Beyond the big pots of gumbo, heaping piles of crawfish, and
chilled plates of raw oysters, New Orleanians love some barbecue too. Though
Creole and Cajun flavors run deep here, we enjoy slow-cooking meat just like
every other major Southern city. New Orleans may not be known as one of the
best barbecue cities in the world, but it's our best kept culinary secret.
These dedicated barbecue restaurants and restaurants that
keep a lot of meat on the menu would be happy to make you a plate. Sit down and
get ready for that whole rack of ribs!
10 Places to Get BBQ In New Orleans
1. Blue Oak BBQ
900 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 822-2583
blueoakbbq.com
While New Orleans isn't famous for barbecue, it's a hidden gem in the city's culinary scene. Blue Oak BBQ, located near City Park, offers a delightful outdoor dining experience with its charming patio. Once again, Blue Oak BBQ has claimed the top spot as New Orleans' best barbecue joint. This beloved establishment continues to impress locals and tourists alike with its mouthwatering meats and creative sides.
Exciting news for Blue Oak BBQ fans: they've recently introduced a highly rated prime rib special that's available every Saturday. The Salt, Garlic, & Pepper Crusted Smoked Prime Rib is a true carnivore's delight, offering a perfect balance of seasoning and smokiness. Served alongside crispy Tater Tots and creamy Garlic Spinach, this special has quickly become a weekend favorite among locals and visitors alike.
2. The Joint
701 Mazant St., (504) 949-3232
alwayssmokin.com
It's true that The Joint is always smokin'. Open six days a week, this smokin' hot spot offers a mouthwatering array of meats that will satisfy even the most discerning barbecue enthusiasts. With fall-off-the-bone smoked pork ribs and more, The Joint's menu is a carnivore's dream come true. For those who can't decide, the W Special Plate offers a tempting combination of pork, brisket, and two ribs, allowing diners to sample multiple flavors in one sitting.
Alone or a part of a combo, you can choose from fall-off-the-bone smoked pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, or sausage. Your meat will be perfectly complemented by a side of coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, or mac and cheese.
3. Devil Moon Barbecue
1188 Girod St., (504) 788-0093
devilmoonbbq.com
Devil Moon BBQ, a rising star in the New Orleans barbecue scene, has quickly earned its place as the city's third-best BBQ joint. Located in Downtown, this newcomer has been turning heads with its unique approach to traditional barbecue fare.
Devil Moon BBQ offers a variety of mouthwatering sandwiches, including Smoked Chicken Salad, Pulled Pork, Turkey Breast, Hot Sausage, and Chopped Beef. Their unique House BBQ Sauce sets them apart. Sides range from Creole Cream Cheese Grits to Beef Fat Fries, while their seasonal Fried Hand Pie caps off the meal. With quality and creativity, Devil Moon BBQ has quickly become one of New Orleans' top barbecue spots.
4. Frey Smoked Meat Co.
4141 Bienville St., (504) 488-7427
freysmokedmeat.com
Frey Smoked Meat Co. is clearly a meat-centric eatery, but they've got a sweet tooth too. After you choose between getting a Bar-B-Cuban Sandwich, a Smoked Chicken Salad, or a Two Meat Platter, you'll want to wash it all down with one of Frey's famous milkshakes. There's the Cookie Monster Shake, Nutella Reese's Shake, and the Mint Chocolate Chip Shake, in addition to the seasonal milkshakes.
If something sweet isn't your thing, the burgers are sure to satiate your savory craving. The Half & Half Burger is one ground beef patty, one hot sausage patty, American cheese, and Frey's Burger Sauce.
5. Central City BBQ
1201 S. Rampart St., (504) 558-4276
centralcitybbq.com
Central City BBQ isn't just known for their tender smoked meats, though that would be reason enough. The restaurant itself is big, but the yard is even bigger. It's not uncommon for Central City BBQ to throw a big bash in the huge gravel yard surrounding the restaurant, and you may want to join the fun when they do.
Central City BBQ is pleased to offer you racks of ribs, meats by the pound, stacked-high plates, salads, sandwiches, and more. The meaty lineup here features pulled pork, USDA prime brisket, USDA prime brisket burnt ends, smoked pork belly, smoked boudin, smoked turkey, smoked chicken breast, and jalapeno cheddar sausage, just to name a few.
4. Pig Out NOLA Barbecue
401 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 569-8459
theuglydogsaloon.com
The Ugly Dog Saloon has been serving delicious barbecue out of their no-frills restaurant in the Warehouse District since the '90s. You know that it's good since it lasted this long. What sets Ugly Dog apart from the pack is their willingness to take barbecue and make it into great dishes that you wouldn't normally expect. The Buffalo Fried Ribs are tossed in buffalo sauce and the Ugly Nachos are topped with slow-cooked pulled pork.
This may also be one of the few places in town to get smoked alligator sausage. You can have that special sausage in a bun or on The Ugly Dog Combo Platter. Remember to get your French fries "ugly."
6. Pig Out NOLA Barbecue
537 Toulouse St., (504) 224-2434
pigoutnolabbq.com
Pig Out NOLA Barbecue, the newest addition to New Orleans' top BBQ spots, is changing the culinary landscape of an area traditionally known for upscale Creole cuisine and late-night pizza. Pig Out aims to serve delicious slow-smoked meats for lunch and dinner daily, bringing authentic barbecue flavors to the historic district.
Their menu features pork, brisket, and rib platters, pulled pork and brisket sandwiches, duck and andouille gumbo, pork and brisket tacos, along with traditional barbecue sides.
7. NOLA Crawfish King Seafood & BBQ
5321 Franklin Ave., (504) 438-5861
crawfishking.com
You can tell by the name that the NOLA Crawfish King does more than just seafood. The red meat-side of the business serves hearty sandwiches, stacked platters, and the best rolls you've ever eaten in addition to fried and boiled seafood goodness. Start off with a Soul Roll: ground smoked pork and mac n' cheese-stuffed roll with Soul Sauce.
Try out the New Orleans exclusive sandwich "The Neville," which is a house-made hot sausage with Swiss cheese, onions,
pickles, and sriracha aioli. If you prefer platters, you can choose from
brisket, whole hog BBQ, smoked ribs, smoked wings, and smoked sausage.
8. Walker's Southern Style BBQ
10828 Hayne Blvd., (504) 241-8227
cochondelaitpoboys.com
Walker's BBQ has the distinction of having been visited by the late Anthony Bourdain! This barbecue shop is also special because they feature The Cochon De Lait Po-Boy that all of the regulars swear is the best tasting one in the city. The Smoked Chicken Salad Sandwich is a close second to it, but it's hard to go wrong at Walker's.
Some people like to get one of the Feasts
when they're dining with their closest friends or family. The Cochon Feast
includes three pounds of smoked pork, six French bread slices, 12 oz. of Wertie
Sauce, and a heaping portion of shredded cabbage.
9. The Backyard
244 W. Harrison Ave., (504) 309-8767
thebackyardnola.com
The Backyard wants you to feel right at home. The menu mostly features barbecue on a bun with some shareable and sides to add on. You may want to order some Smoked Tuna Dip or Muffuletta Deviled Eggs for the table, then everyone can get their own sandwich.
Their brisket sandwich is dressed with
pickles and onions with Kinda Sweet Sauce on the side. The meat is sliced to
order so it's nice and fresh when it gets to you. The hot sausage sandwich is
sourced from Vaucresson's and is dressed with mustard and red onion. For
something a little lighter, try The Zeus with marinated grilled chicken,
lettuce, tomato, kalamata olives, and feta cheese.
10. Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 588-2121
cochonrestaurant.com
There are two sides to Cochon Butcher. There's Cochon, which is a high-end meat-centric restaurant, and there's Butcher, which is more focused on sandwiches and charcuterie plates at a great price. Cochon's menu can vary depending on what the chef is able to source from local farmers and fishermen, but you can bet the red meat will always be available in some form.
Fried boudin is great for an appetizer. The
Louisiana Cochon entrée includes tender pork, jalapeno cheddar grits, braised collard
greens, and pork jus. If you prefer surf over turf, try the Pan Fried Catfish
with oven-burnt cabbage, fried pecans, and apple cider butter.
Best BBQ In New Orleans
These barbecue-loving restaurants are ready to serve! Whether
it's a massive platter of various smoked meats and a few sides, or just a
barbecue sandwich dripping with tangy sauce, you can certainly fill your belly
with something tasty. Just remember to get a few Wet Wipes before you dig in. A
cold pint of beer can slip right out of your saucy hand.
Did we miss the best barbecue New Orleans has to offer? Let
us know where we can get it!
