8 Best BBQ Joints in America, According to Guy Fieri

Guy Fieri has made his way across the country Diners, Drive-Ins and DivesTry everything from… Lobster cheesecake To Neapolitan pizza. But his true passion has to be barbecue: he’s got his first smoker Age 12He was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2012, and also operates a number of barbecue restaurants.

Along the way, discover some of America’s best barbecue joints, featuring classic dishes like Texas brisket and Memphis ribs, as well as innovative creations like duck BLT if smoked ribs and pulled pork. Sandwiches Whatever you’re craving, this list of Fieri-certified barbecue restaurants across America is the ultimate guide.

1. Pecan Lodge – Dallas, Texas
2. Fox Bros. Bar-BQ – Atlanta, Georgia
3. Louie Mueller BBQ – Taylor, Texas
4. Honky Tonk BBQ (Chicago, IL)
5. Southern Soul BBQ – St. Simons Island, Georgia
6. Grand Ole Barbecue & BBQ – San Diego, CA
7. One90 Smoked Meats – Dallas, Texas
8. Local BBQ Location – Wilmington, Delaware

Pecan Lodge – Dallas, Texas

Fieri loves this barbecue restaurant so much that he featured it in not just one, but two episodes Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He first stopped by in 2012, when it was still a small booth at the Dallas Farmers Market, and returned more than a decade later after owners Justin and Diane Forton opened shop. Bricks and mortar in Deep Ellum in 2014. While the smoked brisket is a standout, Fieri also raves about the slow-smoked pork sandwich. Crowd favorites include pork and beef ribs and the “Hot Mess”: barbacoa-stuffed sweet potatoes loaded with cheese, chipotle cream and butter.

Fox Bros. Bar-BQ – Atlanta, Georgia

Fox Bros. Presents Bar-BQ is a delicious taste of Texas in Atlanta, where twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox smoke brisket and pork by the tons every week. He pushed Fieri Various visits Immediately Diners, Drive-Ins and Divesand digs into Fox Bros. The indulgent “Burger,” a hickory-smoked brisket patty topped with pimento cheese, pickled bacon, and all the fixings. For the full experience, there’s also the aptly named Everything Platter, piled high with the brothers’ slow-smoked signature dishes.

Louie Mueller BBQ – Taylor, Texas

Brisket isSerious work” at this Texas barbecue institution — so much so that Fieri sets aside his usual preference for pork in favor of juicy, pepper-crusted beef. Founded in 1949, the restaurant feels like a Texas time capsule, from its smoke-stained walls to the same classic recipes cooked by three generations of Muellers. Today, the founder’s grandson runs the pit, braising meats in the dark of the night for hours of slow-smoking. The result: tender beef ribs, brisket, and Hot dogs that local Texans line up around the block.

Honky Tonk BBQ (Chicago, IL)

You don’t have to head south to attend award-winning barbecue. This Chicago joint — now known as The Tonk — specializes in Memphis style braidwhich Fieri took during his visit in 2009. He stacked his plate high on the restaurant’s plate. The famous baconalthough the menu also features beef tips, ribs, and three signature sauces to top it off. Founder Willie Wagner started his smoke show on the road before opening the brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2007, bringing authentic Memphis barbecue to the Windy City.

Southern Soul BBQ – St. Simons Island, Georgia

What could get better than a barbecue on the beach? On St. Simons Island, Georgia, Southern Soul Barbeque serves slow-smoked sweet ribs from a converted 1950s gas station. Each shelf is topped with brown sugar and Tupelo honey, creating a sweet, sticky glaze that balances the deep, woody smoke of the pit. Fieri has also sampled pulled pork — and even his signature pastrami sandwich — during his tenure Visit 2010.

Grand Ole Barbecue & BBQ – San Diego, CA

Texas-style barbecue meets California comfort food at Grand Ole BBQ y Asado. Fieri named the place “Off the hook“After trying the massive El Borracho beef ribs, topped with house-made queso and pickled red onions — and it’s easy to see why. In 2015, former rock band tour manager Andy Harris teamed up with chef Amy Cisneros to bring authentic central Texas barbecue to San Diego, and it quickly became a smoked meat staple. The restaurant also shines with smoked brisket and tender pork slow-cooked over oak. Mesquite pits for added depth of flavor.

One90 Smoked Meats – Dallas, Texas

It’s no secret that Texas is a hotspot for barbecue, and Fieri has tried his fair share in the Lone Star State. One of his top stops at Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is One90 Smoked Meats, a small artisan meat shop located on Northwest Highway in East Dallas. Chef Kyle St. Clair opened in 2015 and serves Fieri food Brisket very tender “You don’t even need a knife, you can cut that with a bad look,” he joked. Brisket shines on the Spicy Brisket Sandwich, piled on a brioche bun with toasted poblano and smoked cheddar. One90 also offers innovative takes on classic sandwiches, such as the DLT, which is a duck twist on the traditional BLT, along with other smoked specialties.

Local BBQ Location – Wilmington, Delaware

From pickles to pork butt, a Delaware barbecue restaurant has turned a small idea into a smoky sensation. Chef Daniel Sheridan, who ran Wilmington Pickling Company, teamed up with fellow food lovers Mike Galluccio and Justin Mason to open Locale BBQ Post in 2015. Diners, Drive-Ins and Divesfamous sampling Smoked chicken salad sandwich And everything is delicious Chili – and his choice of chicken salad over ribs or brisket says it all. All meats are slow smoked over cherry wood, giving them a sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with pickles. Today, the restaurant continues to draw crowds for its smoky barbecue and innovative local flavors.