Best BBQ places?

February 28, 2005 1:35 PM

I love barbecue. Wait, that's not a question. Um. What's your favorite barbecue restaurant? I've flown here and there and I've eaten at various places, but I think I need to take my BBQ to the next level. I would even be willing to schedule a trip around a really good BBQ joint, so don't worry about where I am, just let me know what your favorites are. Suggestions?
posted by taumeson to food & drink (70 comments total)

I know it's a chain, but I really, really like Famous Dave's. Their brisket is fabulous.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:38 PM on February 28, 2005

Cooper's in Llano, TX. They give you the meat right off the bbq pit and slap it on a cafeteria tray with butcher's paper. Then you take it into the restaurant where they weigh it on a butcher's scale and charge you by the pound, put it on a plate and you buy the sides and drinks. If your eyes are too big for your stomach, though, be prepared to pay about $20 and only be able to eat $7 worth (think of Fred Flinstone at the Bronto Burger stand).
posted by Doohickie at 1:39 PM on February 28, 2005

Well, a lot of it depends on what sort of Barbeque your looking for. Here in L.A. I am a big fan of Dr. Hoggly Woggly's and most people who live here like it, however most of the people that I have taken there from back east have been underimpressed. In Dallas the Sonny Bryant chain was pretty good as well.
posted by Restlessavenger at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2005

Really, that's like asking where your favorite music is. Please define your taste and your terms.

What's the best you've ever had?
Where have you been?
What did you have, but not like so much?
What have you never had, but suspect is good from descriptions?

Help us and we'll help you.
posted by sacre_bleu at 1:42 PM on February 28, 2005

One word. Memphis.

No other BBQ in the world can compare. Your best bet is to go during Memphis in May to the World Championship Barbeque Contest.

Outside of Memphis in May, the Rendezvous dry ribs are hands down the best in the country.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 1:43 PM on February 28, 2005

Dallas is too "eastern" to have a good barbeque.
posted by Doohickie at 1:43 PM on February 28, 2005

Oh and a word of advice, never trust the Texans when they talk about good barbeque. They use BEEF for god's sake. Real barbeque is pork.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 1:46 PM on February 28, 2005

Gone, but not forgotten:

Billy's Pork Outlet in Cedar Fork, NC
Scott's BBQ in Goldsboro, NC

Best that's still up and running:

Stamey's in Greensboro, NC
Hursey's Barbecue in Burlington, NC
posted by corpse at 1:46 PM on February 28, 2005

Dinosaur BBQ, locations in Rochester, Syracuse and NYC. Their bottled sauce isn't bad, either.
posted by tommasz at 1:47 PM on February 28, 2005

Pete Jone's Skylight Inn BBQ was pretty good too, but I haven't been to Ayden in years, so I can no longer vouch for it.
posted by corpse at 1:47 PM on February 28, 2005

Wow. This question has the potential way more polarizing than any of the political stuff in the Blue.

ok, Famous Dave's sucks. Just had to get that out of the way.

In my own peronsal estimation, you're going to need to plan a trip through Eastern North Carolina, hitting places like the Skylight Inn (Ayden), Wilber's (Goldsboro), and Murray's (Raleigh). Basically look for anything with an open pit, offering chopped or pulled pork. This is the one true barbeque. You'll probably hear similar recommendations with different geographic parameters from the false prophets of Memphis, Kansas City, and Texas barbeque. My recommendation is that you follow every one of them.

Definitely post this question to chowhound, and probably egullet. Also check roadfood.
posted by casu marzu at 1:47 PM on February 28, 2005

argentina is famous for its barbecues (well, for meat in general) and is amazingly good value at the moment. i was in buenos aires a couple of weeks ago and stayed in a reasonable (nothing fancy, but clean with private bathroom) hotel for 25 dollars a night (for two people, inc breakfast). just look for "parrillada" on the menu (that'll be some kind of table-top barbecue thing, but check for "interesting" parts of the animal...).

here in santiago a good budget (for a gringo) place is chilenazo up near apumanque, and my dad loved the place (the only major restaurant in the town) in vallenar. but here is more seafood than meat. you should really try argentina (although they're not in to sweet sauces like americans seem to be - it's just meat, meat, and more meat).
posted by andrew cooke at 1:49 PM on February 28, 2005

I'm partial to the Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Lots of blues, lots of atmosphere, lots of ribs.

All of the food descriptions are written in a hilarious, over-the-top Southern voice, which is fun too.
posted by themadjuggler at 1:50 PM on February 28, 2005

If you ever want to take some detours off a long I-75 trek, east Tennessee offers some pretty damn good BBQ. There's Calhoun's in Knoxville, Sticky Fingers in Chattanooga (both known for their ribs), and there was also a legendary place called Sarge's in Knoxville, but I don't know if that's still extant. I keep meaning to take a day trip to Sticky Fingers (about 100 miles from where I live), their powdered ribs are so good--and I don't even like ribs!
posted by kimota at 1:51 PM on February 28, 2005

casu marzu has a good point. Discussions of "the best" have ruined more marriages, friendships, and caused more arguements than possibly any other topic. Their advice to try them all is spot on. I am confident you won't find anything better than Memphis though.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 1:54 PM on February 28, 2005

Shorty's is Miami is excellent. The Drumstick BarBQ in Bridgeport, CT is good, as is Duke's Smokehouse in Monroe, CT. Virgil's in NYC is good as well.
posted by jonmc at 2:01 PM on February 28, 2005

Another vote for Memphis here. The Rendez Vous is really excellent, though some BBQ snobs will tell you otherwise. Interstate is good, and so is Corky's, which is incidentally a favorite of former President Clinton.
posted by lackutrol at 2:03 PM on February 28, 2005

What style of grilled meat do you like? Dry ribs? Wet ribs? Beef brisket? Pulled pork?

There's no "best," except that my favorite style is best (isn't yours?).

For pulled pork, I'll recommend:

*Allen and Sons, north and south of Chapel Hill NC
*King's in Winston-Salem NC
*A&M in Mebane, NC, north of Chapel Hill -- best damn hush puppies ever

If you're in the Durham/Chapel Hill area, I gotta say that Bullock's is overrated. There's far better pig to be had, or just go to Elmo's in Carrboro for non-Q goodness.

For related food, the pork-chop sandwich at the Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy is fuckin-A delicious.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:03 PM on February 28, 2005

I second Dinosaur BBQ, if you happen to find yourself in upstate NY.
posted by googly at 2:06 PM on February 28, 2005

I was President of The University of Texas Barbecue Club for several years, so clearly I have the most barbecue cred here. And I have to say that Doohickie has it right, Cooper's in Llano is the best I've ever had.

Pay no heed to those pulled-pork-eating Carolina heathens. They wouldn't know good barbecue if it bit them in the pork butt.

This question is just a troll to get us arguing, right? Don't give into the troll! Agree that Brisket, Pork Sausage, and Pork Ribs are the Holy Trinity of the Barbecue and you will be Saved.
posted by grouse at 2:07 PM on February 28, 2005

Unfortunately, grouse, I have to go kosher and eat the bbq'ed turkey these days (due to my South Beach Diet).

;- (
posted by Doohickie at 2:11 PM on February 28, 2005

My house, this past weekend. A neighbor farm had freshly butchered organic pastured pork for me, so I had the pit going for several days straight. A mess of ribs on Saturday, Butt on Sunday. The bacon ought to be cured enough to go in the smokehouse next weekend.

Oh -- and everyone else above me was right. Especially casu marzu.
posted by ewagoner at 2:15 PM on February 28, 2005

I was in Memphis for 2 days a while back and ate at the Rendesvous twice. It is legendary. I heard Billy Gibbons gets his pork sandwiches at Corky's, FWIW. Memphis is the Mecca of BBQ and there's great music, too. Well worth a road trip.
posted by wsg at 2:17 PM on February 28, 2005

BBQ is such a regional, personal thing that it's pretty much impossible to say which is "best".
Generic pointers for BBQ neophytes:

"Sketchy" joints are almost always better than well-lit, suburban places.
Tradition counts, you need 30 years or so to get the process perfected.
Get the "specialty", a BBQ shack rarely does more than one or two things well.
Along the same lines, go with the suggested serving - If the meat comes with sauce by default, don't get it without, chances are rare it'll taste better your way.


But to answer your actual question, my personal favorites are:
K.C. - Arthur Bryants would win for sheer history alone, but thankfully they make a good meal. Also Oklahoma Joe's(it's in a gas station, how can you go wrong?)
Memphis - The Pig-n-Whistle. I know it's sacrilegious in some circles, but get the Idaho Pig. Also in Memphis, Gus's Fried Chicken(not truly BBQ, but damn good).
Charleston - StickyFingers, it's a chain, but it's good.
Texas - Cooper's in Llano. BBQ'd goat, anyone?
Oregon - Nothing so far, but I hear there is a place up in Portland I need to try.
posted by madajb at 2:22 PM on February 28, 2005

I second the Shorty's in Miami. My wife and I call the family platter the "Vegetarian's Worst Nightmare."
posted by icontemplate at 2:26 PM on February 28, 2005

I second the recommendation of Stamey's in Greensboro, NC. And I'll add another one, Carolina BBQ of Statesville, NC is also very very good.

Here in Atlanta, Daddy Dz is the place to eat pork (pulled and otherwise)
posted by trox at 2:29 PM on February 28, 2005

Fuck Rendezvous, if you are in Memphis go to the BBQ shop on Madison in midtown. Rendezvous is conspicuous consumption for tourists.
posted by jmgorman at 2:30 PM on February 28, 2005

I've also been to Cooper's in Llano. I agree it's good BBQ, but it wasn't the transcendent experience that it apparently is for some people. I've also been to Black's in Lockhart TX, also very good (Kreutz' is better known, though). Here in Austin, I've had the best luck at Hoover's, which A) is kind of unusual, since they don't just do BBQ; and B) is the only place in TX I've had good pork ribs--Texas BBQ is all about the beef. The Salt Lick, sad to say, is overrated.
posted by adamrice at 2:32 PM on February 28, 2005

Another shout out for the 'cue of Central Texas. You could make a whole trip out of it.

Don't miss: Kreuz Market.
posted by ColdChef at 2:33 PM on February 28, 2005

If you happen to be on the SF Bay Peninsula for any reason at all, Jimmy's Rib Shack on El Camino in San Bruno is tasty.
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:33 PM on February 28, 2005

If you should somehow find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in Boston whilst craving BBQ, you have only two choices:

1) Blue Ribbon BBQ - 'que straight from the Carolinas and DAMN good to boot (and I say this as a pure-bred Texan BBQ man)

2) The aforementioned Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth, NH. This place is so good, the gf and I would sometimes hop in the car and travel 1.5 hours one way to eat there (of course, the outlet malls across the border in Kittery, ME had something to do with it as well).
posted by thewittyname at 2:33 PM on February 28, 2005 [1 favorite]

Don't believe the naysayers: The Salt Lick is heaven. All you can eat, baby.
posted by ColdChef at 2:34 PM on February 28, 2005

Also, try Rudy's BBQ of Austin who advertises themselves as "The Worst Barbecue in Texas."
posted by ColdChef at 2:37 PM on February 28, 2005

Check out Robb Walsh's book.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:38 PM on February 28, 2005

Rendezvous is conspicuous consumption for tourists.

It ain't that conspicuous. It's downstairs underground off a little alley.
posted by wsg at 2:38 PM on February 28, 2005

Hey, now, ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.., that's an awful lot of people to insult at one time. You best not be talking so lessn' you're ten foot tall and bullet proof*.

There is some really good barbecue in Texas I like Dickey's. There are many Dickey's locations, varying in quality (due to franchising?), but the best I've had is in Grand Prairie, on Dalworth Street. Go in the daytime on a weekday, when all the factory workers are lunching there, for full local-color effect.

*Not a threat, just some colorful Texas talk for the MeFite with my favorite username ever.
posted by mds35 at 2:41 PM on February 28, 2005

All I know is that North Carolina BBQ is KING.
posted by trbrts at 2:56 PM on February 28, 2005

Gaah. Texas barbecue is heresy in the form of pork. Now, the Creole Kitchen, just across town, has a barbecue pork steak I would burn whole villages to defend! Not to mention The Pig Stand in Ville Platte, a benighted place but for that one artery-choking venue. See you there Sunday for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
posted by atchafalaya at 2:57 PM on February 28, 2005

K.C. here...

Arthur Bryant's. And Oklahoma Joe's. And LC's. And Gate's. And Jack Stack. And maybe K.C. isn't so bad after all.
posted by cosmonaught at 2:57 PM on February 28, 2005

The best bbq here in Fort Worth, in no particular order, are Railhead (near westside- the place to see & be seen), Soda Springs (west side- a nice, genuine, cowboy place), Cousin's (south side- strip-mall unpretentious but very good) & Angelo's (north side near the Stockyards- the full effect- the place looks like a barn inside and it's rumored the cowboys you see in there are real).

Outside of Texas, the best bbq I've had is Memphis. Totally different animal (literally), but a delight in its own way.
posted by Doohickie at 3:02 PM on February 28, 2005

You're in Florida? Drive up I-95 to Holly Hill, South Carolina, for a place called Sweatmann's. It's actually halfway between Eutawville and Holly Hill. It is, without question, the bestestest I've ever had.

It's mustard-based so if you tend towards vinegar or (heretic!) ketchup-based, you may have to prepare yourself mentally. But oh my God it's worth it.

Also, Texas "barbecue"? *shudder*
posted by socratic at 3:07 PM on February 28, 2005

If you happen to be on the SF Bay Peninsula for any reason at all, Jimmy's Rib Shack on El Camino in San Bruno is tasty.


Go a little bit farther south and try Uncle Frank's in East Palo Alto. Before or after your trip to Ikea, of course.
posted by padraigin at 3:22 PM on February 28, 2005

Gates. Hands down the best I've ever had, and the best thing about meeting a girl from KC!
posted by emoeby at 3:26 PM on February 28, 2005

Well a few years back I did casu marzu's trip where I hit Skyline, and Wilbur's, a bunch of Lexington places and Sweatman's in Holly Hill SC. The first group is E. North Carolina whole hog, the second group is W. North Carolina shoulder, and the last is S Carolina Whole Hog(which means a yellow mustard based sauce). All of them were awesome. Skyline was the best IMHO. I prefer the random pieces of skin and cartiledge from a whole hog to straight up shoulder. Also I prefer E. Carolina sauce. But W.Carolina Hush Puppies

Has anyone here ever had Mutton Barbeque in Kentucky? Is it similar to a Texas style brisket in terms of cooking temperature and texture? Are the big names in Texas all do-able in a day?

BTW being based in London now its sort of amusing to see my colleagues react to my obsessive behavior when it comes to barbeque. They just can't understand it at all. They can't get past their concept of grilling. Also they don't think the US has any sort of native culture beyond what they see on TV.
posted by JPD at 3:26 PM on February 28, 2005

I would even be willing to schedule a trip around a really good BBQ joint

When I was a kid, my dad took me and my mom on a barbecue safari. We drove from Georgia to Kansas, stopping at every restaurant on the way that was mentioned in his barbecue book. I think the book was called Real Barbecue, which is now out of print. While I was looking for that book online, I found the Glovebox Guide to Bar-B-Que series of books, which you might find helpful on yourr quest.

Coming from Georgia and South Carolina, I expected to hate Texas barbecue, but one of the things I miss most about Houston is Goode Company. Also unexpectedly good is The Pig, on La Brea in Los Angeles, which has pretty good brisket and pork.
posted by faustessa at 3:26 PM on February 28, 2005

"Hey, now, ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.., that's an awful lot of people to insult at one time. You best not be talking so lessn' you're ten foot tall and bullet proof*."

Check and check.

And madajb, hopefully your Portland recommedation was Cannon's Rib Express on NE 33rd. Pretty good for Portland...
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 3:30 PM on February 28, 2005

When I lived in Denver, it was Bennett's Bar-B-Que.
When I lived in Toronto, it was Dipamo's.

Both are infinitely awesome sources of smoked sweet meats. How I miss them dearly...
posted by myopicman at 3:36 PM on February 28, 2005

Everytime I visit the folks back home (in Champaign, IL), the first place I stop off at once I get off the highway is Lil' Porgy's. Their sauce is the best I've ever tasted.
posted by gyc at 3:38 PM on February 28, 2005

ooOOoo - LOW's BBQ at the Portland Farmer's Market, actually.
I hadn't heard about Cannon's yet.
That's another for the "When I get up to Portland" list, thanks.
posted by madajb at 3:39 PM on February 28, 2005

K.C. - Arthur Bryants would win for sheer history alone, but thankfully they make a good meal.

I second that notion. Arthur Bryants in Kansas City is by far the best BBQ I've ever had. It's like they put some kind of special potion in that sauce... my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

And you can't go wrong if you're taking a barbecue mission to Kansas City. That's my favorite, but pretty much every BBQ joint in that town knows what they're doing. And they excel at it.
posted by aGreatNotion at 3:44 PM on February 28, 2005

If you're ever in Richmond, Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue is, hands down, the best I've ever had. Pork, beef or bison.

A rack of bison ribs is a beautiful thing to behold. My bandmates have a yearly tradition around Christmastime of playing a show and then treating ourselves the next night to a colossal barbecue blowout at Buz and Ned's with ribs, brisket, sandwiches, cornbread, macaroni and cheese... If I write anymore, I'll have to go there for dinner tonight.

Second place goes to Extra Billy's (not much of a web site, but here's the menu.)

To polarize things further: Cole slaw on the side or on the sandwich?
posted by emelenjr at 3:45 PM on February 28, 2005

Well, now, I suggested that you follow the recommendations from the other churches here, but I see I need to correct myself.

If yer gone to make a trip somewhere, you best be ignorin any of them suggestions north of the Mason-Dixon line. Rochester, NY? Connect-icut? I mean, I'm shore they're nice enough for Yankee places and all, but... shoot. Why bother? You can't make good barbeque without a big ol pit or smokehouse. That's why most of the best places are basically just tilt-up highwayside shacks. I can't even see where the pit is in the pitchers of that there Dinosaur New York City place. That just ain't right.

Also, JPD's right about the goodness of the skin in the barbeque. That's the great joy of a pig-pickin right there.
posted by casu marzu at 3:46 PM on February 28, 2005

If you happen to be on the SF Bay Peninsula for any reason at all, Jimmy's Rib Shack on El Camino in San Bruno is tasty.
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:33 PM PST

Go a little bit farther south and try Uncle Frank's in East Palo Alto. Before or after your trip to Ikea, of course.
posted by padraigin at 3:22 PM PST

Then cross the Bay Bridge and try Bo's Barbecue in Lafayette. Good eats.
p.s. Thanks for the tips, you two!
posted by DakotaPaul at 4:25 PM on February 28, 2005

Back to Central Texas, the home of all that is good in barbecue: I like Smitty's even better than Kreuz, although they are run by estranged members of the same family. Salt Lick is not worth the drive. I think all-you-can-eat is a gimmick--when you buy by the pound you can get exactly as much as you need to eat.

If you like ribs than go to Ben's in Austin.
posted by grouse at 4:41 PM on February 28, 2005

If you should somehow find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in Boston whilst craving BBQ, you have only two choices:

The first part of that sentence is true, but the second part is wrong, you obviously never have been to Jakes.

And while we're on the New England tip- there is great BBQ at Curtis' in Putney, Vermont.
posted by jeremias at 4:53 PM on February 28, 2005

For some reason the url for Curtis' didn't work in that last post.
http://www.callalillie.com/archives/2003/06/all_hail_curtis.html
posted by jeremias at 4:56 PM on February 28, 2005

Dreamland ribs. They're amazing. And, you can order the sauce online, too.

This is mostly for pork ribs, none of them big beefy ribs they eat in Texas. The sauce is a tomato-vinegar base and good on chicken, too.

I've eaten a fair amount of ribs in my day and these are the guys I always get my sauce from when I make 'em myself.

If you insist on fixins (other than beer and white bread), I recommend sweet tea, corn on the cob, some potato salad (use some mustard!), baked beans, cornbread, macaroni n cheese.
posted by jimray at 5:24 PM on February 28, 2005

Well, Stubbs has passed away so I don't know if the BBQ place in Lubbock is still there or any good anymore - used to be great. I agree with Grouse, brisket, sausage & ribs are the Holy Trinity. There's some mighty good BBQ in Elgin, TX outside of Austin (can't remeber the name of the place. Back east, moving on on the line off I-75 in North Georgia, stop on by Twelve Oaks BBQ on Hwy. 71 north of Dalton, GA. Man, you'll be glad you did - the ribs are the very LAST word.
posted by Pressed Rat at 5:48 PM on February 28, 2005

A third for the dry ribs at Corky's in Memphis.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 5:56 PM on February 28, 2005

Another vote for Stamey's in Greensboro, NC.
posted by MLIS at 6:08 PM on February 28, 2005

If you're in North Florida, Bono's in the St. Augustine area is great.

But without a doubt the best barbecue I've ever eaten has consistently been the Twix 'n Tween in Centreville, Alabama. Un-fucking-stoppable.
posted by saladin at 6:36 PM on February 28, 2005

I have to say getting BBQ from somewhere other than a place in the South is kind of like seeing the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall - ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.
However, if you find yourself in Portland, skip Cannon's (so so sauce and skimpy sides) and head over to Russell St BBQ at the corner of Russell and MLK. (Insert Chris Rock joke about MLK Blvd here.) Most if not all of the meats are organic (I can hear the howls now, thank you) and terrific, the Derby Sauce is the best I have had outside of Kentucky, the sides are excellent, and the owners are fantastic, even if they are from Texas. Pig baby, pig all the way.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 6:37 PM on February 28, 2005

Another vote for the Rendezvous and really anything in Memphis except for Corky's (sauce is too much like ketchup). Cozy Corner is also very good.
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:12 PM on February 28, 2005

Maurice's in Columbia, SC is run by a dirty redneck racist, but his brother runs a joint in Charleston called Robert's Barbeque and it's pretty damn good stuff. The onion rings there are also a must have.
posted by chiababe at 7:35 PM on February 28, 2005

Well, I've had BBQ all over this fine country, and the best I've ever had was right here at home in Georgia. Dunwoody, Ga. to be precise. The Old Hickory House is about 50 years old and even though a wealthy suburb has grown up around it, they still keep it real. They hickory smoke all the meat on-site, unlike most of your chain BBQ joints. Their sauce is divine. It's sweeter, with hints of citrus. Their brunswick stew is the best I've ever had and their squash souffle is superb. I'm drooling on my keyboard now. If you're ever in Atlanta, you must make a pilgrimage to this house of divine Southern eatin'.
posted by TheGoldenOne at 8:24 PM on February 28, 2005

I would be betraying my homeland if I didn't stop to mention Santa Maria style BBQ. Of course, everyone else will tell you it's grilled meat and not actual barbecue, but they all stop quibbling over semantics when the plate's in front of them. Beef tritip, rubbed with salt, pepper & garlic and slowly grilled over red oak (specifically, quercus chrysolepis) and basted in lager. Always served with fresh salsa, garlic bread made with soft Italian-style loaves, green salad, and our local pinquito beans. Available in every city park in every town on the south central coast every sunny weekend day, but nowhere outside of the area and not in any restaurant I've ever heard of. Look for a dually towing a BBQ trailer or follow the plume of smoke.
posted by cali at 10:04 PM on February 28, 2005

I second jimray's recommendation for Dreamland BBQ. Either Birmingham, AL or the original in Tuscaloosa, AL.
posted by aquitone at 1:54 AM on March 1, 2005

Back to Carolina...Parker's, in Greenville, NC, and I've heard raves about Smithfield's Chicken & BBQ, with locations in Smithfield and Raleigh, I believe. Haven't had it myself. I have two local Hursey's and still think Parker's is better.
posted by allpaws at 9:07 AM on March 1, 2005

If you should somehow find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in Boston whilst craving BBQ, you have only two choices:

That's a damned lie.

Plus, you left out the best one: Redbone's, Somerville MA.
posted by sacre_bleu at 11:47 AM on March 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

Virgil's in NYC is good as well.

Late to the thread, but I'd have to disagree. Virgil's is acceptable at best. I still haven't found good barbecue in NYC, and that includes trips to Biscuit in Park Slope, Virgil's, and Dallas. Still need to go to Blue Smoke and the NYC Dinosaur BBQ. (I've enjoyed the Syracuse Dinosaur location, though.)

Second the recommendations for the mighty Allen & Son in Chapel Hill...OMG is this some celestial 'cue, and well worth a trip. The other truly incredible place (journey-worthy) in Eastern NC is Mitchell's in Wilson. Honorable mentions go to the Skylight Inn in Ayden, and Murray's in Raleigh. Stamey's in Greensboro is damn fine as well. The definitive Lexington barbecue is of course Lexington #1 (aka "Monk's") in Lexington.

Daddy D'z is by far the best barbecue in Atlanta.

Best Texas 'cue I've found is City Market in Luling. (Home of the "Watermelon Thump"! One year I got to see the crowning of the Watermelon Thump Queen.)

And, as others have noted, places in "sketchy" neighborhoods are preferred. A prominently displayed flyswatter within easy reach is an excellent sign.

Oh, and KC barbecue is good, too, but I haven't done any field research myself. South Carolina barbecue, the mustard-based stuff, is an abomination unto God.
posted by Vidiot at 8:31 AM on March 3, 2005