This document provides a summary of the top 10 barbecue joints across the United States. It describes each restaurant's signature barbecue dishes and styles. Saw's BBQ in Alabama is praised for its Southern soul food including pulled pork and chicken with white sauce. BB's Lawnside Blues & BBQ in Missouri is known for slow-cooked pork and live blues music. Peg Leg Porker in Tennessee offers smoked pork perfection and Memphis-style sauce.

1. 71 Cooking with Paula Deen
* July/August 2014 July/August 2014
* Cooking with Paula Deen 72
Whether inspired by the Carolinas, the
Texas Hill Country, or just a love of ‘cue,
these barbecue joints serve up some of
the best smoked pork, brisket, and ribs
across the United States. By Sarah Cook
1 Saw’s BBQ
Homewood, Alabama
The focus of Saw’s BBQ is simple—good ole
Southern soul food. Pioneered by Mike Wilson, Saw’s
has taken Birmingham by a smoky storm. First open-
ing in a residential area of Homewood, the venue
has expanded to three locations where they serve
classic pulled pork, chicken smothered in a distinctive
white sauce, and barbecue-topped baked potatoes.
Dubbed an “upscale dive,” this barbecue joint is one
both family and friends will enjoy. 1008 Oxmoor Road.
sawsbbq.com
what to order: Pork-StuffedTater
TOP 10
2�����BB’S LAWNSIDe BLUES & BBQ
����Kansas City, Missouri
If you like your barbecue with a side of blues, BB’s
Lawnside is the perfect smoke pit for you. Owner
Lindsay Shannon started barbecuing in 1990 when he
left a job in sales to pursue his passion for slow-cooked
pork. An avid supporter of blues music, Shannon natu-
rally decided to make music a permanent menu item.
Thursday through Sunday,
you’ll find BB’s overflowing
with delicious blues music
and smoked pork smothered
in a sweet tomato-based
sauce. 1205 East 85th
Street. bbslawnsidebbq.com
what to order: Big
Walter’s Mixed Meat
Sandwich
9 Peg Leg Porker
Nashville,Tennessee
Coming from a long line of hog-cookin’ men, Carey
Bringle, owner of Peg Leg Porker, knows a thing or
two about barbecue. Located in the Gulch section
of Nashville, this modest venue offers slow-cooked
pork smoked to perfection and covered in Memphis-
style sauce. If the weather is nice, make sure to
dine outside at the Porker, as the restaurant provides
a great patio perfect for a night out in Music City.
903 Gleaves Street. peglegporker.com
what to order: Pulled pork sandwich with a side
of smoked green beans
7
Lexington,
Texas
Only open Saturdays
from 8 a.m. until
the meat runs out,
Snow’s BBQ is a Lone
Star State gem that
often has lines longer
than aTexas mile.
Owner Kerry Bexley
opened the restaurant in 2003 when he teamed up
with pit bossTootsieTomanetz and started slow-smok-
ing pork every Saturday morning.Today, you’ll find the
duo serving up large portions of barbecue alongside
family members who help run the business. 516 Main
Street. snowsbbq.com
what to order: Brisket and homemade coleslaw
3 live Oak Barbecue
Austin,Texas
Each Saturday, this East Austin barbecue joint
serves an item not featured on the regular menu—
a Saturday Special. Past specials include ribs with
red wine and rosemary, Hawaiian-style pork belly,
and smoked barbacoa tacos. If you’re looking for
down-homeTexas barbecue though, you can’t go
wrong with a plate of the dry-rubbed pork, prepared
by the pound and cut to order. 2713 East 2nd Street.
liveoakbbq.net
what to order: Saturday Special
6 Skylight Inn
Ayden, North Carolina
Plain and simple, this barbecue is good. Living by the
motto that quality barbecue requires no sauce, the
Skylight Inn has been named one of the tastiest bar-
becue restaurants in eastern North Carolina. Seasoned
with vinegar and hot sauce, all of Skylight’s pork is
smoked over oak logs and cooked to a perfect tender-
ness. Along with a barbecue sandwich topped with
coleslaw and wrapped in wax paper, you’ll also receive
a slice of unleavened cornbread with your order. 4618
South Lee Street. skylightinnbbq.com
what to order: The only item on the menu—
chopped pork barbecue sandwich
ACROSS AMERICA
THE BEST
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8 Feast BBQ
New Albany, Indiana
When the space now occupied by Feast BBQ first
opened its doors in 1879, it was coined “The Finest
Saloon in New Albany.” Selling fine wines and cigars
for decades, the venue was eventually abandoned
until Ryan Rogers had the
bright idea to convert it
into New Albany’s finest
barbecue joint. Feast gives
a strong nod to its faded
elegance while offering
some of the best smoked
meat in Indiana and the
state’s largest bourbon
selection. 116 West Main
Street. feastbbq.com
what to order: Crispy
Pork Cakes
4 Wexler’s
San Francisco, California
Located in a handsome brick firehouse, Wexler’s puts
an upscale twist on a Southern tradition. Known for
their funky fusions and creative toppings, this farm-to-
table interpretation of barbecue is an unexpected find
in the City by the Bay. Using a special blend of house-
made spices, all meat at Wexler’s is smoked until
achieving fall-off-the-bone tenderness and piled high
on a freshly baked sweet deli roll. 568 Sacramento
Street. wexlerssf.com
what to order: BBQ Brisket Bánh Mi and Bourbon
Banana Cream Pie for dessert
10 Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue
NewYork, NewYork
Blending Carolina andTexas styles, Mighty Quinn’s
created its own unique taste—“Texalina” barbe-
cue. Highly regarded
for its unique flavor and
casual dining atmo-
sphere, Mighty Quinn’s
channels Southern
charm in the midst of
the busy city. Pitmaster
Hugh Mangum
achieves the perfect
harmony of smoke and
flavor by slow-cooking
the meat for several
hours on a wood-fired
stove. 103 2nd Avenue. mightyquinnsbbq.com
what to order: Pulled pork sandwich with a side
of sweet potato casserole with maple and pecans
5 Pappy’s Smokehouse
Saint Louis, Missouri
Serving up plates overflowing with Memphis-style
barbecue, Pappy’s Smokehouse is a Gateway City
treasure. Open since 2008, Pappy’s has gained rec-
ognition for their three homemade barbecue sauces
and pork smoked for up to 14 hours over an apple and
cherry wood-fired oven. Be sure to try the deep-fried
corn on the cob as a fun variation to a favorite barbe-
cue side. 3106
Olive Street.
pappyssmoke
house.com
what to
order: Full slab
of ribs with a
side of fried
corn on the cob
Snow’s
BBQ