Barbecue Joints Worth Trying Near Concord

CONCORD, CA — Summer is here, and with it comes the official barbecue season.

Whether you're too tired to cook, or it's too hot, or you just love trying new places to eat, we have a list of five distinct barbecue restaurants in six locations for you in the East Bay including nearby Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek.

So, what's your favorite? Dry rub or sauced? Low and slow or charred? Brisket, ribs, chicken or links? And don't forget to save room for the cole slaw, beans, potato salad and other fixings!

This list was curated by SF Eater.

Berkeley: KC'S BBQ

This West Berkeley neighborhood joint "is best known for its pork ribs, which are available for purchase by the “short end” (aka the meatier, fattier end) or the “long end” if you don’t want a full rack. The sauce tends toward sweet and tangy."

KC'S BBQ is at 1235 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, CA 94706. Phone them at 510-526-6325

Emeryville: Pig In A Pickle

Find Pig in a Pickle at the Emeryville Public Market. You'll discover "a wide range of regional barbecue specialties: Texas-style brisket, Alabama-style smoked chicken, and Cajun-style hot links that are actually made in house."

Pig In A Pickle is at 5959 Shellmound St., kiosk 16, Emeryville, CA 94608. Phone them at 510-922-8902.

Hayward: Just Potato Salad

This Hayward barbecue restaurant serves memorable St. Louis-style ribs. And, since the restaurant is named for it — be sure to try the potato salad.

Just Potato Salad is at 29587 Mission Blvd., Hayward, CA 94544. Phone them at 510-753-9667.

Livermore: Sauced BBQ & Spirits

This mini chain now has locations in Livermore, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, and San Jose. Come here is you like trying a range of "regional barbecue specialties, including Kansas City-style burnt ends and Carolina-style pulled pork, though no one would blame you for sticking with the crowd favorite thick-sliced smoked brisket."

Sauced BBQ & Spirits is at 2300 1st St., Suite 120, Livermore, CA 94550. Phone them at 925-961-1300

Pleasant Hill: Slow Hand BBQ

Looking for fancy? Sorry, Slow Hand BBQ is located in a Pleasant Hill strip mall. But if flavor is your number one requirement for barbecue, Slow Hand "does a solid job with the usual lineup of ribs and brisket, but it also gives corned beef a turn in the smoker, and the tender, intensely flavorful smoked chicken is a particularly nice surprise." The restaurant also does a nice prime rib plate on Fridays.

Slow Hand BBQ is at 1941 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Phone them at 925-942-0149.

Walnut Creek: Sauced BBQ & Spirits

As mentioned above, this mini chain has locations in Walnut Creek, Livermore, Sacramento, and San Jose. The restaurant serves a range of "regional barbecue specialties, including Kansas City-style burnt ends and Carolina-style pulled pork, though no one would blame you for sticking with the crowd favorite thick-sliced smoked brisket."

Sauced BBQ & Spirits is at 1410 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Phone them at 925-433-5957.

See SF Eater's list of barbecue restaurants for the entire Bay Area