Best barbecue in Phoenix: 10 restaurants to try in the Valley

No matter the region or style, when it comes to great barbecue, you can smell it from the parking lot. An aroma of burning mesquite or hickory hits you as soon as you get out of the car. Plumes of smoke let you know you’re in the right place and your stomach growls in anticipation of the savory meats and selection of sauces inside.

In metro Phoenix, there are a number of spots where you’ll find outstanding ’cue. A heavy influence from Texas, a splash of Carolina-style sauce, a mix of Tennessee and Louisiana flavors and a few twists from Mexican cuisine meld to create something uniquely Arizonan.

Some of these spots made our list of the Top 100 Restaurants in Phoenix, and one was crowned the winner in our Best of Phoenix awards. From Southeast Gilbert to Avondale, north Scottsdale to South Phoenix, here are the 10 best barbecue restaurants in the Valley.

Caldwell County BBQ

18324 E. Nunneley Road, Gilbert
25000 S 206th St., Queen Creek

Caldwell County BBQ is to the far East Valley what Eric’s Family BBQ is to the West. Line up at the counter and order links, turkey and thick slices of brisket by the pound at the Gilbert and Queen Creek eateries. Three sauce options grace each table and add a sweet, spicy tang to the meat. The aromatic flavor of black pepper permeates the brisket and turkey, both of which sport thick crusts of the stuff. Outside, giant black smokers with names such as Mr. Big and Little Boy keep the aromas coming and the kitchens stocked.

click to enlarge

Pork ribs and vinegary Dr. Pepper barbecue beans are among the standouts at Cryin' Coyote BBQ.

Sara Crocker

Cryin' Coyote BBQ

6130 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek

It's been a couple of years since Cryin’ Coyote BBQ replaced Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue and the smokehouse continues to show it's carrying on the mantle of Cave Creek ’cue. Cryin’ Coyote smokes the full gamut of meats, but the standout among them is the restaurant’s ribs, which find the right balance of tenderness, smoke and bit of char. The fat is beautifully rendered, making for a rich bite that carries a hint of sweet and saltiness. The sides are distinctly influenced by the Southwest – a chile relleno-style rice casserole stands in for mac and cheese, for instance. Cryin’ Coyote is a place where you should save room for dessert. The Texas sheet cake, a moist, rich chocolate cake, pays honor to the classic and adds warmth with notes of cinnamon and ginger.

click to enlarge

Don't skip the elote and make sure to leave room for banana pudding at Eric's Family BBQ.

Tirion Boan

Eric’s Family BBQ

12345 W. Indian School Road, Avondale

Eric's Family BBQ, a white-painted adobe-style building in Avondale, churns out some of the best barbecue in the Valley. This joint is known for its Texas-style brisket, which takes 16 hours to create, but don’t sleep on the turkey, infused with sweet tea to keep it juicy. Eric’s serves both pork and beef ribs, as well as pulled pork measured by weight at the counter. Find the daily menu scribbled on brown paper taped to the walls. The ’cue is excellent, and sides of cheesy elote, craveable beans and spirals of mac and cheese complete the meal. For dessert, the classic banana pudding brims with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Chow down at a picnic table inside, or sprawl out on the patio as music fills the space.

click to enlarge

Find the original location of Honey Bear’s BBQ on Van Buren Street.

Lauren Cusimano

Honey Bear's BBQ

5012 E. Van Buren St.

The recognizable Honey Bear's BBQ midtown A-frame location closed due to the pandemic and was set to become another barbecue spot which ran into issues of its own. But thankfully, the original location of Honey Bear’s on Van Buren and 52nd streets remains open. This restaurant and catering company has been serving Tennessee-style barbecue since 1986. Standouts on the menu include Honey Bear's specialty pulled pork shoulder and ultra-creamy mac and cheese.

click to enlarge

A platter of meat, of course with a beer, from Little Miss BBQ.

Jackie Mercandetti Photo

Little Miss BBQ

8901 N. Seventh St.
4301 E. University Drive

No Phoenix barbecue list would be complete without the restaurant that reigns supreme in this Valley. Little Miss BBQ, with locations near Tempe and in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope neighborhood, stands at the top, and for good reason. Customers line up around the block, waiting for their turn to try the brisket that former New Times food critic Chris Malloy called “a portal to another dimension.” Add a dose of Arizona to your barbecue adventure with a green chile burrito smothered in bright enchilada sauce.

click to enlarge

Meats are served sauce-free at NakedQ.

Tirion Boan

NakedQ

Multiple Locations

Lucky for Valley residents, NakedQ has restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Glendale, meaning this modern counter-service joint and its aroma of smoking meat are never too far away. The "naked" in the name refers to barbecue served without sauce and only minimal spices. The sauces can be added later, and they are nothing to miss. Order a butcher paper-lined tray of chopped or sliced brisket, moist and smoky pulled pork or tender St. Louis-style ribs, and douse it all in the house, spicy or mustard-based sauces. Peppery mac and cheese and a block of cornbread round out the meal.

click to enlarge

Stop in at the Tempe or Ahwatukee location of Word of Mouth Grill.

Sara Crocker

Word of Mouth Grill

4810 E. Ray Road
7660 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe

Owner and pitmaster Demetrious Makel and his wife Jacque Gomez-Makel opened Word of Mouth Grill in Tempe in 2019, after running a catering company of the same name. The restaurant's tagline is "where flavor speaks," and that's evident in the thoughtful housemade dry rubs on Word of Mouth's meats, which are smoked over mesquite. The smokehouse added a second location in Ahwatukee in April. Both locations offer eight housemade sauces, which range from a sweet honey barbecue to a fiery habanero. Diners will find brisket, pulled chicken and pulled pork available by the pound, on combo plates or between a brioche bun. We're partial to the rib tips. These hunks of spare ribs have a craggy, crisp exterior with meltingly tender morsels of pork underneath. Have it alongside Word of Mouth's creamy four-cheese mac.

Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse

4929 E. Chandler Blvd., #405

There are many restaurants in the shopping center that Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse calls home. But the scent of barbecue fills the entire parking lot, beckoning customers to make their way in for some excellent smoked meats. Sweet Magnolia has been serving Mississippi-style barbecue in the Valley since 2011, starting with a food truck and catering business before opening its Ahwatukee counter service spot. In a Valley filled with Texas-style barbecue, the sweet sauce and pork specialties are a different and welcome treat. On the menu, we’re partial to the three and four-meat plates, which allow you to try a little of everything. The rib tips and brisket each have a deep layer of smoke that has seeped into the rich, tender meat. The smoked pork hot link has great snap and a hint of heat. And Southern sides, including outstanding macaroni and cheese, collard greens and sweet potatoes round out the experience. The menu also includes smoked wings, loaded mac bowls, flavored lemonade and sweet tea.

click to enlarge

The Thumb is many things including a gift shop, gas station store, coffee shop and barbecue restaurant.

Tirion Boan

The Thumb

9393 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale

How many gas stations have you visited that have a giant, sparkling chandelier inside? How about a full coffee counter? A cute gift shop? A stocked wine selection? An entire barbecue restaurant? Well, The Thumb in north Scottsdale has it all. Outside, drivers pull up to the pumps to fill up their cars like they would at any normal gas station. But inside, The Thumb is so much more. Head to the counter and order — we recommend the three meat platter to get a taste of everything — and then mosey around the gift shop while you wait. When you’re number is ready, grab a seat in the circular dining room under the chandelier or by the large fish tank. Dig into thick slices of brisket, served lean or moist, snappy sausage and savory pulled pork. The meats pair perfectly with the house barbecue sauce or a ruddy chipotle version. For sides, the beans are packed with meat to the point they are almost chili. Creamy mac and cheese counters the tangy barbecue sauce and rounds out a meal that stands out among barbecue options in the Valley and makes your brain swirl when you remember you’re sitting in a gas station. Fill up on the way out.

click to enlarge

Bobby Q is fun for the whole family.

Jacob Tyler Dunn

Bobby-Q

Multiple locations

Bobby-Q is on this list because this Western-themed eatery is pure fun. Where else can you chow down on dinosaur-sized beef ribs and then finish your meal with a free bag of mini doughnuts? Now with three restaurants across the Valley, Bobby-Q first opened in 2005, continuing the restaurant and venue career of owner Bob Sikora. Sikora was known for Mr. Luckys, the music venue and bar on Grand Avenue before turning his attention to smoked meats. These days, the restaurant uses almond and mesquite wood to impart flavor into the tender offerings perfect for pairing with sweet cornbread and creamy mac and cheese. Perfect for family gatherings, this spot is fun for all.