
Best BBQ in
BBQ Atlas
BBQ Atlas is one of America's great BBQ capitals - and its most diverse. This guide covers the best restaurants in the metro, from century-old institutions to the new generation of craft pitmasters.
BBQ Atlas's BBQ tradition stretches back over a century. What began as a working-class meal has evolved into one of America's most celebrated culinary traditions. Today, the metro is home to dozens of BBQ restaurants, from historic institutions to a new wave of craft pitmasters pushing the tradition forward.
This guide focuses on the restaurants that represent BBQ Atlas BBQ at its best — places where the smoke is real, the technique is sound, and the result is worth the drive.
The Best BBQ Restaurants
in BBQ Atlas


Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que

Snow's BBQ

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Lexington Barbecue
Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
Pappy's Smokehouse
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q

La Barbecue

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Scott's Bar-B-Que

Arthur Bryant's Barbeque
Bogart's Smokehouse

Cozy Corner

Lewis Barbecue
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ
C&K Barbecue

Louie Mueller Barbecue
Saw's BBQ

Terry Black's Barbecue
The Barbecue Center

Central BBQ

Corky's Memphis

Kreuz Market

Micklethwait Craft Meats
Salt + Smoke

Sweatman's Bar-B-Que

Chef J BBQ

Distant Relatives
Dreamland Bar-B-Que

Home Team BBQ

Leonard's BBQ

LeRoy and Lewis
Ole South Barbeque

Payne's Bar-B-Q

Q39

Southside Market and BBQ
Stamey's Barbecue
Sugarfire Smoke House
Adam's Smokehouse
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q

Buck Tui BBQ

Central BBQ

Central BBQ

Central BBQ

Interstellar BBQ

LC's Bar-B-Q

Smitty's Market

Stubb's Bar-B-Q

The Bar-B-Q Shop
BEAST Craft BBQ Co.

Germantown Commissary

Loro

Palmira Barbecue
Peak Bros. Bar-B-Que
Saw's Soul Kitchen

Slap's BBQ
Speedy's Barbecue

Swig & Swine

Black's Barbecue (Lockhart Original)

Danny Edwards' Boulevard BBQ

Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ
Grace Meat + Three

House Park Bar-B-Que

Interstate Bar-B-Q

Kerlin BBQ

KG BBQ

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Meat Mitch Barbecue

Memphis BBQ Co.
Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Q
Smokey Joe's Barbecue

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew

The Smoking Lamb

Woodyard Bar-B-Que

A&R Bar-B-Que

Bain Barbecue & Bakery

Brown's Bar-B-Que
Golden Rule Bar-B-Q

Jack Stack Barbecue

Jones Bar-B-Q

King BBQ

Melvin's Legendary Bar-B-Q

Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen

One & Only BBQ

Parish Barbecue
Roper's Ribs
Tarheel Q
Thomason's Barbecue

Black's Barbecue
Dalie's Smokehouse

Dukes BBQ

Easton Barbecue Co.

Elwood's Shack

Hawg Jaw Que & Brew

Holy City Hogs

Jack Stack Barbecue

Jack Stack Barbecue
Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant
Speedy Lohr's BBQ

The Salt Lick BBQ

Bessinger's Barbecue

Brobeck's BBQ

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue
Full Moon Bar-B-Que

Gates Bar-B-Q

Gates Bar-B-Q

Gates Bar-B-Q

Harp Barbecue

J's BBQ Olathe

Pork Barrel BBQ
Stamey's Barbecue of Tyro
Super Smokers BBQ
The Wood Shed Bar-B-Q

Tom's BBQ

Whole Hog Cafe

Wyandot Barbeque
Backcountry Barbecue

BBQ Fiends

Briscuits

Charleston Smoke

City Market
Little Richard's Barbecue
Mann Meats

Middleton's Village BBQ

Neely's Interstate BBQ

Plowboys BBQ

Poogan's Smokehouse
Rusty's Bar-B-Q

Snead's Bar-B-Q

Tops Bar-B-Q
Carlile's Barbecue

Arnolds Bar-B-Que

Blind Box BBQ

Burnt End BBQ

Corky's Ribs & BBQ
Demetri's BBQ

Dukes Barbecue

Fat Larry's
Homer's Barbecue
Jimmy's Smoke House

Jousting Pigs BBQ

Kemuri Tatsu-ya

North Charleston BBQ Co.

Sam's BBQ

Smoke Brewing Company

Smokestack BBQ

The Tattooed Moose

Tops Bar-B-Q

Tops BBQ

Tops BBQ

BallHoggerz BBQ

Big Bill BBQ

Char Bar

Hugh-Baby's BBQ & Burger Shop

J. Leonardi's Barbeque

Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

Leonard's Pit Barbecue

Moe's Crosstown Tavern

Music Man's Bar-B-Que

Pigwich
Prissy Polly's BBQ

Winslow's BBQ

Baker's BBQ of Summerville

Bee Caves B-B-Q

Bulldog BBQ

Grinders

Ray's World Famous BBQ

Smoky Buns

Smoky City BBQ

Arnold's BBQ & Grill-Memphis TN

BB's Lawnside BBQ

Blues City Cafe

Bryant's Bar-B-Q & Breakfast

CM Smokehouse

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

Featherstone BBQ

Hog Wild-Real Memphis Barbeque

Moreno Barbecue

One & Only BBQ

One & Only BBQ

Pappy's BBQ

Reese's Bar-B-Q

Scott's Kitchen & Catering

Scotty's BBQ

Smokehouse Barbecue

Smokehouse BBQ

The Rub Bar-B-Que

Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q

Wabash BBQ

William's Bar-B-Q

Wolfepack Bbq

B Cooper Barbecue

Collierville Commissary

Crimson Creek Smokehouse

Off The Hook BBQ

Pok-e-Jo's-Hancock

Pollard's Bar-B-Que

RJ's Bob-Be-Que

Robert's Bar-B-Que

Rogers Boyz Family Bbq Company Llc

Rosedale BBQ

Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q

Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q

Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q

Smokey Mo's BBQ

Taste of Kansas City BBQ and Grill

Vic's Bar-B-Que

American Way Smokehouse

Archie's BBQ

Big T's BBQ

Captain John's Bar-B-Que

County Road Ice House

East Side Soul Food

Iron Works BBQ

Jimbo's Brickhouse Bar-Be-Que

Old Style Bar-B-Q

Saltwater Cowboys

Sierra BBQ

Smokebox BBQ Cafe

Smokehouse Barbecue

Smokin' Gringo's BBQ

Smokin' Hot BBQ

The Wilson's Way BBQ & More

Alex Farms Hickory Smoked Chicken Salad & BBQ

Aunt Mildred's #10 Bbq Food Truck

Barbacoa

Bates City BBQ

Big Bill's Bar-Be-Que

Hayward's Pit BBQ

Hwy 27 BBQ Smokehouse

Joe Bessinger's BBQ

Rollin Smoke BBQ

Southern Roots Smokehouse

Stumpy's Backyard BBQ

Sundance BBQ

The Flaming Pit

True Texas BBQ

True Texas BBQ

True Texas BBQ

Bert's Bar-B-Q

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

Down South Texas BBQ

The Green Mesquite BBQ & More

True Texas BBQ

True Texas BBQ

Willie Jewell's Old School Bar-B-Q

Zarda Bar-B-Q

Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q

Smokey Mo's BBQ
Best by Category
BBQ Spaghetti
BBQ spaghetti is Memphis's most uniquely local dish — slow-smoked pulled pork folded into a smoky, tangy tomato sauce and served over spaghetti. Invented at Brady & Lil's and perfected at Interstate Bar-B-Q, this is the dish that visitors either love or struggle to understand.
See the GuideBurnt Ends
Kansas City's most iconic BBQ creation — the caramelized, smoke-kissed cubes cut from the point of a smoked brisket. Here's where to find the best in the metro.
See the GuideWet Ribs
The other side of the great Memphis rib debate. Wet ribs are basted with a tomato-based BBQ sauce during and after cooking. The sauce caramelizes on the meat, creating a sticky, sweet-tangy glaze. Interstate Bar-B-Q and Marlowe's are the wet rib temples.
See the GuideBBQ Nachos
A Memphis original — tortilla chips loaded with slow-smoked pulled pork, BBQ sauce, jalapeños, and cheese. Central BBQ's loaded nachos have become one of the most iconic dishes in the city, inspiring a generation of imitators.
See the GuideZ-Man
The Z-Man sandwich — brisket, smoked provolone, and onion rings — was invented at Joe's KC and has been adopted across the metro. Here's where the best versions live.
See the GuideSmoked Chicken
Smoked chicken is an often-overlooked pillar of South Carolina BBQ — whole birds or quarters smoked low and slow until the skin crisps and the meat stays juicy. The best versions showcase the pitmaster's fire management and sauce craft. These are Charleston's finest smoked chicken destinations.
See the GuideBrisket
The king of Texas BBQ. Central Texas brisket is defined by its mahogany bark, deep smoke ring, and fat that renders to a silky, almost buttery consistency. A proper brisket takes 12–18 hours at 250–275°F over post oak. The result is meat that needs no sauce, no apology — just a slice of white bread and a moment of silence.
See the GuideSides
Great BBQ needs great sides. From hickory pit beans to cheesy corn, these restaurants elevate the supporting cast to starring roles.
See the GuideDry Rub Ribs
The soul of Memphis BBQ. Dry rub ribs are seasoned with a blend of spices — paprika, garlic, black pepper, cayenne — and slow-smoked or charcoal-grilled without sauce. The bark is everything. These are the ribs that put Memphis on the BBQ map.
See the GuidePulled Pork
Pulled pork — shoulder or whole hog, pulled by hand — is the everyday expression of South Carolina BBQ. The best versions have a balance of bark (the dark, smoky exterior crust), tender interior meat, and a sauce that complements rather than overwhelms. Here are Charleston's finest.
See the GuideBeef Ribs
Massive plate ribs — the "brontosaurus bones" of Texas BBQ. A single beef plate rib can weigh over a pound. When done right, the meat pulls clean from the bone with a bark that's nearly black and a smoke ring that goes deep. These are not the thin, sauced baby back ribs of a chain restaurant. These are prehistoric, primal, and magnificent.
See the GuidePulled Pork
Memphis pulled pork — slow-smoked pork shoulder pulled by hand — is the foundation of the city's BBQ sandwich tradition. From Payne's chopped pork to Central BBQ's pulled pork plate, this is the everyday currency of Memphis BBQ.
See the GuidePulled Pork
While KC BBQ is famous for burnt ends and brisket, the pulled pork sandwich remains a staple at every joint. These restaurants do it best — juicy, smoky, and perfectly sauced.
See the GuideSides
Great BBQ sides elevate the entire meal. From creamy mac and cheese to tangy coleslaw, from jalapeño cheese grits to scratch-made pies, Austin's best BBQ joints treat their sides with the same care they give their meat.
See the GuideSausage
Texas BBQ sausage — from the classic jalapeño cheddar link to creative house-made varieties — is a category unto itself. The tradition traces back to German and Czech immigrant butchers who ground and smoked their unsold meat. Today's Austin pitmasters honor that tradition while pushing it forward with creative combinations and house-ground blends.
See the GuideRibs
While whole hog is South Carolina's signature, the Lowcountry has no shortage of excellent ribs — from St. Louis-style spare ribs to competition-grade baby backs. The best versions balance smoke, tenderness, and sauce in equal measure. These are Charleston's top rib destinations.
See the GuideRibs
From spare ribs to baby backs to the legendary Crown Prime beef ribs — Kansas City does ribs better than anywhere. Here's the definitive list.
See the GuideRib Tips
Rib tips — the cartilaginous ends trimmed from spare ribs — are a Memphis delicacy that the rest of the country overlooks. Slow-smoked until the cartilage is tender and the fat has rendered, rib tips are fatty, smoky, and deeply flavorful. A true pitmaster's cut.
See the GuideHash & Rice
Hash and rice is the Lowcountry's most distinctive BBQ side — a thick stew of whole-hog offcuts, organ meats, and onions served over white rice. It is a Gullah-Geechee tradition that connects South Carolina BBQ to its African roots. These restaurants make hash the old way.
See the GuideBrisket
The king of the smoker. Kansas City brisket is defined by its mahogany bark, deep smoke ring, and the balance between fat and lean. These are the pits that do it best.
See the GuideTurkey
Smoked turkey is the underappreciated hero of Central Texas BBQ. When done right, the breast meat stays moist and takes on a deep smoke flavor, while the skin crisps to a golden mahogany. It's the leanest of the traditional Texas meats but rewards careful smoking with remarkable flavor.
See the GuideWhole Hog
Whole-hog BBQ is the soul of South Carolina's BBQ tradition — a practice rooted in the Gullah-Geechee foodways of the Lowcountry and the Pee Dee region. A whole hog, cooked low and slow over live hardwood coals for 12–24 hours, is the ultimate test of a pitmaster's patience, skill, and fire management. These are Charleston's finest whole-hog destinations.
See the GuideMustard Sauce
South Carolina's most distinctive regional contribution to American BBQ is the mustard-based sauce — a tangy, golden elixir that traces its roots to German immigrant settlers in the Midlands. In Charleston, the mustard tradition is carried forward by the Bessinger family and others who understand that the sauce is as important as the smoke.
See the GuideSausage
From jalapeño cheddar links to classic smoked sausage, KC pitmasters are putting serious craft into their sausage programs. Here are the standouts.
See the Guide