Today we travel into the South. We explore North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The Southern Edition will be a two-part series since there are too many great BBQ places to explore in this region of the USA. If you have been enjoying the road-trip series so far, you will love this week’s exploration as we have some of the best BBQ in the world on our list below.
12 Bones Smokehouse is known for making everything from scratch. They take an eclectic approach to BBQ, drawing inspiration from all over the south and sometimes the north. The menu is constantly changing, but they will accommodate anything you enjoyed previously, even if it is no longer on the menu. They offer traditional BBQ, along with exciting flavors of ribs like blueberry chipotle and pineapple habanero. But watch out, the pineapple one is spicy!
Central BBQ is approaching their 10th anniversary but has already made a name for themselves as a Memphis staple. They pride themselves in providing fall-off-the-bone BBQ, Southern hospitality, and good times. The combination that sets them apart from competitors comes down to slow cooking, dry rub combos, 24-hour marinade, and no sauce in the pit. They offer rib combos, sandwiches, specialty nachos, wings, and more.
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur, AL
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q began in 1925. They first became known for their famous BBQ white sauce and are now regarded as one of the most prestigious BBQ restaurants in the world. If you can’t make it in person, they also offer nationwide shipping on large pre-selected orders. This option is on their website, along with apparel merch, sauces & rubs, books, and gift baskets. They have won countless awards for their top-tier BBQ, and their prices remain reasonable compared to many newer establishments.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, GA
As the name suggests, two brothers founded Fox Bros. together. BBQ started as a passion project. The brothers would cook for friends and host pop-up events. The restaurant finally opened in 2007 and became very popular. Fox Bros. has been in top publications and news outlets, including The Today Show, Southern Living, USA Today, and that’s only the beginning of the list. Their spice and southern style are what sets them apart from others in the area. All of the dishes draw inspiration from when they grew up in Texas. If you are looking for BBQ in Atlanta, be sure to check them out.
4 Rivers BBQ, Jacksonville, FL
4 Rivers has thirteen locations across Florida. It had humble beginnings in 2004, when the owner, John Rivers, hosted a cookout fundraiser for a family whose daughter was fighting cancer. He began smoking meat in the garage and helping out with charitable donations, sharing his love of food with others during his spare time. He called this “Barbecue Ministries,” and that remains the foundation of the business. His previous career was being president of a billion-dollar healthcare organization, so he was no stranger to running a company. This knowledge allowed him to create and implement a plan for rapid expansion across Florida, making a big name in a short amount of time.
