Which U.S. cities are most likely to give you the meat sweats?
To separate the top sirloins from the chuck roasts of BBQ scenes, LawnStarter ranked 2023’s Best BBQ Cities in America.
We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on five categories. We looked at access to tasty barbecue vendors, consumer ratings, competition awards, and the number of barbecue festivals, among 20 total metrics.
Light up your grill this Fourth of July with our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.
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Contents
- City Rankings + Infographic
- Top 5 Close Up
- Key Insights
- Ask the Experts
- BBQ By the Numbers and Fun Facts
- Behind the Ranking
City Rankings + Infographic
See how each city fared in our ranking:
Top 5 Close Up
Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top five cities.
Key Insights
The Gist
Once again, three Missouri cities — Kansas City (No. 1), St. Louis (No. 2), and Springfield (No. 7) — finished in the top 10 of our ranking. They each claim the key ingredients of a BBQ city: champion pitmasters, award-winning meats, and satisfied customers. Other iconic BBQ regions — such as Tennessee cities Memphis (No. 4) and Nashville (No. 9) — fared better this year, thanks to more accolades or improved consumer satisfaction.
At the burnt end of our ranking, Paterson, New Jersey, and Yonkers, New York, tied for last place with an overall score of — zero. These cities lack tasty barbecue but are luckily close enough to New York City (No. 14) to fulfill their meaty needs.
Standout Stats
Show-Me Some ’Cue
- Kansas City, Missouri (No. 1), smoked the competition in Hosting and Elite BBQ Memberships, with the most barbecue festivals and the most 180 Club and 700 Club members, followed by St. Louis (No. 2). KCMO is the self-proclaimed BBQ Capital of the World, with such popular grub that they boast the highest average number of reviews — over 623 — per BBQ vendor.
St. Louis stands out with the 2nd-highest number of BBQ vendors per capita and the most National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) members.
Heart of BBQ
- Kansas City, Missouri (No. 1), and Kansas City, Kansas (No. 3), each tied for most cooking teams that finished in the top 25% in recent open contests for the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. They also took 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, in the number of teams that landed in the top quarter of the Series’ invitational contests, after Minneapolis (No. 13).
Other Kansas cities — Olathe (No. 17), Overland Park (No. 22), and Wichita (No. 47) — scored in the top 50 of our ranking, thanks to high Consumer Satisfaction.
Take a Bite of Texas
- Houston (No. 5) is Texas’ BBQ star, with the 2nd-largest number of top-rated BBQ vendors and the most cooking teams finishing in the top quarter of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. Houston tied with San Antonio (No. 31) and New York (No. 14) for 2nd place in top-rated smokehouses. Meanwhile, Austin (No. 12) and Dallas (No. 36) claimed the 5th– and 6th-highest numbers of top-rated BBQ vendors, respectively.
Waco (No. 20) and Lubbock (No. 21) impress with high Access. Both cities also host BBQ competitions sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS).
Midwestern Meats
- Missouri and Kansas aren’t the only Midwestern regions with remarkable smoked meats. Although residents might not have many options to choose from, Chicago (No. 19) took 6th place in overall Consumer Satisfaction, and Joliet, Illinois (No. 166), boasts the highest average consumer rating for BBQ vendors.
Superb pitmasters also can be found in the Beef State. Omaha, Nebraska (No. 8), is home to five 180 Club Members and a KCBS-sanctioned competition, while Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 48), claims the most cooking teams awarded by the NBBQA over the past 5 years.
Carolina Cuts
- North Carolina is known for its distinct BBQ style, but some Tar Heel cities fell behind in both barbecue Access and pitmasters with Elite Memberships. Out of all the North Carolina cities in our ranking, Fayetteville (No. 69) enjoys the best Access to BBQ. Raleigh (No. 25) is home to pitmasters that have been recognized by the NBBQA, American Royal World Series of Barbecue, and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC).
Southern Smoke
- Coals burn hot in the South, where many cities grill up impressive barbecue Access. Orlando (No. 6) offers the most barbecue vendors and smokehouses per 100,000 residents. Tennessee cities Memphis (No. 4), Nashville (No. 9), Knoxville (No. 16), and Chattanooga (No. 28) are among the top 16 cities for BBQ vendor access, alongside Atlanta (No. 23) and Richmond, Virginia (No. 10).
Big-City Broil
- Large cities tend to attract cuisine from around the world — BBQ is no exception. Los Angeles (No. 11), New York (No. 14), and Las Vegas (No. 15) landed near the top with high Consumer Satisfaction. LA cooks up the most top-rated BBQ vendors and smokehouses, while New York (No. 14) has the 2nd-largest number of top-rated smokehouses.
On the flip side, meat lovers in smaller suburban areas — such as Miramar, Florida (No. 197), and California cities Ontario (No. 196) and Lancaster (No. 198) — are most likely to be disappointed by the lack of mouthwatering brisket and burnt ends.
Ask The Experts
Why is BBQ our favorite grilled, smoked, rubbed, and/or sauced food, much like baseball is America’s favorite pastime? Let’s cue the experts, for answers about our love of barbecue and BBQ cities.
- What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?
- Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?
- What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?
- What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?
- Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?
- Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?
What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?
A city that offers fresh and local ingredients to shoppers, providing high-quality meat to customers, as well as high-quality ingredients for side dishes.
Equipment is, of course, just as important, and places where the community can gather. Barbecuing next to a community garden where you can pick some fresh veggies to put on the grill — what can be better?
Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?
The Phoenix metro area offers great variety with fresh and local ingredients putting a spin on things with unique flavor, such as prickly pear.
What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?
- Being from Germany, I would go with some German-style brats that will taste delicious if made on a charcoal grill. Simply pair it with a bun and some mustard, or go all out by adding German-style potato salad. You can find original brats at Trader Joe’s or Aldi.
- Wrap small sausages in bacon, and grill them until crisp (if you can find cheese-filled sausages, all the better).
Meatless alternatives:
- Fish packs: Fish of choice (e.g., salmon), add spices or fresh herbs to taste, top it with some butter, wrap in foil, and grill until tender.
- Tofu packs: Same as fish packs but with tofu
What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?
- Veggie packs: Cut up your favorite produce (think bell peppers, tomatoes, squash), add some spices/herbs and butter, wrap in foil, and grill until tender.
- Stuffed mushrooms: Prepare butter spread (mix well soft Irish butter, parsley, garlic, onion, pepper, salt, paprika powder, Worcestershire sauce — all to taste), remove stems from mushrooms and fill with butter, and grill until butter has melted.
- Grilled bread: Make butter spread, get a big loaf of white bread with a nice crust (think oversized baguette), cut the whole bread in slices (cut about two-thirds through, leaving the bottom of the bread intact), slather on the spread in between the slices, wrap in foil, and grill until butter has melted and bread is crisp and toasty.
Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?
As a German native, I would say no.
Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?
Gather family and friends for a cookout, and enjoy spending time together while indulging in great food.
What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?
Authenticity and history are key components in identifying a true barbecue city. Aficionados should look for cities and regions that have a history of great pitmasters and family-owned businesses. The best barbeque cities have plenty of independently owned barbeque restaurants.
What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?
- Barbeque breakfast hash is a great way to incorporate barbeque into every meal of the day.
- Barbeque tamales are an amazing way to combine smoked meats, masa, and your favorite sauce and cheese.
What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?
Summer vegetable salads pair perfectly with barbeque. It is easy to create salads with just about any type of vegetable or greens, and using a vinaigrette dressing, you can complement the sweet flavors that are associated with many barbeque seasonings and sauces. This is why you traditionally see coleslaw as a staple side with barbeque.
Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?
There is no difference in the cooking techniques for either version of the word “barbeque/ barbecue.” The spelling of the word is more related to the region you live in, similar to debate over “pop or soda.”
There is, however, a difference in how the word is used. Many will use the term “barbeque” as a gathering of friends for a meal that consists of various grilled items, whereas the verb meaning of “barbeque” relates to the actual cooking process of foods.
Many people use “grilling” and “barbequing” interchangeably, but that is incorrect — grilling is a fast cooking technique that uses more direct heat, and barbequing uses slow and low indirect cooking.
Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?
A great way to discover your favorite style of barbeque without traveling is to cook barbeque yourself! Smokers are easily accessible now, and the internet is full of recipes to guide you on your barbeque adventure.
Try cooking with different woods, cuts of meats, marinades, rubs, and sauces to determine what works best for your palate. Many of the best barbeque restaurants started off with someone creating a great barbecue item at home and then turning it into a business.
What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?
A true barbecue city has a respect for the traditions. BBQ is an old and honorable art. Serious BBQ people want pitmasters who understand what it takes to make the classics correctly; pitmasters who are willing to spend the time to do it right — there is no “hurry up” shortcut to great BBQ.
A city also needs a critical mass of people who love BBQ. I’ve seen some great barbecue joints close because the locals didn’t support it with their wallets.
Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?
It is really more regions that are coming on than individual towns. BBQ has always been associated with the South in general, the Carolinas and Texas, and few great cities like Memphis and Kansas City.
But great BBQ can be had in a lot of places now. Some great BBQ is coming out of the Midwest. Oklahoma has always had a great BBQ tradition that is just now getting recognized. The whole belt across southern Kansas, southern Missouri, northern Oklahoma, and northern Arkansas is growing great BBQ traditions.
What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?
While the classics are hard to beat, there are a few outliers to try:
- If a place has a bologna sandwich on the menu, try it. There is some great BBQ bologna in Oklahoma.
- BBQ corned beef can be really good.
- I wish there was more BBQ lamb. The place I miss the most is the late, lamented Prospect BBQ in Kansas City. They had BBQ lamb shanks and lamb riblets that I still dream about.
What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?
- Anything with dark leafy greens like collards: They pair perfectly with the smoke of real BBQ.
- Try some really sweet watermelon with feta cheese crumbles. You can never go wrong with sweet and salty.
- Hawaiian-style mac salad is always great with ribs.
Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?
It’s not the spelling; it’s the process. A steak on the grill is a treat, but it’s not BBQ. Low and slow wins the race.
Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?
One thing the pandemic did was blow food delivery wide open. You can order BBQ from nearly anywhere. You can enjoy most of the great BBQ styles of America from the comfort of your own patio.
BBQ By the Numbers and Fun Facts
More Fun Facts
- Grilling ≠ Barbecuing: Grilling requires direct heat from a flame, while barbecuing draws heat from circulating air.
- Baby Got Back: Baby-back ribs don’t come from baby pigs. They’re just shorter than spare ribs.
- Follow the BBQ Trail: North Carolina’s barbecue trail leads hungry visitors to the top ’cue across the state.
- In a Word: “Barbecue” comes from barbacoa, meaning “a framework for supporting meat over a fire.”
- There’s an App for That: You can buy a meat thermometer that lets you monitor your ’cue remotely via smartphone.
- You’ve Got Meatmail: Can’t find local barbecue that tastes like home? Many BBQ restaurants now offer overnight air delivery.
- Secret’s in the Sauce: States have perfected their own unique flavors. In North Carolina, it’s vinegar. In Alabama, it’s a mayo-based white sauce. South Carolina boasts a yellow-colored mustard sauce.
Research by: Sarah Bahr
Behind the Ranking
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best BBQ Cities in America. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into five categories: Access, Consumer Satisfaction, Competition Awards, Elite BBQ Memberships, and Hosting. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 200). Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties.
Sources: American Royal, Barbecue News, Everfest, Grillocracy, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, International Barbeque Cookers Association, Jack Daniel’s, Kansas City Barbeque Society, Memphis in May, National Barbecue & Grilling Association, TripAdvisor, and Yelp
Media Resources
- High-resolution images of infographics
- High-resolution images of cities
- 2022’s Best BBQ Cities in America ranking results
- 2021’s Best BBQ Cities in America ranking results
Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock