BBQ is a popular tradition in the US that brings family and friends together – whether it’s a casual gathering in the evening or any special occasion. The best part is that preparation of BBQ is not the same way in every region of America. It means that different regions in the US have their distinct way to prepare barbecued food. For instance, Kansas City is popular for its sweet-and-tangy BBQ meals with a heavy dose of brown sugar in sauces and ribs. Memphis includes pork ribs with slow cooking technique on low heat with a dry rub and amazing sauce. Furthermore, Texans prepare metas with its natural flavor without any sauce. So, they let the meat do all the talking with its smoked flavor without any extra sweet and tangy flavor. But are you wondering which particular BBQ joints to try in different cities to get the real taste of American barbecued meal? Here’s the list of the seven best BBQ restaurants you need to try in the US.

1. Black’s Barbecue

This particular BBQ restaurant is present in New Braunfels, Texas. It is a family-owned restaurant that first started in Lockhart, Texas in 1932. Further, the owners expanded their chain to three more locations in the region: San Marcos, Austin, and New Braunfels. All these three regions are within 45 minutes of distance from their original location.

Also Read: 5 Best Cities for Barbecue in America

Black’s meats are nicely layered with wood-smoked and gluten-free rub with perfection. While many of their seasonings are gluten-free, some pre-packaged rubs may contain fillers that may not be free of gluten. You need to choose between spare ribs, brisket, chicken, and turkey with various types of sides, like creamed corn and Norma Jean’s Pinto Beans.

Some must-have dishes at this restaurant are Homemade sausage, which is slow-smoked and hand-stuffed, and Giant Beef Ribs.

2.4 Rivers Smokehouse

As the name indicates, 4 Rivers Smokehouse offers a wide range of lip-smacking smoked barbecued dishes. It is present in around 13 locations, including Orange Park, Daytona, Coral Springs, and Jacksonville.

You can try several iconic dishes at this BBQ restaurant, so you may find it hard to decide where to begin with. Some of our recommendations are Smoked Chicken, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Pulled Chicken Sandwich, and Texas Sausage Sandwich. These are some of the best dishes you can order from this popular BBQ food joint.

We know that you must be feeling hungry by now. But if there’s no 4 Rivers Smokehouse in your region, don’t worry. It is because they ship food to all places in the United States.

3. Franklin Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue is present in Austin, Texas. The husband-wife duo began with their roadside trailer in 2009 by selling delicious briskets. Over time, they expanded their smoked food varieties and even bagged James Beard Award for Best Chef. Now, the BBQ joint is considered one of the best BBQ restaurants in the Austin community. Even the late Anthony Bourdain and former President Obama recommended this fine eatery for BBQ.

Their beef brisket is their specialty, so you need to try that out first. You can also order their pulled pork, jalapeño cheddar sausage, and ribs if you still have some more room for smoky food. Along with their yummy food, you need to try their local brew with some bourbon banana pie.

In case, you want to learn barbecued food preparation, you can join the MasterClass by grillmaster Aaron Franklin. After that, you can even try to make their special mouth-watering brisket at your home.

4.Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous (Tie)

Located in Memphis, Tennessee, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is p for its basement bar that serves beer and sandwiches along with amazing Memphis-style ribs. You may even order their ham sandwich with a beer, to begin with, and later dig into some other dishes that you find interesting on their menu.

However, for us, the clear winner is their tasty pork ribs. It is seasoned with a mixture of Cajun and Greek flavors. Besides that, you can also stop by for their Barbecue Pork Nachos and Charbroiled Pork Ribs. You’re surely going to love their food if you love smoked meals.

5. Dreamland BBQ

Founded in 1958 by iconic John Bishop (who is also called Big Daddy), Dreamland BBQ is basically an Alabama institution. Originally, it was located in Tuscaloosa within the beautiful city neighborhood of Jerusalem Heights.

The BBQ joint was established as a beloved eatery. But now its chains are present in Northport, Montgomery, Mobile, Birmingham, and Huntsville. If you live somewhere far away, you can order their food online and get it delivered to your doorstep. You can order their ribs, sauce, and more.

We suggest ordering their hickory-smoked BBQ ribs, as well as various other Southern side dishes that are simply mouth-watering.

6. The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint

Situated in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint is not for those who people who keep their single scrap wood piece and even hold onto every spare screw or mail. Built by Brad Orrison, the structure of this BBQ joint was made from the scrap that he collected from dumpsters during his college days. His years of hard work have resulted in seats for 600 guests between large outdoor and indoor spaces.

At this restaurant, you can enjoy an innovative blend of BBQ staples with amazing side dishes (like fried okra and hush puppies) for the coastal vibes of Mississippi. Also, enjoy their savory baby back ribs along with fresh cold beer from the popular G-Maw’s beer bar. You can follow up with a yummy slice of peanut butter pie. Besides delicious food, you can even enjoy some live music here. Just sit back, enjoy your food, and let the music take you deep into the amazing coastal world.

7. Pappy’s Smokehouse (Tie)

Originally located in St. Louis, Missouri’s Midtown district, Pappy’s Smokehouse later strolled down to its flagship site at Olive Street. The Pappy family has also extended to another location and five sister restaurants across the city. Plus, one is located in Nuremberg, Germany.

Being one of the best BBQ restaurants in the US, this BBQ joint is highly popular for its Memphis-style BBQ. Hence, they have earned popularity for their well-known dry-rubbed ribs that are slow-cooked for around 24 hours. You can have it as a platter or between a sandwich, as per your preference. Besides dry-rubbed ribs, you also need to try their sweet potato fries.

If you are planning to go there late in the evening, make sure to contact them beforehand to ensure they aren’t sold out.

Final Thoughts

By now, you know what all are the best BBQ restaurants in the United States. The country has several fantastic barbecue restaurants and sometimes it becomes difficult to decide where to begin with. But after checking out our list of the best BBQ restaurants in the US, you know where to head for BBQ meals during your next trip to America.

Which restaurant you’d like to visit first? Share your views with us in the comment section below. And, do put these restaurants on your itinerary.