2021’s Best Cities for BBQ Fans

Smoked, sauced, grilled — we love our barbecue. But which are 2021’s Best BBQ Cities in America?

Last summer brought record-breaking heat and drought to some areas of the United States, and expects summer temperatures to be hotter than normal once again. After social distancing and mask wearing Americans are ready for friends and family and having a barbecue.

With barbecue season here LawnStarter compared 199 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 14 key markers of a true barbecue city for serious fans.

Among the factors they looked at: the number of national award-winning BBQ restaurants and chefs; whether the city has hosted at least one “master-level” competition blessed by KCBS; the number of barbecue festivals; and, of course, fan ratings.

Highlights and Lowlights:

• Kansas City: The BBQ Capital of America: Sorry, Memphis. Kansas City tops our list of the Best BBQ Cities. With far more winners in the World Series of Barbecue contests and the second-highest number of national excellence awards, the Heart of America is a powerhouse for quality brisket and burnt ends. But every leader has an Achilles heel and KC’s ironically is access to BBQ restaurants, finishing at No. 108. Fortunately, iconic names — Gates, Jack Stack, Joe’s KC, and Arthur Bryant — more than make up for the lack of BBQ spots. Quality over quantity appears to be this city’s barbecue philosophy.
• Mouthwatering Midwest: Beyond Kansas City, seven more Midwestern cities place in our top 10. Clearly, the Midwest is best for premier steaks, strips, and stacks. Chicago comes in second by jointly claiming the top spot in the Events category (an honor it shares with No. 5 Memphis, another iconic barbecue city). Seventh-place St. Louis holds the second-highest score in the Quality category, followed closely by Minneapolis, which lands in ninth. Cincinnati is No. 4. If you’re looking for a foodie vacation, fly to the Midwest and start eating your way across the region. (Barbecue road trips are a real thing. Make sure to bring plenty of Wet-Naps.)
• Nibbling in North Carolina: North Carolina makes a mediocre showing despite making up one of the four pillars of American barbecue styles — KC, Memphis, Texas, and Carolina. Raleigh finishes at
• No. 20, but other Tar Heel cities land farther down the list. (South Carolina has its own related but distinct style, but none of its cities was large enough to be measured in our ranking.) Why didn’t North Carolina’s signature sauce rank higher? Maybe it’s because North Carolina ’cue culture is spread out in the state rather than concentrated in one area like Kansas City or Memphis. (Texas, too, was a mixed bag in our ranking.) North Carolina, while not the best ranked, is still a destination for those who prefer a hint of tang and a kick of vinegar. (Just don’t get caught up in the East vs. West debate.)

Expert Commentary

What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?

A city that offers fresh and local ingredients to shoppers, providing high-quality meat to customers, as well as high-quality ingredients for side dishes.

Equipment is, of course, just as important, and places where the community can gather. Barbecuing next to a community garden where you can pick some fresh veggies to put on the grill — what can be better?

Dr. Carola Grebitus, Associate Professor of Food Industry Management, Arizona State University

What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?

• Barbeque breakfast hash is a great way to incorporate barbeque into every meal of the day.
• Barbeque tamales are an amazing way to combine smoked meats, masa, and your favorite sauce and cheese.

Tyler White, Culinary Institute Program Manager, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?

One thing the pandemic did was blow food delivery wide open. You can order BBQ from nearly anywhere. You can enjoy most of the great BBQ styles of America from the comfort of your own patio.

Jeffrey Miller, Certified Executive Chef, Associate Professor, Hospitality Management, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University

Their full ranking and analysis can be found here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-bbq-cities/