Calling all BBQ lovers! Great food doesn’t have to come from fancy restaurants or big-name chefs. Some of the best restaurants in the country are hiding behind unassuming exteriors, and these places certainly fit the bill. These 7 hole in the wall barbecue joints prove that the small eateries can still serve up big flavor in a no-frills, casual environment. Missouri is a state known for having great barbecue and these restaurants prove that you don’t have to wait in a huge line in the big city for a fantastic meal. So start working on your appetite and check out these 7 best BBQ restaurants in Missouri. They’re worth a drive from any corner of the state, and after one bite you’ll become a customer for life. In no particular order, here are some of our favorite hole in the wall BBQ restaurants in Missouri.

1. Big Muddy BBQ - Hannibal
Travis T./Yelp
Travis T./Yelp
Big Muddy BBQ in Hannibal make not look like much but they have some seriously good eats. Locals love the ribs and the staff at Big Muddy are always friendly. They tend to get pretty crowded during peak hours, but that's just a sign that you're in the right place.

Address: 401 Broadway, Hannibal, MO, 63401
2. A Little BBQ Joint - Independence
TripAdvisor/jehenson81
N L./Yelp
With so many big name barbecue options in Kansas City, it is easy to overlook some of the smaller establishments. A Little BBQ Joint is certainly worth a trip! Try the various house made sauces, you'll love the punny names! You can't go wrong with an order of burnt ends.

Address: 1101 W. US Hwy 24, Independence, MO, 64050
3. Sugarfoot BBQ - Osceola
Julie T./Yelp
Bradley R./Yelp
Sugarfoot may look like a small town gas station but don't let that fool you. This little barbecue joint in the middle of nowhere is serving up perfectly smoked platters of meat. Don't forget about the sides, they're just as good as the meats. Try the horseradish coleslaw for a side.

Address: 5303-5305 MO-82, Osceola, MO, 64776
4. Bootleger's BBQ
Bootleggers BBQ/Facebook

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Wolf O. C./Yelp
You'll find a great meal at this little restaurant surrounded by fast-food chains. Bootlegger's BBQ rivals even the big city eateries. Low and slow is the method here, and you'll find yourself fighting the urge to lick your plate, it's so good. Try the brisket and their many house made sauces.

Address: 1464 Gibson Avenue, West Plains, MO, 65775
5. Fishin Pig - Poplar Bluff
Randall M./Yelp
The Fishin Pig/Facebook
The Fishin Pig is a quaint small town restaurant where you can get delicious barbecue and freshly fried fish. Whether you try the brisket, smoked chicken, or fried catfish you're in for a fantastic meal. This is one of those places where you walk in as a friend and leave as family.

Address: 1518 S Broadway Street, Poplar Bluff, MO, 63901
6. Missouri Hick BBQ - Cuba
Laney C./Yelp
Charles M./Yelp
Missouri Hick Barbeque is a favorite among locals and those who love to float the Huzzah. A popular spot during float trip season, Missouri Hick BBQ offers fantastic barbecue that is smoked overnight for 12 hours. Don't forget to try some of the home made cobblers. When the sides and desserts are just as good as the meats, you know you've found a hidden gem.

Address: 913 East Washington Street, Cuba, MO, 65453
7. Roper's Ribs - St. Louis
Stefano D./Yelp
Tian Q./Yelp
Roper’s Ribs is a serving up hickory smoked ribs in a tiny little shop with only three tables. Tiny but mighty, what this place lacks in size they make up for in big, bold flavors. Come for the ribs and keep coming back for the amazing ribs. Get a full slab to-go because even if you can't finish them all, you'll be craving their ribs again later!

Address: 6929 W Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63136

Missouri has so many BBQ restaurants peppered throughout the state, this list could go on forever. Have you tried any of these hole in the wall restaurants in Missouri? What joint is your favorite? Let us know what you think in the comments below. And for even more incredible BBQ restaurants, be sure to check out our previous article here where we highlight some of our favorites. For even more hole in the wall restaurants in Missouri, click here.

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Best BBQ Restaurants in Missouri

Jackie Ann | September 21, 2019

Is Missouri known for BBQ?

Yes, Missouri is known for its own unique style of BBQ. One of the most popular styles of BBQ is Kansas City-style BBQ that originated from Henry Perry in the early 1900s in Kansas City. Kansas City is the birthplace of dry-rub BBQ and people travel from all over the country to try some of the best BBQ in the United States. While Missouri is known for its specific style of BBQ, you’ll also find many other styles of BBQ within the Show Me State, including eastern North Carolina- style, Texas-style, or Alabama-style.

What style of BBQ can be found in Missouri?

You can find every different style of BBQ in Missouri. From North Carolina to Alabama style, there are local restaurants in Missouri serving multiple styles of BBQ. But you’ll almost always find Kansas City style and St. Louis Style, two styles of BBQ that were born in Missouri. No matter whether you prefer a vinegar or a white sauce, there’s a restaurant in the state doing it and they are the best BBQ restaurants in Missouri. Two of the most distinct styles are Kansas City-style and St. Louis-style, both of which originated right here in the Show Me State and have become some of the most popular styles of BBQ around.

What are the other best hole in the wall restaurants in Missouri?

Sometimes the most incredible restaurants can be hiding behind unassuming exteriors. They may not look like much from the outside, but inside they’re serving up some of the best food in the state. They’re often the places that will remember your face and welcome you like family, adding a memorable moment to an already incredible meal. Some of the best hole in the wall restaurants in Missouri include Pharaohs Donuts in Saint Louis, The Fish Market in Liberty, L.C.’S BBQ in Kansas City, and The Pilot House in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

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