# Top 10 BBQ joints in the US. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864 "2013-09-14T20:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![catnoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@catnoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catnoe)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/21 "2013-09-15T05:25:27Z")
Haven’t looked at the list, did Rendezvous in Memphis make it? The ribs there are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/22 "2013-09-15T05:35:02Z")
They are absolutely out of their f&^&ng mind. Two from California? Really? Because when I think of great BBQ, I think, "California." None from the Carolinas or Tennessee? Go F&k yourself. Seriously. I make no claims as to the merits of W. Carolinas BBQ, E. Carolinas, Memphis, or K.C.-style—I rely on all of you to tell me the good spots there—but [Franklin Barbecue](http://franklinbarbecue.com/) is the best Texas-style BBQ in Texas and it’s not even close. Though I love Smittys, Kreuz, and Pierson’s. Luling City is good, but the above are better. Really, if you’ve a hankering for Texas BBQ, you could do worse than follow [Full Custom Gospel’s](http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/) BBQ recommendations. I have not been to Cooper’s, but I have heard (from Chowhound and others) that they’ve lost a few MPH from their fastball. I need to go find out for myself though. Just atrocious. What, would the travel budget not cover going to N. Carolina or Tennessee? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/23 "2013-09-15T07:37:03Z")
> [@catnoe](#): > > Haven’t looked at the list, did Rendezvous in Memphis make it? The ribs there are amazing. Rendezvous ribs are great. They list Full Moon BBQ in Hoover, AL. Full Moon is good but this isn’t the original location. The original is on 25th St. S. in Birmingham. The best BBQ in Alabama (or anywhere in my opinion) is Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur, AL. The chicken with white BBQ sauce is incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/24 "2013-09-15T12:24:00Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I make no claims as to the merits of W. Carolinas BBQ, E. Carolinas, Memphis, or K.C.-style—I rely on all of you to tell me the good spots there—but [Franklin Barbecue](http://franklinbarbecue.com/) is the best Texas-style BBQ in Texas and it’s not even close. Though I love Smittys, Kreuz, and Pierson’s. Luling City is good, but the above are better. Really, if you’ve a hankering for Texas BBQ, you could do worse than follow [Full Custom Gospel’s](http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/) BBQ recommendations. I have not been to Cooper’s, but I have heard (from Chowhound and others) that they’ve lost a few MPH from their fastball. I need to go find out for myself though. My personal favorite is [Goode Company](http://www.goodecompany.com/) in Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/25 "2013-09-15T12:34:27Z")
This is weird… not too long ago Fox released a completely different list of Top 10 BBQ Joints that included a place I’ve been to, that was in fact very good. But it isn’t on this list. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/26 "2013-09-15T13:16:15Z")
The best ribs I’ve ever eaten came from The Cozy Corner in Memphis, TN. One bite and I knew I’d never be able to make ribs that good at home. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/27 "2013-09-15T13:19:04Z")
The place they listed in Atlanta isn’t even in the top ten Atlanta BBQ joints. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/28 "2013-09-15T13:52:51Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > This is weird… not too long ago Fox released a completely different list of Top 10 BBQ Joints that included a place I’ve been to, that was in fact very good. But it isn’t on this list. You know what Fox is good at? Generating page hits. If I’m them, I just concoct an inane, vaguely controversial top 10 list every couple of months. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/29 "2013-09-15T14:14:37Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The best ribs I’ve ever eaten came from The Cozy Corner in Memphis, TN. One bite and I knew I’d never be able to make ribs that good at home. Those are probably my favorite ribs I’ve ever had so far, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/30 "2013-09-15T15:02:02Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Those are probably my favorite ribs I’ve ever had so far, too. I’ve been to the Commissary (current favorite), and Rendezvous (close second) in Memphis. Looks like I’ve got another trip to make. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/31 "2013-09-15T15:09:57Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’ve been to the Commissary (current favorite), and Rendezvous (close second) in Memphis. Looks like I’ve got another trip to make. Commissary is awesome, too. The best BBQ I’ve ever had, though, is the barbecue sandwich/pulled pork at Morris Grocery in Eads, TN. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/32 "2013-09-15T15:15:09Z")
There is one note about Cozy Corner: they’re completely charcoal fired, no fresh wood, at least last time I was there a few years ago. So they have more of a grill smokiness to the flavor (like Rendezvous) as opposed to a deep woody smokiness. The Cozy Corner is the reason I make a slight exception to my barbecue “rules”: it used to be that it must have wood, but now, for me, as long as its slow cooked over something that at least once was wood, I’m fine with it. There’s a couple joints I’ve encountered like that. In general, though, I prefer at least some wood in the fire. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/33 "2013-09-15T15:16:07Z")
Some of the best BBQ I’ve had came from this restaurant in Marion, IL, of all places, called the [17th Street BBQ](http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com/Home.aspx). The food was excellent… and no surprise as the owner, Mike Mills, was apparently a 3-time Grand World Champion at the [Memphis in May BBQ Championship](http://www.memphisinmay.org/worldchampionshipbbqcontest) cookoff. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/34 "2013-09-17T02:25:24Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Some of the best BBQ I’ve had came from this restaurant in Marion, IL, of all places, called the [17th Street BBQ](http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com/Home.aspx). The food was excellent… and no surprise as the owner, Mike Mills, was apparently a 3-time Grand World Champion at the [Memphis in May BBQ Championship](http://www.memphisinmay.org/worldchampionshipbbqcontest) cookoff. 17th Street is good, I have been to the original in Murphysboro IL and the store in O’Fallon/Fairview Heights IL. Good BBQ but their side are lacking. Best I ever had was Slicks BBQ in Muskogee OK. Took two tries, they were closed to "Go Fishin’ " the first time; I was served by Alonzo “Slick” Smith himself (1986). Served on an orange cafateria tray lined with wax paper, like BBQ oughtta be served. And yes, for the record the DO smoke marijuana in Muskogee! List doubly fails without Pappy’s in St Louis! Lets just agree that the list FAILS in general…NYC??? SF??? BBQ on White China…gasp. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/35 "2013-09-17T03:15:57Z")
Ohh the irony… they’re a red state network… yet they ignore the red states… and go with NYC?? Hahaahhahhaha!!! Comical… also… Jackstack is superior to Gates and Bryant’s… Bryant’s has been a reputation joint for a while imo… ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/36 "2013-09-17T03:43:24Z")
NO BBQ from Texas? You’ve GOT to be fuckin kidding me. Everybody knows [Frankin’s](http://eater.com/archives/2013/05/16/texas-monthly-names-franklin-barbecue-the-best-in-texas.php) is the best BBQ in [Del]Texas[/del] the world. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/37 "2013-09-17T10:40:51Z")
**Linus** , I thought the City Market, in Luling, was ranked #2… ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/38 "2013-09-17T10:55:01Z")
Chicagojeff writes: \> Ohh the irony… they’re a red state network… yet they ignore the red states… \> and go with NYC?? LinusK writes: \> NO BBQ from Texas? Read the link. One restaurant from New York, one from Ohio, one from Maryland, one from Illinois, two from California, so it was six from blue states. One from Alabama, one from Texas, one from Missouri, one from Georgia, so it was four from red states. And note that they said that the list was in no particular order, so the fact that the first one is in New York means nothing. Top 10 lists in general are a waste of time. This is especially true when you’re talking about something like barbeque restaurants. There are thousands of them in the U.S. There are dozens of slightly different traditions of how barbeque should be cooked, each of which has devoted followers that insist that other styles are hopelessly wrong. This list sound like it was created by someone asking their friend who travels a lot in his job what the best barbeque restaurants he’s eaten at are, and the friend proceeds to name ten off the top of his head. Even if there were some agreement on what the best barbeque is (and there isn’t) and even if someone spent their entire life visiting barbeque restaurants, they wouldn’t be able to say which was the best. And, for all we know, the restaurants mentioned might have paid Fox for putting them on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/39 "2013-09-17T11:29:31Z")
While I love bashing Fox as much as the next godless un-American liberal, I have to note they didn’t create this list. They just bought it to provide content on their website. The list is credited to [Gayot.com](http://Gayot.com), a restaurant review site. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864/40 "2013-09-17T12:14:21Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > Not wanting to hijack the Fox bashing, but when you guys think of NC BBQ, what do you think of? > > I live in Lexington, the “BBQ capital of the world.” but I honestly and truly think its dogshit and enjoy some east coast BBQ so much more. I think Lexington is an excellent product, better than you’ll get almost anywhere else, but eastern whole hog is the pinnacle of pulled pork. I’ve never had anything that compares. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-bbq-joints-in-the-us/668864.md?page=3)