# Best BBQ in all 50 states. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726 "2015-05-10T21:41:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/41 "2015-05-11T22:14:52Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Squealer’s is good in Indiana, but I think there are some better Mom and Pop joints. King’s comes to mind. Squealer’s actually comes in and caters at my work every other week. They are good but stingy on their sauce. I’m partial to Squealers in Indy - I haven’t had any better in the area. And being stingy on sauce may be to their benefit - their sauce isn’t all that great. Could be a toss-up with GT South’s, though they’re not jumping off the plate either. (I noticed the other day they have an old Indy Star review up in their lobby where they clearly redacted some less-than-complimentary clause in the headline. Would have been something like “Great Ribs, Not-so-great Sides”, since they lambast the sides later in the article. Funny.) Edit: I just remembered Hank’s Smoked Brisket. I take everything above back - Hank’s is the best BBQ in the state. > [@RetroVertigo](#): > > AB’s is alright but I’d no where near the best in Missouri. Pappy’s BBQ is the best in the state. Never been to Pappy’s. I’ll try to give it a shot next time I float through St. Louis, but it’s hard to believe a St. Louis place serving up Memphis-style is going to rank above Bryant’s, Jack’s Stack, LC’s, Heywards or BB’s. > [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I lived for 11 years in Kansas City, Missouri and my personal favorite BBQ all those years was **Smokestack’s**. I’d always thought that Arthur Bryant’s just rode on their national reputation and PR and was never quite as good as Smokestack’s. Gates is the one I’ve noticed in a severe decline. My last two trips to Bryants in the last year, I haven’t noticed anything. You really need to stay away from their burnt ends though - they’re awful. And with ends getting so much more attention lately, I bet more people are ordering them there, resulting in more poor reviews. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Per consensus! I hadn’t heard they were going downhill. My personal favorite is Jack Stack, and though it be legendary, I have no use for Gates. Joe’s is plenty good. I finally managed to make it to Joe’s on a Monday last year, as I’m rarely in town during the week. You can only get burnt ends there Monday and Saturday for lunch - and they’ve always been sold out on the Saturdays I’ve been. They were the greatest pieces of meat I’ve ever eaten, period. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/42 "2015-05-11T22:31:11Z")
I haven’t been to Becky’s in Middletown so I can’t comment on the rating, but the ‘bar’ in barbecue is set pretty low in this state. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/43 "2015-05-12T01:04:21Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Let’s not forget the argument over whole-hog vs. shoulder, either. 😉 > > As **samclem** mentioned, no BBQ list is complete without a mention of Allen & Son - it’s pretty consistently considered the best in the state. Our local [Hillsborough BBQ Company](http://hillsboroughbbq.com/) has been doing a mighty fine version of traditional Q as well, and the sides are the best I’ve had at any of these places, by quite a margin. I’ve seen Allen & Son mentioned a few times in these sorts of threads, often enough to make me curious. Where are they? ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/44 "2015-05-12T15:24:56Z")
IANOE on barbeque…nor have I sampled nearly enough as I would like, but the family did stop at FL’s top pick, [Four Rivers Smokehouse](https://4rsmokehouse.com/) after it came up via Yelp while roadtripping. It was extremely good, considering the place had as much of a "Chipotle"vibe as a 'que restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/45 "2015-05-12T16:14:38Z")
Any North Carolina list that leaves off [Bridges BBQ Lodge](http://www.bridgesbbq.com/) in Shelby is a sham of a list. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/46 "2015-05-13T02:24:31Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’ve seen Allen & Son mentioned a few times in these sorts of threads, often enough to make me curious. Where are they? Technically Chapel Hill, but they’re really north of the town, about 2 miles north of exit 266 off I-40. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/47 "2015-05-13T10:00:52Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Never been to Pappy’s. I’ll try to give it a shot next time I float through St. Louis, but it’s hard to believe a St. Louis place serving up Memphis-style is going to rank above Bryant’s, Jack’s Stack, LC’s, Heywards or BB’s. > > Gates is the one I’ve noticed in a severe decline. My last two trips to Bryants in the last year, I haven’t noticed anything. You really need to stay away from their burnt ends though - they’re awful. And with ends getting so much more attention lately, I bet more people are ordering them there, resulting in more poor reviews. When you go to Pappy’s, get there early in the day. Or more accurately, ‘not late’ in the day. They always run out of burnt ends late in the day, and when they’re out for the day, they’re out for the day. I think they usually have enough to carry them through the lunch rush. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/48 "2015-05-14T04:31:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Is Dixie’s in Bellevue not up to its old standard? I heard Mr. Porter passed away some time ago. I have never eaten at Dixie’s but pass by daily. It’s only about 2 miles away from my house. I should rectify that. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/49 "2015-05-14T11:38:47Z")
I think it’s safe to say that Maryland is known for steamed crabs, not BBQ, so it’s no surprise to me that I never heard of the place they claimed is the state’s best. I do know that the BBQ place in my county that all the locals rave about pretty much wallows in mediocrity. The only thing I miss about living in Florida was being a mile away from Woody’s BBQ. You can have the rest of the state, but Woody’s smoked turkey was paradise on a plate. Pardon me while I sob to myself… ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/50 "2015-05-14T11:46:51Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Their choice for Mass–The Pit Stop–is good but not the best (plus it’s only open three nights a week). For me Blue Ribbon BBQ is easily the best. Where is Blue Ribbon BBQ? I haven’t had luck with places in MA. I’ve been to Salvage BBQ (Portland, ME) and really liked it, despite the incongruity of a BBQ place having vegan collard greens. I miss the places I’d go in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, the really good one is now closed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726/51 "2015-05-15T22:18:38Z")
Blue Ribbon in West Newton and Arlington: [http://blueribbonbbq.com/](http://blueribbonbbq.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bbq-in-all-50-states/719726.md?page=2)