11 Ways You Can Spot A Killer Barbecue Restaurant In Georgia

Let's face it, there are plenty of different types of barbecue throughout the country. Who's to say which is the best really? The good news is, Georgians are pretty well-versed when it comes to great barbecue, which is why there are so many fantastically delicious restaurants that boast big BBQ flavors. How can you spot a killer barbecue restaurant in Georgia, you ask? Here are a few surefire ways.

1. They have pork on their menu.

Great Georgia barbecue restaurants have pork. Plain and simple. Pulled pork, pork shank, pork sandwiches, you name it, they should have it. Pork is notably the most popular barbecued meat in Georgia and with good reason.

2. They will mention specifically how they cook their meat.

A good barbecue place will mention how their meat is cooked—always. If the restaurant doesn't boast about their cooking technique, then it may not be prepared in the way that you think.

3. It’s all in the sauce.

Most good barbecue joints in Georgia have a secret sauce that can make the entire experience worthwhile. But at the same time, other great barbecue spots will also provide you with your own personal option of sauce, which really is what it’s all about—personal taste.

4. Make sure you see at least one wood-stack or pile.

Some barbecue restaurants use a smoker for aesthetic purposes, and others use an actual smoker. If you find a good barbecue joint in Georgia then you’ll know it by whether or not they have a stack of wood ready to use at any given moment.

5. They know the difference between tender meat and mushy meat.

You shouldn’t be able to eat your meat with a spoon. It shouldn’t fall off the bone in a mushy pile. It should be tender and juicy and maybe pull off the bone cleanly, but a good barbecue restaurant will know when to stop cooking or when a piece of meat is overcooked.

6. They are proud to mention where their meat comes from.

This doesn’t have to be the caveat of whether or not you eat at a Georgia place without knowing where the meat comes from, but often eating locally sourced meat that you know won’t be frozen or filled with who knows what can level up your barbecue experience entirely.

7. They don't use liquid smoke in place of the real thing.

Some of the best barbecue joints use an actual smoker, rather than just dousing the meat or the sauce with liquid smoke and imitating the real thing. Make sure your barbecue restaurant has some real deal smoke flavoring to get the true experience.

8. The barbecue sauce isn’t sugary or syrupy or overly sweet.

9. The sides are equally as swoon-worthy.

Have you ever went to a barbecue joint that doesn’t have any good sides? Or maybe the collards are doused in meat fat and heavy, or the macaroni and cheese has no flavor, or the baked beans are non-existent. Sides can make or break a barbecue spot.

10. It’s not just smoked meat.

Truth be told, barbecuing is a process. Slow-cooking over wood with smoke and heat, and resulting in an end product that isn’t simply just smoked meat is key.

11. Always, always check the parking lot.

Nine times out of ten, if the parking lot is full, you know you’re in the right place. Good barbecue tends to bring in customers on a regular basis. If ever you are questioning whether or not a barbecue joint is the real deal, ask the customers, especially those who frequent the place time and time again.

Now we know that the best part about Georgia barbecue is that it can be all about personal preference. So what are some of your barbecue preferences? Share with us in the comments! Or if you're ready to head to a specific Georgia barbecue restaurant, then check out One of the Oldest BBQ Joints in Georgia Is Still Serving Up Mouthwateringly Good Meals.