It would be a tall task to find a barbecue style that the entire United States agreed on as the “best.” Pork or beef? Sauce or dry rub? Tangy or sweet? The list of questions one has to go through just to land on a consensus of what barbecue actually is in a particular region goes on, and a road trip through the barbecue belt gives just a taste of how different people in each state (or even each town in some cases) prefer their grilled, smoked, and slow-cooked meats.
Photo: Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock
A New Study Tried to Narrow Down the Best Barbecue Cities in the United States
That has never stopped people from trying to rank which barbecue city is the best, however. The blog Cookie Rookie analyzed some key metrics to rank the best barbecue cities in the US. Here’s how the ranking played out, as well as some of the highest-rated restaurants in the top three cities according to customer reviews. The ranking is, predictably, much different than the many (many) other best barbecue cities lists out there.
Photo: The Cookie Rookie
Three main metrics were considered: weather conditions (to identify regions with climates conducive to outdoor grilling), the number of barbecue restaurants per capita, and public interest in the barbecue of each city based on Google search data. Texas cities took the top three spots — perhaps unsurprisingly considering the state’s well-regarded and plentiful barbecue history.
Austin took the top spot. The city’s combination of favorable weather, a high concentration of barbecue establishments, the large number of restaurants with more than four stars, and significant public interest in barbecue contributed to its overall score of 8.04 out of 10.
Photo: The Cookie Rookie
Fort Worth (with a score of 7.91) came in second. The city’s barbecue scene is strongly intertwined with its history as a cattle-driving hub. Much like Austin, the barbecue joints in Fort Worth range from no-frills, family-owned establishments to upscale restaurants offering a more refined dining experience. Cookie Rookie’s study claims there are five barbecue restaurants per 100,000 residents, and over two-thirds have a rating of four stars or above.
Another Texas powerhouse just next door, Dallas, took a close third with 7.49 points. There’s certainly plenty to choose from here, with a reported seven barbecue spots per 100,000 people in one of the most populated cities in America.
It’s not until fourth place when the top 10 leaves Texas for Missouri — but it didn’t go to the barbecue haven of Kansas City. St. Louis landed a score of 7.47 in large part thanks to a whopping 20 barbecue restaurants per 100,000. Nashville took fifth, followed by Arlington, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; Columbia, South Carolina; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Surprisingly, nowhere in North Carolina made the list despite the state having two well-loved and distinct barbecue styles.
To help you find the best barbecue in the top three cities — Austin, Fort Worth, and Dallas — Matador raked through Yelp and Google Maps to pull up the places with the highest customer ratings. The top-rated spots were determined by adding five-star ratings from each platform into a total score. To ensure reliability, only establishments with at least 250 reviews were considered. Customer reviews are, of course, subjective, but in Texas, where there’s so much good barbecue to choose from, this is an excellent place to start when planning where to eat.
Austin, Texas
Brown’s Bar-B-Que
Rating: 9.4 (4.8 Google Maps, 4.6 Yelp)
Brown’s Bar-B-Que is a beloved Austin institution parked next to the Corner Bar on South Lamar. It’s renowned for its fall-off-the-bone ribs, flavorful pulled pork, brisket sandwich, addictive jalapeño sausage, and creamy macaroni and cheese.
Brown’s Bar-B-Que: 1901 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704, United States
Rollin Smoke BBQ
Rating: 9.2 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.6 Yelp)
Rollin’ Smoke BBQ food truck uses the highest-quality oak and pecan to smoke its highly regarded brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, handmade jalapeño cheddar pork and spicy beef sausage. Head there on Friday for mouthwatering pork ribs and Saturday for the legendary dinosaur-sized beef ribs.
Rollin Smoke BBQ: 1108 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Franklin Barbecue
Photo: Franklin Barbecue/Facebook
Rating: 9.2 (4.7 Google Maps, 4.5 Yelp)
Founded by Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue has become synonymous with the highest standards of barbecue. Lines start early for brisket, slaw, and creamy potato salad.
Franklin Barbecue: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Fort Worth, Texas
Goldee’s BBQ
Rating: 9.3 (4.7 Google Maps, 4.6 Yelp)
Goldee’s BBQ’s focus is unwavering: meat and sausages (particularly the jalapeño hottie), simply and perfectly executed. The brisket is the star, its melt-in-your-mouth tender with a deep, smoky flavor. It’s so good many patrons on Yelp claim it needs no sauce.
Goldee’s BBQ: 4645 Dick Price Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76140, United States
Brix Barbecue
Photo: Brix Barbecue/Facebook
Rating: 9.3 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.7 Yelp)
Brix Barbecue has evolved from a humble food truck to a thriving brick-and-mortar establishment. Founded by Trevor Sales, the restaurant is named after his beloved rescue dog and embodies his passion for Texas-style barbecue. Brix is renowned for its tender, smoky brisket, prepared with a focus on simplicity that allows the meat’s natural flavors to shine. The menu also offers a variety of other smoked meats, including juicy pulled pork and flavorful ribs.
Goldee’s BBQ: 1012 S Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76104, United States
Bullfrog Grill
Rating: 9.2 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.5 Yelp)
Bullfrog Grill is a Fort Worth barbecue joint that offers a classic, no-frills dining experience. Known for its down-home atmosphere and hearty portions, the restaurant has garnered a loyal following.
Bullfrog Grill: 6700 Azle Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76135, United States
Dallas, Texas
Strouderosa BBQ
Photo: Strouderosa BBQ/Facebook
Starting as a home-based operation focusing on meal pickups and deliveries, Strouderosa BBQ’s overwhelming demand led to the opening of a restaurant in Lake Highlands. The restaurant’s signature dish is the mountain of brisket nachos, a towering creation piled high with juicy brisket, three-cheese queso, pickled jalapeños, onions, and pico, all drizzled with a homemade jalapeño barbecue sauce.
Rating: 9.6 (4.8 Google Maps, 4.8 Yelp)
Strouderosa BBQ: 9090 Skillman St Suite 174a, Dallas, TX 75243, United States
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Rating: 9.2 (4.7 Google Maps, 4.5 Yelp)
Known for its rich family history in barbecue, this restaurant carries the torch of tradition while offering a modern dining experience. The Dallas location mirrors the Austin flagship’s commitment to quality, with slow-smoked meats taking center stage. It has a lively atmosphere, combining Southern hospitality’s warmth with the energy of Dallas.
Terry Black’s Barbecue: 3025 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que
Rating: 8.9 (4.5 Google Maps, 4.4 Yelp)
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que is a Dallas institution dating back to 1976. It’s known for its traditional hickory-smoked barbecue. The menu offers a variety of smoked meats, including tender brisket, juicy pulled pork, and flavorful ribs. 
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que: 1820 W Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75235, United States