Best Top 10 BBQ in USA 2025 | My Top 10 Picks BBQ Restaurants

Barbecue brisket sandwich, barbecue chicken sandwich. The explosive flavors of barbecue cuisine are sure to excite the taste buds. And with so many amazing choices, deciding which one to venture to can become a tough task. I have you covered as I’ve ranked the 10 best barbecue chain restaurants in America! Also, you can read 10 Best Coffee Shops in New York City.

1. City Barbecue

With its quickly expanding brand and list of locations, if you’re in the Northern U.S., then you are likely familiar with the name City Barbecue. It takes a more casual but still delicious approach to the barbecue chain and has become a common sight in many food-packed shopping plazas across America. Especially in states where barbecue-focused restaurants are hard to find, City Barbecue has made it their mission to bring unique but traditional barbecue cuisine to their customers’ plates.

Among their menu items, their variety of flavorful and well-smoked meats is what the chain has become known for. The owner approached the chain concept with a never-wavering intent to always serve fresh, hot-smoked meats to customers. If you’ve had a bad experience with another chain serving you barbecue that’s been sitting out for a while, City Barbecue is the antidote you’re searching for.

The barbecue meals are accompanied by a huge selection of sides, desserts, and beverages, making it a great location for families that have picky eaters in their midst!

2. Famous Dave’s Barbecue

The Famous Dave’s Barbecue brand has exploded over the years, living up to its famous name with ease. Dave Anderson, the beloved CEO of the company, was far from the typical Southern barbecue pit master that many might mistake him for, and he began the franchise’s journey all the way out in Wisconsin. Since then, the company has been a well-known spot for enjoying quick, quality barbecue fare for customers across the United States. While not necessarily a surefire hit for every barbecue lover or folks who rarely touch the stuff, Famous Dave’s Barbecue should prove effective.

Be sure to try out their wider selection of sauces and sides, as it helps Famous Dave’s stand out from some of the competition.

3. Mission Barbecue

One of the freshest faces on the block when it comes to American barbecue chains, Mission Barbecue opened its doors in September 2011. From day one, the chain has stood out not only for its food but also for its messaging and mission to bring change to the treatment of U.S. veterans. With every meal you buy at a Mission Barbecue location, you’ll be giving money to a variety of military-minded charities. The chain is so patriotic that they take a moment of silence at noon every day to play the national anthem and reflect upon the sacrifices of veterans.

Despite being a fresh face, it’s not just the messaging that’s made Mission Barbecue so prevalent and beloved on the barbecue scene—it’s also the excellent menu! When it comes to their Texas-inspired brisket, however, fans have taken special notice, as this has quickly become one of their most popular menu items. If you’re a massive brisket fan and have a Mission Barbecue location near you, you need to try out this fantastic barbecue goodness immediately!

4. Corky’s Ribs and Barbecue

Since 1984, the Memphis, Tennessee-born restaurant chain Corky’s Ribs and Barbecue has been serving up majorly authentic, mouthwatering barbecue to the public. Many barbecue connoisseurs consider Corky’s to be a pioneer of the Memphis barbecue style, making this chain one of the most authentic barbecue providers around.

The unique smoky and juicy flavors that Memphis-style barbecue is known for are packed into every Corky’s dish. The residents of Memphis will vouch for the authenticity and delicious consistency of Corky’s food, and the chain has been voted as the number one barbecue restaurant in Memphis 22 times since its founding. With a reputation that solid, you’ll have a hard time convincing most folks that Corky’s shouldn’t be the first stop on any barbecue fan’s list when exploring the crowded, exciting Tennessee barbecue scene.

The chain is also known for having a huge variety of sauces, meats, and cuts to savor, so repeat visits are strongly recommended for fans who want to get the full Corky’s experience. You might even pick up some of their charming branded merch to remember your flavorful conquest, as their branding is some of the most recognizable in the barbecue chain industry.

5. Sonny’s Barbecue

Another old, well-known chain, Sonny’s Barbecue has been around for more than 50 years and has shown no signs of slowing down since they first appeared on the scene. With their focus on St. Louis-style barbecue, Sonny’s brings consistently delicious rib, chicken, and brisket-based meals to their customers. Alongside their classic offerings, they have a huge array of salads, desserts, and inspired side dishes.

For those looking for a more diverse menu, especially for a family outing full of people with differing tastes, Sonny’s Barbecue is a great option. And if you’re looking for a caterer for your next big event or family gathering, Sonny’s Barbecue is worth noting. Their massive number of locations, track record for great quality bulk food, and excellent customer service reputation make Sonny’s Barbecue a leader in barbecue catering.

6. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Dickies Barbecue Pit is one of the most casual down-south barbecue experiences on this list and by far the oldest, with its first location opening back in 1941. Dickies Barbecue Pit is a name every barbecue superfan is aware of. The tasty choices and consistency of quality at Dickies Barbecue Pit’s locations make this a must-visit. At Dickies, the meat is the star, and they keep it that way by offering only two potential side dishes to go along with it—barbecue beans or potato chips. You know your barbecue masters are confident when they rely solely on their meats to keep you coming back to their restaurant again and again. Thankfully, the juicy, hefty portions of authentic Texas barbecue that Dickies offers up are more than enough to keep you full and happy.

Dickies also boasts an insanely large number of locations, with around 500 restaurants found throughout the United States. No matter where you live, you’re likely to be within a reasonable driving distance of a local Dickies. So don’t wait—to try their amazing briskets, chilies, and pit-smoked meats ASAP! While it may not be the most inventive or fresh-faced chain on the block, expect this chain to be a household name for barbecue lovers across the United States for the foreseeable future.

7. L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

By far one of the most unique and criminally lesser-known American barbecue chains on our list, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue brings uniquely styled and flavored dishes to the barbecue scene.

Unique barbecue delights await customers who love seafaring creatures as much as they do their meats. After all, when’s the last time you went to a barbecue chain that offers shrimp- and crab-based barbecue items? Even Spam is featured in some of their insanely exciting barbecue dishes! L & L Hawaiian Barbecue was originally launched in Hawaii over 50 years ago. If you want seasoned barbecue recipes, seafood-infused dishes, and a sampling of delicious side dishes—including white rice—that will stand out from every other choice on this list, you simply cannot go wrong with L & L Hawaiian Barbecue.

Thankfully, you won’t have to journey to Hawaii to sample these fantastic meals, as there are a fair number of locations—over 200 these days—spread throughout the West Coast and even a few on the East Coast in North Carolina and Virginia. L & L proves that there are plenty of exciting, delectable barbecue meals all over the United States, so don’t believe anyone who says only the South can offer up a worthwhile barbecue experience.

8. Dinosaur Barbecue

While they sport far fewer locations than many of the other more well-known barbecue chains on this list, Dinosaur Barbecue makes up for its lack of quantity with consistent, indisputable quality barbecue meals. The quirky name—fitting given that it’s one of the oldest chains on this list and has been around for more than 50 years—signals the more variety-filled, odd menu choices that are up for grabs at their locations. The inclusion of Cajun Fried Catfish has made them especially well-known among barbecue lovers in the know.

Dinosaur Barbecue even offers seafood-based meals like their famous spicy shrimp boil. But what has made Dinosaur Barbecue famous, more than any other item on their variety-packed menu, is their Saint Louis-style ribs, which come slow-smoked and smothered with the chain’s special dry rub recipe. The New York-based chain proves that even Northerners can provide fantastic barbecue meals, and they are often considered one of the top providers of Saint Louis-style barbecue in the United States. While they shy away from dedicating everything on their menu to the Saint Louis style, many fans will tell you to stick with this option when first exploring the delicious Dinosaur Barbecue menu.

9. Full Moon Barbecue

After being around for nearly four decades, with its first location opening back in 1986, Full Moon Barbecue is another chain that’s been around for a while.

The seasoned barbecue provider brings a perfected approach to creating homestyle Alabama barbecue for customers day in and day out and has a cult-like following among barbecue lovers. They’ve kept their location numbers fairly small, with 16 locations currently open, but this decision has allowed the chain to ensure absolute quality when it comes to their delicious, sauce-soaked food selections. The more exclusive nature of Full Moon Barbecue has made its reputation within the barbecue fan community skyrocket.

One of the most unique standout qualities that have made Full Moon Barbecue famous is the way they prepare their food. Each of their locations is adorned with a 30 x 15-foot brick fire pit that’s used for constant, around-the-clock smoking.

Every single meat served at Full Moon Barbecue is cooked low, slow, and to perfection over these astounding pits, using hickory wood to add extra flavor. Thanks to this extra effort, you’ll get the pleasure of long-smoked and slow-cooked barbecue without having to go to a more expensive barbecue joint. Alongside their amazing main dishes, Full Moon Barbecue is known for its sides, so be sure to try out some of their amazing trimmings, such as deviled eggs, collard greens, and other traditionally delicious Southern-inspired sides.

10. 4 Rivers Smokehouse

Despite not being in a more traditional barbecue hotspot like Texas or Tennessee, 4 Rivers Smokehouse has jumped to the top of the list as a favorite for many barbecue lovers. There’s a unique, variety-packed, and delicious flavor to their grub that makes this Florida-based chain stand out from the competition.

The restaurant’s founder, John Rivers, began the chain as his passion project and left the healthcare industry to bring his signature brand of readily available barbecue goodness to the masses. From the day the restaurant opened its doors and invited barbecue lovers to try out a new experience, the business has been booming! When you visit one of 4 Rivers’ many Florida-based locations, you’ll be in for servings of St. Louis-style ribs, Texas-style sausages, and other inspired barbecue fare. By serving more than one or two styles of barbecue and blending styles in some dishes, Rivers was able to de-regionalize this famously region-branded cuisine.

Once again, the variety given to the flavors and presentation of every single dish at 4 Rivers Smokehouse is what helps it stand out in such a massive manner, making it one of the best barbecue chain restaurants in America!

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