The debate over who has the best barbecue is a sticky subject for aficionados across the country.
While Kansas City locals swear by their sweet, tangy glazes, Texans prefer their sauce on the side and Memphians will eat their ribs "wet" or "dry," so long as they're pork. On Gayot.com's list of the Top 10 Barbecue Restaurants in the U.S., you'll find BBQ prepared in a plethora of ways.
Whether you prefer wet or dry, pulled pork or beef brisket, be sure to bring your appetite — these barbecue joints are serious when it comes to smoked meat.
1. Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Kansas City, MO
(Gayot.com)
Pit-masters pile wood-smoked meats onto slices of white bread painted with sauce at Arthur Bryant's Barbeque in Kansas City.
2. Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Long Beach, CA
(iStock)
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach serves up rare craft beers, haute bar food and gourmet barbecue. Baby-back ribs and beef short ribs are just sticky enough and not too sweet, while pulled pork and smoked chicken are moist and tender.
3. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur, AL
(Gayot.com)
In 1925, Bob Gibson nailed oak planks to a large sycamore in his backyard and started cooking barbecue. Now, the fourth generation of the family continues delighting diners at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur.
4. Chicago q, Chicago, IL
(Gayot.com)
Chicago q merges upscale with down-home. Get the ribs (available in St. Louis-style tipless or baby-back varietals). Kobe beef brisket and pulled pork arrive sauce-less, allowing you to bask in their smoky glory.
5. Everett & Jones Barbeque, Oakland, CA
(Gayot.com)
Everett & Jones Barbeque's signature Super-Que barbecue sauce is in such high demand that the restaurant bottles it for retail and online purchasing. Brisket is the specialty here, but you can’t go wrong with a slab of ribs.
6. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, GA
(Gayot.com)
Atlanta's Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q hits high marks in all genres of barbecue. With a moderately spicy rub, the meaty, smoked ribs have the proper slightly pink color at the bone — the so-called "smoke ring" — that proves they were cooked over wood.
7. Franklin Barbecue, Austin, TX
(Gayot.com)
At Franklin Barbecue, brisket is slow-cooked even by slow-cooked standards for a full eighteen hours at a very low temperature. The result is a generous smoke ring and seemingly impossible tenderness. Come early, as you'll definitely encounter a line.
8. Hill Country, Washington, DC
Washington, DC, USA - March 11, 2011: Hill Country Barbeque and Market restaurant opening night. Photo by Ian Wagreich / © iwphoto.com (Gayot.com)
A major pig-out awaits at DC's Hill Country. Fill up on flavorful ribs, a selection of sides to keep your barbecued meats company, and ultra-creamy banana pudding.
9. Mighty Quinn’s, New York, NY
(Gayot.com)
New York's East Village barbecue joint Mighty Quinn's offers succulent, tender pulled pork and juicy, fatty pork ribs. There are the usual sides done right, our favorite being the burnt end baked beans.
10. The Rendezvous, Memphis, TN
(Gayot.com)
The Rendezvous in Memphis is best known for its pork ribs, both wet (with sauce) or dry (rubbed with dry spices). The restaurant's special seasoning and sauces can also be purchased online.
More from Gayot.com
More Information with Ratings for the Top 10 Barbecue Restaurants in the U.S.
Find the Best Barbecue Restaurants Near You
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