This Mouthwatering Road Trip Takes You To 10 Of The Best Barbecue Joints In The United States

The only things you’ll need to bring on this barbecue road trip to some of the most renowned smokehouses in the U.S.A. are an appetite and a bib. Along this BBQ route in the USA, you’ll visit 10 of the country’s best barbecue joints in six states. Of course, you are welcome to sightsee between pit stops, but it’s the pits – and the pitmasters – that matter on this trip. So, buckle up and get ready to get your fingers dirty on this epic road trip to the best US BBQ.

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Texas

Texas-style barbecue is all about the meat, which is seasoned with a little more than a bit of salt or pepper. Sure, you can often get sauce on the side – but why? Here is a pair of barbecue joints in the Lone Star State that will show you just how good Texas barbecue can be.

1. Gatlin's BBQ, Houston

In the first city on your road trip, Houston, barbecue-loving diners flock to ​​Gatlin's BBQ to satisfy their smoked meat yearnings. The restaurant is family-owned and operated by folks who have been in the barbecue business for several generations. Known for its high-quality meats, traditional barbecue techniques, and mouth-watering sauces, Gatlin's has a cozy and inviting atmosphere with wooden tables and chairs and rustic decor. The walls are adorned with pictures of the restaurant's history, and there is an open kitchen where guests can watch the pitmasters practice their craft.

The menu at Gatlin's BBQ features a wide selection of smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken, and turkey. You can order their meats by the pound, as part of a sandwich, or as a plate with sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, and potato salad. Gatlin's BBQ also serves up sweet and tasty homemade desserts, such as pecan pie, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. Toss back a pint of craft beer, a glass of wine, or a soft drink with your barbecue.

Gatlin's BBQ's delicious, authentic Texas barbecue has won numerous awards and accolades. The restaurant is also known for its friendly service, making it a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.

2. Franklin Barbecue, Austin

​​Franklin Barbecue is a world-renowned Austin barbecue joint that's gained a reputation for serving some of the best barbecue in the world. And it's the next stop on your road trip. The restaurant is in a modest building with a simple, unassuming facade. However, the smell of smoked meats wafting from the smoker outside draws in hungry diners from miles around. Once inside, you're greeted by a rustic interior furnished with picnic tables in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

The star of the show at Franklin Barbecue is the brisket, which is slow-smoked over oak wood for hours and hours. Diners rave about the smoky meat's melt-in-your-mouth texture. The ribs, pulled pork, and sausage also earn high praise for their tenderness and flavor. The sides at Franklin Barbecue are equally impressive, with popular options like creamy coleslaw, tangy potato salad, and buttery cornbread. Grab a craft beer or refreshing cocktails to wash down the savory, smoky barbecue.

Another thing Franklin Barbecue is famous for is its long lines, which can stretch for hours; but most folks agree that the wait is well worth it. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and often sells out within a few hours, so arrive early and come prepared to wait. Many, in fact, say that the experience of waiting in line is part of the fun, as it allows customers to mingle with fellow barbecue lovers and soak up the atmosphere of this iconic Austin institution.

Missouri and Kansas

Whether you’re a Kansas City-style barbecue fan or a lover of St. Louis ribs, rejoice - because you’ll get to dig into both on your barbecue journey. These are some of our favorites in Kansas and Missouri.

3. City Butcher and Barbecue, Springfield, Missouri

Your first foray into the Show Me State is a stop in neither Kansas City nor St. Louis. That's right, you're going to Springfield and, more specifically, to the wildly popular ​​City Butcher and Barbecue. The restaurant's pitmasters, Cody Smith and Jeremy Smith, are passionate about traditional barbecue techniques and high-quality meats, and you'll taste it in everything you try.

At City Butcher and Barbecue, you'll find all manner of smoked delights, ranging from brisket and ribs to pulled pork and sausage. The restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced, hormone-free meats, and preparing them using traditional barbecue techniques and a combination of oak and hickory woods for smoking. The restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients and traditional techniques ensures that anything you try will be flavorful and satisfying.

4. Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Kansas City, Kansas

From Springfield, you'll dip across the border to your sole stop in the Sunflower State: ​​Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que. The beloved restaurant has several locations throughout the city, but its original location is a former gas station in the city's West Bottoms neighborhood, which has become a popular destination for barbecue lovers from around the world who want to experience the authentic taste of Kansas City barbecue. The atmosphere at the original gas station location of Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is cozy and casual, with indoor and outdoor seating options.

The menu at Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que features a variety of smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, and sausage. The restaurant is especially known for its burnt ends, which are made from the crispy, flavorful ends of brisket. Guests can order their meats by the pound, as part of a sandwich, or as a plate with sides like baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw. What sets Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que apart from other barbecue restaurants is its commitment to using high-quality ingredients and preparing them using traditional techniques. The pitmasters slow-smoke the meats over hickory wood, resulting in a tender and flavorful meat with a smoky taste.

5. LC'S BAR-B-Q, Kansas City, Missouri

​​LC's Bar-B-Q is another popular K.C. barbecue joint, but it’s located on the Missouri side of the river. The restaurant is owned and operated by L.C. Richardson, who has been in the barbecue business for over 30 years. The vibe at LC's Bar-B-Q is casual and unpretentious, with a simple decor of wooden tables and chairs. The walls are adorned with pictures of the restaurant's history, and diners can watch the pitmasters ply their trade as they wait for their meals.

The restaurant is known for its flavorful meats, which are smoked over hickory wood for up to 12 hours. The result is tender and juicy meats with a smoky flavor complemented by L.C.'s special-recipe barbecue sauce. In addition to its meats, LC's Bar-B-Q also offers homemade sides such as cornbread, green beans, and mac and cheese. The restaurant has a no-frills approach to dining, with a focus on great food and friendly service, and it's an ideal destination for an authentic Kansas City barbecue experience.

6. Bogart's Smokehouse, St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis-style is next on your barbecue agenda, and that means a stop at the renowned Bogart's Smokehouse in (where else?) St. Louis. It's owned and operated by Skip Steele, who's been a barbecue titan for more than three decades. Walking into Bogart's, you'll be greeted with a warm, inviting vibe and a rustic interior decorated with wooden tables and chairs, exposed brick walls, and vintage photographs - and the aroma of the ribs you've come to sample.

Although Bogart's Smokehouse boasts a mouth-watering variety of smoked meats, including pulled pork, brisket, and chicken, this is St. Louis and you're here for the ribs, which are a local staple, served up with sides such as mac and cheese, baked beans, and collard greens.

Bogart's Smokehouse emphasizes locally-sourced, sustainably raised meats, and a steadfast adherence to traditional cooking methods. The pitmasters smoke the meats using a combination of apple, cherry, and hickory wood, which makes for exquisitely tender and flavorful ribs that fall off the bone if you even look at them too long. Bogart's is the perfect place to sample and savor the ribs for which St. Louis is famous.

Tennessee

Memphis-style barbecue is famous, but Nashville has its own thing going, as well. After all, Music City did give us hot chicken, right? Well, you can decide for yourself which city serves up the superior smoke, pitting these two Volunteer State icons against one another.

7. Central B-B-Q, Memphis

​​Your first stop in Tennessee is Central BBQ, a beloved Memphis institution. Its popularity has enabled the restaurant to expand to several locations in western Tennessee. Emphasizing delicious, Memphis-style smoked meats and classic Southern sides, Central BBQ is known for its quality food and casual atmosphere. Its popular downtown location, bedecked in Memphis-themed decor, is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

The restaurant serves up a variety of meats, including pulled pork, ribs, and brisket, which are all slow-smoked to perfection. The sides also stand out, with options like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans. The restaurant offers a range of sauces and rubs to accompany the meat, all of which are made in-house. The downtown location is conveniently located near many of the city's top attractions, making it an ideal spot for lunch or dinner when you visit Memphis.

8. Peg Leg Porker, Nashville

​​Nashville’s Peg Leg Porker is a beloved Music City barbecue spot that has garnered a reputation for authentic and delicious Southern-style smoked meats. A rustic and cozy vibe, with wooden tables and chairs and exposed brick walls, as well as a large outdoor seating area, attracts folks from all over.

The quality of the food, which includes pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and sausage, is outstanding.

This is likely due to Peg Leg Porker’s commitment to traditional smoking methods, which involve slow-cooking meats over hickory wood for up to 24 hours. The result is tender, flavorful meat that falls off the bone. The restaurant also offers a selection of homemade sauces to complement the smoky flavors, including a tangy vinegar-based sauce and a sweet and spicy Memphis-style sauce to silence any nay-sayers in the crowd.

Alabama

The only thing that Alabamians may love more than football is barbecue. And when they go searching for a crimson tide of sauce splashed over slow-smoked meat, they head for one place: Dreamland Bar-B-Que.

9. Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Tuscaloosa

Alabama’s ​Dreamland Bar-B-Que is a beloved local institution with a rich history and a reputation for mouth-watering, smoky BBQ. It now has several outposts across the state, but the original Tuscaloosa location, which opened in 1958, is especially revered by locals and visitors alike.

Diners rave about the restaurant's signature ribs, which are cooked low and slow over hickory coals and slathered with the restaurant’s tangy, flavorful sauce. They also praise the pulled pork, brisket, and sausage, which are all expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. The Tuscaloosa location, in particular, is warm, welcoming, and down-to-earth, with a casual dining room adorned with vintage sports memorabilia and other local decor. Dreamland Bar-B-Que is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves classic Southern barbecue. Its rich history, delicious food, and friendly atmosphere make it a true gem and a perfect stop on your barbecue road trip.

Mississippi

As with many other undertakings, when it comes to barbecue, the Magnolia State does its own thing. A visit to The Shed, an iconic barbecue spot, will show you exactly why Mississippi’s twist on classic Southern style is just what the pitmaster ordered.

10. The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, Ocean Springs

The final destination on your barbecue odyssey is​​ The Shed Barbecue and Blues, a popular barbecue joint that has gained a reputation for its delicious smoked meats and lively atmosphere. It's housed in a rustic building that looks like an old, well,... shed - complete with a corrugated metal roof and a colorful mural on the side. Inside, diners are greeted by a cozy, laid-back atmosphere with picnic tables and a stage for live music.

The Shed's barbecued meats are smoked low and slow over pecan wood for up to 18 hours. Diners clamor for the juicy, tender brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and the flavorful pulled pork. The restaurant also offers a variety of homemade sauces, including sweet and tangy, spicy, and mustard-based options. In addition to its barbecue, The Shed is known for its hearty sides, including creamy mac and cheese, savory baked beans, and crispy hushpuppies. Wash your meal down with a cold glass of sweet tea or homemade lemonade.

The Shed is also famous as a live music venue, attracting acts that range from blues to rock to country. The stage is located in the outdoor seating area, creating a lively and festive atmosphere that's perfect for enjoying a cold drink and some delicious barbecue.

While the wait times can be long, especially during peak hours, the experience of dining at The Shed is well worth it. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the food is consistently delicious. Consider arriving early to avoid crowds and to ensure that you get to sample all of the restaurant's mouthwatering dishes.

You may be tired after this barbecue road trip, but we’re sure you won’t be hungry. There are a lot of fantastic barbecues to be had all over the U.S.A., but we couldn’t include everything in this 10-stop itinerary. So, we’ll leave it to you to tell us what we missed.

What’s your favorite barbecue joint? What should we have included on this BBQ route in the USA?

Another one of our favorite foodie road trips is this one along the East Coast.

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