Yelp ranks 'Top 10 Cities for BBQ' in USA

Where can you find the best barbecue in the country? Well, you could do a lot worse than Texas, according to a new ranking from Yelp.

The platform recently ranked the “Top 10 Cities for BBQ in the USA, and two cities from Texas — Austin and San Antonio — topped the list.

Austin, coming in at No. 1 in Yelp’s ranking, scored high in metrics focusing on interest, availability and well-reviewed restaurants, according to the site’s analysts. Special shout-outs were given to barbecue joints including Franklin Barbecue, Terry Black’s Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meat and the Michelin-starred La Barbecue.

Austin’s barbecue was also commended by Yelp reviewers for its “simple” yet “flavorful” seasonings, according to Yelp.

“Austin has earned its reputation as a top barbecue destination,” an article announcing the rankings declared.

2025 World Beer Cup: Who won the most competitive categories?

Nipping at Austin’s heels is San Antonio, which took the No. 2 spot on Yelp’s list. The city was highlighted for both its traditional and fusion barbecue restaurants, including Reese Bros BBQ, BBQ, Smoke Shack and Garcia Barbecue.

In third place, Yelp ranked Kansas City, Missouri, as another “top barbecue destination,” thanks in no small part to the city’s burnt ends (“a local specialty”). Its signature Kansas City-style barbecue sauce was a standout, too.

The full ranking, as determined by Yelp, can be found below.

Yelp’s Top 10 Cities for BBQ

Austin, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Kansas City, Missouri
Memphis, Tennessee
Charleston, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
Honolulu, Hawaii
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Durham, North Carolina
Nashville, Tennessee

To determine its rankings, Yelp says its analysts used a “blended metric” based on three factors: consumer interest in BBQ, the total number of barbecue restaurants, and the average rating of each. The analysts also only included a maximum of two cities from each state “to ensure geographic diversity.” That said, it’s possible that additional cities in Texas or South Carolina could have ranked within the top 10 had each state not been restricted to two entries.

More information can be found at Yelp, including information on top-reviewed barbecue restaurants in each city.