AUSTIN (KXAN/NEXSTAR) — Looking for the top barbecue in the nation? Texas is a great place to start, as suggested by a new ranking from Yelp.
The platform recently ranked the “Top 10 Cities for BBQ in the USA, and two cities from Texas — Austin and San Antonio — topped the list.
Austin clinched the No. 1 spot in Yelp’s rankings, excelling in criteria like interest, availability, and well-reviewed dining spots, as per the site’s analysts. Noteworthy mentions were given to barbecue locations such as Franklin Barbecue, Terry Black’s Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meat, and the Michelin-starred La Barbecue.
Austin’s barbecue was also commended by Yelp reviewers for its “simple” yet “flavorful” seasonings, according to Yelp.
“Austin has earned its reputation as a top barbecue destination,” an article announcing the rankings declared.
Close behind Austin is San Antonio, securing the No. 2 position on Yelp’s list. The city is recognized for its variety of both classic and fusion barbecue restaurants, including favorites like Reese Bros BBQ, Smoke Shack, and Garcia Barbecue.
In third place, Yelp ranked Kansas City, Missouri, as another “top barbecue destination,” thanks in no small part to the city’s burnt ends (“a local specialty”) and its signature Kansas City-style barbecue sauce.
The full ranking, as determined by Yelp, can be found below.
- Austin, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Durham, North Carolina
- Nashville, Tennessee
To determine its rankings, Yelp says its analysts used a “blended metric” based on three factors: consumer interest in BBQ, the total number of barbecue restaurants, and the average rating of each. The analysts also only included a maximum of two cities from each state “to ensure geographic diversity,” meaning it’s possible that additional cities in Texas or South Carolina could have ranked within the top 10 had each state not been restricted to two entries.
More information can be found at Yelp, including information on top-reviewed barbecue restaurants in each city.
