The Best BBQ Restaurants In America, According To TripAdvisor

With 35 locations mostly in Alabama and Colorado (but some in California, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and even Maine), Moe’s is doing barbecue right. It was founded by three friends who met at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and since 2001, it has grown from a small slopeside catering operation to a barbecue destination. They still offer catering, but a trip to any of their restaurants is sure to be a good time, and is also a great primer in Alabama-style barbecue. Pork and chicken are their showcased items, topped with the signature Alabama white sauce, but the Angus beef brisket, hot links, St. Louis spare ribs, and fried catfish are also worth saving room for. Photo Credit: Flickr/ bhamsandwichClick Here to See More of America’s 25 Best Barbecue Chains

If the name Billy Sims sounds familiar, it’s probably because he was a Heisman Trophy winner, All-American, the No. 1 draft pick, Rookie of the Year in 1980, and spent four and a half seasons as running back for the Detroit Lions. The St. Louis native has put just as much energy into his barbecue as he did football, and his eponymous chain of more than 40 restaurants, mostly in Oklahoma, is a winner. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausages, turkey, chicken, and bologna (don’t knock it till you try it) are all smoked low and slow, and have developed a rabid following across the region. Save room for a chili cheese dog if you can. Photo Credit: Billy Sims BBQ

Old Carolina was inspired by the roadside shacks you’ll find in the Carolinas, and the menu at their nine (soon to be 10) locations in Ohio (plus one in Ann Arbor, Michigan) reflects just that, with Carolina-style pulled pork as a menu highlight, along with beef brisket, ribs, pulled chicken, and turkey. All meats are smoked for up to 14 hours over hickory wood, and the no-frills menu is rounded out by Southern classics like hush puppies, Brunswick stew, banana pudding, sweet tea, and Cheerwine, the Carolina classic soft drink. Five sauces are available to go. Photo Credit: flickr/ reynolds jamesClick Here to See More of America’s 25 Best Barbecue Chains

Founded 25 years ago in Arlington, Virginia, by a group of Southern transplants (including the late former RNC chairman Lee Atwater, from Atlanta, and former Tennessee governor and House member Don Sundquist) looking for good barbecue in D.C., the chain today has additional locations in Maryland, Texas, New Jersey, Missouri, and North Carolina. The restaurants have a distinctly Southern vibe, with menu items including fried Delta catfish and chicken-fried steak, but it’s the barbecue that’s been the secret to its success. St. Louis-style ribs are served wet, dry-rubbed, or sweet; pulled chicken and pork are hickory-smoked low and slow; brisket is served sliced or chopped; housemade sausages are smoked and grilled; and, thankfully, sampler platters are available so you can try a little bit of everything.Photo Credit: Facebook/ Red Hot & Blue

Woody’s got its start in Jacksonville, Florida more than 30 years ago, and today there are 28 franchised locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The baby back ribs fall off the bone, and other specialties include smoked prime rib, Carolina pulled pork, beef, turkey breast, and chicken. Don’t miss the fried squash, Brunswick stew, or corn nuggets, either. Photo Credit: Woody's Bar-B-QClick Here to See More of America’s 25 Best Barbecue Chains