calculate , we ’re not Kansas City , Texas , or either of the Carolinas . We ’re up here in the new North , which is n’t on the nose a BBQ mainstay . That being said , Minneapolis and St. Paul are not a lost cause , either . Some places are making awful rib , and we ’d like to call them out for being the heralds of northerly BBQ that they are . Here are our top filling for the best BBQ in the Twin Cities .
Rudolphs Bar-B-Que
locate right at the intersection of Franklin Ave and Lyndale , this place has been a raw material for Twin Cities BBQ for over 40 years . With offerings that admit both BBQ and St. Louis - style rack of ribs , moist BBQ crybaby , and somewhat decent brisket , it ’s sluttish to see why it ’s been smoking it for so long .
Smoke in the Pit
A belittled South Minneapolis BBQ spot , Smoke in the Pit mostly sticks to chicken and ribs , but it also does a passably decent Southern - mode , cornmeal - breaded wolf fish . If you could get in before 2 pm for the lunch specials , everything is passably cheap .
Ted Cook’s 19th Hole Barbecue
This might be the BBQ muffin of South Minneapolis . These Southside family line are utilizing hickory and cherry Sir Henry Joseph Wood to fuel the flavor of their tender , blue pork ribs , fall - off - the - bone beef rib , and BBQ slit beef cattle . Everything fathom and smells so good that it ’s hard to have it away what to take . The costa tip dinner party comes highly advocate , so who are we to argue ?
Scott Ja-Mama’s
This little hole - in - the - wall is basically a takeout - only kind of place , but it ’s turning out some pretty killer ribs and decorous poulet . Plus , you ca n’t go wrong with a side of potatoes , slaw , and beans . salivate yet ?
FireBox Deli
Having open in 2014 , FireBox Deli is still considered to be relatively novel in town . But it ’s also one of the few places that steers the focusing off costa and , instead , go out of its direction to foreground the luxuriousness that is brisket . Its tender , moist beef starts with a mystic ironical hang-up before the meat breaks down in the smoker for 12 - 14 hours , leading to one of the best smoked brisket experiences you could have in the Twin Cities .
Big Daddy’s Old Fashioned Barbeque
start off as a pair of friends having some amicable BBQ throwdowns in a park , Bid Daddy ’s has come a long way , function up scrumptious racks of pork ribs and poulet . What sets it apart from the rest of the competition , however , are the phenomenal beef ribs . They are truly an under - apprehended treat , and this place does them proud .
Rooster’s BBQ Deli
pork barrel , chicken , and beef are central at this St. Paul smoke shanty . Featuring attractively cooked babe dorsum , smokey BBQ poulet , and tender , pit smoked squawk rib , it also offer other classic like succulent pulled pork berm sandwich and buckets of crispy fried volaille .
C & G’s Smoking Barbecue
Easily one of my best-loved rib daub in town , this little Kingfield BBQ joint is consistently on point . The rib are thick , fond , and go down right off the ivory , but they still retain that perfect amount of chew . The sauce is tangy with a fiddling hint of spice that highlights the ribs absolutely . And the brisket ai n’t too shabby , either !
Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque
OK , I usually stress to cling to the Twin Cities ( Minneapolis and St. Paul specifically ) when it comes to things like this . But when you ’re working the kind of centre magic trick that possessor and executive chef Shawn Smalley is exploit , then it ’s worth mentioning . In fact , the food for thought is so good that the folks over at Food connection promulgate the jerk chicken at Smalley ’s to be the good –ever . This billet goes so far as to apply real Jamaican pimento wood for its smoking to give it that extra boot of legitimacy . It also has the goods on link sausages and spareribs .
Q Fanatic
This quaint slight place out in the northerly suburban area has been rocking the Q hard , and presently , it ’ll be bring that love to the Twin Cities with the opening of a South Minneapolis fix right near Hwy 62 on Nicollet Ave . With a square reputation for succulent , slow - roasted meats – big ol’ rack of babe backs and mouthwatering brisket – we are thirstily awaiting its TC arrival !
Rudolph’s Bar-B-Que
Keane Amdahl/Thrillist
Flickr/urbanfoodie33
Keane Amdahl/Thrillist
Q fanatic BBQ
