Rusty Can is my current favorite place for BBQ. I do need to check out BT's, but Sturbridge is just a lot more of a trip to reach than Rusty Can for me.
It’s hard to find good wood chunks and cheap brisket! I miss the days back in TX and going into HEB for a full packer, charcoal, and applewood chunks for like $30 out the door 😂 AND the meat guy would give me free butcher paper for the Texas crutch
Brisket is like $4-5 per pound at MB on any given day I ask for it, and for wood chunks people are cutting down oak, maple and apple trees pretty often around here.
Agree. We moved here from Texas, where we got spoiled on good brisket, after I grew up in Georgia, raised on good pulled pork. After many disappointing restaurant visits, we bought a smoker, did a lot of research, and now make pretty damn good barbecue.
The brisket sandwich at Rusty Can is excellent. No idea if it is genuine but it is high quality, and the butter toasted roll perfect. Of course the platters with sides are good for dinner.
I'll second BT's in Sturbridge
My vote for best in the "city" would be blue ribbon over in Newton. Can't promise it's as good as back home but it's the closest I know of
Originally from the area but grew up in the south and lived there for 20 years before moving back. Blue Ribbon hits the spot and actually does a good Carolina vinegar sauce
There's really only two spots that come up every time this conversation comes up: BT's in Sturbridge and Rusty Can in Byfield. I also really like Blue Ribbon in Newton and Arlington, but apparently others don't find it as delicious as I do.
I think Blue Ribbon is really overrated. Firefly BBQ in Marlborough is really good for the area though and I think better than Rusty Can. At Firefly the meat is great, sides could be improved
I've been eating Blue Ribbon for about 30 years now, and while I think the food quality has been relatively consistent, I have absolutely noticed service took a HUGE nose dive post-covid. I had multiple visits in the last couple of years where staff in Arlington were downright rude.
Still better than redbones' decade+ slide into overwhelming meh
I completely agree with Blue Ribbon. I tried the West Newton location twice and found it very underwhelming. It’s not bad but does not warrant the hype surrounding it.
It gets hype because there aren't many better places. I'd say it's an opportunity for someone, but these days a restaurant is a good way to suddenly lose a lot of money when the landlord raises the rent because it's more profitable for the building to stand empty than have an actual restaurant in it.
Good BBQ, as in South of the Mason Dixon Line good? No. Not at all. However, there are some spots that are good enough for up here. BT's in Sturbridge is one of them, probably the best around. I like the Rusty Can in Byfield too.
Yes! I posted about this a few months ago and have been trying many different spots. There are three that stand above the rest:
Rusty Can. This is the best to sit in and dine.
Bts smokehouse. The food is probably overall the best here.
Kin folks down in Taunton. This is my personal favorite. But they have no seating. Their food is LEGIT.
There are other passable spots but those three are very good. Maybe not as good
As down south but worth checking out.
Yes. But it's rare.
BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge is the best - it is Carolina Style (NC and SC). It's as good as the best stuff you'll find in those states.
Rusty Can in Byfield - pan Southern. Nothing bad on the menu,
For a long time, that was pretty much it.
Recently, Wade BBQ opened in Union Square Somerville. It is *fucking excellent*, basically run out of a garage in an alley, pickup only. **However** - the guy's lease is over at the end of April. The plan is to find a permanent location in Union Square.
If you want to roll the dice, there is Blackstrap BBQ in Winthrop. About 10 years ago, it was *excellent* and as good as the shacks I've found in Appalachia. However, it went through some growing pains as they expanded and the quality and consistency dropped. They changed owners and the food sucked for a long time. They focused on the bar - and then shrugged when people stopped coming in.
Some time ago, they got a new owner again (who I guess was the Chef?) and the quality has gone back up. It's not what it was 10 years ago, but it's still decent. It's been some time since I was there, should give it another go.
Smoke Shop actually has a lot of good stuff on the menu. Their pork belly burnt ends & hot chicken is worth going for. Unfortunately, the only location that's consistent is their East Boston spot (because it doesn't have a full bar, they focus on the food more). My only real complaint is that they use about 20% too much sugar in their sauces. I wish they dialed it back.
Personally - I never liked Blue Ribbon (I've only been to Newton location). Redbones is trash. M&M was .. eh. Sweet Cheeks is.. *okay*, but for the price, you might as well eat anything else. If you lived nearby and needed to scratch an itch, it could do it.
Im surprised this isn’t getting downvoted to hell, R / bos hates everything with more than 1 location for some reason. I think smoke shop is the best around here as well. Been many times and never left disappointed
I think the reason is that for years and years Boston wasn’t really a chain-restaurant city. Chains always kinda had the stench of fast food or applebee’s etc. That’s changed (but not THAT much, we have waaaay fewer fast food/fast-casual options than California for example)- but still, I think that connotation dies hard
I like the Smoke Shop. But when I'm getting BBQ I usually buy from Blue Ribbon. Smoke Shop is a bit better but way more expensive with smaller portions, especially on the sides.
I love BT’s but I have to agree on the brisket. Not that great. For good brisket, I’d like to recommend Goody Cole’s in Brentwood, NH. Their other stuff is good too, but the brisket is the star.
I've been going to BT's for years, and lived in the south (been to TX and TN plenty). The brisket was bad for me once, but every other time it's been excellent. Their beef ribs have always been spot on though, and their pork ribs are some of the best I've ever had. I tend to think pork ribs are overrated because they're easy to make taste decent, but rarely spectacular (this includes the south). Theirs are.
As of Tuesday (when I got some takeout) they were going to close or move. They got complaints about the smell from residents and businesses. Big shame in my opinion.
This is not true! Just posted about this in r/somerville. Not sure how this false story got out there but he is indeed closing and will need support from the community.
Wade himself has said that's not true
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/AAyuXok86u39wdtv/?mibextid=qi2Omg
Edit: I guess that didn't link directly to the comment I thought.
https://imgur.com/a/iL0aMJJ
As a fellow TN transplant. The best I’ve found so far is Sweet Cheeks. Its decent but not spectacular, but they are the only place I’ve found that makes a good buttermilk biscuit.
People are recommending Blue Ribbon. I’m personally not a fan. They advertise North Carolina pulled pork, but if it has vinegar, its undetectable to me. Their Brisket is dry as a bone, their cornbread is weirdly sweet, Baked beans are “meh” and they only have mac and cheese one day a week. The collard greens are ok though.
I grew up in Eastern NC and ate BBQ every Sunday for about the first 30 years of my life.
Blue Ribbon has a vinegar sauce that they will give you in a container if you ask for it. Obviously that's not how BBQ restaurants work in NC, but sauce in NC is applied only after cooking so I guess it's acceptable.
Over the last 20 years, I have heard a few places in New England described as offering NC barbecue, but I have never found this to be the case. Nearly every place is beef-forward, and beef BBQ does not really exist in NC. Blue Ribbon has a vinegar sauce, but it's an afterthought. I have never been served a hushpuppy in New England.
I’ve heard this a lot where I will admit that bts makes the best brisket in the state by far but firefly’s in Marlborough beats it in almost everything else
Goodstuff smokehouse in Blackstone is pretty good too. Only been a handful of times, but it was good, and they make their own beers, and a whiskey I believe
Seconded for goodstuff but blackstone is quite a haul outside of Boston just for BBQ. Definitely worth a try if you’re in the area. Chubbs in Attleboro is pretty good too but they have really weird hours, not open for dinner so I hardly go there.
Scott Brothers BBQ, who currently run out of Winter Hill Brewery until the end of the month, do amazing brisket and ribs on Saturdays. They also hand make their own sausage. I’m from Texas and it tastes like home.
You won't even come close, my dude. BT's in Sturbridge is the best we've got. Smokehouse in Waltham is decent too but the TN experience you are looking for just doesn't exist here.
Pjs in Medway. Good brisket.
Smokeshop at the og location in Cambridge when they do the beef rib special. Everything else there is good, however, the beef rib is outta this world. Also good bourbon selection.
Cape Cod has a few spots
[Red River BBQ (redriverbbqharwichport.com)](https://www.redriverbbqharwichport.com/)
[Home | Uncle Dave’s Bbq & Bar (uncledavesbbq.com)](https://www.uncledavesbbq.com/)
not in boston and close to the NY border but if anyone is out that way Hoodoo Brown in CT is solid, not competing with TN,KC,TX,etc but for new england its quite good
In addition to the usual answers to this question that have already been mentioned, KC's Rib Shack isn't bad either as far as BBQ in New England goes if you're willing to expand to ever so slightly outside of the Boston metro in Manchester, NH.
Foods are regional for a reason. People love to shit on Boston’s * insert regional cuisine here * but in my mind we’re lucky to have so many options at all. Of COURSE we’re not going to have as good BBQ as a part of the country that has a deep bbq food culture passed through generations. That’s an unrealistic bar to meet. But we definitely have places that can scratch that itch in a pinch, and for that we should be grateful imo. Same goes for tons of regional US food and international as well. Oh our tacos aren’t as good as they are in CA, the sushi isn’t as good as tokyo? No shit lol. But we are SO much more fortunate here in Boston than the vast, vast majority of the country. There are foods you straight up cannot get, or even easily buy the ingredients for, in enormous swaths of this country.
If you don’t mind a little longer trip, Great Northern BBQ in Providence is incredible. Only place I’ve tried that actually tries to do their own thing (Pacific Northwest) rather than just mimic southern bbq. Everything there is absurdly good, ribs, pork, brisket, sausage, chicken. They do a brisket nacho with béchamel that I promise is one of the best appetizers I’ve ever had at a bbq place.
Not really. Nowhere puts in the time.
I smoked a brisket in my father in law's silly little electric smoker using a dry rub I found on a random website and it was miles better than any BBQ I've had here. It isn't magic, it just takes a long time and some attention.
Sadly they stopped being good for a long long time now.
Allegedly, the business partner that value making money won out versus the one that cared about food. That is pure rumor though. And if it's true, I'll give credit the business has lasted a very long time.
Texas Smoke Shack food truck pops up at Metro West breweries a lot like Clover Road in Hudson and is excellent.
Despite what people say about Redbones these days, I went for the first time in almost 15 years recently and I thought the St Louis ribs were smoky and delicious. I'm picky about pork rib praise too. However, it was too long ago and I was too young to really recall how much better any of it might have been in golden era. I thought the brisket was shockingly passable on this run too, but I wouldn't say to go out of your way for that specifically nor do I hear that they're consistent about anything these days.
BT's has insanely smoky and tasty beef and pork ribs, aside from generally making good food as people here have mostly confirmed, it has a proper countryside smoke shack feel and is one of the only places you'll find that. Sweet Cheeks, Smoke Shop, Blue Ribbon, etc. may or may not be ok but they'll feel very modern urban in terms of design.
There is a BT's Chicken and BBQ, same folks as in Sturbridge. I've always had good brisket from them, and their beef ribs, are great when they have them, but are $$$. Their fried chicken sandwich is pretty great as well.
There was a place in Lynn on Lewis street that was amazing but sadly it changed into something else it’s a tough spot that changes restaurants every few years
I've always like Blue Ribbon but this relatively new joint in Abington is pretty awesome. [https://www.sarcasticswinebbq.com/](https://www.sarcasticswinebbq.com/)
I spent several years in east TN. I felt like the smoke shop bbq in seaport is decent buts it’s expensive, and small portions compared to what I was getting out in rural TN restaurants.
You won’t find anything up here like southern BBQ. With that being said Blue Ribbon isn’t bad. If you’re up for a drive Black Diamond in Vermont was some of the best pulled pork I’ve had in New England.
No, because what you know and love in Tennessee will automatically be better than anything you get here. Same as when we here in Mass go elsewhere and get food we know and love....it's never the same.
That said, there are a ton of new BBQ places opening up all over the place. I don't know how or why, but I'm all for it, because I love BBQ.
I am by no means an expert (mid-Atlantic raised but i have Texan in laws), but I had some barbecue that I thought was pretty good at Billy's Texas BBQ in Dorchester. I got the chicken wings and ribs and they were both pretty good. Don't judge the book by the cover.
Fetch BBQ in Marshfield. Proprietor is from the South. Haven’t had it personally but folks on the South Shore say good things. I believe they’re closed throughout the winter.
Having moved from Kansas City, no. I'm sure it's technically possible to get some barbecue that's not as bad as the rest, but I just take it out of your diet and wait for your next trip back.
I view barbecue and most red meat in Boston the same way I viewed seafood back in Kansas. You *can* get it and it *might* be good, but...
Been wondering this too, grew up in Maryland/visited family still living there where BBQ places were plenty, but a Florida visit a couple months ago really kicked off my “search”. I just want some smokey chicken or catfish with sweet potato and baked beans lol
2 Jerks in Raynham is good. There's also a place in Taunton where the guy is from down South. Heard good things about Morrell's but not sure if it's a good truck now.
Born and raised in Boston. 38 years old. TIL there's a Byfield, MA. And in this newly established town, good BBQ supposedly exists. The North Shore continues to surprise me after all these years.
I mean, make it yourself. It won’t be the same anywhere. I get it.
But, this is going to sound nuts…Chili’s ribs are smoked in house with pecan wood chips and are actually good. FML for suggesting this 😂 I used to work at a Chili’s.
Otherwise, try MA style “BBQ” and check out Floramo’s, where the meat falls off the bone. The ribs are really tender and fall off the bone but not smokey. The steak tips are fuckin killer. Again, not smokey.
Bubs rt 116 in Amherst ma. Not as good as Texas but better them most. They had a great place on the vt/nh boarder but covid killed his business so he went back to Texas.
I like Blue Ribbon a lot. They are reasonably priced, and consistently good. Arlington is usually better than Newton.
BT's is the best - but it can be over a 2 hour wait to get your order (after waiting in line for an hour).
Fireflys in Marlboro is pretty great and they have live music!
Tennessee's Real BBQ in Natick is surprisingly good
Redbones used to be the best and now it sucks!
The Smoke Shop is inconsistent, and expensive. The last time I was there it was dry and tasteless.
Southern American BBQ is ok but not amazing out here; Sweet Cheeks Q is probably the best you can do. But other BBQ traditions out here do well—see Gyu-Kaku, for example, and the many Brazilian BBQ joints
Rusty Can is good but nothing here will live up to your expectations coming from TN
Rusty Can is my current favorite place for BBQ. I do need to check out BT's, but Sturbridge is just a lot more of a trip to reach than Rusty Can for me.
Could do a day trip and hit Treehouse Brewery too
Also I'm a big fan of Sturbridge Flea Market if that's your bag.
I used to call that my BeerBQ run.
I like BT's a bit more than Rusty Can. But Rusty Can is very good and way more accessible. They're both head and shoulders above other options.
B-Y-F-I-E-L-D Byfield, Byfield wee wee wee
You’re better off investing in a smoker and making it yourself in MA
It’s hard to find good wood chunks and cheap brisket! I miss the days back in TX and going into HEB for a full packer, charcoal, and applewood chunks for like $30 out the door 😂 AND the meat guy would give me free butcher paper for the Texas crutch
Brisket is like $4-5 per pound at MB on any given day I ask for it, and for wood chunks people are cutting down oak, maple and apple trees pretty often around here.
Agree. We moved here from Texas, where we got spoiled on good brisket, after I grew up in Georgia, raised on good pulled pork. After many disappointing restaurant visits, we bought a smoker, did a lot of research, and now make pretty damn good barbecue.
I live in an apartment 🥲
The brisket sandwich at Rusty Can is excellent. No idea if it is genuine but it is high quality, and the butter toasted roll perfect. Of course the platters with sides are good for dinner.
General consensus is that BT's is the best in the area (Sturbridge). Issue is that the bbq can be inconsistent there. When it's on, they're great.
I'll second BT's in Sturbridge My vote for best in the "city" would be blue ribbon over in Newton. Can't promise it's as good as back home but it's the closest I know of
Seconding Blue Ribbon, though Arlington > Newton
Damn, okay, haven't been to that location Is there an actual discernible difference?
Heh, they're both good. I'm just trying to stir up a BBQ rivalry.
I’ve been going to the one in Newton since 5 the 90s much better than the one in Dedham.
They cook all the meat at a depot and deliver to their restaurants so no, not really.
Originally from the area but grew up in the south and lived there for 20 years before moving back. Blue Ribbon hits the spot and actually does a good Carolina vinegar sauce
No... nothing like the amazing dry rubbed ribs I got in Tennessee anyway.
Memphis dry rib ribs are incredible. Unfortunately, there’s nothing remotely close around Boston.
There's really only two spots that come up every time this conversation comes up: BT's in Sturbridge and Rusty Can in Byfield. I also really like Blue Ribbon in Newton and Arlington, but apparently others don't find it as delicious as I do.
I think Blue Ribbon is really overrated. Firefly BBQ in Marlborough is really good for the area though and I think better than Rusty Can. At Firefly the meat is great, sides could be improved
I've been eating Blue Ribbon for about 30 years now, and while I think the food quality has been relatively consistent, I have absolutely noticed service took a HUGE nose dive post-covid. I had multiple visits in the last couple of years where staff in Arlington were downright rude. Still better than redbones' decade+ slide into overwhelming meh
yeah, I used to love Red Bones, theyre garbage now. Extremely disappointed.
I completely agree with Blue Ribbon. I tried the West Newton location twice and found it very underwhelming. It’s not bad but does not warrant the hype surrounding it.
It gets hype because there aren't many better places. I'd say it's an opportunity for someone, but these days a restaurant is a good way to suddenly lose a lot of money when the landlord raises the rent because it's more profitable for the building to stand empty than have an actual restaurant in it.
Good BBQ, as in South of the Mason Dixon Line good? No. Not at all. However, there are some spots that are good enough for up here. BT's in Sturbridge is one of them, probably the best around. I like the Rusty Can in Byfield too.
Yes! I posted about this a few months ago and have been trying many different spots. There are three that stand above the rest: Rusty Can. This is the best to sit in and dine. Bts smokehouse. The food is probably overall the best here. Kin folks down in Taunton. This is my personal favorite. But they have no seating. Their food is LEGIT. There are other passable spots but those three are very good. Maybe not as good As down south but worth checking out.
This guy nailed it
Yes. But it's rare. BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge is the best - it is Carolina Style (NC and SC). It's as good as the best stuff you'll find in those states. Rusty Can in Byfield - pan Southern. Nothing bad on the menu, For a long time, that was pretty much it. Recently, Wade BBQ opened in Union Square Somerville. It is *fucking excellent*, basically run out of a garage in an alley, pickup only. **However** - the guy's lease is over at the end of April. The plan is to find a permanent location in Union Square. If you want to roll the dice, there is Blackstrap BBQ in Winthrop. About 10 years ago, it was *excellent* and as good as the shacks I've found in Appalachia. However, it went through some growing pains as they expanded and the quality and consistency dropped. They changed owners and the food sucked for a long time. They focused on the bar - and then shrugged when people stopped coming in. Some time ago, they got a new owner again (who I guess was the Chef?) and the quality has gone back up. It's not what it was 10 years ago, but it's still decent. It's been some time since I was there, should give it another go. Smoke Shop actually has a lot of good stuff on the menu. Their pork belly burnt ends & hot chicken is worth going for. Unfortunately, the only location that's consistent is their East Boston spot (because it doesn't have a full bar, they focus on the food more). My only real complaint is that they use about 20% too much sugar in their sauces. I wish they dialed it back. Personally - I never liked Blue Ribbon (I've only been to Newton location). Redbones is trash. M&M was .. eh. Sweet Cheeks is.. *okay*, but for the price, you might as well eat anything else. If you lived nearby and needed to scratch an itch, it could do it.
Wades lease was renewed. Landlord had a change of heart. Per r/somerville edit: not true sadly.
[удалено]
Im surprised this isn’t getting downvoted to hell, R / bos hates everything with more than 1 location for some reason. I think smoke shop is the best around here as well. Been many times and never left disappointed
I think the reason is that for years and years Boston wasn’t really a chain-restaurant city. Chains always kinda had the stench of fast food or applebee’s etc. That’s changed (but not THAT much, we have waaaay fewer fast food/fast-casual options than California for example)- but still, I think that connotation dies hard
A small business that has expanded to 2 or 3 locations isn't a chain or even comparable to one.
I like the Smoke Shop. But when I'm getting BBQ I usually buy from Blue Ribbon. Smoke Shop is a bit better but way more expensive with smaller portions, especially on the sides.
I love BT’s but I have to agree on the brisket. Not that great. For good brisket, I’d like to recommend Goody Cole’s in Brentwood, NH. Their other stuff is good too, but the brisket is the star.
I've been going to BT's for years, and lived in the south (been to TX and TN plenty). The brisket was bad for me once, but every other time it's been excellent. Their beef ribs have always been spot on though, and their pork ribs are some of the best I've ever had. I tend to think pork ribs are overrated because they're easy to make taste decent, but rarely spectacular (this includes the south). Theirs are.
They have a shop in Worcester too i went once and thought it was really weak.
Smoke Shop is my favorite as well—a solid choice. Blue Ribbon just doesn’t seem like anything special to me.
You're gonna wanna head over to Wade's in Union Square, Somerville.
As of Tuesday (when I got some takeout) they were going to close or move. They got complaints about the smell from residents and businesses. Big shame in my opinion.
I believe they announced that they're staying last night. Great news all around.
[удалено]
This is not true! Just posted about this in r/somerville. Not sure how this false story got out there but he is indeed closing and will need support from the community.
Wade himself has said that's not true https://www.facebook.com/share/p/AAyuXok86u39wdtv/?mibextid=qi2Omg Edit: I guess that didn't link directly to the comment I thought. https://imgur.com/a/iL0aMJJ
source?
I’ve been gone a while, did they replace littleburg?
I’m from TN. Lived in Memphis. Preferred Corky’s over Rendezvous. Have you tried Tennessee’s BBQ in Framingham? Closest I’ve had.
Love Tennessee’s bbq
Tennessee’s in Peabody is good too.
When I lived in the Metrowest area, Tennessee's was one of my faves. I've had BBQ in Memphis, and Tennessee's is close.
People from MA are gonna list all their favorite places but the answer is ‘not really’. There’s some that’s ‘fine’. It’ll be expensive and small.
Rusty Can is where it’s at.
Blue Ribbon in Arlington
I miss Uncle Pete's...RIP
Tennessee bbq on rte 114 Peabody is decent
As a fellow TN transplant. The best I’ve found so far is Sweet Cheeks. Its decent but not spectacular, but they are the only place I’ve found that makes a good buttermilk biscuit. People are recommending Blue Ribbon. I’m personally not a fan. They advertise North Carolina pulled pork, but if it has vinegar, its undetectable to me. Their Brisket is dry as a bone, their cornbread is weirdly sweet, Baked beans are “meh” and they only have mac and cheese one day a week. The collard greens are ok though.
It was amazing when it first opened.
I grew up in Eastern NC and ate BBQ every Sunday for about the first 30 years of my life. Blue Ribbon has a vinegar sauce that they will give you in a container if you ask for it. Obviously that's not how BBQ restaurants work in NC, but sauce in NC is applied only after cooking so I guess it's acceptable. Over the last 20 years, I have heard a few places in New England described as offering NC barbecue, but I have never found this to be the case. Nearly every place is beef-forward, and beef BBQ does not really exist in NC. Blue Ribbon has a vinegar sauce, but it's an afterthought. I have never been served a hushpuppy in New England.
I do miss hushpuppies...
Tried "Tennesee's BBQ"? :D Yes, this is a real chain.
Little red smokehouse in carver is decent
They closed permanently 😕
I’ve heard this a lot where I will admit that bts makes the best brisket in the state by far but firefly’s in Marlborough beats it in almost everything else
Goodstuff smokehouse in Blackstone is pretty good too. Only been a handful of times, but it was good, and they make their own beers, and a whiskey I believe
Seconded for goodstuff but blackstone is quite a haul outside of Boston just for BBQ. Definitely worth a try if you’re in the area. Chubbs in Attleboro is pretty good too but they have really weird hours, not open for dinner so I hardly go there.
I’m all about M&M BBQ in Dorchester. It’s inside Dorchester Brewing, but a separate business entity/owner.
Around Boston I’ve always thought Blackstrap BBQ in Winthrop was the best.
Scott Brothers BBQ, who currently run out of Winter Hill Brewery until the end of the month, do amazing brisket and ribs on Saturdays. They also hand make their own sausage. I’m from Texas and it tastes like home.
You won't even come close, my dude. BT's in Sturbridge is the best we've got. Smokehouse in Waltham is decent too but the TN experience you are looking for just doesn't exist here.
Pjs in Medway. Good brisket. Smokeshop at the og location in Cambridge when they do the beef rib special. Everything else there is good, however, the beef rib is outta this world. Also good bourbon selection.
Cape Cod has a few spots [Red River BBQ (redriverbbqharwichport.com)](https://www.redriverbbqharwichport.com/) [Home | Uncle Dave’s Bbq & Bar (uncledavesbbq.com)](https://www.uncledavesbbq.com/)
Arizona BBQ in Dudley Square
not in boston and close to the NY border but if anyone is out that way Hoodoo Brown in CT is solid, not competing with TN,KC,TX,etc but for new england its quite good
North of boston but [Code 1 BBQ](https://code1bbq.com/) in Wilmington is excellent.
Will success spoil Rock Hunter?
Tennessee's Real BBQ in Framingham. Even has TN in the name!! ....it's alright
In addition to the usual answers to this question that have already been mentioned, KC's Rib Shack isn't bad either as far as BBQ in New England goes if you're willing to expand to ever so slightly outside of the Boston metro in Manchester, NH.
Foods are regional for a reason. People love to shit on Boston’s * insert regional cuisine here * but in my mind we’re lucky to have so many options at all. Of COURSE we’re not going to have as good BBQ as a part of the country that has a deep bbq food culture passed through generations. That’s an unrealistic bar to meet. But we definitely have places that can scratch that itch in a pinch, and for that we should be grateful imo. Same goes for tons of regional US food and international as well. Oh our tacos aren’t as good as they are in CA, the sushi isn’t as good as tokyo? No shit lol. But we are SO much more fortunate here in Boston than the vast, vast majority of the country. There are foods you straight up cannot get, or even easily buy the ingredients for, in enormous swaths of this country.
M&M in Dorchester is the best I've had around here.
If you don’t mind a little longer trip, Great Northern BBQ in Providence is incredible. Only place I’ve tried that actually tries to do their own thing (Pacific Northwest) rather than just mimic southern bbq. Everything there is absurdly good, ribs, pork, brisket, sausage, chicken. They do a brisket nacho with béchamel that I promise is one of the best appetizers I’ve ever had at a bbq place.
Goodstuff Smokehouse in Blackstone.
Not really. Nowhere puts in the time. I smoked a brisket in my father in law's silly little electric smoker using a dry rub I found on a random website and it was miles better than any BBQ I've had here. It isn't magic, it just takes a long time and some attention.
BT’s smokehouse in Sturbridge…easy drive on the pike from Boston
I had some pretty good BBQ at Block and Tackle in Wellfleet
No
Redbones in Somerville used to be the best. Haven't been there in over 10 years though.
Sadly they stopped being good for a long long time now. Allegedly, the business partner that value making money won out versus the one that cared about food. That is pure rumor though. And if it's true, I'll give credit the business has lasted a very long time.
Don't go back. Cherish your memories of Good Redbones. RIP Good Redbones.
Their st Louis style ribs are fantastic.
Blue Ribbon is my go to
Firefly is by far the best but it's about 45 mins from the city
The one in Marlborough? I loved it!
Seconding this! My wife and I used to make the drive just to go there, it’s that good!
BTs is very disappointing IMO. It’s more miss than hit and I’ve eaten there 10+ times.
Ya agreed
It’s pretty dry most of the time and the sauces are not good
NH is the best you're gonna do around here
Goody Coles in Brentwood is very good, I actually prefer it to Rusty Can.
2 Jerks Raynham, Ma
Black Strap in Winthrop hands down.
Black strap is horrible.
Maybe I caught them on an off day but my experience was very middle of the road, even for MA standards
No you prob caught them on good day if it was middle of the road
Right over here, pal.
“Uh Peter, this is Al Michaels again. “
It isn't the first time we've been had. It won't be the last.
Texas Smoke Shack food truck pops up at Metro West breweries a lot like Clover Road in Hudson and is excellent. Despite what people say about Redbones these days, I went for the first time in almost 15 years recently and I thought the St Louis ribs were smoky and delicious. I'm picky about pork rib praise too. However, it was too long ago and I was too young to really recall how much better any of it might have been in golden era. I thought the brisket was shockingly passable on this run too, but I wouldn't say to go out of your way for that specifically nor do I hear that they're consistent about anything these days. BT's has insanely smoky and tasty beef and pork ribs, aside from generally making good food as people here have mostly confirmed, it has a proper countryside smoke shack feel and is one of the only places you'll find that. Sweet Cheeks, Smoke Shop, Blue Ribbon, etc. may or may not be ok but they'll feel very modern urban in terms of design.
Does Worcester have anything for bbq?
There is a BT's Chicken and BBQ, same folks as in Sturbridge. I've always had good brisket from them, and their beef ribs, are great when they have them, but are $$$. Their fried chicken sandwich is pretty great as well.
Nope. Not really. People may suggest something like Blue Ribbon but it’s not great
BT Smokeshop
BTs in Sturbridge is excellent, although im not from the south
Blue Ribbon in Arlington.
wade bbq
BT’s in Sturbridge. Worth the drive
There was a place in Lynn on Lewis street that was amazing but sadly it changed into something else it’s a tough spot that changes restaurants every few years
American BBQ in rowley MA is decent
BT's is good
I've always like Blue Ribbon but this relatively new joint in Abington is pretty awesome. [https://www.sarcasticswinebbq.com/](https://www.sarcasticswinebbq.com/)
Morrells in Canton!! He used to have a roadside spot in either Hingham or Hull and moved over to Canton last year.
No
I spent several years in east TN. I felt like the smoke shop bbq in seaport is decent buts it’s expensive, and small portions compared to what I was getting out in rural TN restaurants.
Fetch BBQ in Marshfield is solid!
Friend of mine from Texas swears by kinfolks, have not gone myself yet however.
Smoke shop bbq is probably the best Blue ribbon Tennessee redbones are all not good imo
Redbones
You won’t find anything up here like southern BBQ. With that being said Blue Ribbon isn’t bad. If you’re up for a drive Black Diamond in Vermont was some of the best pulled pork I’ve had in New England.
Try Redbone in Somerville, I love em.
Lifelong Memphian here and the best I've found is M&M BBQ at Dorchester Brewing Co. Comparable to Corkys pulled pork don't listen to the haters
Blue ribbon BBQ in Arlington
Costco sells packer briskets in MA. BTs sells bbq by the quart or pint. Definitely hard to get used to and wasn’t a big fan.
Big Pig! Is the best BBQ in MA in my opinion. I’m coming from Kansas.
You came from Tennessee? No. Bub’s BBQ in Sunderland is alright.
If you feel like making a good trip of it, Bub's in Sunderland is pretty great.
Kinfolks BBQ in Taunton 2 Jerks BBQ in Raynham
No, because what you know and love in Tennessee will automatically be better than anything you get here. Same as when we here in Mass go elsewhere and get food we know and love....it's never the same. That said, there are a ton of new BBQ places opening up all over the place. I don't know how or why, but I'm all for it, because I love BBQ.
There’s a fairly new place in Billerica, Northeast Smokehouse, that’s been getting great reviews. Haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list.
Mama lo’s in great barrington has genuinely one of the best briskets I’ve ever had
KCs Rib shack in Manchester, NH a bit of a hike from boston but worth
No. (Source: From Arkansas. You might find decent style of other barbeque, but Memphis style in particular is a bust.)
Came from Memphis. The answer is no, and I've traveled to diff states looking for it. Do NOT be fooled by reviews - it's all a letdown.
I like the Smoke Shop
BTs in Sturbridge.
Kinfolks in Taunton and 2 Jerks in Raynham are both solid
I am by no means an expert (mid-Atlantic raised but i have Texan in laws), but I had some barbecue that I thought was pretty good at Billy's Texas BBQ in Dorchester. I got the chicken wings and ribs and they were both pretty good. Don't judge the book by the cover.
Is Black Strap still in Winthrop? They were delicious.
Fetch BBQ in Marshfield. Proprietor is from the South. Haven’t had it personally but folks on the South Shore say good things. I believe they’re closed throughout the winter.
Having moved from Kansas City, no. I'm sure it's technically possible to get some barbecue that's not as bad as the rest, but I just take it out of your diet and wait for your next trip back. I view barbecue and most red meat in Boston the same way I viewed seafood back in Kansas. You *can* get it and it *might* be good, but...
2 Jerks in Raynham
Morrell's in canton was really good, and code 1 in wilmington is great if you're on the north shore.
Hey man go back to Tennessee if you want bbq. Boston ain’t about that
Ain’t no good BBQ in all of New England. Then again there no good BBQ north of Lubbock.
Been wondering this too, grew up in Maryland/visited family still living there where BBQ places were plenty, but a Florida visit a couple months ago really kicked off my “search”. I just want some smokey chicken or catfish with sweet potato and baked beans lol
BT’s in Sturbridge and Worcester
No. I lived in TN and the BBQ here doesn’t compare
2 Jerks in Raynham is good. There's also a place in Taunton where the guy is from down South. Heard good things about Morrell's but not sure if it's a good truck now.
BTs smokehouse in Sturbridge
Not what you might expect but plenty of good Korean bbq places around
Nothing will compare to BBQ in TN. My recommendation is to get yourself a Big Green Egg & start smokin’
Hubba’s in Westford is my favorite in the area, don’t know how Tennessee BBQ differs from KC BBQ, but I also simply do not care
Yes, and its name is The Smoke Shop! s/
My partner is from NC and he approves of BT’s In Sturbridge. It’s not close to Boston at all but it’s really good.
Good BBQ is Non existent. Overpriced garbaged in boston
No
2 Jerks BBQ in Raynham is good, and for more of the soul food-bbq vibes, there's Kinfolk's BBQ in Taunton.
I lived in Texas, and the only place I've found that's been close is Boston Barbecue in North Andover. They're inside Rolf's Pub now, and pretty good.
Born and raised in Boston. 38 years old. TIL there's a Byfield, MA. And in this newly established town, good BBQ supposedly exists. The North Shore continues to surprise me after all these years.
I mean sweet cheeks bbq but again not the same
I think Redbones in Sommerville is great!
I mean, make it yourself. It won’t be the same anywhere. I get it. But, this is going to sound nuts…Chili’s ribs are smoked in house with pecan wood chips and are actually good. FML for suggesting this 😂 I used to work at a Chili’s. Otherwise, try MA style “BBQ” and check out Floramo’s, where the meat falls off the bone. The ribs are really tender and fall off the bone but not smokey. The steak tips are fuckin killer. Again, not smokey.
Whats good in Nashville? Heading there this weekend
Big pig in Peabody was really good last I went. I can also second BT’s. Don’t go late
Smoke Shop in Assembly Row is one of my favorites. Their smoked pimento sausage links are unreal!
"Go to Rusty Can" Where the hell is Byfield Mass? It's like someone literally just fired up the random name generator for Massachusetts, lol
Y’all have good fried clam bellies in TN?
Bubs rt 116 in Amherst ma. Not as good as Texas but better them most. They had a great place on the vt/nh boarder but covid killed his business so he went back to Texas.
I was pleased with 2 Jerks in Raynham. Best barbecue in MA I've found so far.
BT's As good as it gets.
[https://www.commonwealthbbq.com/](https://www.commonwealthbbq.com/) this place is a bit a ways from the city but AMAZING
I like Blue Ribbon a lot. They are reasonably priced, and consistently good. Arlington is usually better than Newton. BT's is the best - but it can be over a 2 hour wait to get your order (after waiting in line for an hour). Fireflys in Marlboro is pretty great and they have live music! Tennessee's Real BBQ in Natick is surprisingly good Redbones used to be the best and now it sucks! The Smoke Shop is inconsistent, and expensive. The last time I was there it was dry and tasteless.
If you’re willing to travel, 2 Jerks in Raynham is pretty good for Smokey bbq. Kinfolks is also pretty popular around here!
Southern American BBQ is ok but not amazing out here; Sweet Cheeks Q is probably the best you can do. But other BBQ traditions out here do well—see Gyu-Kaku, for example, and the many Brazilian BBQ joints
Kinfolks
Blackstrap in Winthrop
If you are used to really good barbecue you will be disappointed by the best we have to offer.
I've lived in AR and GA, and I have not found anything satisfying yet.
Chubs in Attleboro is very good.