Here Are The 5 Most-Recommended BBQ Restaurants In Kentucky, According To Our Readers
By Sarah McCosham|Published March 27, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Here at OnlyInYourState, we’re always open to reader suggestions and nominations — y’all know best, after all! Especially when it comes to barbecue restaurants in Kentucky. We receive lots of emails and DMs about your favorite barbecue hot spots, and are sharing five of y’alls most-recommended BBQ restaurants in Kentucky. Don’t worry — they aren’t listed in any particular order… all of these establishments are equally delicious and worth adding to your Bluegrass BBQ bucket list
1. Starnes Barbecue - Paducah
Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA
Hailed as the most legendary barbecue in the South, Starnes Bar-B-Q is a Paducah institution that's truly a bucket-list must. Step inside this unassuming blue building and prepare yourself for bold, smoky barbecue (smoked out back, in fact!) smothered in finger-lickin' sauce. Pro tip: buy a bottle (or two... or 10) to take home!
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2. Bubby's BBQ - Corbin
Bubby's BBQ, 2700 Cumberland Falls Hwy, Corbin, KY 40701, USA
You'll think you've died and gone to hog heaven when you step inside Bubby's. Readers rave about how tender and melt-in-your-mouth the ribs are, and although it's all-you-can-eat here, there's a fierce commitment to quality that makes dining here more akin to a proper sit-down restaurant.
3. Feast BBQ - Louisville and Lexington
Feast BBQ, 909 E Market St #100, Louisville, KY 40206, USA
Feast BBQ, 10318 Taylorsville Rd, Jeffersontown, KY 40299, USA
Feast BBQ is a true feast for the senses. For proof of this, simply look at the above spread! If you like your meal to look as delicious as it tastes, this is the KY BBQ spot for you. With two locations -- Lexington and Louisville -- you're never far from darn delicious barbecue! Pro tip: don't forget to order an Ale-8-One Bourbon Slushie with your barbecue feast!
From its Kentucky sports memorabilia and winsome wood booths, to its red checkered curtains and matching tablecloths, everything about J&B Barbecue makes diners feel right at home. Folks rave about the ribs, which have a sticky-sweet sauce you'll happily sop up with a few slices of plain white bread. If you're looking for darn delicious, down-home BBQ in Kentucky, this is it.
We get more reader comments about Red State BBQ than anywhere else -- and for good reason! This down-home BBQ joint has killer Memphis-, Texas-, and Carolina-style sauces slathered on your choice of brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, ribs... this place is heaven for Bluegrass BBQ aficionados!
Have many of these reader-recommended BBQ restaurants in Kentucky have you visited? Any surprises on the list? Any places you think should have made the cut? Share them in the comments below — or nominate your favorite BBQ joint and tell us why we should feature it in an upcoming Only In Kentucky article!
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