# Ribs: Beef, pork, or lamb?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [October 23, 2025, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211 "2025-10-23T05:40:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/21 "2025-10-24T15:25:17Z")
There’s nothing quite as a satisfying as a beef dino rib; done right it’s a true masterpiece and more than a meal. That being said, taking into account cost, effort, time commitment and crowd pleasing factors, I voted for pork.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/22 "2025-10-24T15:53:30Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#):
>
> There’s nothing quite as a satisfying as a beef dino rib; done right it’s a true masterpiece and more than a meal
Yeah totally, this. It’s just not typically done that well. If I go to a random BBQ place that has beef ribs I’ll stick with pork ribs, unless I know they can cook beef ribs well, just because you can’t go too far wrong with them.
But still definitely beef is my choice.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/23 "2025-10-24T17:12:02Z")
My go to would be buffalo ribs, especially as they are hard to find so I would need a genie.
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/24 "2025-10-24T17:44:15Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever had really _great_ beef ribs, but I’ve had some great pork ribs. Have to go with pork.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/25 "2025-10-24T18:22:50Z")
Yeah. Beef ribs are blah & fatty; very fatty.
OTOH, as Emeril says
> [@Emeril LaGasse](#):
>
> Pork fat rules!
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/26 "2025-10-24T18:27:25Z")
As a kid, I _loved_ the fat on pork chops. A little rich for me these days, but I have fond memories.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/27 "2025-10-24T18:37:25Z")
Yeah. Nowadays when it comes to pork fat, a little dab’ll do ya’ 😉
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/28 "2025-10-24T21:37:17Z")
Don’t like lamb. Beef ribs are ok but pork ribs are the best.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/29 "2025-10-25T04:38:30Z")
Beef by far. I won’t eat lamb in any fashion and I find most pork ribs to be too much work for too little meat. But prime rib, short ribs etc. are right in my wheelhouse.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/30 "2025-10-25T05:09:36Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> Fortunately for you, the evil genie is going to overlook your impertinence and clarify that they are only referring to traditional BBQ style ribs.
In that case, pork back ribs for sure. On the barbie!
But if I’m allowed to cheat just a little, I’ve had some fantastic meat pies made from beef short ribs, which are also good in many other dishes.
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### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/31 "2025-10-25T06:48:11Z")
If it’s traditional BBQ style ribs, then pork for sure. Mmm!
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### Author:  [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/32 "2025-10-25T07:10:01Z")
Easy choice. I’ll miss my occasional dino rib, because it’ll be pork ribs all the way.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/33 "2025-10-25T13:21:33Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> Fortunately for you, the evil genie is going to overlook your impertinence and clarify that they are only referring to traditional BBQ style ribs.
Oh, i missed this. I originally voted lamb, thinking the rib eye was included (so, rack of lamb, lamb rib chops, both of which i eat regularly) and i wrestled with a choice between rib eye steak and rack of lamb.
But if it’s just bbq ribs … That’s something i eat rarely. Maybe once a year. I sometimes make stewed beef short ribs. If those are excluded, too, then i guess it’s pork. Babyback ribs can be a nice option. But if the decidedly not bbq short ribs count, then it’s beef.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/34 "2025-10-25T13:22:20Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> But prime rib,
I think that’s excluded, and you can still eat that.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/35 "2025-10-25T14:07:56Z")
Wouldn’t change my answer any. I never order BBQ pork ribs. Besides my previous objections, I also wear a Van Dyke, which makes ribs, watermelon etc. problematic sans garden hose.
Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/36 "2025-10-25T18:18:01Z")
I voted for pork, since that’s what is usually available, but when I used to go to a BBQ place near the Austin convention center I always got their amazing beef ribs, better than any pork ones I’ve ever had. But I don’t even know where to get some around here.
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### Author:  [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/37 "2025-10-25T18:41:43Z")
Was it Iron Works? It’s good stuff. Austin is known for its brisket and beef ribs.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/38 "2025-10-25T21:20:33Z")
The other day, a Genie offered me a rib meal. I said, “Beef or Pork?”. Genie says, “Lamb!” I says, “Lamb?” (Hee hee hee)
“I’ll go _Hungry!_ Bow Bow Bow!”
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/39 "2025-10-26T00:51:28Z")
> [@Voyager](#):
>
> I used to go to a BBQ place near the Austin convention center I always got their amazing beef ribs, better than any pork ones I’ve ever had
Similarly for the spot next to where I used to live in Riverdale Park Maryland. Texas 2-50 BBQ. One of the few places I’ve had that does beef ribs _just_ right. I live further away now but always pop by when I’m that side of town.
Without falling for the true Scotsman fallacy, I’d wager all the people who consider beef ribs inferior have never had a really good beef rib
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211/40 "2025-10-26T06:02:45Z")
That’s the one. I always forget whether it was Iron Works or Iron Pit. I never forgot how to get to it.
I’ve been to a couple of County Lines, but Iron Works was much better.
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