Barbecue in United States
The BBQ Atlas maps 665 barbecue venues across 447 cities in United States. From Modern, Kansas City, Texas, Carolina and more, it's a snapshot of how United States cooks over live fire. Browse by city below, or dive straight into the venues.
Truth
Houston, United States
Leonard Botello IV runs the operation on South Heights Boulevard in Houston, where pickup is the only option and selling out is the rule. The Michelin Guide took notice with a Bib Gourmand — recognition that arrives quietly at places that don't ask for it, places that simply smoke meat properly and let people decide for themselves. Bring cash. Bring patience. Bring an appetite for the real thing, because when it's gone.
Two Goose Market & Barbecue
Austin, United States
Two Goose is a family-owned blue-collar barbecue spot in Austin's Clarksville neighborhood, specializing in Goodstock brisket trimmed in-house and smoked over post oak. It stands out for serving proper breakfast alongside lunch, including brisket breakfast burritos and house-made sausages. The operation emphasizes approachable, honest Texas barbecue with quick service from a walk-up window.
Tyler's Barbeque
Amarillo, United States
Tyler's Barbeque opened in 2013 and operates from Olsen Boulevard with the kind of efficiency that comes from knowing what you do and doing it well. Oak smoke, a tight window (closed Sundays and Mondays, done by 6 p.m. on Saturday), and the simple fact that it runs out before the day ends. No mystery there. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Cash or card accepted. Get there with time to spare.
Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q
Allen, United States
Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q is a Texas barbecue restaurant in Allen that earned a 2024 James Beard semifinalist nod for Best Chef and landed on the New York Times' list of the 20 best barbecue restaurants in Texas. They smoke over hickory and made Texas Monthly's 50 Best Tacos list — a rare double billing that suggests the pit and the tortilla both get proper attention. D Magazine ranked it the fifth-best barbecue joint in North Texas and the 36th-best restaurant overall. It's part of a small chain; other locations are listed on their site. Open daily, with an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Wardlaw's Lucky Eye Q
LaFayette, United States
Wardlaw's Lucky Eye Q operates Thursday through Saturday, lunch and dinner, from a straightforward setup on North Chattanooga Street. Wood-fired smokers, no fuss — the kind of place that lets the meat speak. They've earned recognition as Best BBQ in the State of Georgia. Open the door when you're hungry, order what they're running that day, and eat it.
Wild BBQ
Tempe, United States
This Tempe smokehouse opens Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m. and runs until the meat is gone — no exceptions. The menu centres on dino beef ribs, prime brisket, and lamb in forms most barbecue joints don't attempt: racks, shanks, cheeks. Pre-order and catering are available for those who plan ahead.
Wild Fig BBQ
Sun City Summerlin, United States
A barbecue restaurant and catering operation on the west side of the city. They take orders by phone and online, and operate without fuss or ceremony — the kind of outfit that lets the work speak for itself.
Wildwoods BBQ
North Wildwood, United States
David Gill and Joel Romano opened this place in North Wildwood in 2021, and it's been moving at the pace of something people actually want to eat. The brisket took first place and People's Choice at Brisket King NYC in 2023. They're closed Wednesdays; every other day they're open noon to eight, and when it's gone it's gone.
Woodshed Smokehouse
Fort Worth, United States
Woodshed Smokehouse is chef Tim Love's fire-driven place on the Trinity riverfront in Fort Worth — smokers, rotisseries and wood grills all working the same flame. The menu ranges past standard barbecue into Love's chef-y register: smoked pork empanadas, crispy chicken skins, grilled oysters, bacon sliders. There's a sprawling patio, live music, and room for the dog. Weekend breakfast through late night most days.
Woodyard BBQ
Kansas City, United States
This is a straightforward barbecue restaurant that cooks with local wood and keeps the hours of a place that knows people will come. Open late on Friday and Saturday — past midnight — and until eleven most other nights. It exists. It feeds people. That's the point.
Wright's Barbecue
Johnson, United States
Wright's started in Johnson in 2016 and grew into a small Arkansas chain, but this is where it began — Kansas City-style barbecue, open at half-ten, food off the pit until it's gone, dark on Sundays. Sauce, smoke, and a state that's learned to queue for it.
Wright's Barbecue
Bentonville, United States
This Wright's, at 1410 SE 8th Street, feeds the Bentonville Walmart campus crowd — Kansas City-style barbecue from half-ten until the day's smoke sells out, closed Sundays. It's the Arkansas chain that started in Johnson in 2016, doing sauce, smoke and the fundamentals for the lunch rush.
Wright's Barbecue
Rogers, United States
The Rogers Wright's runs the Arkansas chain's Kansas City-style barbecue — open at half-ten, served until it sells out, closed Sundays. On West Pauline Whitaker, the same smoke and the same hours as the rest of the group that started in Johnson in 2016. Get there early.
Wright's Barbecue
Benton, United States
Wright's Barbecue — barbecue in Benton.
Wright's Barbecue
Bentonville, United States
Wright's Barbecue is a Kansas City-style operation that opened its doors in 2016 and now runs multiple locations across Arkansas. This outpost sits at 208 NE 3rd Street on Bentonville Square, serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday — or until they sell out, whichever comes first. The doors open at half ten and close at eight, except Sunday when they're shut. No phone number to ring ahead. Show up, order, and hope you beat the queue. When it's gone.
Wright's Barbecue
Little Rock, United States
Wright's cooks Kansas City-style barbecue and runs it until the food's gone — the Little Rock location on Rebsamen Park Road opens at half-ten and goes until nine or sell-out, whichever lands first. It's a branch of the Arkansas outfit that started in Johnson in 2016 and spread across the state. Closed Sundays; the rest of the week, it's there. Show up, order, eat.
Zavala's Barbecue
Grand Prairie, United States
Brothers Joe and Christian Zavala are Grand Prairie natives, and it shows in how they run the place — as much for the neighborhood as for the line out front. There's a cooler of free Lone Star on the porch, a standing invitation to sit a while. Lunch service runs four days a week on Main Street, so check the days before you make the drive.