St. Louis Area Barbecue Joints to Try Before You Die
St. Louis has become a barbecue destination in recent years with many fantastic BBQ restaurants popping up all around the area.
Whether you like your meats smoked or grilled, dry-rubbed or covered in sweet sauce, St. Louis has something for everybody. These local spots always have something new to try, too, like smoked salami or candied bacon or toasted ravioli stuffed with burnt ends.
It can be hard to know which restaurant to hit up first, so instead you'd better just plan to visit them all. These are the St. Louis area barbecue restaurants you must try before you die.
Mabel Suen
Navins BBQ
(3559 Arsenal Street, 314-449-118)
A wonderfully sweet sauce covers most of the meats here, and it’s so St. Louis. We’re obsessed with their “The Mess” sandwich — pulled pork, Navin's house sauce and sweet heat slaw.
1 of 20
Mabel Suen
Beast Craft BBQ Company
(20 South Belt West, Belleville; 618-257-9000)
Pitmaster Dave Sandusky always churns out hits, from pork steak to spare ribs to candied bacon and back again, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
2 of 20
Mabel Suen
The Stellar Hog
(multiple locations including 5623 Leona Street, 314-481-8448)
Just look at this smoked corned beef brisket. Just. Look. At. It. They have this along with smoked whole wings, burgers and more. Enough said.
3 of 20
Courtesy Photo
Sugarfire Smoke House
(multiple locations including 605 Washington Avenue, 314-797-8485)
Sugarfire is slowly taking over St. Louis with its multiple locations and seriously addictive St. Louis-style barbeque. Don’t skip the award-winning Cuban Reuben — it was voted the "Best Sandwich in the World" at the World Food Championships in 2018.
4 of 20
Mabel Suen
Adam’s Smokehouse
(2819 Watson Road, 314-875-9890)
Their smoked salami is no joke, but don’t miss out on the dry-rubbed slow-smoked turkey with a little of their Cranberry Cayenne BBQ sauce on top. Heavenly.
5 of 20
Jennifer Silverberg
Bogart’s Smokehouse
(1627 South Ninth Street, 314-621-3107)
Bogarts is often rated the top BBQ spot in Missouri, and for good reason. After you’ve eaten your weight in ribs, buy some of their fabulous sauces and rubs to go so you can try to continue the magic at home.
6 of 20
Jennifer Silverberg
Salt + Smoke
(multiple locations including 6525 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-0200)
For high-end barbecue served along must-try sides like burnt-end toasted ravioli, fried pickles and some of the best mac and cheese you’ll ever have in your life, seek out some Salt + Smoke.
7 of 20
Mabel Suen
Nubby’s BBQ
(6039 Telegraph Road, 314-293-9686)
When only a massive 1.5 pound pork steak will do, head to Nubby’s, where you'll find that and more, such as a brisket Reuben and Texas-style burnt ends.
8 of 20
Mabel Suen
Five Aces
(4000 Shaw Boulevard, 314-390-2886)
For great barbecue with a side of (legendary) chicken and dumplings, get to Five Acres on Shaw ASAP.
9 of 20
Jennifer Silverberg
Hendrick’s BBQ
(1200 South Main Street, St. Charles; 636-724-8600)
Located on historic Main Street in St. Charles, Hendrick’s brings the heat with tasty meats like half-racks of baby-back ribs and smoked brisket.
10 of 20
Ryan Krull
Sawmill BBQ Pub & Grill
(1090 Old Des Peres Road, Des Peres; 314-394-1196)
Barbecue meatball penne pasta, pulled pork, brisket and more can all be found at Sawmill in Des Peres.
11 of 20
Liz Miller
Pappy’s Smokehouse
(multiple locations including 3105 Olive Street, 314-535-4340)
This classic spot serves Memphis-style barbecue and is known for its apple and cherry wood smoked ribs.
12 of 20
Mabel Suen
The Midwestern
(900 Spruce Street, 314-696-2573)
For mouthwatering meats, hot chicken, brisket cheesesteak and more, The Midwestern has you covered downtown.
13 of 20
Candice Coleman
Duke's BBQ Shack
(100 Ash Street, Wentzville; 636-856-9227)
Eric Pierre’s skills with smoked meats have made Duke’s a mainstay of the Wentzville community.
14 of 20
C&K Barbecue
(4390 Jennings Station Road, 314-385-8100)
Saucy and satisfying, this classic St. Louis spot serves brisket, ribs and more along with more unique items like grilled snouts and BBQ chicken nachos.
15 of 20
Hogtown Smokehouse
(6301 Clayton Avenue, 314-899-0550)
Located in the heart of Dogtown, Hogtown serves smoked meats with intriguing sides like Frito Pie, Texas toast brisket sandwiches and meat-stuffed mac and cheese.
16 of 20
Roper’s Ribs
(6929 West Florissant Avenue, 314-381-6200)
This family-owned old-school barbecue joint offers fantastic STL-style ribs, snoots, burnt ends, hot links and more.
17 of 20
Big Woody’s BBQ
(1821 Zumbehl Road, St. Charles; 636-724-4227)
They say that Big Woody’s has the best brisket in town. Luckily, there’s only one way to find out if that’s true: Go there and stuff your face.
18 of 20
Smokee Mo’s
(606 Jeffco Boulevard, Arnold; 636-296-2111)
This unique spot serves up stellar barbecue alongside fantastic vegan dishes, too. It’s a truly unique spot where every hungry person can be satisfied.
19 of 20
Smoking Barrels BBQ
(5641 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-669-9455)
This South Kingshighway spot finds a way to put meat on anything, including the salad, nachos and potato skins. We’re into it.
20 of 20
