Barbecue is perhaps the perfect hearty summer food. It just tastes better when enjoyed in glorious weather. Lucky for you, Atlanta has a wide range of fabulous barbecue restaurants both new and well-loved city classics. We’ve rounded up the 11 very best barbecue spots in Atlanta, perfect for all meat-lovers.
See Also: The 9 Best Frozen Summer Cocktails In Atlanta
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1976 Hosea L Williams Drive NE / Website
Crowd favorite Anna’s BBQ serves up mouthwatering, tender barbecue that frequently sells out. There’s a large, very affordable, menu featuring everything from traditional barbecue dishes like beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and rib tips, to tasty burgers, stew, hot dogs, and sandwiches. With a long list of side dishes and an even longer list of cakes and desserts, be sure to come to Anna’s hungry. The restaurant closes when it runs out of barbecue, so plan ahead if you’re determined to taste Anna’s BBQ. Order online using their website for an easy pickup.
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1361 Clairmont Road, Decatur / Website
Order a heaping meal of delectable barbecue from Community Q BBQ. The concise menu features barbecue favorites like smoked sausage, pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs, sloppy joe, and chicken. Every order is cooked freshly, so the restaurant heavily relies on preorders so food isn’t wasted. Leftover meats are used in the restaurant’s stew and baked beans, and leftover meals are donated to the local food bank. Preorder online using their website. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
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264 Memorial Drive SE / Website
Iconic barbecue “joynt” Daddy D’z is a community favorite as well as a Food Network favorite. The restaurant’s rib tips and sauce were one of Chopped judge and renowned chef Aaron Sanchez’s top picks on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Each meat is freshly cooked over a hickory and oak pit. The restaurant features daily specials, be sure to keep up with their website or stop in the store to see what’s new. It’s open for both dine-in eating and carryout. Carryout orders can be placed here.
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Multiple Locations / Website
Meats are freshly smoked atop a family-built barrel smoker at Das Barbecue. Both locations feature a fabulous selection of barbecue favorites. The restaurant has a robust preorder menu and requires guests to order by 5 p.m. the prior day. Or, choose Das Barbecue for your next party and have the delectable brisket steal the show and your guests’ hearts. Online orders can be placed here.
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660 Whitlock Ave. SW, Marietta / Website
Smoked daily by the first grand champion of the Georgia State BBQ Championship, Dave Poe, this barbecue is truly an Atlanta darling. It was even a favorite of former Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson, who invited Dave Poe’s BBQ to Washington, DC to showcase some of the best food Georgia has to offer. The extensive menu will have barbecue-lovers struggling to narrow down the options. The restaurant is open for both eat-in and carryout. Catering consultations can be done here.
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1811 Piedmont Ave. NE / Website
Enjoy savory barbecue fixings while jamming out to nightly live blues acts at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. The restaurant is best known for its ribs and sweet potato pie, according to its website. With ample beer selections and a heaping menu of flavorful meats, this place is made for a fun-filled night out. While it has a no-frills exterior, the energy inside is memorable. Take home a bottle of the restaurant’s well-loved barbecue sauce via the online shop. Carryout orders can be placed by phone or through food delivery services.
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Taste authentic Texas barbecue right here in Atlanta. Twin brothers and chefs Jonathan Fox and Justin Fox moved to Atlanta from Fort Worth and craved the authentic, flavorful barbecue of their home state. They partnered with Beau Nolen of Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta to open a barbecue joint. With a strong following in town and on Instagram, the restaurant’s specialties are smoked brisket, wings, and pulled pork. Online orders can be placed here.
3699 Main St., College Park / Website
Enjoy Texas-style barbecue with recipes passed down through the generations. The restaurant’s namesake, Hattie Marie, grew up watching her dad cook and then passed down her recipes to her son who now runs the restaurant. On the menu find delectable pork ribs, chicken, beef ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, fried catfish, and a selection of classic barbecue cuisine sides. Online orders can be placed here.
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2243 Akers Mill Road / Website
Try tasty barbecue with an Asian flair at Heirloom Market BBQ. Chef Jiyeon Lee grew up in South Korea, fell in love with the creativity of cooking, and eventually joined forces with Atlanta chef Cody Taylor to create the ultimate barbecue establishment. Though small from the outside, the menu is packed with flavorful dishes. The menu features Korean barbecue staples like Spicy Korean Pork and American barbecue classics like pulled pork and brisket. Order online for an easy pickup.
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2358 Hosea L Williams Drive NE / Website
From seasoned chef and Atlanta native Josh Lee, barbecue at Lake & Oak is a must-try southern eatery. The menu is stocked with drool-worthy barbecue staples like rib tips, ribs, pulled pork, and chicken wings. There are three sauces to choose from for varying levels of hotness, along with a solid lineup of side dishes. Order online for an easy pickup.
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656 N Highland Ave. NE / Website
Sibling owners Howard Hsu and Anita Hsu combine their Asian roots and Southern upbringing for this tasty barbecue joint. It first started as a food truck and has grown in popularity so much so that the Hsu siblings opened a full-service restaurant complete with a cocktail menu and fully stocked bar. This is a great spot for delectable ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and vegetarian barbecue rubbed tofu, especially if you’re looking for a classy sit-down restaurant.
Photography by: Oscar Salgado / Unsplash
