Favorite barbecue joint?

[bugo]

What are your favorite BBQ restaurants? I like quite a few. Here are some of my favorite 'cue joints by state:

Missouri: Gates, LC's and many others in Kansas City.

Arkansas: Smitty's in Conway, Jo Jo's in Sherwood, McClard's in Hot Springs.

Oklahoma: Elmer's in Tulsa.

Nexus 5X

[Rothman]

Texas:  Luling City Market, Luling, TX

Massachusetts:  Bub's Bar-B-Q, Sunderland, MA

[corco]

Mac's in Jackson, Tennessee. City Market is pretty fuckin awesome though.

[slorydn1]

Moore's BBQ, New Bern, NC

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota: Q Fanatic in Champlin
Kansas/Missouri: Jack Stack, Overland Park
Mississippi: Abe's, Clarksdale
North Carolina: 12 Bones, Asheville

[sparker]

Texas (both in Austin):  Franklin (for take-out brisket), Stubb's (for sit-down ribs).
Oregon:  Buster's (several outlets in greater PDX)
California:  Smoking Pig (2 in San Jose, 1 in Fremont; Fremont's the one to go to for a bit better atmosphere -- and definitely better service).  Great brisket (choice of fatty or lean or a combo plate of both), fine pork ribs -- and the great appetizer must -- brisket tips charred, wrapped in a jalapeno, then all that wrapped in bacon and deep-fried; they're called "wolf turds" on the menu! 

[1995hoo]

We had a really good meal at Company 7 near Dayton (I think it's Englewood, Ohio–exit I-70 at OH-48 and the restaurant is just north of the Interstate on your left past Perkins).

[jp the roadgeek]

CT: Bear's BBQ (multiple locations, including kiosks at Rentschler Field and Dunkin Donuts Park)
      Flaggstead BBQ in Farmington

Just had a Mission BBQ location open in my town (first in New England).  Those that have tried it have said it's great.  Have to try it once the grand opening crowd dies down a bit.

[ce929wax]

Dickey's was always my favorite.  They have one in Coldwater, Michigan, but I'm not going to drive 40 miles just to have BBQ, unless I am driving through Coldwater and happen to be hungry.

[Jim]

Some of the best I can recall are places whose names I don't remember.  For example, some BBQ place in the late 90's in Manchester, New Hampshire, a place in Kenner, Louisiana, probably others I've encountered in my travels.

One place I went often when I lived nearby was Hickory Bill's in North Adams, Massachusetts, but that closed up long ago.  There was (maybe still is?) a place on New York 22 in Canaan that I went a few times when living in Pittsfield.

Two stand out for me from last year: Mabel's in Cleveland was superb.  Stubbs in Austin was mentioned already and my meal there (a conference banquet with all you can eat of several of their items) was outstanding. 

As for chains, I used to be a big fan of Famous Dave's, and went multiple times in the Twin Cities area when visiting there for a month 20+ years ago.  Then I had bad experiences with 3 different locations and have not been back since.  Rudy's has never disappointed me.  I've only been to Dinosaur once (in Syracuse) and that was good.  Somehow, I haven't yet gotten to the Troy location.

And I can cook a pretty great rack of baby back ribs in my own oven/broiler/grill.

[cjk374]

Dickey's was always my favorite.  They have one in Coldwater, Michigan, but I'm not going to drive 40 miles just to have BBQ, unless I am driving through Coldwater and happen to be hungry.

Dickey's is a nationwide chain that is not bad eatin...to be a chain. We have a couple in Shreveport/Bossier & one in Monroe.

My favorite BBQ joint...Hickory Hut in North Hodge, LA...just closed for good after the owner's wife passed away. I prefer local joints over chains if they are available.

[Max Rockatansky]

Stacy's BBQ in Phoenix is apparently still in business in Phoenix.  When I lived there it was voted one of the ten best BBQ places in the country.  The current review score on Google was 4.1 so I don't know if the quality dropped any.  When I was living there it was a cash only place and definitely a hole-in-the-wall type setting.  Really a nice surprise in an area that traditionally does BBQ very poorly.

[inkyatari]

Smoky's, Yorkville, IL

[Mapmikey]

Alabama - Dreamland (several state-wide, been only to the Northport one)...like Mexican restaurants do with chips and salsa, they start you with slices of white bread and bbq dipping sauce
New York - Brooks BBQ (Oneonta)...phenomenal whole BBQ chickens
Texas - Black's BBQ (Austin/Lockhart) had really good brisket
Texas - Salt Lick (Austin area) good BBQ turkey
North Carolina - Gardners (Rocky Mount)

Regional Chain - Sonny's (southeast, mostly GA and FL)

[Jim]

New York - Brooks BBQ (Oneonta)...phenomenal whole BBQ chickens

No idea how I forgot Brooks in my original list.

[Rothman]

Brooks' meats are decent (better than the overrated Dinosaur), but their sides are awful.

My son's high school does a Brooks BBQ fundraiser every year and the sides are always disappointing.

[ET21]

Billy Boys, Oak Lawn IL

[Brandon]

Sharko's, Naperville, IL

[Takumi]

Saucy's, Petersburg VA

[tchafe1978]

Bob's Bitchin' Barbecue in Dodgeville, WI

I recommend the sampler plate, where you get a sample of all the different sauces with 4 different kinds of meat.

[Jim]

Also had a couple really good takeout meals from Oakwood Express in Wildwood, Florida.  Looks like there are several locations in the area, but I've only been to the one in Wildwood.

[Mapmikey]

Also:

North Carolina (Raleigh) - The Pit...sublime pulled pork
Virginia (Richmond area) - Q...terrific pork and chicken with the best banana pudding I have ever had

[Takumi]

Also:

North Carolina (Raleigh) - The Pit...sublime pulled pork
Virginia (Richmond area) - Q...terrific pork and chicken with the best banana pudding I have ever had

Q is another good one, yeah. Good food and decent, though small, local beer selection.

[US71]

My favorite was The Homestaed on Vincennes Ave in Blue Island. Now that they're gone, I've yet to find a new favorite

[Jim]

A few more I've thought of.

Capitol Q BBQ in Albany (NY), with a couple varieties of really good pulled pork, great sides (many of which have bacon as an ingredient).

Now closed in Golden Gate, Florida, is the Brown Bag.  Just a plain little takeout storefront but some outstanding ribs.

And speaking of the Naples, Florida, area, I've enjoyed the ribs from Michelbob's.