Question: What is the best barbecue in Alabama?

[Bear Disciple]

I have looked up so many places and every one of them sounds like it is the best on the planet, so what do you think the best barbecue in Alabama is?(Any and all joints are welcome!)

 

[Probius]

Golden Rule in Hoover.

 

[DiamondDust]

Ask 100 people this question, and you're probably going to get 100 different answers.

BBQ is a very subjective thing. For some people, they could go to the BBQ restaurant that is considered by everyone to be THE place to go and end up completely overwhelmed. It has a lot to do with the style and methods of BBQ you were brought up on. The sauce is another key thing. If the sauce isn't your thing, some like sweet and some like spicy/vinegary based, it will throw you off of liking even the best made, highest quality meat.

For instance, people always rave about how good Dreamland is in Tuscaloosa. I find it vastly overrated. I grew up on the Golden Rule chain in the Birmingham area, and I hated when the two restaurants in Tuscaloosa closed. Personally, I like Mike and Ed's on 15th Street. In this area, the other highly recommended place is Archibald's.

 

[Bodhisattva]

The McRib - the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.

 

[crimson_blood]

Full Moon in B'ham ain't bad at all...

DD, you hit the nail on the head...the sauce is key

 

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

Mama's ; )

 

[TideEngineer08]

Johnny's BBQ in Cullman is probably my favorite.

 

[AlistarWills]

Top Hat on old Hwy 31 in Blount Co. From what I hear, they have the best catfish around too. Can't bring myself to pull away from the pig though. But the poster above has it right, the tastes you have for it growing up is what will make the difference to you. Top Hat has a slighly sweet taste with a gentle kick. The meat is so perfectly done that you don't need the sauce. Melt in your mouth tender. And something I like to brag on them about. Been eating there for all of my almost 35 years. In that time I've found ONE piece of fat in the meat. I think that says a lot about the care they put into their food.

 

[Hometown Barron]

Dreamland, Bick Pit, and Saucy Q in Mobile Ala

 

[tidefanbeezer]

Dreamland and Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur are both really good followed closely by......

The McRib - the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.

That made my day.

 

[Henryrolltide]

Dreamland for ribs, Whitt's BBQ in Athens, AL for pulled pork, and BBQ chicken with white BBQ sauce at Greenbrier in Tanner, AL.

 

[CrimsonDonald]

Top Hat on old Hwy 31 in Blount Co. From what I hear, they have the best catfish around too. Can't bring myself to pull away from the pig though. But the poster above has it right, the tastes you have for it growing up is what will make the difference to you. Top Hat has a slighly sweet taste with a gentle kick. The meat is so perfectly done that you don't need the sauce. Melt in your mouth tender. And something I like to brag on them about. Been eating there for all of my almost 35 years. In that time I've found ONE piece of fat in the meat. I think that says a lot about the care they put into their food.

I go there for the CATFISH!! BBQ aint bad either.

 

[Bama Reb]

I have to tell you all about one of my favorite BBQ places, but unfortunately it's not in AL.
It's called Sprayberry's BBQ and it's in Newnan GA. I first ate at Sprayberry's way back in 1989 when it was just a small place in downtown Newnan. I was working for a company there and I was introduced to their delicious food one of my co-workers.
It was some of the best "Q" I've ever eaten. So last week, my wife and I were driving south on I-85 from Atlanta to Columbus and we got to talking about where to stop to eat. We were nearing Newnan and Sprayberry's came to mind. I saw a sign on the side of the interstate and was pleasantly surprised to learn that Sprayberry's had opened a second restaurant, right off the interstate.
It was just as delicious, and the helpings just as filling, as I remembered from 20 years before. The interior of the restaurant is immaculate, the service is excellent and as I've mentioned before, the food is delicious.
I'm not comparing Sprayberry's to any BBQ in Alabama. But if you're ever traveling on I-85 south of Atlanta, be sure to take exit 47. Turn east on Hwy 34 and look for Sprayberry's about 1 block on the left. You'll be glad you did.

 

[awesomeman27]

Legends Smokehouse in Clay, AL. It is a little place but it beats Dreamland hands down. Best ribs I have ever had. If you are around the Pinson/Clay/Trussville area you should try it.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Whitts = the best pulled pork ever. The only other really good BBQ in Alabama, IMO, is Bob Gibson's (Decatur). Then again, I am a dry rub guy, so most Bama BBQ is wasted on me (don't like sauces)...

 

[Henryrolltide]

Whitts = the best pulled pork ever.

Preach it

 

[always4bama]

I agree Whitt's is the most consistent best flavored pulled pork with or without sauce - a very close second is LA BBQ in Summerdale - I love the sweet sauce there

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

Green Top, at the Jefferson County/Walker County line