Summer’s heating up – and so are grills across the country. If you’re in the mood for some ‘cue, why not chow down in some of the best barbecue cities in the country? Here are five picks for the best barbecue hot spots in the U.S.
Austin, Texas
Barbecue is a way of life in Texas, but you’ll find that every region does it a little differently. In Austin, tender, slow-cooked briskets and untrimmed slabs of ribs (and we’re talking all beef, baby) are served with a side of thin, mild vinegar and tomato sauce and the quintessential Texas side dish: potato salad. Whether you prefer brisket, ribs or links, one thing is for sure: Turning barbecue into a sandwich is akin to sacrilege in Central Texas, so leave well enough alone and let the quality of the ‘cue speak for itself.
Chicago
While best known food-wise for its deep-dish pies and Chicago-style hot dogs, the Windy City also serves up a mean plate of juicy ribs and barbecue. Restaurants across the city borrow from barbecue regions like Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee, offering foodies a sample of the nation’s best barbecue in one destination. When in Chicago, be sure to try the rib tips and hot links, usually served with a side of fries.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis needs no introduction when it comes to barbecue. Pork is king in this Tennessee town, whether you order a slab of ribs or pulled pork shoulder. Both dry and wet barbecue have staked their claims in this regional barbecue style, with some restaurants preparing their meats “dry” with little more than a rub and others using sauce, sauce and more sauce (usually on the sweet side and made of tomato and vinegar) from preparation to the moment it hits your plate.
Kansas City, Missouri
Dozens of local restaurants serve up pork, beef and chicken, but what makes Kansas City’s signature ‘cue isn’t necessarily the meat – it’s the sauce it’s slathered in. Kansas City-style barbecue sauce is a thick tomato-based sauce, usually somewhat saucy, sweetened with molasses, and always warranting a napkin or 20. You’ll find ribs, brisket and pulled pork throughout town, but what hungry diners really covet are the burnt ends, or blackened brisket tips.
St. Louis, Missouri
Speaking of thick sauces, St. Louis wouldn’t have its barbecue any other way except slathered in a bath of sweet, thick tomato sauce. St. Louis-style barbecue is more about grilling than traditional smoking, but we’re not complaining. Pork steaks, bratwursts and crispy snoots (nose and cheek cuts of a pig) are grilled specialties, but you’ll also find plenty of those pork spare rib cuts that just so happen to be named after the city.
What’s your favorite destination for barbecue? Let us know in the comments!
(Main image: Kent Wang used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
