The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Barbecue in the United States is more than a way of cooking—it's a living tradition that traces the country's history of migration, ingenuity, and community. Its roots reach back to Indigenous peoples who slow-cooked meat over open pits, a technique that blended with African, Caribbean, and European influences during the colonial era. Enslaved Africans of the 1600s in particular shaped barbecue into what we know and love it to be today, bringing their knowledge of smoking and seasoning to the pit.
Over time, the practice spread across the South and beyond. Whole hog dominated in the Carolinas, while braised brisket became king in Texas. And as America grew, so did barbecue's role. It became a fixture of small-town gatherings, fundraisers, and family reunions, then rose to the level of culinary art celebrated in festivals and competitions with distinct regional styles nationwide: the tangy, vinegar-based sauces and slow-cooked pork of the Carolinas; the tender brisket of Texas with sauce served on the side; the robust, sweet-forward flavors characteristic of Kansas City; and Alabama's signature mayo-based white sauce drizzled over some juicy chicken.
While those may be some of the most famous, each U.S. city today puts its own spin on barbecue. To find some of the best spots nationwide, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated barbecue restaurants in 50 major cities using data from Yelp. To be considered, a restaurant needed at least 500 votes. If fewer than three restaurants in the city had at least 500 votes, the minimum threshold was lowered to 250, and then further to 50.
Whether it's classic ribs glazed in sticky sauce or inventive modern takes that combine other cultures (like Korean BBQ and Mexican barbacoa), these restaurants show that barbecue isn't just food—it's history.
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (3,064 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 4301 E University Dr Phoenix, AZ 85034
- Read more on Yelp
- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (2,503 reviews)
- Categories: Japanese
- Address: 356 E 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (511 reviews)
- Categories: Soul Food
- Address: 5901 Watt Ave North Highlands, CA 95660
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (598 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 5487 Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego, CA 92117
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (592 reviews)
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces
- Address: 4077 18th St San Francisco, CA 94114
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (310 reviews)
- Categories: Southern
- Address: 4361 Lowell Blvd Denver, CO 80211
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- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (71 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 371 Lakeland Ave Sayville, NY 11782
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (583 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 4700 Riverdale Rd Riverdale Park, MD 20737
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- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (651 reviews)
- Categories: Comfort Food
- Address: 12461 SW 130th St Miami, FL 33186
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (1,954 reviews)
- Categories: Salad
- Address: 1236 Hempel Ave Windermere, FL 34786
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (504 reviews)
- Categories: Soul Food
- Address: 2302 E 7th Ave Tampa, FL 33605
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- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (516 reviews)
- Categories: Wraps
- Address: 1110 Hammond Dr Ste 15 Sandy Springs, GA 30328
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- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (778 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 3394 Waialae Ave Honolulu, HI 96816
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (280 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 7802 W Goddard Boise, ID 83704
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (741 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 1147 S Delano Ct E Chicago, IL 60605
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (784 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 6916 E 30th St Indianapolis, IN 46219
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- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (978 reviews)
- Categories: Southern
- Address: 102 Bauer Ave Louisville, KY 40207
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,511 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 701 Mazant St New Orleans, LA 70117
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (1,072 reviews)
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Address: 1002 Beacon St Brookline, MA 02446
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (290 reviews)
- Categories: Poke
- Address: 5201 E Dr Arbutus, MD 21227
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (592 reviews)
- Categories: Bars
- Address: 6 Fruit St Byfield, MA 01922
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (473 reviews)
- Categories: Cocktail Bars
- Address: 3400 Bagley St Detroit, MI 48216
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- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (258 reviews)
- Categories: Soul Food
- Address: 3733 Chicago Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55407
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- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (799 reviews)
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Address: 11920 N Ambassador Dr Kansas City, MO 64153
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (1,656 reviews)
- Categories: Caterers
- Address: 1627 S 9th St Saint Louis, MO 63104
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- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (187 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2457 S 132nd St Omaha, NE 68144
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (2,810 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 1401 Central Ave Charlotte, NC 28205
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (565 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 2310 Walnut St Cary, NC 27518
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- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (404 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 8810 Central Ave SE Albuquerque, NM 87123
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- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (3,242 reviews)
- Categories: Japanese
- Address: 4525 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 106 Las Vegas, NV 89102
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- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (146 reviews)
- Categories: Tacos
- Address: 116 Davey Str Buffalo, NY 14206
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (3,225 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 23 W 32nd St Fl 3 New York, NY 10001
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,544 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 3313 Riverside Dr Cincinnati, OH 45226
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (432 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 8225 W Ridgewood Dr Parma, OH 44129
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (298 reviews)
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Address: 755 S High St Columbus, OH 43206
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (782 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 4233 N Mississippi Ave Portland, OR 97217
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (292 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 1703 S 11th St Philadelphia, PA 19148
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (360 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 6541 Steubenville Pike Pittsburgh, PA 15205
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- Rating: 3.9 / 5 (341 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 67 Garrity St Pawtucket, RI 02861
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- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (2,302 reviews)
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces
- Address: 464 N Nassau St Charleston, SC 29403
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,126 reviews)
- Categories: Tacos
- Address: 4523 Summer Ave Memphis, TN 38122
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (980 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 161 Opry Mills Dr Nashville, TN 37214
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (6,339 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 900 E 11th St Austin, TX 78702
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- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (3,768 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 3025 Main St Dallas, TX 75226
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (549 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 6715 Homestead Rd Houston, TX 77028
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (945 reviews)
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Address: 12820 Jones Maltsberger Rd Ste 104 San Antonio, TX 78247
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (1,765 reviews)
- Categories: Smokehouse
- Address: 307 W 600th S Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (858 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 3201 W Moore St Richmond, VA 23230
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (798 reviews)
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Address: 2513 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144
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- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (689 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 7412 W Greenfield Ave West Allis, WI 53214
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Note: This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by Stacker's editorial team to ensure accuracy, reliability, and alignment with our editorial standards
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