The 25 Best Places For BBQ In Massachusetts

You might not think of BBQ in Massachusetts as the first thing to eat in this food lovin’ state, but it’s seriously good. With authentic Southern barbecue joints with a New England twist, you’ll be in smoked meat heaven here. From Boston to beyond, here’s our top picks…

The 25 Best Places For BBQ In Massachusetts, How do these rankings work?

1. B.T’s Smokehouse – Sturbridge

If you’re anywhere in Massachussetts and looking for a great BBQ place, then B.T. Smokehouse is the place to go. Voted by the Boston Globe as one of the best BBQ places in New England, this famous restaurant serves delicious sandwiches, BBQ burritos and much more!

2. Blue Ribbon BBQ – Arlington

Blue Ribbon BBQ is a local favourite barbecue restaurant that offers fine swine dining for your next family dinner. The restaurant serves up all sorts of BBQ dishes, platter deals and sweet desserts to make your experience as authentic as can be.

3. Redbones Barbecue – Boston

Redbones Barbecue as a great menu of downhome-style Southern food, from beignets to fried pickles, with other delicious dishes such as hush puppies, garden salads, and barbecue and ribs. If you’re ever in Boston, you should try their pulled pork with daily beans.

4. Kinfolks BBQ – Taunton

Kinfolks understands that BBQ is the cornerstone of some of the best American cuisine. Their food truck menu includes a delicious variety of smoked meats, with the pulled pork and beef ribs an essential order. Juicy, smokey and full of flavour, it’s the perfect main for their creamy mac and cheese.

5. 2 Jerks BBQ – Raynham

2 Jerks started as a hobby between two brothers, and is now one of the best spots for BBQ in Massachussetts, with years of competing in BBQ competitions under their belts. From Memphis-style Ribs and Texas Brisket to North Carolina Pulled Pork, it’s a tasty trail of the best barbecue styles. Bonus points for the free cornbread!

6. Sweet Cheeks Q – Boston

Sweet Cheeks Q serves up sensational dry-rubbed pork and beef ribs daily, so do yourself a favour and make it your mission to sample both. The meat is meticulously hand-rubbed, cured and slow-smoked. Their recipe for success? The way in which they marinate, roast, and cool the spare ribs.

7. The Smoke Shop BBQ – Cambridge

The Smoke Shop is a chef-driven passion project from a world champion pitmaster who has decades of experience in cooking and culinary. Try the award-winning Brisket & Ribs, Burnt Ends, Texas Hot Links and more, such as smoked turkey breast. *drools*

8. Bub’s BBQ – Sunderland

This family owned restaurant is the place to visit if you’re looking for some home-style BBQ in Sunderland. Served straight from their smokers, their delicious pulled pork, beef briskets, chicken, and ribs really hit the spot. There’s also fried gator, and a hearty gumbo.

9. B-ACK Yard BBQ – Nantucket

Chow down on all sorts of classic barbecue fare here, from tender brisket to smoked Kielbasa sausages and pulled pork. This yummy spot is a great place to visit if you want exciting American BBQ taste washed down with some beer and bourbon.

10. Tavern On The Hill – Easthampton

Boasting scenic valley vistas, outdoor seating and delicious smoked BBQ items, Tavern On The Hill ticks all the boxes. It consistently wins the hearts of Easthampton locals and travelers alike. From smoked beef and pork to fried salmon, this is seriously good comfort food.

11. Shed’s BBQ – Boston

Hightail it to Shed’s BBQ for authentic Texas-style barbecue, and some of the tastiest BBQ in Massachussetts. Their ribs are just juicy enough so that, with each bite, flavour oozes off of the bone. Other must-eats include the chopped brisket, with sides of collard greens and fried pickles.

12. Damn Yankees – South Deerfield

Damn Yankees only smokes the good stuff and has a variety of special barbecue treats on its menu for an epic lunch. They smoke all their meat over apple wood, oak, hickory, and maple for a rich and intense flavour, slow-cooking the cuts for 8-10 hours. Get here early before they sell out!

13. Wildwood Barbecue – Hadley

The BBQ at this joint is smoked low and slow. Wildwood Barbecue smokes its meat with apple, cherry and hickory, giving each cut the perfect smoke ring and flavour. It even makes its own bacon, pastrami and bakes them from scratch giving you a unique Hadley taste that you can come to expect.

14. Rusty Can – Byfield

Rusty Can is the the perfect place in Byfield if you want to take a fellow food lover out to impress. The BBQ is slow cooked and smoked until its just right and each cut (from St. Louis ribs to brisket) comes with white bread, cornbread & honey butter, pickles & onions and choice of two sides.

15. Larry J’s BBQ Cafe – Boston

Larry J’s BBQ Cafe serves up. slow-cooked Texas smokehouse meats for amazing finger-licking BBQ. Feast on classics such as smoked sausage links, burnt ends, bologna and brisket, with stellar sides of candied yams and cilantro yellow rice. You’ll be keen to visit again and again.

16. Pit Stop Barbecue – Mattapan

Whether you’re craving BBQ from Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, or the Carolina’s, this Mattapan spot has you sorted. It’s a no-frills, all flavour takeout joint that’s only open Thursday-Saturday, so. plan your feast around this. Don’t forget to order yourself a side of our banana pudding or sweet potato pie…

17. PJ’s Smoke “N” Grill – Medway

Located in the heart of Medway, PJ’s focuses on fresh, homemade BBQ recipes that are some of the tastiest BBQ in the Massachusetts. It also has a lovely welcoming ambiance and is a great place to visit with family or friends. Be sure to try the house smoked brisket sandwich, piled high with house BBQ sauce on a butter grilled brioche roll.

18. Tennessee’s Real BBQ – Braintree

This award winning BBQ joint specialises in meats smoked daily on Hickory, Apple and Cherry woods, marinated and cooked with their own special dry rubs. The final, perfect touch? Slathering those tender, succulent meats with Tennessee’s Real BBQ’s own special tomato based, chocolate-laced BBQ sauce.

19. Theodores’ Blues, Booze and BBQ – Springfield

This place has good vibes, amazing live music and great BBQ. Theodore’s Blues cooks up fresh Q straight from the smoker, but be warned: it’s popular, so get here hungry and early before they sell out. Try the pulled pork, sliced brisket, and Texas sausage, which come served on Texas Toast for soppin’ up the sauce.

20. Smokestack Urban Barbecue – Worcester

This top notch joint offers great BBQ items of the tastiest cuts of beef, chicken and pork. If you’re ever in Worcester, you should try their smoked wings and signature BBQ burger, which is piled high with slow smoked BBQ pork, beef and chicken. Be sure to get an order of the apple slaw on the side.

21. Pitstop BBQ – Wakefield

Offering up some of the best BBQ in Wakefield, Pitstop BBQ has a mouth-watering menu which includes beef, ribs and pork barbecue, chicken wings and some really great sandwiches. When it comes to authentic smokey meats and droolworthy sides, you’ll never go wrong here.

22. Joff’s Backyard Grill – Bellingham

The Backyard Grill has some of the best Southern BBQ Pulled Pork in all of Bellingham. Served fresh and juicy, the food at this joint is a real local favourite. You can’t come here without ordering the meaty pork ribs though, which are roasted low and slow with Joff’s dry rub and root beer glaze, fire grilled & BBQ basted.

23. Goodstuff Smokehouse – Blackstone

At Goodstuff Smokehouse, you can enjoy New England-style BBQ and their legendary black kettle corn as a sweet cinnamon snack for after your feast. The Boston spare ribs are the best, with a perfectly sweet-yet-spicy and tender flavour. Add on some of the brisket burnt ends before they run out!

24. Highland Fried – Cambridge

In the mood for. fried chicken, pit-smoked BBQ, & exotic Tiki Drinks? Highland Fried has all sorts of to-die-for fare. From St Louis ribs to amazing spiced sausage, the restaurant has made our list because of its mouth-watering menu and great service. If you’re ever in Cambridge, seek out this spot.

25. Blackstrap BBQ – Winthrop

For a taste of the very best regional barbecue eats, Blackstrap BBQ has all the classics. There’s Memphis style dry rubs for its ribs and a combination of South Carolina and Eastern North Carolina for its pulled pork. As for the brisket? That’s authentic Texas style, while the baby back ribs are as good as any in Kansas City.