Few cuisines are quite as universally well-loved as barbecue. Almost every civilization since the beginning of forever has had its own spins on it, and today, it remains one of the top favorite foods in the United States. Well, we here at OnlyInYourState want to take a couple of hours to celebrate the best BBQ in Indiana with a delightfully delicious, melt-in-your-mouth amazing road trip. It's brief at a little over two hours if you don't stop (but why wouldn't you?), but trust us when we say the journey your tastebuds are about to go on is an amazing one. See the entire journey - and change the route if you need to using this interactive map! Bring your appetite - you'll need it for some of these top most amazing places to get barbecue in Indiana.
Though we'll be spending most of our time in the Indy area, you can expect to begin your journey in Edinburgh, Indiana, at Hickory Hillz BBQ.
Hickory Hillz has long been a delicious staple in Edinburgh; it's among the highest-rated restaurants in the area, and something that seems to come up in the reviews a lot is, "This is some of THE best (everything)!" They offer up all the classics, and each dish is perfect on its own. Learn more about this little bbq stop shop on its official website.
Next, we'll head up to Indianapolis, where we'll make a few stops.
The first of them is the wonderful Smokin' Barrel BBQ, which certainly fits the description as a "hole in the wall" thanks to its being within the SERTOMA Club of East Indy.
Do NOT allow that to deter you from pigging out at this place - often called "the best barbecue around," the side dishes are as delish as the entrees. One review, in particular, says that the mac and cheese is "delicious and unique," and we really love that descriptor. Check out the full menu and learn more on the official Smokin' Barrel website.
Next up! We hope you saved some room (okay, probably impossible at this point) because this next one is a doozy!
Old Gold Barbecue is a long-standing local fave, and it's easy to understand why. Everything it serves is heavenly; folks swear that after trying the brisket nachos at Old Gold, they won't ever eat nachos from anywhere else ever again. Sounds good to us. Check out the official website for the menu, hours, and plenty more info.
Our next stop is a little place known as Rooster's Kitchen, which is a place beloved among locals, many of whom are regulars here.
Our favorite review of Rooster's Kitchen said, and we quote: "Give this place your money. It will give you a round tummy in return," and honestly... yeah. Yeah, it will. Worth it! Read more about this amazing stop on its official website!
Our second-to-last restaurant is one of the best barbecue places in Indiana that nobody's ever heard of.
Hank's Smoked Briskets is a tiny place with huge flavor. Patrons have quite literally driven up to Indiana from as far as San Antonio to try this place, and it's worth that drive and then some. When it comes to the best barbecue in Indiana, it doesn't get much better than Hank's, and Hank's deserves all the love. Check out the official Hank's website for a menu and more!
Finally, we head up to Cicero for our last (but not least) stop: Big Dog's Smokehouse.
This Cicero legend is a must-do for every Hoosier (and everyone outside of Indiana, too). If you enjoy ribs that you can't pick up by the bone because all the meat just sloughs off, you're in the right place. Check out the official website and try to contain your mouth-watering. We betcha can't. Everything here is melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Want the route to take for this epic road trip? Here's the official Google Maps route we created just for you!
What are some of your favorite barbecue stops in Indiana that you'd like to see us include in future road trips? Who would you say has the best BBQ in Indiana? Tell us all about them by filling out this form!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
