The World's Top 100 Barbecue

Updated July 18, 2026

Categories

  1. Rank 1. Burnt Ends

    Barbecue

    A wood-fired barbecue spot on the World's 50 Best list, and it earns it. The whole room is built around a four-tonne wood-burning oven, and counter seats face the open kitchen so you can watch the fire do its thing up close. The menu shifts constantly, which keeps the regulars coming back and the tourists slightly confused. Wear something you don't mind smelling like smoke on the way home, because that's a compliment here.

    Awards
    Address
    7 Dempsey Rd, #01-02, Singapore 249671 · Singapore
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  2. Rank 1. Rodney Scott's BBQ

    Whole-Hog Barbecue

    Rodney Scott's is a James Beard-winning pitmaster's whole-hog BBQ spot on King Street, and the smoke cloud hanging around the building is basically a landmark at this point. The pulled pork is the move, impossibly tender and hit with a tangy vinegar sauce that has no business being that good. Grab a side of collard greens or mac and cheese, find a seat among the BBQ pilgrims, and don't overthink it.

    Awards
    Address
    1011 King St, Charleston, SC · Charleston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  3. Rank 3. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

    Barbecue

    Austin barbecue that deliberately sidesteps the brisket-or-bust religion most pitmasters swear by. This Michelin-starred BBQ spot in Garrison Park does things their own way, rotating daily specials that keep regulars guessing and give you a real reason to come back more than once. The crowd skews locals who know better than to sleep on it. Grab a seat in the peaked dining room and let the menu tell you what day it is.

    Awards
    Address
    5621 Emerald Forest Dr, Austin, TX · Austin
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  4. Rank 3. la Barbecue

    Barbecue

    La Barbecue is a Michelin-starred BBQ counter on the east side where the line snakes into the parking lot and nobody seems to mind. A massive custom pit out back does the serious work, turning out brisket so good you'll eat half of it before you even find a seat. The crowd is flip-flops and locals who know to get there early. Sausages and ribs hold their own, and the kimchi and mac and cheese are not an afterthought.

    Awards
    Address
    2401 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX · Austin
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  5. Rank 3. CorkScrew BBQ

    Barbecue

    A Michelin-starred barbecue shack in the Houston suburbs that draws the kind of lines usually reserved for concert tickets. This is a weekend pilgrimage spot, coolers and lawn chairs not out of place, where the brisket and beef ribs are genuinely worth the drive. Get there before they open or call ahead, because they sell out fast and the crowd knows it. The sides are serious too, so don't be the person who skips them.

    Awards
    Address
    26608 Keith St, Spring, TX · Spring
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  6. Rank 6. InterStellar BBQ

    Barbecue

    The line outside this Michelin-starred BBQ shop forms before the doors open, which tells you everything you need to know. Post oak smoke, low and slow, produces brisket that earns the wait on its own. The sides and smoked meats beyond it are genuinely good too, so load up your tray without overthinking it. Expect a crowd of locals who treat Saturday brisket like a religious obligation, coolers in tow.

    Awards
    Address
    12233 Ranch Rd 620 N, Unit 105, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  7. Rank 7. Goldee’s BAR-B•Q

    Barbecue

    Goldee's is a Bib Gourmand BBQ spot that serious brisket people treat like a pilgrimage site, and honestly, they're not wrong. It's only open a few days a week, and the line forms well before the doors do, which means you'll be sweating in a Fort Worth parking lot next to people who drove two hours and have zero regrets. The brisket is the reason, smoky and yielding in a way that makes you go quiet for a second.

    Awards
    Address
    4645 Dick Price Rd, Fort Worth, TX · Fort Worth
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  8. Rank 8. Mum Foods

    Barbecue

    A Mueller BBQ shop and deli that refuses to pick a lane, and is better for it. The pastrami sandwich is the reason to show up, brined, smoked, and piled onto house-made rye sourdough in a way that takes the whole genre seriously. Concrete floors, wooden booths, and a crowd that looks like they just finished a bike ride and immediately made the right decision about lunch. Grab a side of pimento dip while you're at it.

    Awards
    Address
    5811 Manor Rd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  9. Rank 8. Franklin Barbecue

    Barbecue

    The line wrapping around the block on a Tuesday morning tells you everything you need to know about this legendary Austin BBQ spot. The room is basically a shed, the menu is a chalkboard, and nobody cares because the brisket, sliced to order and wrapped in butcher paper, is absurdly good. Grab a cold local beer, claim a spot at a communal table next to the out-of-towners who set an alarm for this, and accept that some waits are worth it.

    Awards
    Address
    900 E 11th St, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  10. Rank 10. Heritage Barbecue

    Texas Barbecue

    Barbecue is basically a religion, and Heritage is the kind of church worth making a pilgrimage for. This Michelin Bib Gourmand BBQ spot in San Juan Capistrano does central Texas proud, running on California white oak smoke and pure conviction. Show up early, because the faithful line up before the doors open and the best cuts go fast. The crowd is focused and meat-serious, trays loaded, no small talk until after the brisket.

    Awards
    Address
    31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA · San Juan Capistrano
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  11. Rank 10. Takja BBQ House

    Korean Barbecue

    Upscale Korean BBQ on College Street where the servers actually do the grilling for you, which sounds fancy until you realize it means the meat is always perfect. Dry-aged cuts from around the world get cooked over live fire tableside, and the banchan gets the same serious attention as everything else. The crowd is date-night couples and groups who wanted somewhere cooler than the usual spots. Cocktails lean Korean, wine list leans natural.

    Awards
    Address
    962 College St, Toronto ON · Toronto
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  12. Rank 12. 2Fifty

    Barbecue

    A counter-service BBQ spot in Riverdale Park that earns the drive from anywhere in the metro area. The Wagyu brisket is the kind of thing you think about the next day, and the smoked turkey will ruin every other smoked turkey for you. Sides hold their own, which isn't always a given. Expect a line of people who clearly know what they're doing, and plan to eat it in the car or at home.

    Awards
    Address
    4700 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale Park, MD · Riverdale
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  13. Rank 12. Barbs B Q

    Barbecue

    Lockhart is already Texas BBQ royalty, and Barbs B Q earns its place in the lineup. It's a weekend-only pit stop with a short menu that plays with classic smoked meats in ways that actually make sense, think ribs with lime zest and turkey with a black pepper crust. The lines are long, the hours are limited, and the crowd is made up of people who planned their Saturday around this. Michelin gave it a Bib Gourmand, which tracks.

    Awards
    Address
    102 E Market St, Lockhart, TX · Lockhart
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  14. Rank 12. Burnt Bean Co.

    Barbecue

    People line up before the doors open in Seguin, and they'd do it in the rain. Burnt Bean Co. is a no-frills BBQ shop where the brisket, ribs, and sausage are all treated with the kind of obsessive care that wins competitions, which is literally where the pitmasters came from. The industrial space fills fast with locals who know what they're doing and tourists who figured it out just in time. Worth the drive from San Antonio.

    Awards
    Address
    108 S Austin St, Seguin, TX · Seguin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  15. Rank 15. 2Fifty

    Barbecue

    Counter-service BBQ done with serious conviction, 2Fifty smokes everything over wood until it's exactly right, and the room fills up fast with people who drove across town on purpose. The brisket and smoked turkey are the main reasons to show up, though the sides hold their own. Order more than you think you need, grab a spot if you can find one, or just take the whole fragrant haul home.

    Awards
    Address
    414 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  16. Rank 15. Truth Barbeque

    Barbecue

    Houston Heights gets a BBQ spot that actually lives up to the hype, and this Michelin Bib Gourmand winner is the proof. It's a proper barbecue shop, clean and busy, full of families and off-duty chefs who know a good thing. The brisket and house-made sausages are the draw, but the sides, especially the tater tot casserole, might genuinely steal the show. Get there early before the sausages sell out, and save room for a slice of cake.

    Awards
    Address
    110 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  17. Rank 15. Parish Barbecue

    Creole Barbecue

    Central Texas 'cue with a Creole accent, served from a stationary trailer parked behind a kolache shop, which is exactly as Austin as it sounds. The team earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for doing things like working Cajun spice rubs into brisket and boudin, and loading the sides with pimento mac topped with Zapp's chips. Grab a picnic table outside or head in. The crowd is the usual mix of locals who planned ahead and tourists who got lucky.

    Awards
    Address
    3220 Manor Rd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  18. Rank 15. KG BBQ

    Middle Eastern Barbecue

    Texas BBQ is everywhere, but this food truck parked next to Oddwood Brewing does something genuinely different. The chef left a finance career in Cairo to smoke meat in Austin, and the city has absolutely no complaints. Middle Eastern spices like sumac and cinnamon work their way into the rubs and sauces, and the result feels less like a gimmick than a natural fit. Expect a line, and expect the people in it to look extremely pleased with themselves.

    Awards
    Address
    3108 Manor Rd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  19. Rank 19. Jimenez y Friends

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    4606 34th St, Lubbock, TX · Lubbock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  20. Rank 19. Lewis Barbecue

    Barbecue

    Texas-style barbecue landed in Charleston and hasn't apologized for it once. The setup is classic: order by the pound at the counter, grab a picnic table on the gravel patio, and eat under a haze of real wood smoke. The brisket is the reason you're here, beautifully fatty and practically melting, and the beef rib on weekends is the kind of thing people quietly plan their trips around. Grab a side or two and pace yourself, because the banana pudding deserves room.

    Awards
    Address
    464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC · Charleston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  21. Rank 19. Cattleack Barbeque

    Barbecue

    The line wrapped around the building is your first sign you've found something worth waiting for. Cattleack is a no-frills BBQ shop in a Dallas strip mall that earned a Bib Gourmand, and the oak-and-hickory smoke hits you before you even park. The crowd is everyone, united by hunger. Brisket and pork ribs are the reason to show up, the sides are genuinely good, and when they offer you cornbread, you say yes.

    Awards
    Address
    13628 Gamma Rd, Dallas, TX · Dallas
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  22. Rank 22. Moo's Craft Barbecue

    Barbecue

    A backyard barbecue obsession that turned into one of Lincoln Heights' better decisions, Moo's is a proper Texas-style BBQ shop with the craft beer selection to match. The brisket has that salt-and-pepper bark you'd drive hours for, and the sausages bring serious heat. It's the kind of place where everyone's in line before noon and half the menu is gone by two, so don't sleep on it.

    Awards
    Address
    2118 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA · Los Angeles
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  23. Rank 22. Heirloom Market BBQ

    Korean-Southern Barbecue

    A BBQ counter tucked inside a liquor store, which honestly just raises the ceiling on a great afternoon. The menu fuses Korean and Southern traditions in a way that feels natural rather than gimmicky, and the result earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Order the Korean pork, smoky and glazed in a sweet-spicy sauce, and don't skip the brisket. The crowd is casual, hungry, and very much not taking selfies of their food.

    Awards
    Address
    2243 Akers Mill Rd SE, Atlanta, GA · Atlanta
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  24. Rank 22. Blood Bros. BBQ

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand BBQ joint that treats Texas smoke as a starting point rather than a finish line. The pitmasters here grew up in Houston's cultural overlap, so gochujang-glazed ribs and pho-rubbed brisket feel completely natural rather than gimmicky. Solid brisket and ribs anchor the menu, but the daily specials are where things get genuinely interesting. You will absolutely covet whatever the table next to you ordered.

    Awards
    Address
    5425 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX · Bellaire
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  25. Rank 22. Reese Bros Barbecue

    Texas-style Barbecue

    This BBQ shop near the stadium is only open Thursday through Saturday, and there will be a line, so just accept that now. The brothers running it do Texas-style brisket as the main event, but the sides take some interesting swings and the whole spread leans more creative than traditional. Bring patience, bring friends, and leave room for dessert because the cobbler is not optional.

    Awards
    Address
    906 Hoefgen Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  26. Rank 22. Pinkerton's Barbecue

    Barbecue

    Pinkerton's is a proper low-slung BBQ joint on Airline Drive where the deer heads outnumber the napkin dispensers and the line starts forming before most people have finished their coffee. The beef rib is the move, thick and serious enough to make you reconsider your weekend plans, and the brisket is the kind that doesn't need sauce but gets it anyway. Michelin gave it a Bib Gourmand, which means the locals were right all along.

    Awards
    Address
    1504 Airline Dr, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  27. Rank 22. Little Miss BBQ - University

    Texas-style Barbecue

    Texas Hill Country BBQ in Phoenix, and yes, the line is part of the deal. This is a counter-service smoke shop where you queue up outside, watch items get taped over on the menu in real time, and slowly lose your mind as the smell of smoked meat does its work. The crowd is everyone, united by hunger. Brisket is the move, the sides punch above their weight, and the whole thing costs less than you'd expect for food this good.

    Awards
    Address
    4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ · Phoenix
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  28. Rank 22. 2M Smokehouse

    Barbecue

    This South Side BBQ counter is worth the drive and the wait in line, full stop. Everything is cut and weighed market style, so you load your tray with as much brisket and smoked turkey as your conscience allows. What sets it apart from the usual smoke-and-white-bread template is the Mexican influence woven through the sides, things like pickled nopales and street corn that actually belong here. Weekends draw a loyal crowd who know exactly what they're doing.

    Awards
    Address
    2731 S WW White Rd, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  29. Rank 29. Smoke'N Ash BBQ

    Tex-Ethiopian Barbecue

    Tex-Ethiopian BBQ sounds like a fever dream someone had after a long flight, but Smoke'N Ash makes it genuinely work. This casual Arlington spot does smoked meats rubbed and sauced with awaze, an Ethiopian spice blend that quietly rewires what you thought BBQ could be. Order a platter so you can graze across the brisket, pulled lamb, and sides that lean way more interesting than the usual suspects. A welcoming room full of people who clearly came back.

    Awards
    Address
    5904 S Cooper St, Unit 110, Arlington, TX · Arlington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  30. Rank 29. Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q

    Barbecue

    It's a trailer next to a gas station on the side of the highway, which is exactly the kind of setup that produces genuinely great barbecue. Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q has a Bib Gourmand to its name, and the smoked brisket alone justifies the drive out to Spring. Grab a picnic table and watch the regulars show up knowing exactly what they want. Check their social media before you go because the daily specials are worth planning around.

    Awards
    Address
    2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring, TX · Spring
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  31. Rank 31. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue

    Barbecue

    The pitmaster here started as a chocolatier, which sounds like a punchline but is actually the origin story of one of the more interesting barbecue spots north of Houston. It's a casual counter-service situation in a quirky old house in Tomball, with the pits parked outside next to a serious wood pile. The brisket is prime, the sausage has real snap, and the carrot soufflé will confuse you in the best way. Pre-order if you hate lines.

    Awards
    Address
    200 N Elm St, Tomball, TX · Tomball
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  32. Rank 31. Lil Red's

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    4225 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA · Seattle
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  33. Rank 31. Shotgun Willie's BBQ

    Texas-style Barbecue

    Texas-style BBQ joint in Madison that started as a food truck and kept outgrowing itself, which tells you everything you need to know. The brisket has a proper peppery bark, the jalapeño sausage is dangerously good, and the sides are non-negotiable. Picnic tables, road signs on the walls, and a crowd of people who drove past plenty of other BBQ spots to get here. A Michelin-selected spot that doesn't know it's supposed to be fancy.

    Awards
    Address
    1500 Gallatin Pike S, Unit 104, Madison, TN · Madison
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  34. Rank 31. King BBQ

    Barbecue

    A low-key BBQ shop in North Charleston where the menu quietly merges North Carolina smoke traditions with Chinese flavors, and it works better than it has any right to. You order by the pound, pile up a shared combo, and let the table sort it out, the way it should be. The crowd is mostly locals who figured this out early and aren't advertising it. Look for the two stone lions out front and don't skip the hot pot collards.

    Awards
    Address
    2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC · North Charleston
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  35. Rank 31. Distant Relatives

    New-School Barbecue

    Parked at Meanwhile Brewing, this BBQ truck is worth the trip if you've had your fill of strictly traditional Texas smoke. The chef draws on African diaspora cooking to push the menu somewhere more interesting, with pecan-smoked chicken and rotating sides that feel genuinely thought-through rather than afterthoughts. It's a Bib Gourmand pick, which means the food punches well above food-truck prices. Grab a picnic table and settle in.

    Awards
    Address
    3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  36. Rank 36. Smokey Joe's BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    6403 S R L Thornton Fwy, Dallas, TX · Dallas
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  37. Rank 36. Briscuits

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand BBQ truck parked on the Radio Coffee lot that has figured out the most obvious combination nobody else thought to commit to fully: biscuits and barbecue, together, always. The brisket biscuit sandwich alone is worth the stop, and the pork belly with spiced preserves makes a strong case too. Order ahead via QR code so you're not just standing there regretting your life choices while someone else eats.

    Awards
    Address
    4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  38. Rank 36. Chinatown BBQ

    Barbecue

    Chinatown BBQ is exactly what it sounds like, and that's the whole point. This no-frills Chinatown BBQ spot has been feeding regulars who know the menu by heart, and the lacquered meats hanging in the window are all the signage you need. Grab the barbecue pork to go, or settle in for the lazy-Susan situation with a table of friends. Either way, you're winning.

    Awards
    Address
    130 East Pender St, Vancouver BC · Vancouver
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  39. Rank 36. Prime Barbecue

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand barbecue spot just outside Raleigh where the brisket, ribs, and pulled pork are serious enough to draw a line before the doors open. Get there early, because when the meat runs out, they lock up and go home. Saturday is the move if you can swing it, when whole hog lechon joins the menu. Order the meat and two sides, then add the banana pudding because you've already committed this hard to the cause.

    Awards
    Address
    403 Knightdale Station Run, Knightdale, NC · Knightdale
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  40. Rank 36. Micklethwait Craft Meats

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand BBQ trailer parked in East Austin that draws cops, stroller parents, and well-dressed locals all at the same table, which is a pretty reliable sign someone's doing something right. Central Texas classics done with real care: brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, and lamb, all properly smoky. The sides are good enough to embarrass most dedicated side-dish restaurants, and yes, you will finish with the banana pudding.

    Awards
    Address
    4602 Tanney St, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  41. Rank 41. Hometown Bar-B-Que

    Barbecue

    The wood smoke hits you before the address does, which is basically all the directions you need. Hometown is a counter-service BBQ spot in a Red Hook warehouse, the kind of place where communal tables fill up with people who made the trek from Manhattan and are quietly smug about it. The brisket is the real reason to come, and the sides hold their own. It's earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, so yes, the hype is real.

    Awards
    Address
    454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY · Brooklyn
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  42. Rank 41. GW's BBQ Catering Co.

    Central Texas Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    107 N Nebraska Ave, San Juan, TX · San Juan
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  43. Rank 41. Horn Barbecue

    West Coast Barbecue

    There's always a line outside this Oakland BBQ spot, and it moves just slow enough for you to convince yourself you're not that hungry, then you walk in and smell the smoke and suddenly you're ordering everything. The brisket and pulled pork come out on trays, no fuss, just good. The warehouse space draws a mix of locals and across-the-bay pilgrims, all looking equally committed. Get the pit beans, skip nothing.

    Awards
    Address
    464 8th St, Oakland, CA · Oakland
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  44. Rank 41. Smokemade Meats + Eats

    Central Texas-style Barbecue

    Central Texas-style barbecue done properly in Orlando, which sounds like it shouldn't work but absolutely does. Smokemade is a no-frills BBQ shop with concrete floors, butcher paper menus, and housemade white bread waiting to soak up whatever you order. The crowd looks like people who came straight from the hardware store and have strong opinions about smoke rings. It's a Bib Gourmand pick, and the ribs make a pretty convincing case for why.

    Awards
    Address
    1400 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL · Orlando
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  45. Rank 41. Feges BBQ

    Barbecue

    Feges BBQ is a full-service barbecue spot in Spring Branch where the sides are honestly as interesting as the smoked meats, which is saying something. The Brussels sprouts and hogfat cornbread attract the kind of attention usually reserved for brisket. It draws families, neighborhood regulars, and people who know that a full bar at a barbecue joint is never a bad sign. Check the site for weekly specials before you go.

    Awards
    Address
    8217 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  46. Rank 41. J-Bar-M

    Barbecue

    Big, loud, and unapologetically Texas, this East End barbecue joint runs four custom smokers and a menu wide enough to keep everyone arguing about what to order. You've got classic meat plates and by-the-pound options alongside brisket tacos, quesadillas, and a brisket lasagna that sounds unhinged until you taste it. Groups, families, and meat-devoted regulars pack both the indoor and outdoor space on weekends, all of them wearing the same expression of focused intent.

    Awards
    Address
    2201 Leeland St, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  47. Rank 47. Sanders BBQ Supply Co.

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1742 W 99th St, Chicago, IL · Chicago
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  48. Rank 47. Southern Junction

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    365 Connecticut St, Buffalo, NY · Buffalo
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  49. Rank 47. Fikscue

    Indonesian-Texas barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1708 Park St, Unit 120, Alameda, CA · Alameda
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  50. Rank 47. Panther City BBQ

    Barbecue

    Fort Worth has a nickname, and this BBQ spot owns it. Started as a food truck and now a proper shop with indoor and outdoor seats, Panther City does central Texas-style slow-smoked meat with a Tex-Mex twist that actually works. The brisket is the move, but the brisket burrito might be the smarter move. Get there early, because the line tells you everything you need to know before you've even smelled the smoke.

    Awards
    Address
    201 E. Hattie Street, Fort Worth, TX · Fort Worth
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  51. Rank 47. Pig in a Pickle

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand BBQ counter in a suburban shopping center sounds like a punchline, but Pig in a Pickle earns the recognition. The team cares deeply about sourcing, which you can read on the chalkboard before you order at the counter. Pulled pork, smoked brisket, dry-rubbed ribs, and even the mac and cheese all get real attention. Families and flannel-clad regulars who know exactly what they want before they walk in.

    Awards
    Address
    341 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA · Corte Madera
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  52. Rank 47. The Pit Room

    Barbecue

    This Montrose smokehouse earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and somehow still doesn't make you plan your whole week around a reservation. The brisket and beef ribs are the real deal, the sides punch well above their weight, and whoever decided to make tortillas from brisket trimmings deserves a quiet medal. Grab something from the pickle station, find a seat inside or out, and enjoy the rare Houston barbecue experience of not having camped overnight to get here.

    Awards
    Address
    1201 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  53. Rank 47. Killen's BBQ

    Barbecue

    The beef rib here is the reason you drive to Pearland, full stop. This is a proper Texas BBQ joint with a Bib Gourmand to its name, the kind where a line forms before the doors open and nobody complains because they know what's coming. The crowd shuffles through fast, loads up on smoky, fatty, glorious meat, and finds a seat. First-timers always underestimate how much they'll eat, and veterans never skip the bread pudding.

    Awards
    Address
    3613 E Broadway St, Pearland, TX · Pearland
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  54. Rank 47. Curry Boys BBQ

    Thai Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    536 E Courtland Pl, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  55. Rank 47. Killen's BBQ

    Awards
    Address
    7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  56. Rank 47. The Barbecue Station

    Barbecue

    A Michelin-selected barbecue spot inside a converted gas station, which means the vibe is exactly as no-frills as that sounds, and the meat is better than it has any right to be. Everything comes off post oak and mesquite, cut to order, and the brisket sandwich on pillowy white bread is the kind of thing you think about later. Regulars in work boots debate the menu like it matters, because it does. Don't skip the potato salad.

    Awards
    Address
    1610 NE Loop 410, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  57. Rank 57. Caldwell County BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Legit Texas-style BBQ in the Phoenix suburbs, the kind of place where you follow the smoke before you ever see the sign. Counter-service, tin trays, picnic tables, and a crowd of regulars who already know what sold out. Order by the pound or go big with one of their stacked sandwiches. Get there early, because the good stuff goes fast and the staff will tell you straight when it's gone.

    Awards
    Address
    18324 E Nunneley Rd, Gilbert, AZ · Gilbert
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  58. Rank 58. SoulBelly BBQ

    Central Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1327 S Main St, Las Vegas, NV · Las Vegas
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  59. Rank 59. Beach Hill Smokehouse

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    172 South Main Street, Toronto ON · Toronto
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  60. Rank 60. Terlingua

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    40 Washington Ave, Portland, ME · Portland
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  61. Rank 61. Saindoux Restaurant BBQ

    Barbecue

    A Michelin Bib Gourmand BBQ spot inside a former presbytery, which is already a sentence you don't write every day. The team here is obsessed with pork from a single nearby farm, smoking and saucing it with real intention. The room is relaxed and unpretentious, full of people who came hungry and planned ahead. The value is genuinely hard to argue with, and the ribs will make you reconsider your life choices.

    Awards
    Address
    100 Rue Notre Dame S, Sainte-Marie, QC · Sainte-Marie
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  62. Rank 61. Slow Bone

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    2234 Irving Blvd, Dallas, TX · Dallas
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  63. Rank 61. Sacred Ground

    Texas-style Barbecue

    A Michelin Bib Gourmand barbecue spot sitting past the train tracks on a quiet stretch of highway in Pocahontas, which already tells you this place isn't messing around. The brisket, sold by the half pound, has that dark bark and red smoke ring that makes purists go quiet. Pork butt comes soft and smoky with a mustard sauce that sneaks in a Carolina wink. Families fill the big patio, everyone's hands are a mess, and nobody cares.

    Awards
    Address
    1052 Pocahontas Rd, Flora, MS · Flora
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  64. Rank 61. Little Miss BBQ

    Southern Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    8901 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ · Phoenix
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  65. Rank 61. Hometown Barbecue

    Barbecue

    Pit-smoked barbecue that can go toe-to-toe with anything in Texas, sitting inside a cavernous warehouse near the Miami Produce Center, where forklifts and delivery trucks are basically the valet. The beef rib and brisket are the whole reason you came, and you already know it. It's loud, it's casual, and the crowd looks like they drove across town specifically for this. A Bib Gourmand for a reason, and a good one.

    Awards
    Address
    1200 NW 22nd St, Unit 100, Miami, FL · Miami
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  66. Rank 61. Miss Qu Barbecue & Restaurant

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    91-92-505 Highway 7, Thornhill ON · Markham
    Online
    Instagram
    On the Way What's Around

  67. Rank 61. Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

    Barbecue

    A Bib Gourmand barbecue joint that looks like it lost a fight with a construction site but won the more important battle, Cherry Street does serious American BBQ in a converted bank with all the warmth of a place that's been around forever. The pitmaster spent years on the Kansas City competition circuit, and the smoker is literally a shipping container out back. Come on a weekday if you can, because the meat does run out.

    Awards
    Address
    275 Cherry St, Toronto, ON · Toronto
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  68. Rank 61. Sam Jones BBQ

    Barbecue

    Eastern North Carolina whole-hog BBQ is a religion, and Sam Jones is one of its better churches. This is a casual, counter-order joint with a Bib Gourmand to its name, which should tell you something. They slow-cook the whole pig over burning embers and finish it with a sharp vinegar sauce that makes the rich pork sing. Get a combo plate, grab one of their family-brewed beers, and settle in with the rest of the crowd who came specifically hungry.

    Awards
    Address
    502 W Lenoir St, Raleigh, NC · Raleigh
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  69. Rank 69. Miss Qu Bbq

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    21-22-4186 Finch Ave E, Scarborough ON · Scarborough
    Online
    Instagram
    On the Way What's Around

  70. Rank 69. Soul & Smoke

    Chicago-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL · Chicago
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  71. Rank 71. Apocalypse BBQ

    Miami-Influenced Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    9980 SW 104th St, Miami, FL · Miami
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  72. Rank 71. Fikscue

    Indo-Tex Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    7 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA · San Francisco
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  73. Rank 71. Gatlin’s BBQ

    Barbecue

    A James Beard Award-winning BBQ joint doing East Texas-style smoked meats the right way. Brisket, ribs, sausage, turkey, the whole lineup, and the sides hold their own too. The crowd is a good cross-section of Houston: families, regulars who know exactly what they're getting, and out-of-towners who've done their homework. Show up early and the breakfast menu is its own reason to make the drive.

    Awards
    Address
    3510 Ella Blvd Bldg C Ste A, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  74. Rank 74. Dampf Good BBQ

    Barbecue

    A BBQ trailer parked on a farm outside Cary, open only Thursday through Saturday, and somehow people find it every time. The Dampf brothers cook brisket and ribs low and slow, and the house-made sausages are genuinely worth the trip on their own. You order at the window, grab a picnic table, and eat with your hands like a reasonable person. Come early, come hungry, and maybe check the weather first.

    Awards
    Address
    6800 Good Hope Church Rd, Cary, NC · Cary
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  75. Rank 74. Farmstead

    Barbecue

    Farmstead is the Napa Valley barbecue joint that actually wants you to relax. A working ranch owns the place, and the smoker parked out front means you smell dinner before you see it. Inside, cathedral ceilings and old-school country music fill the room with locals who've clearly been coming for years. The food is honest, the wine list is Napa, and the vibe is the closest thing to unpretentious this zip code gets.

    Awards
    Address
    738 Main St, Saint Helena, CA · Saint Helena
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  76. Rank 74. Northern Smokes

    Barbecue

    The schlep out to this Scarborough strip mall is absolutely worth it once the smoke smell hits you on the way in. Northern Smokes is a proper barbecue joint serving fully halal meats, and the custom wood-burning smoker does serious work. Brisket, short ribs, chicken, order by the plate, the sandwich, or the pound. The maple-smoked beans are a gentle reminder that yes, you're still in Canada, and you're eating well.

    Awards
    Address
    371 Old Kingston Rd #12, Scarborough, ON · Scarborough
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  77. Rank 74. The Pit

    North Carolina Barbecue

    You'll smell this barbecue joint before you see it, which is honestly the best kind of advertisement. It's a big, loud converted warehouse in the Warehouse District, packed with locals in flannel and out-of-towners doing their research. The pit-smoked meats go well beyond pulled pork, so give yourself a minute with the menu. Get a combo, don't skip the cornbread, and save room for the carrot cake.

    Awards
    Address
    328 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC · Raleigh
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  78. Rank 74. Breakwater Barbecue

    Barbecue

    A BBQ shop tucked into an old railroad station just north of Half Moon Bay, Breakwater has the kind of laid-back coastal energy that makes you forget you were ever in a hurry. The slow-smoked meats are the whole point, and the brisket, ribs, and sausage combo is the move. Picnic tables, flannel-and-fleece regulars, cold beer, and zero pretension. This is exactly what a foggy afternoon on the coast calls for.

    Awards
    Address
    10151 N Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay, CA · Half Moon Bay
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  79. Rank 74. Salt Smokehouse

    Barbecue

    A family-run barbecue joint in the Lincoln Mill district where the smoked brisket is legitimately the kind of thing people drive for. The space is all white walls and high ceilings, which keeps the focus on the food, and the menu swings wider than you'd expect, with global-ish sides and bao sliders alongside the classics. The crowd is a mix of locals who know to skip the sauce and newcomers who are about to learn the same lesson.

    Awards
    Address
    1300 Meridian St N, Unit D-104, Huntsville, AL · Huntsville
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  80. Rank 74. Brisket & Rice

    Barbecue

    The mashup you didn't know you needed: a barbecue joint where the star move is brisket laid over jasmine fried rice with Chinese sausage and egg. It sounds like a fever dream but it's deeply, obviously correct. Long lines snake through fast, and nearly everyone orders the same thing, because why wouldn't you. The crowd is a mix of regulars who drove across town and newcomers who saw a photo and couldn't unknow it.

    Awards
    Address
    6166 Highway 6 N, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  81. Rank 74. Heng Long BBQ Chicken Rice

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    159 Mei Chin Rd, #02-42, Singapore 140159 · Singapore
    On the Way What's Around

  82. Rank 74. The Polite Pig

    Barbecue

    Solid barbecue inside Disney Springs sounds like a trap, but The Polite Pig is the real deal, a casual counter-service spot with a full bar and a waterfront patio that makes you forget you're technically at a theme park. The brisket is genuinely worth ordering. Order at the counter or grab a bar stool, and the food finds you. Mostly families and park-weary adults who've earned a proper meal and a cold draft beer.

    Awards
    Address
    1536 Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL · Orlando
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  83. Rank 74. Terry Black's BBQ

    Central Texas Barbecue

    Terry Black's is a proper Central Texas BBQ hall, and it comes from serious bloodlines. The slow-smoked brisket and those massive beef ribs are the main reason people show up, and the lines prove it. The place feels like a well-worn roadhouse, which is exactly right, and there's plenty of room inside and out. Expect a crowd of regulars who know their order before they're through the door, plus tourists who've done their homework.

    Awards
    Address
    1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  84. Rank 84. Hitching Post 2 Restaurant & Winery

    Santa Maria Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    406 E Highway 246, Buellton, CA · Buellton
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  85. Rank 85. Dayne's Craft Barbecue

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    100 S Front St, Aledo, TX · Aledo
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  86. Rank 85. Kaokao Grill

    Barbecue

    A Berkeley BBQ spot where American smokehouse meets Chinese char siu meets Indian curry, and somehow it all makes complete sense. The wood-smoked meats are the draw, but the snacks are what people talk about on the way home. The crowd tends toward curious eaters who did their research and regulars who stopped questioning it after the first visit. College Ave, low-key room, genuinely exciting food.

    Awards
    Address
    2993 College Ave, Berkeley, CA · Berkeley
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  87. Rank 85. Redbird BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1104 Port Neches Ave, Port Neches, TX · Port Neches
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  88. Rank 85. Bodega

    Barbecue Wine Bar

    Awards
    Address
    273 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA · Los Alamos
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  89. Rank 85. King of Wings

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    7741 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO · Wheat Ridge
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  90. Rank 85. Bobby-Q BBQ

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    3154 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ · Phoenix
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  91. Rank 85. Evie Mae's Pit Barbecue

    West Texas Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    217 US-62 Wolfforth, TX · Wolfforth
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  92. Rank 85. LaVaca BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    532 N Virginia St, Port Lavaca, TX · Port Lavaca
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  93. Rank 93. Helberg Barbecue

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    7809 N Highway 6 Woodway, TX · Woodway
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  94. Rank 93. B4 Barbeque & Boba

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1100 N Third St, Mabank, TX · Mabank
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  95. Rank 93. North Texas Smoke BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    2803 S US Highway 287, Decatur, TX · Decatur
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  96. Rank 93. Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue, LLC

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1979 South 5th St, Crockett, TX · Crockett
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  97. Rank 93. Snow's BBQ, LLC

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    516 Main St, Lexington, TX · Lexington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  98. Rank 93. Jay’s BBQ Shack

    Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    602 S 11th St, Abilene, TX · Abilene
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  99. Rank 93. Slaughter's BBQ

    Texas-style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    107 Magnolia St, Sulphur Springs, TX · Sulphur Springs
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  100. Rank 93. Bar-A-BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    21149 Eva St, Montgomery, TX · Montgomery
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  101. Rank 93. Teddy's Barbecue

    Central Texas Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    2807 N Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX · Weslaco
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  102. Rank 93. Stateline Road Smokehouse

    Kansas City Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    872 Vallejo St, Napa, CA · Napa
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  103. Rank 93. MMCHalfAcre

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1101 Washita Ct, Midland, TX · Midland
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  104. Rank 93. Stiles Switch Bbq

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    6610 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX · Austin
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  105. Rank 93. Sunbird Barbecue

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    415 N High St, Longview, TX · Longview
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  106. Rank 93. LJ's BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1407 W Main St, Brenham, TX · Brenham
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  107. Rank 93. Smoak Town BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    107 Elmhurst Ln, Fate, TX · Fate
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  108. Rank 93. Louie Mueller Barbecue

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    206 W Second St, Taylor, TX · Taylor
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  109. Rank 93. Brisket & Rice

    Vietnamese Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    13111 Farm to Market Rd 529, Houston, TX · Houston
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  110. Rank 93. Brendyn's BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    601 E Main St, Nacogdoches, TX · Nacogdoches
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  111. Rank 93. Jennings & Co. BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    16050 Walden Rd, Montgomery, TX · Montgomery
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  112. Rank 93. Rejino Barbeque

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    609 Seventh St, Olton, TX · Olton
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  113. Rank 93. Butter's BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    713 E Sinton St, Sinton, TX · Sinton
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  114. Rank 93. Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice

    Texas Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    209 S Washington St, Pilot Point, TX · Pilot Point
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  115. Rank 93. 1701 Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    1701 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX · Beaumont
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  116. Rank 93. Rossler's Blue Cord Barbecue

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    300 Morgan St, Harker Heights, TX · Harker Heights
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  117. Rank 93. Sabar BBQ

    Texas-Style Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    105 S Main St, Fort Worth, TX · Fort Worth
    On the Way What's Around

  118. Rank 93. Miller's Smokehouse

    Central Texas Barbecue

    Awards
    Address
    300 E Central Ave, Belton, TX · Belton
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

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