Who doesn’t love dining out? Alabama boasts several types of places to dine, including some of the best barbecue restaurants around. Listed below are nine restaurants that belong on every Alabamian’s barbecue bucket list. You’ll want to visit them all!
- Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Decatur
facebook/Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que
google/Brian Pouliot Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q was founded in 1926 and has two locations in Decatur, Alabama. This award-winning restaurant offers a variety of food, including its popular smoked chicken with white sauce.
- Archibald’s - Northport
google/STEVE KOENIGSBERG
google/Roy Baker Archibald’s might not look like much from the outside, but it offers some of the best ribs you’ll ever eat. In fact, they’re so delicious that people travel from near and far to enjoy them. Also, according to Southern Living, Archibald’s is one of the South’s most legendary barbecue joints.
- Bow & Arrow - Auburn
google/Aaron Isbell
google/Brie Kim Bow & Arrow, which opened in late 2018, is a cafeteria-style restaurant that serves a variety of barbecue and Mexican food favorites. From brisket and pulled pork, to tacos and enchiladas, there’s something on the menu for everyone.
- Brooks Barbeque - Muscle Shoals
google/James Kimbrough
google/Lynn Wray Dillard Brooks Barbeque, which opened in 1965, is a local restaurant that serves everything from barbecue sandwiches and slaw dogs, to wings and chicken stew. One of the biggest draws to this barbecue joint is its famous mustard slaw. After trying it just once, you’ll be hooked!
- Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q - Bessemer
google/Bob Sykes Barbeque Inc
google/Bob Sykes Barbeque Inc Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q has been serving authentic Southern barbecue since 1957. Its sauce was voted #1 in Alabama, and it’s a definite must-visit whenever your passing through Bessemer and craving a delicious meal.
- Down South BBQ - Foley
google/Bargainomics Lady
tripadvisor/twins_dad_2003 Down South BBQ is located in Foley en route to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. It’s best known for its barbecue sandwiches, which have buns made from cornbread.
- Dreamland Bar-B-Que - Tuscaloosa
google/Clint D
google/Jet D Alabama’s original Dreamland Bar-B-Que opened in 1958 and is located in Tuscaloosa. Even though this iconic restaurant serves a variety of barbecue favorites, it’s most famous for its ribs. People have been known to drive numerous miles to get them, especially on Game Weekend.
- Champs Barbeque - Wetumpka
google/Ann Riley
google/Matthew Mayo Champs Barbeque is tucked away in the small town of Wetumpka and serves some of Alabama’s tastiest barbecue. Its menu includes everything from chopped pork and smoked sausage, to chopped chicken and ribs. There’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to save room for Champs’ banana pudding. Your sweet tooth will thank you!
- Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack - Jacksonville
tripadvisor/Louis S
google/Theodore Chang Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack specializes in ribs, which can be ordered as a full rack or half rack, and either sauce covered or dry rubbed. Because of how good these ribs taste, they were also included on the list “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.”
Have you ever eaten at any of these nine barbecue restaurants? If so, please share your dining experience(s) with us in the comments below. Also, share with us any other barbecue restaurants you believe belong on this list.
facebook/Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que
google/Brian Pouliot
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q was founded in 1926 and has two locations in Decatur, Alabama. This award-winning restaurant offers a variety of food, including its popular smoked chicken with white sauce.
google/STEVE KOENIGSBERG
google/Roy Baker
Archibald’s might not look like much from the outside, but it offers some of the best ribs you’ll ever eat. In fact, they’re so delicious that people travel from near and far to enjoy them. Also, according to Southern Living, Archibald’s is one of the South’s most legendary barbecue joints.
google/Aaron Isbell
google/Brie Kim
Bow & Arrow, which opened in late 2018, is a cafeteria-style restaurant that serves a variety of barbecue and Mexican food favorites. From brisket and pulled pork, to tacos and enchiladas, there’s something on the menu for everyone.
google/James Kimbrough
google/Lynn Wray Dillard
Brooks Barbeque, which opened in 1965, is a local restaurant that serves everything from barbecue sandwiches and slaw dogs, to wings and chicken stew. One of the biggest draws to this barbecue joint is its famous mustard slaw. After trying it just once, you’ll be hooked!
google/Bob Sykes Barbeque Inc
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q has been serving authentic Southern barbecue since 1957. Its sauce was voted #1 in Alabama, and it’s a definite must-visit whenever your passing through Bessemer and craving a delicious meal.
google/Bargainomics Lady
tripadvisor/twins_dad_2003
Down South BBQ is located in Foley en route to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. It’s best known for its barbecue sandwiches, which have buns made from cornbread.
google/Clint D
google/Jet D
Alabama’s original Dreamland Bar-B-Que opened in 1958 and is located in Tuscaloosa. Even though this iconic restaurant serves a variety of barbecue favorites, it’s most famous for its ribs. People have been known to drive numerous miles to get them, especially on Game Weekend.
google/Ann Riley
google/Matthew Mayo
Champs Barbeque is tucked away in the small town of Wetumpka and serves some of Alabama’s tastiest barbecue. Its menu includes everything from chopped pork and smoked sausage, to chopped chicken and ribs. There’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to save room for Champs’ banana pudding. Your sweet tooth will thank you!
tripadvisor/Louis S
google/Theodore Chang
Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack specializes in ribs, which can be ordered as a full rack or half rack, and either sauce covered or dry rubbed. Because of how good these ribs taste, they were also included on the list “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.”
For more information about Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, be sure to take a look at the following article: This Alabama BBQ Joint Is One Of The Best In America And You’ve Got To Try It.
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Address: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, 1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601, USAAddress: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, 2520 Danville Rd SW, Decatur, AL 35603, USAAddress: Archibald’s, 1211 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Northport, AL 35476, USAAddress: Bow & Arrow, 1977 E Samford Ave, Auburn, AL 36830, USAAddress: Brooks Barbecue, 203 Union Ave, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661, USAAddress: Bob Sykes Barbeque Inc, 1724 9th Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020, USAAddress: Down South Barbeque, 19891 Co Rd 10, Foley, AL 36535, USAAddress: Dreamland BBQ, 5535 15th Ave E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405, USAAddress: Champs Barbeque, 231 Old US Hwy 231, Wetumpka, AL 36092, USAAddress: Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack, 8464 AL-204, Jacksonville, AL 36265, USA
