Let’s face it, everyone can’t be a certified pitmaster. Not that there’s anything wrong with sporting an apron that proclaims your title as the keeper of the grates, but only a select few can actually keep up in the big leagues. It’s why, no matter how many times we fire up the grill and cook out this season, we’ll likely still make the pilgrimage to our favorite barbecue joints to get a taste of those sweet burnt ends and legendary brisket. Luckily, Yelp just dropped its list of the ‘Top 100 BBQ Restaurants in the US, according to Yelp Elites,’ so you can plan your summer road trip accordingly.
To create the list, Yelp identified businesses in the barbecue category and ranked each spot based on the volume and ratings from Yelp Elite Squad Members. The restaurants span across the United States, with California having the highest concentration at 14 barbecue joints. Texas is a close second with 12, and Florida rounded out third with 7.
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That being said, surprisingly, the number one spot happens to be Little Miss BBQ-University in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s also worth noting that despite being critically acclaimed for its incredible barbecue scene, Tennessee didn’t make the list at all. Regardless, lots of smokehouse mainstays made the cut, with Kansas City and the Carolinas landing in some of the top spots. And honestly, you can’t go wrong with good barbecue no matter where you happen to be.
If you want to make a cross-country road trip out of it, you can check out the full list on Yelp’s website, but here’s a preview of the top 25
- Little Miss BBQ-University – Phoenix, AZ
- Han No Daidokoro – Honolulu, HI
- Marza – San Bruno, CA
- Lewis Barbecue- Charleston, SC
- San Ho Won – San Francisco, CA
- Franklin Barbecue – Austin, TX
- Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue – Cloudcroft, NM
- Caldwell County BBQ- Gilbert, AZ
- CorkScrew BBQ – Spring, TX
- Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – Kansas City, KS
- Yakiya – Hacienda Heights, CA
- Mo Ran Gak Restaurant – Garden Grove, CA
- Sofra Grill – South San Francisco, CA
- Samurai Japanese BBQ and Grill – Las Vegas, NV
- Kenji’s – Reno, NV
- The Smoke Pit – Concord, NC
- Southern Junction – Buffalo, NY
- Nubiani – New York, NY
- La Verdad Cafe Deli – Buffalo, NY
- Goldee’s BBQ – Fort Worth, TX
- Interstellar BBQ – Austin, TX
- Yellow Dog Eats – Windermere, FL
- Pigya – Los Angeles, CA
- Gyu Shige – Fairfax, VA
- Avery Brewing – Boulder, CO
So whether you’re a grillmaster who could use a break or you’re planning a barbecue tour of the country to celebrate America 250, Yelp’s got you covered.
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