The San Antonio area is home to a variety of barbecue styles, from the savory classics at Pinkerton’s Barbecue to the creative twists at South BBQ & Kitchen. No matter your preference, these 21 restaurants will have you craving more!
A fun restaurant ambiance and an impressive turnaround time for orders makes Pinkerton’s one of the most popular BBQ spots in San Antonio. It’s a great place for a romantic dinner, friendly picnic with friends or family lunch. The smoked meats at this spot are delicious and intensely flavorful with just the right amount of smoke. Their brisket is moist and fatty with an excellent rub, while their pulled pork has the perfect consistency. The turkey is juicy with an excellent rub, and the Jalapeno cheddar sausage is a must-try flavor punch that’s perfectly balanced with their creamy macaroni and cheese.
This local favorite was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives where Guy Fieri devoured “The Big Mac Daddy,” which includes 7 pounds of BBQ (brisket, pork butt, ribs and sauce covered in 4 scoops of mac n cheese). Their sauce is creamy and rich and compliments the tangy smoky flavored meats. The bourbon baked beans, potato salad and creamed corn are the perfect accompaniments to your BBQ feast!
The grilled chicken is succulent and juicy, while their brisket and turkey have that savory smokey crust and an outstanding rub. This local favorite also serves up some next-level desserts. Their strawberry tres leches cake is a must-try!
Pitmaster Andrew Samia is a connected guy, opening up Dignowity Meats in 2014 and later partnering with South BBQ & Kitchen in the Mission Historic District. His smoked meats skew unique to the area, with tongue (aka lengua) and cow’s head transformed into tender barbacoa. You’ll also find an rock-star ridge of bark on a brisket at this walkup BBQ bar and grill, the Marlboro Man glam of a smoked pulled pork sandwich on a potato roll at South, and the simple joy of a barbecue slaw and potato salad at Curry Boys.
While the bourbon baked beans, potato salad, grilled chicken and sliced brisket are outstanding at this BBQ joint in Old Town Helotes, it’s their ribs that really put this spot on our list of the best barbecue in San Antonio. The ribs are moist and meaty with a smoky, sweet flavor profile that makes them taste as if they’re straight off the smoker. The ribs are paired with a side of coleslaw that’s shredded, cool, crisp and sweet, perfect for balancing the meaty flavors of the ribs and chicken.