GA has 3 of the 50 best BBQ restaurants in the South for 2025, Southern Living says
Every city across the South has their feelings about which barbeque joint has the best in town, and folks can get pretty serious about it. Southern Living takes it seriously and has just released their annual ranking of the 50 best BBQ joints in the South.
Georgia has a respectable three restaurants on the list, while Texas and the Carolinas dominate the rankings with a total of 23 restaurants.
This year’s guide has plenty of the familiar favorites from last year, as well as some newcomers, but the representatives from Georgia have held strong to their place for the last few years.
Which GA BBQ joints are the best?
Georgia’s particular barbeque style varies by region, and whether you’re into a smoky dry-rub, a tomato-based sauce or cooked over hickory, you can find it here.
23. Southern Soul Barbecue
2020 Demere Rd, St Simons Island, GA
In a former life, Southern Souls used to be an old converted gas station and it has the unusual combination of classic barbecue and a laid back, beach vibe. Their famed Channel Marker bar serves up favorite tiki cocktails.
Since it’s only about a mile from the ocean, you can sit outside at the picnic tables while you eat their proprietary Brunswick stew alongside the infamous honey-basted ribs.
48. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
1238 DeKalb Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA
Fox Bros claims to have introduced Georgia to a Texas-style brisket and uses an Alabama-style white for their chicken-fried ribs.
Hailing from Texas, owners and twins, Jonathan and Justin Fox, opened their first restaurant on DeKalb avenue in 2007 and now they have six locations around Atlanta.
3. Fresh Air Bar-B-Que
164 GA-42, Jackson, GA 30233
There’s a reason Fresh Air consistently breaks the top five on the list. They serve their bar-b-que in the distinctive Georgia style: chopped pork in a thin, tangy red sauce.
If you order the “regular” plate comes with the meat, a cup of Brunswick stew, minced onions and corn in a tomato broth. You can order the “deluxe” that includes coleslaw and a pickle but that will be the fanciest thing at this spot.
Honorable mention for Alabama barbecue
You shouldn’t sleep on an Alabama style cut, and two barbecue spots made it into Southern Living’s top 20.
- #11 - Dreamland BBQ, Tuscaloosa
- #18 - Archibald’s BBQ, Northport
- #21 - Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur
Who has the best and worst barbeque, according to Southern Living?
What makes good barbecue is wildly subjective and varies from tastebud-to-tastebud, but bad barbecue is universal. Southern Living’s barbeque reporter, Robert F. Moon, would like for folks to think his picking method is elaborate and scientific.
But he confesses what we all know, “In the end, when it comes to picking the best barbecue, you have to go with your gut.
Top ten best barbeque restaurants in the South
- #1 - City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, SC
- #2 - Snows BBQ, Lexington, TX
- #3 - Fresh Air Bar-B-Que, Jackson, GA
- #4 - Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor, TX
- #5 - LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin, TX
- #6 - Skylight Inn BBQ, Ayden, NC
- #7 - Lewis Barbecue, Charleston, SC
- #8 - B.E. Scotts BBQ, Lexington, TN
- #9 - Mama Jeans Barbecue, Roanoke, VA
- #10 - Lexington Barbecue, Lexington, NC
Top ten worst barbeque restaurants in the South
- 41 - Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, Charleston, SC
- #42 - Blood Bros. BBQ, Bellaire, TX
- #43 - Cattleack Barbeque, Dallas, TX
- #44 - King BBQ, Charleston, SC
- #45 - Redemption BBQ, Henrico, VA
- #46 - Hurtado Barbecue, Arlington, TX
- #47 - Smitty’s Market, Lockhart, TX
- #48 - Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, GA
- #49 - 2Fifty Texas BBQ, Riverdale, MD
- #50 - Charlie Vergos Rendezvous, Memphis, TN
Southern Living’s rankings reflect the evolving craft of southern barbecue and rising talent of an up and coming generation of pit masters.
The Ledger-Enquirer recently did a poll about Columbus’ favorite barbecue spot and Country’s won. Do you agree? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.