Barbecue (BBQ) is a culinary art with distinct regional styles across the United States. The best barbecue cities are known for their signature sauces, rubs, meats, and cooking methods that reflect local cultures and traditions. This article explores some of the top contenders for the title of best BBQ city in America.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is arguably the barbecue capital of the world. KC-style barbecue focuses on slow-smoked meats lightly coated with tomato-and molasses-based sauces. The city is famous for burnt ends – the smoky, fatty trimmed pieces of brisket. Ribs and pulled pork also feature prominently on Kansas City BBQ menus.
The top BBQ joints in KC include Arthur Bryant’s, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, LC’s Bar-B-Q, Gates Bar-B-Q, Jack Stack Barbecue, and Q39. These restaurants smoke meats over hickory wood for hours to get that signature KC flavor. Side dishes include baked beans, coleslaw, and french fries.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis barbecue distinguishes itself with its dry rubs and focus on pork – especially ribs. BBQ pork ribs are seasoned with a dry rub heavy on spices like paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and brown sugar before being slow-cooked until tender. Chopped pork shoulder also appears in sandwiches or baked beans.
Famous Memphis barbecue restaurants include Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, Central BBQ, Payne’s Bar-B-Que, Cozy Corner, Rendezvous, and The Bar-B-Q Shop. Memphians take pride in theirfall-off-the-bone ribs.
Austin, Texas
Austin is home to Texas-style barbecue that highlights prime cuts of smoked beef brisket. The brisket has a pink smoke ring on the edges from hours in the smoker. It is served in moist, thick slices or choppes into lean pieces for sandwiches. Popular local barbecue joints include Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ, Micklethwait Craft Meats, and Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ.
Besides brisket, Austin BBQ menus also feature ribs,sausage, turkey, and sides like coleslaw, beans, and potato salad. The barbecue sauce is tomato-based and strongly seasoned with chili powder and cumin.
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington-style “Lexington Q” revolves around pork shoulder barbecue. Pork shoulders are slow-smoked over hardwood coals and then pulled or chopped into strands. It’s served as a sandwich with red slaw on a plain white bun. Vinegary peppery barbecue sauce is typically served on the side.
Legendary Lexington barbecue restaurants include Lexington Barbecue, Stamey’s, Moonlite, and Jimmy’s BBQ. The whole pork shoulder is also used for smoked pork chops and hush puppies. Lexington barbecue reflects influences from nearby Appalachian and Piedmont regions.
Charleston, South Carolina
In Charleston, mustard-based barbecue sauces reign supreme. The yellow sauces get their tang from generous amounts of prepared yellow mustard. They coat pulled pork sandwiches served on soft buns. Brisket, chicken, ribs, and smoked turkey may also appear with a mustard sauce glaze or drizzle.
Well-known barbecue establishments in Charleston include Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Lewis Barbecue, Swig & Swine, Home Team BBQ, and Melvin’s Legendary Bar-B-Q. Side dishes range from mac & cheese to collard greens and potato salad. The Charleston pitmasters excel at smoking meats low and slow.
Santa Maria, California
The Santa Maria style of California barbecue focuses on tri-tip – a small triangular cut of bottom sirloin. The tri-tip gets a rub of salt, pepper, and garlic before hitting the grill over red oak coals. It’s cooked over direct heat and served thinly sliced. Typical sides include pinquito beans, salsa, green salad, and grilled French bread.
Local favorites for Santa Maria-style BBQ include The Hitching Post and Jocko’s Steak House. The overall flavor profile is more savory and herbaceous compared to sweet, tomato-based sauces in other barbecue regions. Grilling over the red oak coals also gives the meat a smoky perfume.
Regional Nuances and New Trends
While Kansas City, Memphis, Texas, and the Carolinas remain iconic barbecue meccas, new hotspots keep emerging. Cities like Nashville, St. Louis, and Louisville are gaining recognition for creative regional twists. Korean BBQ to Brazilian churrasco influences also contribute to America’s evolving barbecue scene.
Competition between longtime joints and contemporary newcomers constantly raises the bar for the best BBQ. Cook-offs, festivals, and TV shows further fuel people’s passion and appetite for great barbecue. That appetite will ensure barbecue’s rightful place in American culinary traditions. No definitive list can ever rank all the country’s top barbecue cities – the joy lies in savoring their delicious differences. After sampling them all, where people find the best barbecue usually boils down to where their tastes and loyalties lie.
Frequently Asked Questions About America’s Best BBQ Cities
What makes a city a good barbecue city?
A great barbecue city has a distinct regional style, a critical mass of acclaimed barbecue restaurants, and a community of skilled pitmasters dedicated to perfecting their craft. Barbecue is deeply woven into the local food culture.
Which U.S. region has the best barbecue?
It’s impossible to crown one region as having the best barbecue. The different barbecue styles – Texas, Memphis, Kansas City, Carolina – all have their own strengths and specialties. Personal tastes determine favorites.
What are the different regional barbecue styles?
Kansas City highlights sauced ribs, pulled pork and burnt ends. Memphis focuses on pork – especially ribs. Texas barbecue spotlights beef brisket. Carolina barbecue divides between eastern (whole hog, mustard sauce) and western/Piedmont (pulled pork, tomato-based sauce).
What are the most popular meats for American barbecue?
The most popular meats are pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, and hot links (sausages). Regional specialties include tri-tip steak in California and mutton in Kentucky.
What are classic barbecue side dishes?
Classic sides include cornbread, collard greens, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac & cheese, french fries, and vinegar-based slaw. Regional sides like hush puppies and pinquito beans also appear.
How important are barbecue sauces?
Sauces define many regional styles. Kansas City and Carolina are known for sauced meats. But dry spice rubs take the lead in Memphis, while Texas brisket relies on smoke. Mustard or vinegar sauces also characterize some Carolina barbecue.
Conclusion
Barbecue continues evolving as an American culinary tradition. While old establishments in Kansas City, Memphis, Texas, and the Carolinas still reign supreme, newcomers in Nashville, Atlanta and beyond keep pushing boundaries. Competition and innovation ensure barbecue lovers always have new styles to savor. There may never be consensus on which city has the single best BBQ. But that variety makes touring America’s barbecue hotspots an endless feast.