50 Best Barbecue Joints in America
Here are the Top 11-20 BBQ Joints!
20. Fette Sau
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Foursquare rating: 9.36
If you’re planning a trip to Fette Sau, come prepared for meat, meat, and more meat.
“Fette Sau serves spectacular smoked meats by the pound — pulled pork shoulder, loin chops, and boneless beef ribs,” Gothamist shared on Foursquare. “The baked beans are pretty meaty themselves, so consider yourself forewarned.” Vegetarians, beware.
19. Smokin Pig BBQ
Location: Pendleton, South Carolina
Foursquare rating: 9.36
You can’t beat the brisket at Pendleton’s Smokin Pig BBQ. Smoked to perfection, crisp, and topped with a flavor-packed dry rub, it falls apart in your mouth. Round out your meal with an order of jalapeño grits or sweet potato fries, and you’re sure to leave full and happy.
17. Burn Co BBQ
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Foursquare rating: 9.38
Through a no-frills design and utilitarian decor, the proprietors at Burn Co BBQ aim to make the restaurant feel like a backyard cookout — all about the company and, mostly, the food. The spot smokes its meats daily and offers a diverse menu of everything from pulled pork to smoked bologna to venison sausage.
16. Central BBQ
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Foursquare rating: 9.39
In the mood for traditional, authentic Memphis-style barbecue? Make Central BBQ your go-to spot. The joint features premium meat dry rubbed with spices, marinated for a full 24 hours, and slow smoked to perfection over hickory and pecan wood. You can’t go wrong with classic options like ribs or brisket, but be sure to try the smoked hot wings and pulled pork nachos as well.
15. Mighty Quinn’s BBQ
Location: New York, New York
Foursquare rating: 9.39
New York City’s Mighty Quinn’s gives its Southern counterparts a run for their money. The spot’s specialties include its brisket and burnt ends, and Foursquare users cheer the “brontosaurus rib,” a huge serving of beef short rib that weighs nearly a pound.
14. Pappy’s Smokehouse
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Foursquare rating: 9.4
St. Louis locals rave about Pappy’s Smokehouse, and for good reason: The Memphis-style ‘cue is smoked for 14 hours over sweet apple or cherry wood and doused with Pappy’s tangy homemade sauce. Make a point of going early — it’s known for selling out.
13. Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q
Location: Austin, Texas
Foursquare rating: 9.4
Austin’s competitive barbecue scene can be cutthroat, but Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q consistently delivers quality food and friendly service. Yes, it’s in a gas station, but one taste of the moist brisket or smoked turkey breast will make you forget the world around you. Whatever you order, be sure to slather it in Rudy’s signature sauce.
12. Hometown Bar-B-Que
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Foursquare rating: 9.4
You’ll find more than your typical barbecue offerings at Brooklyn’s Hometown Bar-B-Que. Branch out with an order of pork belly tacos, a lamb belly banh mi sandwich, or Vietnamese hot wings. But if you’re craving a taste of traditional Texas ‘cue, you can’t go wrong with brisket or pulled pork.
11. John Mull’s Meats and Road Kill Grill
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Foursquare rating: 9.41
The menu may be simple, but everything at John Mull’s Meats and Road Kill Grill in Las Vegas comes packed with flavor. For only $13.65, nosh on the spot’s famous ribs — which come highly praised by Foursquare users — along with classic sides like mac and cheese and baked beans.
While this is an impressive list, I am not sure that Foursquare represents a valid cross section of BBQ aficionados (experts for us country folk), as evidenced by the number of NYC listings in the top 50. I have had some good BBQ in NYC, but not that many to rank in the top 50, especially given the range of good places in the rest of the country. I think I have been to about 1/4 of the places on this list 🙂
Most definitely a subjective list here