausage and perfect turkey, its no wonder this newcomer notched the top spot on Texas Monthlys list of best Texas barbecue joints. Franklin wrote the book on modern Texas brisketquite literally, plus a recent cookbook on the art of mastering steakso lest you think that his now-iconic smokestack is all hype well, all you need is a bite of that brisket to be converted. And in case you're wondering, those are the two things you simplymustorder at Bogart's. The Lemon Grove barbecue joint is enthusiastically popular with locals and visitors alikeand for good reason. In addition to the traditional vinegary chopped pork, Scotts offers fried catfish and pit-smoked and spice-rubbed chicken, turkey, and steak. His slow-smoked brisket might be the best outside of the Lone Star State, and the massive sandwiches hes plating up are enough for two meals. Franklin is one of the most notable barbecue restaurants in America and it has the snaking line to prove it. All the bases are covered: pulled pork, chicken, ribs, burnt ends (plus tri-top on Tuesdays and Thursdays). Pitmaster Matt Vicedomini, Thai chef Akkapong Earl Ninsom, and barman Eric Nelson have thoughtfully smashed together their expertises into one bombastic and ever-bustling tropical spot thats unlike any other place on this list. From the heavily spiced pork ribs (our favorite in the city) to the collards that are so delicious even the pickiest palate will have no trouble eating their greens, it's easy to see why the buzz hasnt stopped around Distant Relatives since its opened. It doesnt hurt that their new restaurant also has more than 25 taps of the best local beer. Must-eats include the Texas Nail, a sandwich made with slow-smoked Prime brisket, cheddar cheese from brewery darling Revolver Blood & Honey, smoked mushrooms, caramelized onions, roasted green chiles, lime crema, and jalapeo-barbecue sauce. An arson fire set this Texas barbecue spotablaze, forcing the restaurant to temporarily operate as a catering business out of owner J.R.'s home. Early Scott started in 1960, he didnt even add his own name to the sign for two decades. Owensboro, KentuckyDebates have raged for years about whats the superior regional barbecue styleis it Memphis or Kansas City? delta blues bbq bristol tripadvisor menu The brisket is so buttery and flavorful, it doesn't need any sauce (but don't let that stop you from slathering some on top). Chicago, IllinoisThis newer spot from El Che executive chef-owner John Manion is located inside legendary Berwyn music venue FitzGeralds, which has undergone a host of welcome upgrades under new owner Will Duncan, including an Airbnb sleepover castle above the venue and mobile musician-in-truck concerts that drove around the neighborhood throughout the pandemic. The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America. Recently sitting pretty at the incredibly impressive number two spot on Texas Monthlys list of best cue in the state, pitmaster John Bates delivers his customers an incredible one-two rocket punch of smoker-fueled flavor in his offerings. We know, purists think sauce belongs on the side (or not on the table at all), but Jabos sauces are a treat on their own. While the meats are the headline-grabbers, the half-pound Pit-smoked Burger incorporates brisket scraps, creating some of the more unique flavors youll find squished between a bun. Miami, FloridaAustin pitmaster Mel Rodriguez brings classic Texas-style brisket, turkey, and pulled pork to South Florida, teaming up with Bills wideout McKenzie for some celebrity cache. ", To learn more about Puckett's Grocery, click here >. The restaurant's interiors aren't glamorous, but itsmix of charred and tender pork pieces are downright gorgeous. The charms of their messy, saucy, bark-heavy plates are immediately obvious. Austin, TexasCue the jokes about meats that are so good they will launch you into the atmosphere. To learn more about J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ Pit, click here >. This Kansas City stalwart's secret tosuccess is its signatureGates BBQ sauce, which Fugitt describes as"black pepper-heavy [and]tomato-based." As the legend goes, John "Big Daddy" Bishop opened the place after God came to him in a dream and told him to build a restaurant. The pulled pork and pork ribs reign here, but the boudin is steller, too. Austin, TexasFor every young gun in the Texas barbecue world, theres an old hat descended from a long line of pitmasters with salt and pepper in their veins. Check out the best barbecue joints in Houston. In Brooklyn, smoked meats with a New York deli bent. "We use our own special rub. If you still have room, Ellas Banana Puddin is a sweetly satisfying way to finish your feast. Hales downplays the importance of his sauces, preferring to let the white oak-induced char and the quality of the meat speak for themselves. Belleville, IllinoisBeasts David Sandusky brings a chef-minded meticulousness and reverence for ingredients to St. Louiss barbecue scene. Z-Man sandwich, stuffed with slow-smoked brisket, smoked provolone, and crispy onion rings. Then wash it down with a corn lager or farmhouse IPA. When they opened in 2020, running the first legal offset smokers in Orange County, they pushed the OC barbecue scene to a higher level, finally able to legally smoke and sell Central Texas-style barbecue cooked and served the way they do at the Austin legends. Tyler Harp, a Texophile whos bringing Lone Star State technique to a dusty dirt lot in the blue-collar suburb locally known for being the setting of the sitcom Mamas Family. This truck fits solidly in the new school category. Smoked over white oak, the brisket is coated in salt, pepper, and a few other herbs and spices. Whether you like it orginal, mild, sweet and mild, or extra hot, definitely order an extra side of sauce with your 'cue. San Diego, CaliforniaSister restaurant to owner and pitmaster Andy Harriss Grand Ole BBQ y Asado in North Park (currently undergoing renovations), Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs has two full bars, plenty of indoor and patio seating, and live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. Check out the best barbecue joints in Denver. Harp grew up watching his dad and uncle cook on the competitive barbecue circuit, but had his own epiphany on a trip to Texas. Although, of course, it offers the traditional combo plate fair, the most popular orders are rarer finds: a reverse seared pork steak and Brussels sprouts. People in all corners of the world have harnessed flames to cook foodslow-roasted pig in banana leaf-lined pits, skewered meat caramelized over hot coals. Austin, TexasIs the best brisket of your life worth a three-hour wait? In his self-published book, "The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America,"he details his journey and homes in on what he believes are the best 'cue joints in the country. menu bbq pappas prices bar houston tripadvisor barbecue tx These mad scientists of smoked meat serve unique dishes you cant find anywhere else such as bacon ribs, a burnt ends and pork belly combination youll dream about for months after devouring, and some fantastic burgers. Ten years in, Emerson has quietly stepped back from the day-to-day business operations, but thankfully the noises the customers make when tearing into Pappy's carefully rubbed, apple-and-cherrywood-smoked ribs remain anything but quiet. crib rib tripadvisor Specifically, the city of Owensboro is sort of the de facto capital of mutton barbecuethats a style of barbecue made from the meat of an adult sheep, if youre scoring at home. Want to go hog wild? Therestaurantalso serves free beer. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Raytown, MissouriKansas City cue is messy and proud of it. The result? Now back in full swing with live music almost nightly, Babygold Barbeque offers the perfect culinary compliment to a rollicking summer evening. Known for the barbecued Cornish hens, and rightly so, it is also highly recommended that you try the ribs. Try the ribs or one of the sandwiches, specifically theZ-Man sandwich, stuffed with slow-smoked brisket, smoked provolone, and crispy onion rings. The massive building boasts a full-service restaurant on the ground floor, a huge beer garden upstairs with picnic tables, a stage for live music, two bars, and private dining space for up to 150 guests. And the meat tastes even better with a side of live music. Promising live music Monday through Thursday night and serving a variety of barbecue dishes, The Shaved Duckruns withthe theme "Barbecue, Folk, and Soul." To learn more about Central BBQ, click here >. Rosemary bacon mac and cheese and Aunt Rubys blueberry cobbler can also be enhanced with a few sips of bourbon, of course. Check out the best barbecue joints in Chicago. Youll see the couples Salvadoran heritage reflected in specials like barbecue pupusas. . Fort Worth, TexasA quintet of pitmasters craft succulent pork ribs and juicy brisket whose crisp bark might bring you to tears. The interesting thing about this restaurant is that its lunch service is dedicated to traditional Texas barbecue (served "market-style")andits dinner menu brings more innovativefare. Dont skip the house-made desserts, such as cobbler and sweet potato pie. feast bbq sonny four tripadvisor florida Wash it down with something cold from their two dozen taps or creative cocktails, including a nearly perfect Topo Chico margarita. The octogenarian pitmaster and owner of his eponymous barbecue slowly roasts pig over a bed of oak and hickory embers, which is then served with a signature vinegar-pepper sauce. I learned how to make ribs when I was growing up in Memphis," owner Andy Marshall says on the restaurant's website. Or switch it up with the loaded Kitchen Sink Sandwich, biscuits and gravy, and a giblet-laden Dirty Rice so filthy youll need a cold shower afterward. Hill Country specializes in Central Texas barbecue with meats smoked in post oak wood from the Lone Star State. After having a successful stint at a farmers market stand for over a year, 2Fifty BBQ finally solidified a storefront in DCs Riverdale Park neighborhood. Pitmaster Fernando Gonzlez and his wife Debby Gonzlez also offer St. Louis-style pork ribs, pulled pork, and mustard-laced potato salad. To learn more about Herman's Ribhouse, click here >. Chicago, IllinoisIf Texas-style is your thing, this venerable smoke shack has your slow-smoked cravings covered. The pits are then covered with sheets of cardboard to insulate the hogs while they take their 24-hour smoke nap. If youre still hungry after devouring whats quite possibly the most iconic pork sandwich in the country, its also worth the trek 8 miles North to pitmaster Sam Jones other joint with an expanded menu and a selection of local draft beers. Check out the best barbecue joints in New York. These blood brothers opened their brick-and-mortar location in 2018, taking inspiration from their Chinese and Vietnamese roots to create next-gen, outside-the-box barbecue that challenges everything you thought you knew about smoked cuisine. Hehas served his barbecue to former presidents and earnedan award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2016, after years of learning his craft at his family's barbecue restaurant in nearby Hemingway, Scott opened his restaurant in Charleston. Nonetheless, Lems, the oldest Black-owned barbecue spot in Chicago, remains an essential destination for anyone looking to dig into a pile of rib tipsthe gloriously gelatinous, slightly cumbersome but worth-the-trouble staple of the Chicago barbecue scene. Check out the best barbecue joints in Seattle. If that last sentence still leaves you in any doubt that they are worthy of nabbing the number five spot on the prestigious Texas Monthlys list of the best barbecue joint in the state, showing up to one of their legendary, whole hog cookout days will have you eating your wordsnot to mention, everything on your plate. Las Vegas, NevadaThe place began as a slaughterhouse back in the 50s and still processes game for hunters. After finding inspiration in Texas, competing in local barbecue competitions here in Arizona, and tirelessly perfecting his craft, owner and pitmaster Scott Holmes debuted the first Little Miss BBQ in 2014. LeAnn Mueller has such a lineage. Raymond Robinson built his legacy with a Chicago-style smoker where meat is placed on the lowest rack then progressively upward until it is smoked to perfection. Its these traditions that keep the barbecue scene in Memphis alive. To learn more about Payne's Bar-B-Que, click here >. Brooklyn, New YorkFette Sau is a popular and long-standing Williamsburg spot serving by-the-pound smoked meats thats one part Central Texas, and another part New York deli. gilley dallas saloon daniel jack texas tripadvisor Youll see the couples Salvadoran heritage reflected in specials like barbecue pupusas. They are immensely popular, and deservedly so, for their brisket and hot links, and theyve also added specials like Texas chili, pastrami, and Hawaiian-style potato salad to boot. And for those who can't make the journey, they even ship their meat overnight. And dont forget a good hunk of decadent Crack Cake for dessert. An old dog can learn new trickswhile our mainstay capitals of barbecue, from Texas to the Carolinas, hold down history. Former President George W. Bush declared this his favorite barbecue spot. Fugitt compares The Granary's cornbread to angel-food cake, which sounds pretty heavenly. Hempstead, TexasHill Country specializes in Central Texas barbecue with meats smoked in post oak wood from the Lone Star State. The restaurant is sandwiched between a highway and an apartment building that made a cameo in"Catch Me If You Can. Memphis, TennesseeA local favorite, Cozy Corner is one of the most iconic shops in town run by four generations of Robinsons since 1977. Pork spare ribs, Hill Country jalapeo cheese sausage, fried chicken sandwiches and sides like Campfire Baked Beans with burnt ends, and potato salad will complete an already hearty meal. Unsurprisingly, succulent, perfectly rendered, and bark-topped brisket tops the menu, followed by ribs, pulled pork, and juicy smoked sausages shipped all the way from Taylor, Texas. Herman Tuck opened Herman's in 1964. Nashville, TennesseePat Martins downtown Nashville outpost of his growing barbecue empire is definitely the crown jewel. On the other hand, you havent really experienced it until you've made the pilgrimage to Decatur, eaten your weight in hickory-smoked chicken, and experienced that bright, peppery tang right there at the source. Its almost barbecue gospel that hers is the best in the stateand, Texans will tell you, that means the best in the world.