It may come as a bit of a surprise, but Los Angeles is the 5th best spot in the nation for BBQ according to this new study from LawnStarter. Yes, you read that right – it’s one of the best cities for BBQ in the U.S. Unlike the California love for bagels that baffled so many across the country, the L.A. love for BBQ makes sense. SoCal loves a good carne asada, and the grilled meat on tacos is the stuff of local legend.
What are the top BBQ cities in the U.S.?
Los Angeles made it to the top of the list along with the heavy hitters in the BBQ world.
The Top 5 Cities for BBQ:
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Houston, Texas
- Kansas City, Kansas
- Los Angeles, California
What factors were used to rank the top cities?
Here are the 5 categories used for ranking:
- Access
- Number of BBQ vendors and smokehouses
- Quality
- Average ratings and reviews for BBQ vendors
- Competition Awards
- Number of award-winners in BBQ contests and championships
- Elite BBQ Memberships
- Number of members in Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)
- Hosting
- Number of BBQ festivals and competitions hosted
What is the top ranked BBQ restaurant in L.A.?
Earlier this year Swinging Door Texas BBQ in North Hollywood came in at number 62 on Yelp’s Top 100 BBQ Restaurants List for 2024. Even though they’re located in NoHo, they’re cooking up some of the best authentic Texas style BBQ in the entire country since 2009. If you’ve got a BBQ craving, head over to Swinging Door Texas BBQ for a delicious smokey, saucy bite.
There’s no need to travel outside of L.A. to satisfy that smokey BBQ craving. This weekend, enjoy a delicious rack of ribs, a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, or a juicy beef brisket, and rest easy with the knowledge that you’re eating some of the best BBQ in the country.