The United States is known for its delicious barbecue, with different regional styles and sauces found across the country. From Texas brisket to Kansas City ribs, barbecue lovers are spoiled for choice when debating who has the best BBQ in the US. Here’s an overview of some of the top contenders for best barbecue in America.
Central Texas – Best for Brisket
Central Texas is renowned for incredible smoked brisket. Places like Franklin Barbecue in Austin and Kreuz Market in Lockhart are pilgrimage sites for brisket enthusiasts. The central Texas style focuses on slow-smoking high-quality cuts of beef over oak. The peppery bark and tender, moist brisket has made central Texas a go-to region for incredible brisket.
Top Central Texas BBQ Joints
- Franklin Barbecue (Austin) – Considered one of the best brisket spots in the world. Be prepared to wait hours in line for their melt-in-your-mouth brisket.
- Kreuz Market (Lockhart) – A legendary Texas BBQ joint open since 1900. Their peppery brisket and sausage links are Texas classics.
- Black’s Barbecue (Lockhart) – Another famous Lockhart joint dishing up juicy brisket and beef ribs since 1932.
Kansas City – Best for Ribs
Kansas City is all about slow-smoked pork ribs slathered in a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce. KC barbecue joints spare no effort smoking meat low and slow over hickory for hours until the ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender. The sauce is typically tomato based and slightly sweet.
Top KC BBQ Spots
- Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – Consistently ranked among the best BBQ ribs in the country. Their ribs go through a complex smoking process that results in incredible flavor.
- Q39 – Award-winning Kansas City barbecue featuring melt-in-your-mouth ribs and burnt ends. Their sauces and sides are also standouts.
- Jack Stack Barbecue – Historic KC barbecue chain known for juicy, saucy ribs and burnt ends. The hickory pit smoking process ensures deep smoky flavor.
Memphis – Best for Pulled Pork
Memphis is synonymous with smoked pulled pork shoulder served up in sandwiches or plates. The pork is rubbed with spices, smoked low and slow, then pulled or chopped into succulent strands full of flavorful fat and bark. Memphis barbecue sauce has a tomato base with vinegar tanginess.
Leading Memphis BBQ Restaurants
- Central BBQ – Iconic Memphis barbecue joint serving up pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, sausage and more since 2002.
- Corky’s BBQ – A Memphis staple since 1984, Corky’s is beloved for outstanding pulled pork, ribs, and wings.
- Payne’s Bar-B-Que – This small take-out joint consistently wins praise for incredible chopped pork sandwiches and BBQ nachos.
North Carolina – Best for Whole Hog
North Carolina barbecue revolves around smoked whole hog doused in a tangy vinegar-based sauce. The pork shoulder and legs are cooked low and slow until fall-apart tender. NC barbecue also highlights smoked pork ribs and sausages.
Top NC BBQ Destinations
- Skylight Inn BBQ – Whole hog BBQ specialist heralded for their tender, lightly sauced barbecue pork over decades of service.
- Lexington Barbecue – Going strong since 1962, “The Honeymonk” specializes in wood smoked pork shoulders.
- Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge – Traditional NC BBQ featuring hickory smoked pork shoulders, Brunswick stew, and hushpuppies.
South Carolina – Best for Pulled Pork Hash
South Carolina’s take on barbecue includes pulled pork hash – a spicy pork stew laden with meaty goodness. SC barbecue also features pulled or chopped pork doused in a vinegar and mustard based sauce. Slow-smoked whole hog is another SC specialty.
Notable SC BBQ Eateries
- Bessinger’s Barbeque – Iconic SC barbecue chain dishing up pulled pork, ribs, and hash since the 1950s.
- Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ – Award-winning BBQ joint praised for succulent whole hog plates and sandwiches.
- Sweatman’s Bar-B-Que – South Carolina institution known for exceptional smoked pork hash and pulled pork.
Regional Nuances Make for Diverse BBQ
America’s barbecue diversity makes crowning a clear winner for “best BBQ” challenging. Central Texas likely takes brisket honors, while Kansas City and Memphis duke it out over ribs and pulled pork respectively. North Carolina and South Carolina also boast deeply rooted barbecue traditions. The regional nuances from smoking techniques to sauces make traversing the nation a mouthwatering BBQ adventure. While good arguments can be made all around, central Texas brisket holds a reputation by many as the pinnacle of American barbecue. But the options and flavors around the country prove there’s excellent BBQ to sample from coast to coast.
Frequently Asked Questions About US BBQ
What city is most famous for BBQ in the US?
Kansas City, Memphis, and Austin/central Texas are likely the most famous US cities for barbecue. Each region has distinct styles, with Kansas City known for ribs, Memphis beloved for pulled pork, and central Texas famed for incredible brisket.
What is the most popular style of BBQ?
Barbecue styles vary greatly by region in the US. Central Texas-style brisket, Memphis-style pulled pork, Kansas City ribs, and Carolina whole hog and pulled pork are among the most popular American barbecue styles. Sauces also differ – from the vinegar-based sauces of the Carolinas to the sweeter, tomato-based sauces of Kansas City.
What state has the best BBQ?
Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina are states renowned for barbecue. Ranking them proves difficult since the barbecue traditions differ considerably between them. Central Texas brisket, Memphis pulled pork, KC ribs, and Carolinas whole hog each have passionate proponents as the “best.”
What is the #1 BBQ restaurant in the US?
Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas is often cited as the best barbecue restaurant in the nation thanks to their incredibly succulent brisket, impeccable smoking process, and immense popularity. But many other restaurants around the country like Kreuz Market (TX), Joe’s KC (MO), and Bessinger’s (SC) also have dedicated followings.
What city has the best BBQ ribs?
Kansas City undoubtedly has the most famous barbecue ribs, known for fall-off-the-bone texture and sweet, tangy sauces. Memphis also boasts outstanding ribs, relying more on dry rubs and less on sauces compared to KC. But excellent ribs can be found in barbecue joints nationwide.
The Best Barbecue Crosses Regional Boundaries
While regional barbecue styles may be distinct, Competition between them is all in good fun. Great barbecue can be found across the US, and quality cooking and ingredients make for delicious BBQ no matter your location. Barbecue connoisseurs enjoy sampling the nuances of different styles. Whether you crave peppery Texas brisket, sweet Kansas City ribs, or vinegary North Carolina pulled pork, rest assured that each region takes pride in their barbecue traditions and brings something special to the table. The variety of flavors and cooking methods is what makes barbecue a dynamic and quintessentially American dining experience from coast to coast.