The 100 Best BBQ Smokehouses in the US

A cafeteria-style barbecue counter in LaFayette, Georgia, where the owner slices brisket as customers move down the line. Brisket, sausage and smoked chicken lead the menu, with Brunswick stew, cheesy grits and banana pudding on the sides.

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A mountaintop barbecue restaurant in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, at about 8,600 feet, served cafeteria style. Brisket, dino beef ribs and green chile sausage lead the meats, with cornbread and sour cream potato salad on the sides.

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A barbecue restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, where lines form well before the 11 a.m. opening. The menu includes brisket, beef ribs, lamb ribs, Lao sausage and banana pudding.

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A Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. Brisket and beef ribs are sold by the pound, and the line moves quickly.

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A barbecue smokehouse in Austin, Texas, where meat is cut to order and sold by the pound. Sliced brisket, pork ribs and turkey make up the core menu, and the line forms hours before the 11am opening.

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A barbecue restaurant in Dillard, Georgia. Beef cheeks, brisket and smoked turkey are the main meats, with a sauce bar and pimento cheese grits on the side.

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A barbecue restaurant in an old house in Waynesville, North Carolina, with a second location in Dillsboro. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork and turkey are the main meats, with burnt-end baked beans, collards and mac and cheese on the side.

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A family-run smokehouse in Waco, Texas, with a small dining room. Smoked cabbage, sweet potato cornbread and smoked mac and cheese set it apart.

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A smokehouse in Branson West, Missouri, with a small indoor dining room and a patio. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork are the main meats, with corn casserole, pit beans and key lime pie among the sides and desserts.

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Restaurant near the Red River Gorge in Campton, Kentucky, serving smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork. A bar beside the dining room serves cocktails while diners wait for a table, and the menu includes pork belly kabobs and broccoli salad.

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A barbecue restaurant in Dillsboro, North Carolina, serving smoked meats, collard greens and mac and cheese. Smoked brisket is the main meat, and banana pudding and peach cobbler are the desserts.

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A barbecue stand in Wellston, Oklahoma, serves smoked brisket, ribs and burnt ends from a short menu. The Meat Locker platter combines every meat, and the stand closes when it sells out.

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A family-owned barbecue restaurant in downtown Wylie, Texas, Linke's BBQ also takes catering orders. Brisket, pork ribs and German sausage are the main meats, with potato casserole, mac and cheese and peach cobbler as sides and dessert.

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A barbecue restaurant in Concord, New Hampshire, that started as a food truck and moved to a Loudon Road location. Brisket, burnt ends and sides sell out, and the line forms before opening.

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A counter-service smokehouse in St. Louis, with a dining room that fills at lunch and dinner. Memphis-style ribs, brisket, burnt ends and smoked turkey make up the meat menu, with fried corn and baked beans as sides.

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A barbecue counter in a food truck pod in Rexburg, Idaho, with covered outdoor seating and an indoor dining area. Brisket, pulled pork and boneless pork ribs are the main meats, with cornbread, chili and mac and cheese as sides.

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Barbecue restaurant in Farmers Branch, Texas, serving Wagyu brisket, beef ribs and house sausage. The menu rotates specials such as pastrami brisket.

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A barbecue counter in Seguin, Texas, where the line forms before opening and the meat is sold by the pound. Brisket, pork ribs, sausage and burnt ends sit alongside street corn pudding and bacon ranch potatoes.

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Barbecue pit in Lexington, Texas, open on Saturdays only, serving brisket, pork steak, chicken and sausage. A line forms before dawn, and food is served from 8 am.

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A family-run barbecue spot in Montgomery, Texas, where the Abercrombie family runs the counter and the smoker. Brisket, pork ribs, turkey and jalapeño cheese sausage are the main meats, with cheesy tater casserole and honey butter cornbread as sides.

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A counter-service barbecue restaurant in Great Falls, Montana, with a range of house sauces. Brisket, smoked turkey and pork belly burnt ends are the main meats, with pork belly mac and cheese on the side.

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A barbecue restaurant in Old Town Spring, Texas, serving brisket, jalapeño cheese sausage and pork ribs, with peach and apple cobbler for dessert.

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A counter-service smokehouse in Anderson, South Carolina, serving brisket, ribs, turkey and pulled pork by the plate. Sides such as sweet potato crunch, brisket chili and cheesy hash brown casserole are made in house.

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Barbecue restaurant in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, serving smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs and turkey. Original and mustard sauces are served with the meat, and banana pudding is on the dessert list.

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Smokehouse in Sevierville, Tennessee, that moved from Gatlinburg into an old gas station building. Pulled pork, brisket, ribs and pork belly are on the menu, with a smoked fried mac and cheese side.

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An outdoor barbecue stand near Interstate 75 in Wildwood, Florida, with ordering at a window and outdoor tables. Ribs, brisket and pulled pork are the main meats, with collard greens, baked beans and fried fish on the menu.

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A Texas-style barbecue restaurant in West Tampa, Florida, with kiosk ordering and indoor and outdoor seating. The brisket is Akaushi wagyu, smoked in-house and sold until it runs out.

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A Texas-style barbecue operation in Cary, North Carolina, with a food truck and picnic tables on a farm. Brisket, pulled pork and beef ribs are the main meats, with smoked mac and cheese, baked beans and pickles on the side.

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A barbecue restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, housed in a former fire station. Brisket, burnt ends and smoked sausage make up the core menu, and the meat runs out before closing.

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A barbecue restaurant near the Alamodome in San Antonio that pairs Texas brisket and ribs with Mexican-inspired sides and sausage. Queues form before opening, and all seating is outdoors.

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Barbecue counter in Phoenix, Arizona, serving smoked brisket, pulled pork, sausage and burnt ends. Jalapeño cheddar grits and smoked pecan pie are on the regular menu.

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A cafeteria-style barbecue restaurant in Houston where customers order at a counter, pay by weight, and sit at shared tables. The beef ribs and brisket run out early, and the line often lasts 45 minutes to an hour.

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A barbecue restaurant in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, with indoor and outdoor seating. Brisket, sausage and ribs are sold by the pound and served on paper on a tray.

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A barbecue restaurant in London, Kentucky, that serves brisket, turkey, pulled pork and a brisket meatloaf, with a house sauce called Mama's. Counter staff offer meat samples, and waffle fries, baked beans and potato salad come as sides.

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A barbecue restaurant in downtown Nacogdoches, Texas. Brisket, Dino beef ribs and jalapeño cream corn are the core items, and the counter sells out early on busy days.

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Barbecue restaurant in Englewood, Florida, serving brisket, ribs and pulled pork for dine-in, takeout and catering. The owner comes out to greet diners, and the menu includes cornbread, collard greens and key lime pie.

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A barbecue joint in the Texas Hill Country, a drive from San Antonio, with a counter menu and indoor and outdoor tables. Moist brisket, burnt ends and jalapeño sausage lead the menu, with truffle fries and mac and cheese on the side.

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A food trailer with a built-in smoker in an industrial area of San Antonio, Texas, serving a four-meat plate of brisket, ribs, sausage and chicken. Sides are cream corn, potato salad, green beans and baked beans.

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A Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, with a cocktail bar and an outdoor patio. Meat is sold by the pound, and beef ribs, brisket and sausage form the core of the menu.

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Barbecue counter in Sanborn, New York, beside a gas station, serving brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sandwiches. The menu includes candied bacon, a habanero sauce and mac and cheese.

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A barbecue counter in Lynchburg, Virginia, with outdoor picnic tables and a few seats indoors. Brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey and mac and cheese are the main orders, and the baked beans have meat in them.

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A Texas-style barbecue counter in St. George, Utah, with Mexican dishes such as tacos and esquites on the menu. Brisket, turkey and pastrami are the main meats, and the daily specials change from day to day.

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A barbecue restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky, that moved a few blocks from its original site into a larger building with outdoor seating. Brisket, sausage and pulled pork are the main meats, and the counter often sells out by mid-afternoon.

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Smokehouse in Aledo, Texas, serving brisket, pork ribs and turkey from a counter menu that also includes burgers and kolaches. The house sausages include a jalapeno havarti link, and the sides include frito pie beans and street corn.

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Barbecue restaurant in San Juan, Texas, serving oak-smoked meats on butcher paper through a cafeteria-style line. The menu rotates by season and includes jicama coleslaw and beet salad.

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Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Kimberly, Wisconsin, serving brisket, ribs, pulled pork and yardbird chicken. Smoked cheesecake, pecan pie and deviled egg tater salad are also on the menu.

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A Tampa barbecue restaurant known for its walk-in sampler and Cuban sandwich, run by a family that also caters. The brisket, pork ribs and jalapeño cheddar sausage come on the walk-in sampler, and popular items sell out.

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A halal barbecue restaurant in the Dallas-Fort Worth area serves brisket, beef ribs and turkey. Its menu also covers mac and cheese, street corn and water ice.

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A counter-service barbecue restaurant in Johnson, Arkansas,. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork are the main meats, served with deviled egg potato salad, smoked beans and collard greens.

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A roadside barbecue counter just outside Brenham, Texas, on the route between Houston and Austin, with a small indoor room. Brisket, pork ribs and jalapeño cheddar sausage are the main meats, with Brussels sprouts, tater tot casserole and corn pudding as sides.

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A family-run barbecue restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri, with a small dining room. Dry-rubbed ribs finished with apple butter and house-made smoked salami set it apart.

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A barbecue and grill restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a counter menu of smoked meat plates, nachos and loaded potatoes. Ribs, brisket and pulled pork are served with fried okra and mac and cheese, with smoked peach cobbler for dessert.

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Barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas, serving brisket, beef short rib and peach tea glazed pork belly. The menu also includes lamb and Polish sausage, with sides such as creamed corn and scalloped potatoes.

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A Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Colorado Springs, open Thursday to Sunday. Moist brisket, the beef dino rib and the Texas Twinkie, a bacon-wrapped jalapeno stuffed with cheese, set it apart.

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A smokehouse in Buffalo, New York, cooks brisket, ribs and pulled pork over cherrywood. Customers are often offered samples before they order, and the shop is mostly takeout.

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A family-owned smokehouse in Sandpoint, Idaho, Smokesmith Bar-B-Que also has a bar with live music. Angus brisket, pulled pork and German sausage are the main meats, with mac and cheese, cornbread and house sauces on the side.

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Smokehouse in Summerset, South Dakota, near Rapid City, serving brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs and turkey. Potato salad, smokehouse beans and coleslaw are offered as sides.

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A locally owned barbecue restaurant in a strip mall in Orlando, Florida, with counter ordering and a small dining room. Brisket, ribs and smoked chicken are the main meats, and the staff explain the menu to first-time visitors.

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A Liberty Hill, Texas barbecue restaurant with a backyard patio where live music plays on weekends. The menu covers brisket in lean and moist cuts, turkey, sausage and ribs, with potato salad, pinto beans and creamy cucumbers on the side.

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A barbecue restaurant in the Kansas City metro serves smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs, with ooey gooey butter cake for dessert. Sauces are made in-house, including a spicy version.

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Barbecue restaurant in Frisco, Texas, serving brisket, rib tips and fried catfish, with catering for parties and events. The owner comes out to greet diners, and the menu includes smoked bologna and fried okra.

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A roadhouse-style smokehouse on the west side of Tallahassee, Florida, near I-10, with a stage for live music. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken make up the meat menu, with catfish, fried okra and cheese grits as sides.

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A sit-down barbecue restaurant in Texarkana, on the Texas and Arkansas state line, with a piano and a bar. Brisket, house sausage and pork ribs are the main meats, and the sides include twice baked potatoes and adult mac and cheese.

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A barbecue restaurant in Oklahoma City that smokes Texas-style brisket, ribs and turkey, with specials on set days. Brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage and burnt ends lead the meats, with Brussels sprouts, mac and cheese and fried okra on the sides.

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A barbecue kitchen in Galveston, Texas, serving smoked meat plates and sandwiches at a counter. Brisket, sausage, smoked turkey and beef ribs lead the menu, with banana pudding and dirty rice among the sides.

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A Puerto Rican-influenced barbecue restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, serving meat by the half pound from a counter line. Beef cheeks, barbacoa and brisket are the main meats, with Puerto Rican beans, collard greens and mac and cheese as sides.

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A family-run smokehouse in the Pigeon Forge and Sevierville area of Tennessee, with a dining room that hosts church services on Wednesdays and Sundays. Burnt ends, ribs and brisket are the main meats, served with homemade sauces in three styles.

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A pit barbecue restaurant in Miramar Beach, Florida, with lakeside terrace seating and a gluten-free menu, desserts included. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork and chicken are the main meats, served with baked potato casserole, green chile creamed corn and grits.

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A barbecue counter in West Yellowstone, Montana, sells brisket, ribs, pulled pork and turkey by the pound. Brisket is cut to order, lean or fatty, and the loaded baked potato is a popular side.

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A St. Louis-style barbecue smokehouse in Belleville, Illinois, where guests order at the counter. Pork steak, brisket and ribs lead the menu, with candied bacon mac and cheese and brussels sprouts with pork belly on the sides.

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A barbecue restaurant in Manalapan, New Jersey, serving smoked brisket and pulled pork with house-made sauces and pickles. Alabama white sauce wings and burnt-end baked beans set it apart, and catering is offered for groups.

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A Texas-style smokehouse in Riverdale, Maryland, with a second site on K Street in Washington. The menu centers on Wagyu and prime brisket and the Dino beef rib, and the counter sells out of brisket on busy days.

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A halal barbecue restaurant in Irving, Texas, smokes Wagyu brisket, Dino ribs and Iraqi sausage. Sides include tallow fries, jalapeño cornbread and cardamom banana pudding, and meat is sold by the half pound.

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A Texas-style smokehouse in Cocoa Village, Florida, Crydermans Barbecue serves meat by the pound and platters through a counter order line. Brisket, smoked turkey and ribs are the main meats, with mac and cheese and baked beans as sides.

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Barbecue restaurant in Lockhart, Texas, serving brisket, sausage and beef rib cut to order. It is the original location, established in 1932 and family-owned.

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A Texas-style barbecue counter in Nashville serves smoked brisket, beef ribs and turkey. Queso mac and cheese, slaw and a house barbecue sauce sit alongside the meats.

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A barbecue restaurant in a Toms River, New Jersey strip mall that started as a food truck. The menu is built on smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs, with brisket and ribeye cheesesteaks and a Carolina Gold sauce.

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A takeout-focused barbecue counter in a strip mall in Titusville, Florida, with a few tables inside. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs and peach habanero burnt ends are the main meats, with tater tot casserole and jalapeño cornbread on the side.

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A barbecue and burger restaurant in Kansas City's Columbus Park neighborhood, in an old brick building. The menu covers burnt ends, pulled pork, brisket and smoked jalapeño sausage, with corn soufflé and mac and cheese as sides.

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A barbecue restaurant in Newark, Texas, in the Fort Worth area, with brisket plates, smash burgers and fries. Brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage and pork belly burnt ends lead the meats, with fries cooked in beef tallow.

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A barbecue restaurant on FM 407 in Argyle, Texas, with indoor seating and a covered porch. Brisket, pulled pork and jalapeño cheddar sausage are the main meats, with fried okra, Brussels sprouts and mac and cheese as sides.

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A cafeteria-style barbecue counter in Amarillo, Texas, with brisket, sausage and pork ribs served by the plate. Jalapeño cream corn, potato salad and pinto beans are the main sides, and beef ribs often run out.

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A counter-service barbecue restaurant in Kingwood, Texas, serving brisket (lean, moist or mixed), ribs, sausage and tri-tip. Sides include beef tallow fries, dirty rice and mac and cheese, and the specials vary by day.

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Barbecue counter inside a working gas station in Kansas City. The Z-Man brisket sandwich, burnt ends and ribs make up the core menu, with onion rings and fries on the side.

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A barbecue counter inside a gas station in Benson, North Carolina, with a dining room and a drive-thru window. Brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey and burnt ends are the main meats, with collard greens and jalapeño mac and cheese as sides.

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A counter-service barbecue restaurant on the Kansas side of Kansas City, with picnic tables outside and a menu of ribs, burnt ends and brisket. Potato casserole, mac and cheese and cheesy corn are the usual sides, with sweet and spicy sauce on the table.

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A barbecue restaurant in Portland, Oregon, with a small indoor dining room and covered picnic tables outside. Brisket, pulled pork and burnt ends are the main meats, and rotating specials such as beef ribs and prime rib change through the week.

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A food cart in Portland, Oregon, smokes brisket, pork ribs and turkey. Its self-serve sauces include peach mustard and cherry chipotle.

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A smokehouse in Soulard, St. Louis, serves ribs, tri-tip, pastrami and burnt ends by the plate and sandwich. Several house barbecue sauces sit on each table, and items often sell out before closing.

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A window-service barbecue counter in a caboose in East Dundee, Illinois, beside the Prairie Trail bike path. Brisket, pulled pork, rib tips and Mississippi sausage are the main meats, with baked beans and mac and cheese on the side.

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Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Johnson City, Tennessee, serving smoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage. The menu adds wood-fired pizza, smash burgers and blackberry cobbler.

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A barbecue restaurant in Byfield, Massachusetts, with brisket, ribs and pulled pork on the menu and specials on a board. Smoked wings, pork belly and brisket nachos sit alongside cornbread with honey butter, mac and cheese and collard greens.

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Smokehouse in Lizton, Indiana, a short drive off Interstate 74, with a small dining room and takeout. Smoked brisket, ribs and chicken come with mac and cheese, greens and cheese grits.

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A Vicksburg, Mississippi barbecue restaurant with picnic-style seating and an order counter up a ramp. Brisket, smoked turkey and pulled pork are the main meats, and staff offer samples before guests order.

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A smokehouse in Springdale, outside Pittsburgh, with a small dining room and a counter for takeout orders. Brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey and beef ribs are the main meats, with honey cornbread and mac and cheese on the side.

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A barbecue restaurant with a bar in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri, Q39 serves smoked meats, wings and burgers. Burnt ends, ribs and chipotle chicken wings are the main dishes, with mac and cheese and cucumber salad as sides.

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Counter-service barbecue in St. Augustine, Florida, built on brisket and St. Louis-style ribs. Datil pepper sauce and a Carolina vinegar sauce are on the table, and the menu includes a datil brisket bowl.

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A Greenville, South Carolina smokehouse on Pelham Road. The menu covers brisket, ribs and pulled pork with three house sauces and sides such as sweet potato crunch and baked beans, and the brisket often sells out early.

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Barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas, serving brisket, pork ribs and turkey with house sausage. Free beer comes with the meal, and online pre-orders go to a separate pickup line.

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A barbecue counter in San Antonio, Texas, serving smoked brisket, pork belly and beef ribs. Homemade pickles and mac and cheese are also on the menu.

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