These Are the 10 Restaurants Every Barbecue Lover Must Visit

Food & Wine ^ | June 23 2025 | Greg Baker

[texas booster]

From old school to new wave, here are 10 barbecue spots worth waiting in line for.

Chef Ashley Christensen once said, “We don’t talk about politics, religion, or barbecue at the table.” One’s barbecue preferences can end friendships and stress familial relations. But while folks could spend hours arguing about tomato-based sauce vs. vinegar-based sauce, beef ribs vs. pork ribs, and who has the best brisket in all of Texas, there’s one topic that we could all agree on — the restaurants, counters, and stands that have played a role in moving American barbecue forward.

[KC Burke]

Sauce is an entire universe of discussion.

Being from Kansas City but living now in North Carolina, i can say those two worlds are totally different. KC is enclosed wood oven smoked beef, sliced pit roasted pork loin and a full variety of beef and pork ribs. Carolina barbecue centers around open pit whole hog pulled pork and pork spare ribs. Two totally different worlds. I probably dined in forty KC barbecue joints with each being different.

[HockeyPop]

Any BBQ made outside of SC is basically poison"

I'm chuckling

I'd give it to John Lewis (Lewis BBQ) in Charleston if it had table service. Rodney Scott is all hog, no brisket. Swig n Swine, Melvyns and Bessingers in a pinch. City Limits BB Q in Columbia SC just took its 2nd James Beard nomination.

[sam_whiskey]

I have been to three of those and can attest that they were all great. Specifically, I’ve been to Joe’s, Southern Soul, and Cozy Corner. Kind of surprised at Cozy Corner’s inclusion because I did not think it was actually as widely renowned as the others on that list…

[GenXPolymath]

Snow’s BBQ - Lexington Texas

Cattleack Barbeque - Farmers Branch Texas

Leroy and Lewis Barbecue - Austin Texas

Hurtado Barbecue Fort Worth

Panther City BBQ - Ft Worth

In that order.

[ebshumidors]

I like Central BBQ, Interstate and Germantown Commissary in the Memphis area. Best ribs I’ve had were the Porkasaurus practice ribs at the BBQ competition.

[GenXPolymath]

“Fat Boys BBQ in Temple, TX”

Miller’s BBQ in Belton Texas next door is great

[Tommy Revolts]

Yes, at my house! Lol.

I grew up in Kansas City (Overland Park). It's in my DNA. Go Chiefs.

The best in Kansas City were... Smokestack BBQ (now Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ), Hayward's Pit BBQ, and an unassuming joint called Wyandot 2 BBQ.

Arthur Bryant's sucks, Gates sucks, and the rest are perpetrating a fraud.

I've been to Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, etc. Tried a lot of regional BBQ. I will say there's a place called Shaffer's Farm Meat and Texas BBQ in Summertown, TN that has a killer brisket.

I live in Phoenix now. The BBQ here es no bueno. I make the best in the backyard. I have my own smokers and only use (Missour-uh) Ozark wood. Hickory is my go-to and I will mix Wild Cherry for the longer smokes.

The Brisket, Ribs, Rib tips, Burnt ends, Chicken, Beans, Potato Salad, and Greens. All BBQ Heaven.

[heylady]

I’ve been to different Bar B Que restaurants in different states. The best was a place in Colorado. Very rustic woodsy place. Hickory House in Parker, Co. Other than that, my son Todd, in Texas, makes the best Bar B Que. Why would I spend money at a restaurant?

[Larry Lucido]

Been to Stanley’s in Tyler, Texas, and Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That will keep me for a while.

[married21]

Wow. How can you mention all the great food you make and not issue dinner invitations?

Seriously, I hope your friends and loved ones deeply appreciate your efforts.

[dfwgator]

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse.

[9422WMR]

I was traveling for work years ago and got to South Carolina. Coworkers bragged about SC bbq. So we went.
Pulled pork bbq, but right on the table? BBQ sauce offered was Texas Pete sauce.
I’m from TX, so that seemed odd to brag about SC bbq that is seasoned by Texas sauce!!

[pops88]

Rollin’ Smoke was recommended when I took a CCW class at Discount Firearms. It was by far the best BBQ I’ve had and a top favorite eatery in town for me. I had a vision a few years back it would grow to take over the whole corner as a big, beautiful restaurant. Two other gems here are Pop’s on Decatur and Lov-It Custard. When it comes to food, I don’t think we’re fair competition so of course aren’t mentioned- just wouldn’t be fair.

[DeplorablePaul]

I think original poster knew that a discussion about who makes the best BBQ would be heated. People hold strong opinions about recipes, methods and such.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I’ve been to Franklins, Barb B and Joes BBQ joints. Franklin has the best brisket hands down. I like Joes and I think there are other BBQ joints in Lockhart that are better. I haven’t found good BBQ in Myrtle Beach yet.

[HockeyPop]

Agree. All in good nature. I’ve been smoking meat, fish and sausage making for 40+ years and nothing comes close :)

[Tommy Revolts]

Thank you. That was very nice.

Uh oh, I'm going to need a bigger backyard.

[SpaceBar]

Emil Villa’s Hickory Pit (a west coast thing).

[abigkahuna]

I ran across Rolling Smoke from a Mike Chen/Strictly Dumpling Video on youtube. Since we were going to Las Vegas we figured we might as well stop by and frankly, were not disappointed at all. Yum-Yum...

[EQAndyBuzz]

Smoke Shack on Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio is my UTR joint. They had smoked lamb ribs.