5 editor-picked american bbq restaurants across 3 cities.
A guide to american bbq restaurants worth a trip, by city. We list operators, signature dishes, and the rooms locals book first.
Home Team BBQ in Charleston runs pulled pork, wings and brisket from a Williman Street smokehouse since 2006. Casual sit-down room with cocktails and a heavy frozen-drink menu.
Signature: Pulled pork, Smoked wings with Alabama white sauce
Order: The pulled pork plate with two sides, plus a half-pound of smoked wings.
Tip: Open until midnight; full menu late. Live music nights draw a crowd.
Edley's 12 South barbecue counter in Nashville smokes pork shoulder over hickory and serves the city's reliable BBQ-and-beer lunch since 2011.
Signature: Pulled pork sandwich, Tuck Special
Order: The Tuck Special: smoked brisket with pimento cheese and bacon on Texas toast.
Tip: Late-night kitchen runs Friday and Saturday until 22:00; patio gets the runoff from 12 South strolling.
Carey Bringle's Gleaves Street BBQ joint in The Gulch, Nashville smokes Memphis-style dry-rub ribs since 2013. Family-owned, catering-strong, taproom-tight.
Signature: Dry-rub ribs, Pulled pork plate
Order: Half rack of dry-rub ribs, smoked beans, banana pudding.
Tip: Lines build by 12:00; come at 11:00 for an easy table. Bourbon list is unusually deep for a BBQ joint.
Phil's BBQ in San Diego is the Sports Arena Boulevard barbecue counter, a Texas-leaning shop with mesquite-smoked beef ribs, pulled pork and the famous onion ring tower since 1998.
Signature: Beef ribs, Pulled pork sandwich, Onion ring tower
Order: The Mr. Pig sandwich and a half-rack of beef ribs; the onion ring tower for the table.
Tip: Take-out from the side window has a shorter line; full table service runs the indoor dining room.
Phil's BBQ in San Diego is the Sports Arena Boulevard BBQ counter, a mesquite-smoked Texas-leaning shop with beef ribs, pulled pork and the onion-ring tower since 1998.
Signature: Beef ribs, Pulled pork (Mr. Pig) sandwich, Onion ring tower
Order: The Mr. Pig sandwich and a half-rack of beef ribs; the onion-ring tower for sharing.
Tip: Take-out from the side window has a shorter line; full table service runs the indoor dining room.
More cities are in research. Want american bbq covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.