Top - notch barbecue can be hard to find , unless you know where to look . Though you may finda solid BBQ spliff in any state , there are a few region with more than their fair portion of real - deal smokehouses . Regional variations in cookery times , techniques , and sauces mean that view disagree on what makes the best barbeque . If you love the smoky taste and meaty grain of barbecue , record on to happen upon where to eat at America ’s 11 best barbeque cities .
1. AUSTIN, TEXAS
you could find multiple style of barbecue within Texas , but Austin has some of Texas ’s absolute best beef brisket and rib . agree outFranklin Barbecue , which assist caramelized , raw brisket sandwiches ( as well as brisket by the pound ) to long origin of hungry customers , andFreedmen ’s , which serves its brisket , pulled pork , and pork spare ribs with house - made jam , focaccia , and barbecue sauce .
2. MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
If you ’re face for barbeque in Memphis , you ’re never more than a stone ’s throw from some pork barrel ribs and chopped pork sandwiches . Memphis - style pork is usually do with sauce that does n’t contain all the simoleons that ’s more commonly run into in barbecue from other regions . To get a taste of barbecue history , order the porc shoulder sandwich or porc rib atCharlie Vergos Rendezvous — in 1948 , a Captain James Cook there add together paprika and broiled ribs over charcoal , helping to wrick ribs from unwanted fleck meat into a delicious chief course . you may also attain upPayne ’s Bar - atomic number 5 - Quefor one of the city ’s good chopped porc sandwich , which they make with smoke pork shoulder and serve with a gamey red sauce .
3. KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
When most people think of barbeque , they ’re most probably imagining Kansas City - mode barbecue : slowly - misrepresent over low heat , with a tomato - ground sauce deep and full of brown shekels or molasses . Opened in 1957,Jack Stack Barbecueserves beef , ham , pork , and sausage burn up end , which consist of the fatty final stage pieces of the substance . If you wish the sound of burnt ends , try them on a sandwich atLC ’s Bar - B - Q — you’ll ask several napkins before the repast is over!—or atArthur Bryant ’s , which serves them open - faced at arguably the most famous barbecue roast in the country .
4. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Although Louisville has batch of good beef barbecue , you do n’t need to overleap out on its all - adept porc offerings . Momma ’s Mustard , Pickles & BBQserves Kansas City - style barbeque , which means they slow - smoke their meat and function it with a unfermented , tomato plant - found sauce . Sink your dentition into the smoked pork barrel ribs , brisket slider , and smoke wings at Momma ’s , or try the child back porc ribs or pulled pork sandwich atFeast BBQ .
5. TULSA, OKLAHOMA
Because of Oklahoma ’s location northward of Texas and southwest of Missouri , the country incorporate aspects of Texas - style and Kansas City - style barbecue . Whether you chow down on kick , pork , or chicken barbecue in Tulsa , the common denominator is that the nitty-gritty is charred on the outside , tender on the interior , and full of smoky flavor . AtElmer ’s BBQ , feed the Famous Badwich , a sandwich that contain hickory smoked bologna , beef , sausage , and a costa . And seek the blimp - stuffed pork loin or Republic of Turkey ( a specialty ) and ribs atBurn Co Barbecue .
6. LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
barbeque in the Carolinas is all about pork barrel . In Lexington , topical anesthetic exhaust pork shoulder or ribs with a vinegar - base ruby sauce . Established in 1962,Lexington Barbecueserves an excellent chopped BBQ dental plate and chop BBQ sandwich . While you ’re at it , also check out the chop barbecue plates atSpeedy ’s Barbecue Inc.andCook ’s Barbecue .
7. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Like North Carolina , in South Carolina pork regulation over all other types of meat , and Charleston has plenty of spots for prime South Carolina barbecue . At the Charleston Farmers Market , RightOnQueoffers authentic southerly pulled pork barrel , ribs , pork barrel lumbus , and squawk brisket cooked slowly at a low temperature ( it takes 12 to 14 hours ) over local woods . For pork barrel tacos , head toNick ’s Original Bar - B - Q , and hold back bySwig & Swinefor pulled porc and smoke porc stomach sandwiches .
8. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Barbecue in Louisiana does n’t have as long a chronicle as barbeque in Kansas City or Memphis , but New Orleans has more top barbeque joints than ever . incorporate Creole flavors , barbeque in New Orleans include ribs , sausage , and slew of sweet sauce . Head toWalker ’s Southern Style BBQfor acochon de laitpoboy , a Cajun - style sandwich with smoked pork barrel and Creole slaw . you could also taste the plate of pork ribs or the chaurice sausage ( a zesty Creole pork sausage , similar to chorizo ) atThe Joint .
9. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Although Kansas City barbecue is vastly popular , across the state , St. Louis , Missouri is also famous for its grill pork spare ribs . AtBogart ’s Smokehouse , tell the smoked prime rib sandwich — the rib are caramelise with an apricot glaze . mind toThe Rib Shackfor grill substance , person food for thought dinners , and costa sandwich , and curb outPappy ’s Smokehousefor classic Memphis - manner barbecue … their specialty is the ironic - fret ribs , which are slow smoke over Malus pumila and cherry Mrs. Henry Wood .
10. TYLER, TEXAS
Texas is a big state , and east Texas has its own typical style of barbecue . In Tyler , you ’ll find wads of chopped beef and porc sandwiches served with hot sauce . Your first check should beStanley ’s Famous Pit Barbecue , which has serve pit - smoked barbecue for more than half a 100 . Although you ca n’t go wrong with the double - rubbed baby back rib or the root for pork barrel taco , you ’ll in spades want to consecrate the chopped brisket sandwich . Also check outPat Gee ’s , a born-again shack in the woods , for chopped bitch , force pork , and hot links . you may feed there or order your pith by the pound to take home .
11. BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Birmingham is known for its unparalleled use of white sauce on fume chicken . fabricate in Decatur , Alabama by barbeque restaurateur"Big Bob " Gibsonin 1925 , the blanched sauce is typically made with mayo , vinegar , and black pepper . In Birmingham , head word toSaw ’s Soul Kitchenfor a fried green tomato BLT and the smoke chicken sandwich with white barbecue sauce , or go toMiss Myra ’s Pit Bar - bacillus - Qfor the hickory smoke chicken , pull pork barrel , and smoke ham . Miss Myra ’s chicken is served with a creamy , tangy clean sauce , make it a thoroughgoing exemplar of Alabama ’s distinct barbecue identity .
