The Top 10 BBQ Restaurants, States in the U.S.

Joe's BBQ in Blue Ridge, Georgia ranks #1 in the nation, according to Trip Advisor, while Tennessee takes the crown for best state for BBQ.

By Al Perrotta Published on May 30, 2015

Now that we’ve entered the unofficial start of summer, the three greatest letters in the alphabet become B, B and Q. (Okay, so that’s two letters. But when the subject turns to barbecue my brain turns as mushy as cole slaw.) But where can you find the best BBQ?

Fortunately, in an immeasurable service to mankind, TripAdvisor has announced its annual list for the top-rated U.S. states and restaurants for barbecue. The travel site made its determination based on the millions of reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community.

And the best barbecue restaurant in the United States is … bread roll, please … I mean, drum roll, please …

Joe’s BBQ in Blue Ridge, Georgia! Here’s how TripAdvisor describes the joint:

Nestled in the mountains of northern Georgia, this cabin-style restaurant claims to be a small place with big taste.  Visitors to Joe’s can feast their eyes on a broad menu of dry-rubbed meats that are hickory smoked to perfection. “The pork and ribs are the standouts. Both were tender and packed with flavor, and smoked perfectly,” commented a TripAdvisor reviewer.

The noble runner up is another Joe, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas City. Among its many charms, this Joe’s is home of the World Famous Z-Man sandwich.

Here’s the full list of the Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in the U.S. for 2015: Follow the link for mouthwatering descriptions of each eatery.

  1. Joe’s BBQ — Blue Ridge, Georgia
  2. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que — Kansas City, Kansas
  3. Bogart’s Smokehouse — Saint Louis, Missouri
  4. Reuben’s Smokehouse — Fort Myers, Florida
  5. Andy Nelson’s Southern Pit BBQ — Cockeysville, Maryland
  6. Captain’s BBQ — Palm Coast, Florida
  7. Hogshead Café — Richmond, Virginia
  8. Buck’s Smokehouse — Destin, Florida
  9. Franklin Barbecue — Austin, Texas
  10. Pappy’s Smokehouse — Saint Louis, Missouri

Although Florida is home to three of the top ten BBQ joints, it does not hold the crown for Top U.S. State for BBQ. For that matter, neither does Texas. That honor goes to Tennessee. Below are the TripAdvisor rankings. Plan your vacations accordingly.

  1. Tennessee
  2. Texas
  3. Missouri
  4. North Carolina
  5. Georgia
  6. Florida
  7. South Carolina
  8. California
  9. Virginia
  10. New York

California? BBQ? In the land of fad diets and fancy bistros?! Where the state motto is “Give Me Avocados or Give Me Death”? Yes. The Golden State’s barbecue ranking is boosted by a little town north of Santa Barbara called Santa Maria. Santa Maria is best known for two things: Hosting the Michael Jackson molestation trial and having their own delicious style of barbecue. They season the meat, usually beef tri-tip, with black pepper, salt and garlic salt, then grill it over coals of red oak wood.  (One of my fondest memories of California is having Santa Maria barbecue with Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman while we were covering the Jackson trial. But that’s a story for another day.)

Of course, you can’t crowd-source taste buds. Each person will have their own favorite spot, style or state for barbecue. Some will even insist Joe’s BBQ is shoe leather compared to what comes off their own grill. Such is the joy of being a carnivore in a free society.

Whether you find yourself enjoying barbecue in one of these fine joints or in your own backyard, here’s hoping you have a delicious time … and plenty of napkins.

 

So what is YOUR favorite BBQ spot or recipe? If space aliens landed and demanded, “Take me to your BBQ,” where would you take them? Why is TripAdvisor full of beans and YOUR state the best for BBQ? Please share in the Comments section.

 

 

Like the article? Share it with your friends! And use our social media pages to join or start the conversation! Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, MeWe and Gab.

Inspiration
The Good Life
Katherine Wolf
More from The Stream
Connect with Us