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This Is the Best Barbecue Joint in Every U.S. State

Published: Jul 27, 2018 3 min read
(clockwise from top left) Matt's BBQ, Meat Boss; Follow Yer Nose Smoke Shack; Revenge BBQ;
(clockwise from top left) Matt's BBQ, Meat Boss; Follow Yer Nose Smoke Shack; Revenge BBQ;
(clockwise from top left) courtesy of Matt's BBQ; courtesy of Meat Boss; courtesy of Follow Yer Nose Smoke Shack; courtesy of Revenge BBQ

Beef or pork? Wet or dry? Vinegar- or tomato-based sauce? No matter the particular debate, barbecue riles up Americans like no other food.

Different American regions created their own flavors and specialties over the years. North Carolina boasts the "Lexington Style" — pork shoulder slathered in a tomato-based sauce — while South Carolina uses mustard-based sauces for the whole hog. Central Texas gives you slow-cooked brisket, while Kansas City will deliver the cut's burnt ends. And Brooklyn, well, offers something entirely different.

To toss a little salt in the fire, Money partnered with Yelp to find the best-loved barbecue joint in every state. All the businesses on this list are in the "BBQ" category on Yelp, and "Best" is measured using an algorithm that looks at the number of reviews and star rating for a business.

Here is the best place to get barbecue in every state.

Meat Boss
Waitr Inc.

Alabama: Meat Boss

Mobile

Alaska: Firehouse BBQ

Soldotna

Arizona: Little Miss BBQ

Phoenix

Wright’s BBQ
courtesy of Wright's BBQ

Arkansas: Wright's Barbecue

Johnson

California: Prunedale Market

Salinas

Colorado: Brad's Pit BBQ

Littleton

Connecticut: The Pig Rig BBQ

Wallingford

Delaware: Russell's Quality Food

Wilmington

Florida: Hate Mondays Tavern

Miami

Georgia: Jim's Smokin Que

Blairsville

Sunset Smokehouse
Photograph by Thomas Obungen—Frolic Hawaii

Hawaii: Sunset Smokehouse

Wahiawa

Idaho: Lunch Box Deli & BBQ

Lewiston

Illinois: Chicago Culinary Kitchen

Palatine

Indiana: Hank's Smoked Briskets

Indianapolis

Flying Mango
courtesy of Flying Mango

Iowa: Flying Mango

Des Moines

Joe's Kansas City BBQ
courtesy of Joe's Kansas City BBQ

Kansas: Joe's Kansas City BBQ

Kansas City

Kentucky: Pollo Bandido

Frankfort

Chopped Brisket Loaded Potato, Cou-yon¹s Cajun Bar-B-Q
David Gallent

Louisiana: Cou-yon's

Port Allen

Maine: Smokey B's Gin Mill

Ogunquit

Maryland: Pioneer Pit Beef

Windsor Mill

Massachusetts: Pruller Restaurant

Marlborough

Michigan: Great Lakes Sandwich Co & Cafe

Flint

Minnesota: FireBox Deli

Minneapolis

Mississippi: Bully's Restaurant

Jackson

Scott’s Kitchen
courtesy of Scott's Kitchen

Missouri: Scott's Kitchen

Kansas City

Follow Yer Nose Smoke Shack
Cole Henson

Montana: Follow Yer' Nose BBQ

Emigrant

Smokin Stan’s BBQ
courtesy of Smokin Stan's BBQ

Nebraska: Smokin Stan's BBQ

Norfolk

Nevada: Sparks and Smoke BBQ

Reno

New Hampshire: Smokeshow Barbeque

Concord

Welcome to the South BBQ
courtesy of Welcome to the South

New Jersey: Welcome to the South BBQ

Pleasantville

New Mexico: Watson's BBQ

Tucumcari

Ribs at Revenge BBQ
courtesy of Revenge BBQ

New York: Revenge BBQ

Irvington

Ribs and Brisket Combo, Haywood Smokehouse
courtesy of Haywood Smokehouse

North Carolina: Haywood Smokehouse

Dillsboro

North Dakota: Taylor Made BBQ

Mandan

Midwest BBQ & Creamery
courtesy of Midwest BBQ & Creamery

Ohio: Midwest Best BBQ & Creamery

Camp Dennison

Rustler’s BBQ
courtesy of Rustler's BBQ

Oklahoma: Rustlers BBQ

Henryetta

Oregon: Matt's BBQ

Portland

Jesse Barbecue & Local Market
courtesy of Jesse Barbecue & Local Market

Pennsylvania: Jesse's Barbecue & Local Market

Souderton

Rhode Island: Binge BBQ

Newport

South Carolina: JK's House of Ribs

Manning

Brisket Sandwich, Dakota BBQ
courtesy of Dakota BBQ

South Dakota: Dakota BBQ

Custer

Tennessee: Delauder's BBQ

Gatlinburg

Kat’s BBQ
Zion Worldwide

Texas: Kat's Barbecue

Santa Fe

Utah: Idk Barbecue

Tropic

Vermont: Black Diamond Barbeque

Morrisville

Virginia: Sam's Texas Sub Shop

Norfolk

Country Boy’s Southern Style BBQ
courtesy of Country Boy's Southern Style BBQ

Washington: Country Boy's BBQ

Cashmere

West Virginia: Dem 2 Brothers & a Grill

Charleston

Wisconsin: Ono Kine Grindz

Wauwatosa

Wyoming: Fat Racks BBQ

Cody