Kansas fury as Texas takes top BBQ honors
Kansas and Texas have a long-standing, and often fiery, rivalry when it comes to BBQ bragging rights. Texas BBQ is world-famous — especially for its brisket. Central Texas, in particular, has become a mecca for smoked meat lovers. Meanwhile, Kansas City is known for saucy, slow-cooked meats like ribs and burnt ends. It's often seen as more traditional — and locals are fiercely proud of it.
So it's no surprise that Kansas foodies were fuming when Austin and San Antonio, Texas, beat out Kansas City for the top spot on Yelp's 2025 list of the top 10 U.S. cities for BBQ . Fans on Reddit claimed Yelp had 'declared war' by ranking Kansas City third. 'KC has to be No 1 or the list is bogus,' one user wrote . Another called the decision 'a slap to the face.' Yelp's rankings were based on a mix of consumer interest, number of BBQ businesses, and average ratings.
'This year's top BBQ cities reflect both regional traditions and rising trends, from Austin's legendary brisket to Honolulu's island-inspired smoked meats,' Yelp's trend expert Tara Lewis told DailyMail.com. 'Whether you're craving saucy burnt ends in Kansas City or whole hog barbecue in Charleston, these destinations offer more than just great food—they're perfect stops for your next summer adventure.' Memphis, Tennessee came in fourth, followed by Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina.
Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, also earned high marks, as did Durham, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee. Austin made the top spot for its smoked brisket and flavorful-seasoned foods even though Reddit users believed its number one spot was a 'joke.' It's also the home of restaurants like Franklin Barbecue and Michelin-rated La Barbecue. San Antonio is full of a variety of meat styles on food trucks like Brisket Boys and Cake-N-Que, which specialize in smoked meat.
While Texas dominates the list, Kansas City is still known for signature sauces and meats with 'burnt ends.' Some of its memorable selections are available in restaurants like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, a fan-favorite eatery with over 3,500 5-star reviews. Restaurant-goers who enjoy dry-rub ribs and pulled pork may prefer Memphis, which fans have praised for allowing local diners to choose between dry and saucy spice-rubbed meats. Consumers in Charleston can enjoy low country-style meats, which are cooked over hardwood coals.
Foodies who visit the South Carolina city may enjoy visiting spots like Rodney Scott's BBQ and Lewis Barbecue, which ranked third on Yelp's list of the Top 100 restaurants in the Carolinas two years ago. About three and a half hours outside of Charleston is Greenville, which has its traditional western South Carolina-style BBQ. Not only do places like Henry's Smokehouse and Mike & Jeff's BBQ offer various sauce options, but it's also the home of Bobby's BBQ, a restaurant that makes Texas-style brisket.
Customers looking for a taste of the multicultural scene may enjoy Honolulu, which Yelp described as a 'must-visit destination for barbecue fans.' Guests who visit 'The Big Pineapple' have praised barbecue meets at places like Duke's Waikiki and Bob's Bar-B-Que, and its L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurant was an honoree in Yelp's 2024 Fastest Growing Brands.
Tulsa provides a mix of Oklahoma and Texas-style techniques into its meats, and is the home of top-rated restaurants like Burb Co BBQ, Albert G's, and Bar-B-Q. Meet enthusiasts looking for 'whole-hog barbecue' may enjoy Durham, which has a growing Texas brisket scene and loaded plates at highly recommended places such as Backyard BBQ Pit and Lawrence Barbecue.
Rounding out this year's list, Nashville is where guests enjoy its combination of Tennessee barbecue and the state's hot chicken. It also houses restaurants like Bringles Sports Oasis, Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, and Peg Leg Porker, the last location making last year's list of Yelp's Top 100 Barbecue Spots.
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