In the burbs: Swallow at the Hollow

In Atl:
-Fat Matts for ribs and pulled pork
-Foxs Bros for wings (best ever) sides and tot dishes

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Harold’s!

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Dave Poes, Pig n Chick/Chamblee, and Fox Bros.

Best sauce- Fox Bros. Best sauce variety- Pig n Chick

Best BBQ Chicken- Williamson Bros.

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Barbecue? Again? Well, Atlanta’s all over the map on ‘cue. Fox Brothers, though, knocks everybody down. The brisket and the wings are fantastic. Still looking for the best ribs. Maddy’s are tasty. Pig N Chik has great pulled pork, Note to GT Fan–Sonny’s doesn’t even cook the ‘cue on premises. Warmed up outside ‘cue can be bought in the take home foods section of any Kroeger.

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Let’s not get crazy with the mom and pops and holes in the wall. Shane’s is hard to beat even if it’s a chain. For the money, it absolutely can’t be beat $20 family meal deal, 1lb of pork or whole cooked chicken, 2 big sides, dessert and gallon of tea or lemonade.

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The Pink Pig in Cherry Log, GA. It’s worth the drive!

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Fatt Matts is a tourist trap.

In the city, Best Barbeque is Fox Brothers, Pig N Chick and Harolds.

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Fox Bros have no competition! If you think some other place is better I suggest you go try it!

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Pippin’s or Cowboy’s in Covington. Fresh Air in Jackson.

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I hope you’re gonna have a chain or non-chain catergory because, the best non-chain bbq has to be a little hole in the wall place in Rex called Tookes, it is the best…

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Dave Poe’s brisket is the best I have eaten and the pork is not bad either.

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Fox Bros hands down. Jim and Nicks in Suwanee is pretty darn good as well.

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ITP? Harold’s. OTP? Old South BBQ in Smyrna.

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Fox Brothers is the best BBQ in Atlanta without question.

If you have not tried DBA BBQ in the Va Highlands, though, give it a try. It doesn’t have the name recognition of Fat Matt’s, Pig ‘N Chick, et al., but they make very good BBQ.

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‘cue in alpharetta.

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GT said it all for the Techies when he claimed Sonny’s as his favorite. Disgraceful. Go back to kindergarten.

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What happen to KC ?

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Fat Matt’s-Ribs
Swallow at the Hollow-Barbecue
Harold’s-Stew

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southern pit griffin southern living loved it and they have by far the best stew i have ever eaten

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Best BBQ in Atlanta? About 150 miles due east to South Carolina. Otherwise, the orignal Shane’s in McDonough.

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OLD SOUTH IN SMYRNA!!!!!

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Fox Bros., no question about it!

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What’s the matter with Sonny’s?

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Cue in Alpharetta for sure

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Fox Brothers: Wings and Brisket
Community Q: Pulled pork

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Went to One Star last week. Prices high, beef rib was charred (burned) too heavily on the outside, sides were average, but luckily they were very small as well. Can’t vote for a former favorite.

Pig and Chick is good!

Rib Ranch closed!

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If y’all are going to make such grand pronouncements about “the best ever”, please try holcombs in white plains first…. just so you don’t look like an idiot when you do try it and realize that Atlanta, and it’s suburbs, just doesn’t have very good Q…. period

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Wallace in Austell but wait until Thursday -Friday or Saturday. They are closed on Monday. So Tue & Wed may be left over from weekend. They will try to slip them in on you but for the most part they are great. My overall vote goes to Logans Steak House. Yummmmy. 10-4 10-6 for 10-84..Earl D Lee was the best.

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Best pork – Sam and Daves I moved away but still make their Mac-N-Chz all the time, nobody comes close to that stuff…..Best Sauces – Pig-N-Chick, best mustard and vinegar sauce in the ATL. Best Stew – Pig-N-Chik just barely over Sam-N-Daves and Harolds. Rule of thumb – a chain doesnt cook BBQ they way itsmeant to be cooked – in fact nobody in town has BBQ that even looks like Sam-N-Daves and Fox Bors, the way its burned to a crisp on the outside, pulled with a fork and has the nice pink ring on the inside. If its done right I could eat BBQ every friggin day of the week…..

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‘cue is good. So is Jim and Nicks (esp the onion rings). But Fox Bros is best.

By the way, Swallow in the Hollow sucked.

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Hickory Pig in Gainesville! Well worth the drive up this way!

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B’s BBQ
B’s BBQ Road
Greenville, NC

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Old Brick Pit BBQ, PIB, just south of Lowes Warehouse (Windsor Pkwy). NC-style melt-in-yo-mouth pulled pork, and a sauce that is perfect blend of sweet and tangy. 1/2-chicken plates, too.

That said, have yet to find a place ANYWHERE that beats Starnes BBQ, Paducah KY!

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Community Q is my favorite in the city. Their pork and brisket are as close to competition quality as you will find in any bbq joint.

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Southern Pit, Griffin Ga.

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After living here for over a decade, I still haven’t found one BBQ joint that is worthy. I know of two, one is the Shed in Ocean Beach, MS and the others if Flint’s in Oakland, CA. Both of these will make you understand what real BBQ is all about. There are some OK places here, but all have a long way to go. North Carolina is calling…

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since 1929, Fresh Air BBQ, Jackson, GA

The BEST in Georgia !

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Fat Matt’s!

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James, and Toni, I am so upset that KC Pitt is closed. they had the best cue in the state. When I read what happened, I was sick to my stomach, not for them, but for the food i was not going to get anymore… LOL

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Johnny’s in Powder Springs, Wallace in Austell, Williamson Bros. in Marietta. I’ll be honest–I’m not a bbq snob–there’s hardly any bbq that I haven’t liked, in varying degrees. So many I’d like to try…still haven’t made it to Dreamland in Roswell but want to sometime.

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Hands down, has to be One Star Ranch. Best beef ribs in town.

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Sam’s House in Carrollton GA… Everything is fresh and prepared right there!!! If you’re in the area, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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Ever hear of “Yankee Barbeque,” Folks?

Yep, I didn’t think so. Neither has anyone else.

That is because there is no such thing, just like you’ve never heard of “Northern Hospitality,” either.

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Fox Brothers, love the texas fries, bbq stuffed jalepenos, and the unbelievable Fox Brothers Burger (brisket, pimento cheese, bacon, jalepeno mayo, red onions, toasted bun).

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Community Q is the best new place. Not only is the pork great, the Mac’n cheese is fantastic; go early ’cause they do run out of food. Swallow at the Hollow is a great package. The meat is good and all the sides rate tops; and to go there on entertainment night! Pig and Chick is inconsistent and the sides are nothing to talk about. Fresh Air is pretty good, but not my style. SO LETS GO NORTH! Jimmy’s in Lexington is my favorite. A lot of folks like Honey Monks but, like Fresh Air, not my style. Mac’s in Charlotte is a lot of fun with decent Q and great atmosphere.

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I know it isn’t exactly Atlanta, but Bub Ba Q in Jasper has GREAT Brisket and pork. The Brunswick stew is only average though. My favorite Hole in the wall joint.

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Barbecue in Atlanta? This is a joke right?
Save your money. Fly to Kansas City, eat at Gates, Heywards, Bryants and KC Masterpiece.
You’ll never eat Barbecue in Atlanta again.

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I used to really enjoy and recommend Williamson Brothers BBQ, but I have gotten food poisoning the last three times I have visited their Marietta location.

Therefore, I no longer frequent that establishment where I have taken many Southern Ladies, relatives and good friends.

Selah.

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Right on “yeah right”, Gates in Kansas City is the best BBQ in the world….

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Hard to pin down to one choice because it depends on whether I want ribs, pulled pork, particular sides, etc.
For ribs I prefer Sticky Fingers baby Backs but I haven’t succeeded in getting them to Atlanta yet so I don’t eat too many ribs in Atlanta. Not a fan of beef ribs so that rules out One Star & Rib Ranch.
For pulled pork BBQ1 in E Cobb is some of the best I’ve had.
Both Fox Bros & BBQ1 have good brisket though I’m not sure I’d put either up against what I’ve had in TX – County Line, etc.
For quality sides, both BBQ1 & Fox Bros do well although I’d pick BBQ1 over Fox Bros.
For brunswick stew, the best I’ve ever had is Old South in Smyrna.
Despite the nay-sayers, Sonny’s is capable of good smoked bbq chicken & excellent baked beans but not a fan of much else there.
Too bad there’s not one place with the whole package although BBQ1 comes closest for me.

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I would not feed my Dawg Shane’s, their Q comes in plastic bags from a main kitchen, no smoke out back.

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In Atlanta 1. Fox Brothers 2. Harolds 3. Pig & Chick
Rest of Ga. 1. Poole’s in Elijay 2. Fresh Air in Jackson

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The “Ole Brick Pit” on P-tree Ind. near Lowes’ is right up there at the top!!!!

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So many comments from folks who have not been to Harolds. Its no contest.

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Bubba-Q in Woodstock. Barbeque champions doin’ it in a restaurant.

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Old Brick Pit

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Please don’t bring up that Carolina stuff on here. That is an inferior BBQ sauce. GA Public TV had a great BBQ documentary that explained it: GA bb

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“D.B.A. Barbecue” in the Virginia Highlands is best of Atlanta. The cream corn is UNREAL.

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I agree with Road Warrior. Holcomb’s at either the White Plains or Greeensboro location is simply the best. Barbecue is all they do but they do it so well. Our family grew up eating Holcomb’s and our youngest daughter had it served at her wedding rehearsal dinner. It is my belief that their Brunswick stew is the perfect food.

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I’ll take advise of UNCTV (NC Public Television) over GA Public TV anyday.
NC = better education and BBQ. Sorry GA!

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Williamson Brothers hands down for me!! AND if ANYONE dares to try to put “Dreamland” on this list, may Big John rise up and smite you!!:) The Dreamland franchises DO NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL SAUCE!!! The only way to get Dreamland ORIGINAL sauce is to go to the one in Tuscaloosa. Big John only gave the recipe to one son. The other kids have “guessed” at it and try to pass it off as the sauce but us “HOMEGROWN Tuscaloosans” know it’s fake:)

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Dave Poe’s.

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I like Fox Brothers

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Another vote for Holcomb’s in White Plains. You’ve tried the rest, now try the best. Ditto on the stew.

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AH Voice of reason– Old Hickory House is much older than 50.The original on Northside Dr and Deering Rd was started in the early 50’s(long since gone unfotunately)but I agree,it’s still hard to beat thei outside sandwich and a cup of stew.

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Johnny Harris and Barnes in Savannah will be hard to beat by any Atlanta joint

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If you’re down in LaGrange, try Hog Heaven. Best around. Much better than Sprayberry’s in Newnan.

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I didn’t see mentioned the great Bailey’s, about 1 mile east of I-75 & Rte 2 in Ringgold, a few miles from the TN line. Nor did I see JoMax at the Metter exit on I-16, always tasty. You can get a bbq lamb sandwich at Savannah’s venerable Johnny Harris, as well as pork pig (since 1924). For some reason the meat has gone dry at the formerly great Sprayberry’s. The stew is still the best. Vandy’s in Statesboro, definitely worth the trip. Sconyers in Augusta, open Thurs-Sunday. I could go on and on, but I won’t.

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“Let’s not get crazy with the mom and pops and holes in the wall.”

How about “let’s not pick the prefab chain store that happens to be closest to my house because they’re effing everywhere”… okay?

My fave? Community BBQ in Decatur… their pulled pork is pretty darned perfect.

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Fox Brothers

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Swallow at the Hollow

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As much as I love Harold’s, I have to say that The Local–yes, The Local–on Ponce has the best ribs I’ve ever tasted. With okra and black eyed peas, it’s freakin’ amazing.

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Fox Brothers no question, I’ve only had ribs that good from one other person and they’ve since passed on.

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Though it’s a chain, Shane’s is all around good BBQ. Great tasting meat, sauces, and sides.

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Cue in Alpharetta sucks, Mustard Seed and Pig N Chik

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fox brothers

rolling bones second

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Anyone that says Fat Matt’s and sonny’s ribs are best in the Atl need to try JJ’s Rib hack on Campbellton Rd. The ribs and chicken are what they do best. Fresh Air in Jackson used to be the best for pulled pork but they used wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much vinegar.

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Williamson Brothers in Marietta has the best “outside pulled pork” on the market ! Eat it weekly and would not do without.

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Enter your comments here

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Community Q in Decatur (the Mac n cheese is amazing here!)
Pig N Chick in Sandy Springs

Need to make some time to get to Fat Matt’s and DBA… I hear great things.

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Big Shanty BBQ in Kennesaw, Bub-Ba-Q in Woodstock, JD’s BBQ in Woodstock. Both of the former Sam and Dave’s BBQ places have slipped slightly (Dave Poe’s in Marietta and Sam’s BBQ1 on Lower Roswell Rd.) Anybody who thinks Fat Matt’s is good is crazy. And if you nominate a chain such as Jim ‘N Nicks or Shanes you should never be allowed to eat of the swine ever again. And I love the person who nominated Champs in Smyrna…they were pretty good, but they’ve been closed for almost 2 years.

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Sam’s BBQ 1

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There are a lot of great choices around here, but Fox Bros. has to be the best. Anyone who says they don’t like is either a vegan or works for a different BBQ joint.

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Pig n’ Chik

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Cafe Pig

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At my house. The meat is hand picked, the sauce is home made, and it’s cooked with loving care to eat, not to sell. Beats anything out there.

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Hands down, it’s Cafe Pig down on the southside!!!

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Thompson Brothers the Q and the hot sausage are so good

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Community Q

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FOX Bros inside 285

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I was a vegetarian when Fox Bros opened. However, my friends (who were also vegetarian) and I caved upon smelling tasting the pulled pork that they serve. If that wasn’t delicious enough, the savory ribs are amazing! My friend’s Italian uncle was picked up from the airport and one of the first things he requested was Fox Bros BBQ. My aunt from Minnesota- always request Fox Bros BBQ when she is in town. When people ask me where to go to eat in Atlanta- I always say Fox Bros BBQ

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Bubba-Q & Community. The biggest problem w/ Atlanta BBQ is no real sauce. Everyone uses that tomato based crap. What’s wrong with sonny’s? Nothing if massed produced chain restaurants with no real chef is what you like! If thats the case you should try the Baby-back-baby-back ribs at chili’s

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I used to think it was Fox Brothers………before Community Q BBQ opened. They are fantastic! Fresh food and great service.

Swallow at the Hollow is also pretty great.

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Fox Bro’s hands down! I travel the state and have been to almost every place mentioned here and nobody does it better. Very original specials and appetizers. The BBQ rolls and wings are unreal. Great Sides TOO!

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There’s a place on Thornton Road between I-20 and Bankhead Hwy – I don’t know the name of it – When I eat there – I forget every where else. YUM

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No way. McDonalds McRib the best ever!!

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Oinkers in Clayton, GA is very good. The main drawback is they are only open Thurs, Fri and Sat

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Fatt Matt’s

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You are missing out if you haven’t enjoyed great pork at Scott’s Walk-up Bar-b-q in Cartersville. They are all about the smoked pork/meats and Carolina style sauces. Its a simple, clean place with no gimmics or fancy decorations. Love their pork, even the beans have bits of smoked pork! Yum! We drive up and buy extra so we can enjoy it for a week. They even have a “sweet sauce” to appease those who insist on adding sweetness “Georgia style” to everything they eat.
For me it is either Scott’s, Harold’s, and for Texas style Fox’s.

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Fresh Air BBQ~

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I still say Sonny’s, although I went to Fox Brother’s last night, and it was almost as good.

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Big D’s in Dawsonville
Dreamland in Roswell
Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell
Fox Bros in Atlanta

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YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRONG!!! It is Bu Ba Que at Hwy 92 and Canton Rd in Woodstock, GA!! They have been Featured on the Food Network many of times and won a ton of Rib cooking contests!! Along with their award wining Ribs and Pulled Pork, they do a Philly Cheesesteak beef Brisket!! Trust me, you guys need to check this place out!!

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JJ’s RIB SHACK!!!

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Thompson Bro’s, Cobb Pkwy

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JD’s in Woodstock. (But don’t all drive up here – it’s hard enough to get a parking space as it is.)

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Fatt Matt’s and Dreamland are both really good, Open Air in Jackson is probably the best!

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DRIVE TO LEXINGTON NC FOR THE BEST BBQ.

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J J’s Rib Shack on Campbellton Road.

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The shed sux they put enough sauce to float an aircraft carrier. BBQ shoulnd not be about the sauce only.Which goes to say that Wallace BBQ is ok if you leave off the sauce taste like its was run through dirty socks!

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Fatt Matt’s has a good atmosphere, but if you think they have the best ribs, you’ve never had a good rib.

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Sam’s Memphis BBQ in Carrollton!!!

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Old Hickory House… they have one off LaVista Rd. in Tucker, GA & one off Chamblee Tucker Rd

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Dreamland in Alpharetta…The Best BBQ in Atlanta…

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Heyyyyy where did KC Pitt BBQ in Sandy Springs go?????? They had the best BBQ to me in Atlanta, that Kansas City taste ummmmmmmmmmm. Tried to go there for dinner on Saturday and they are gone, they just moved to that location WTF!!!!!! The restaurants in this town come and go so quick that if you see an estabslihment that you might want to experience you better turn in at that present moment because tomorrow they might be gone !!!!1

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I can’t believe some idiot actually said Sonny’s. That crap is the worst ‘que you can possibly put in your mouth.

Fresh Air B-B-Q in Jackson or Athen’s…

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Leons in Chicago Yuuuuumy!!!!!!!!

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Maddy’s Rib Shack in Decatur is great place to start!

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Emma, the owners were arrested for money laundering, I think.

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JR’s Log House in Norcross is good, and you can smell the smoke for miles around.

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REAL BBQ is in N.C., not Georgia. So you’d have a long way to drive to get the real thing. Scotts BBQ in eastern N.C. is FANTASTIC. I even order their own BBQ sauce online. This is the stuff that will make you slap your Momma!

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althought i appreciate the NC BBQ info, I do think that the question was about the best ATLANTA BBQ. Can’t you NC folks read?

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Fox Bros. is by far the best around. They have tasty classics and some stuff you’ve probably never had before too.

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Fox Bros

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If you don’t get a good whiff of smoke when you walk into the joint, then you probably aren’t going to get good bar-b-que. That pretty much eliminates chains like Smokey Bones, Sticky Fingers, Jim and Nicks, and Shane’s where the food is cooked in a central kitchen in BFE and shipped to the restaurant for reheating. Not saying you’ll get a bad meal there (although I did get some pulled pork at Smokey Bones once that was still frozen in the center), you just won’t get authentic ‘que. Stick to the mom & pop places that take pride in their ‘que and cook it on site. Places like Scott’s Bros. in Cartersville, Pink Pig in Cherry Log, JD’s Barbeque or Bub-BaQ in Woodstock or Old South in Smyrna. They do all their cooking on site and you get a strong scent of smoke and meat when you walk in. Heck, even Williamson’s is good because they do their smoking on site even though they are a local chain.

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No ribbing, Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse in Euharlee (Bartow County. Soooo worth the drive the the BBQ and steaks!

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@ Bhorsoft….Jim & Nick’s does cook on site.

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Jason,

It doesn’t taste or smell like it. It ain’t got no soul, just like Shane’s.

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Recently visited Big D’s BBQ in Dawsonville, GA‎. Its the most unique BBQ I’ve ever had. The “brownie” was very interesting (outside meat with season rub charred on). The ribs were amazing. The little hushpuppies were golden fried bites of heaven. St Louis Style.

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Mad Dog’s BBQ in Conyers, GA
Cowboy’s BBQ in Newborn, GA
Bradley’s BBQ in Covington, GA

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For overall quality of the menu from top to bottom has to be Fox Brothers

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Best smoked BBQ-the old fashioned way….
Roadside BBQ on North 129-Cleveland Ga…
Hands Down…The Best.

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Bradley’s Bar-B-Que Conyers and Covington. Best ribs, wings and pulled pork.

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Fox Bros is one of the best! Fat Matt’s is overrated FOOS!

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Jim-n-Nicks or Williamson Brothers

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Wallace in Austell has a great laid back country vibe if you need to get out of the metropolis. Good pulled pork.
Fatt Matt’s for Ribs. Get a bit touristy, loud, and crowded on w/es.
Fox Bros overall is excellent. Great pork, fast service, interesting sides.
Williamson in Canton is outstanding. Who ever said they got food poisoning 3 times in a row a lying fool. Best hush puppies in the Metro area.

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I’m sorry but Sprayberry’s in Newnan is awful. When we moved here everyone raved about it so we tried it. The BBQ sauce is really runny with a cinnamon tasted that ruins everything. Apple fried pies are the worst. We haven’t had any good bbq yet since moving here from Arkansas. Come on people, why is it so hard to try and replicate KC Masterpiece in Kansas City.

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GT Fan ….you said Sonny’s? You either have no friends or are trying to get rid of a few!!! Bi-Lo has better bar-b-que and they are out of business!

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Jim n’ Nick’s – Great cue and outstanding sides!

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Steve and Nicks in Lawrencevillle.

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Yeah Steve’s isn’t very good.

Sick Em.

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Fat Matt’s

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Wallace Bar-B-Que in Austell. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Great Food! Great Staff! Great Prices!

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The Original Slopes BBQ in Roswell is one of my favorites. They just started serving brisket friday and saturdays absolutely amazing. Swallow at the hallow is good but the sides are sub par. Pig N Chik is always a good choice as well

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The BEST BBQ is at JJ’s Rib Shack in SW Atlanta. Its a hole in the wall, food is only to go and is cooked to order. Just know that you may wait an hour or so but its WELL WORTH IT. So forget Sonny’s (thats smoked meat not BBQ), Fatt Matt’s (it’s ok, but they dont have a lot of sides) and all the other are just BS’ing around a grill…so take a trip to Campbellton Rd and get ya some ribs, rib tips, whole or chicken pieces and southern sides. You will NOT be disappointed AT ALL.

PS. they close when they have sold all the meat for the day (wink). So get their early (11:30am) so you dont have to wait or risk them selling out of meat or veggies

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I am writing down all these places so I can try the one’s I have not been to, except for the nut that listed Shanes. I can crockpot pork at home and pour on sauce from Kroger. Also, I have eaten BBQ in Kansas City – good but not worth going to Kansas City for and Kansas City is not in Atlanta for those of you who don’t realize that. Hence the title ” Best of the Big A” – that “A” is not America.

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OINKERS in Clayton!!!!

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Humor award winner: The guy who listed the McRib sandwich – you’re killing me. Virginia Highland?? Don’t think I would want smoked butt or creamed anything in Virginia Highland.

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Speaking as a Memphis boy, ‘Cue in Alpharetta/Milton is easily the best I’ve had in the Atlanta area. The meat (particularly the pulled/chopped pork) is outstanding. The sides are excellent, especially the slaw and the house made sourdough bread. The sauces are good individually, although a judicious mixing of the regular (tomato based), the S.C.-style mustard, and the N.C.-style vinegar sauces yields an outstanding sauce.

Give it a try. You won’t be sorry!

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I know this is not in Atlanta, however, “J. L.’s” Bar-B-Que located just 75 miles South of downtown Atlanta, on I-75 South, on Eisenhower Road in Macon, Georgia, is by far the most tender, most and delicious meat that I have eaten in years. And Lord knows…that their special homemade Bar-B-Que sauce makes my mouth water just by thinking about it. Now, where is my napkin?

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If you are traveling between Atlanta and Macon – High Falls Barbecue off of Exit 198. Excellent>

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Why take them out? I make better barbecue at home than any of the local restaurants… boston butt, brisket… nothing is better than homemade off my own smoker.

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JJ’s Rib Shack off Campbellton Rd….you can take me out the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of me!!! MY #1 VOTE!!!

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Fox Brothers, DBA, and Community Q, in that order.

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Harold’s BBQ

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FRESH AIRE BBQ
TWO LOCATIONS!
Jackson, GA 770.775.3182
Macon, GA 478.477.7229

OPEN 7 DAYS a WEEK!
Sunday – Thursday 11AM – 8PM
Friday – Saturday 11AM – 9PM

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Columbus, Georgia has the best! Macon Road BBQ, 13th Street BBQ, Porky Pig, Mike N Eds (in Phenix City), Fat Freddies, Hamilton Road…. The list is too long. If you don’t see smoke coming out of the roof, it ain’t barbeque going to your table. Folks, you don’t know what you are missing. Also, the mustard based sauces, like Foy’s and First Alarm are hard to find here. There is no good barbeque here. I feel plumb sorry for yas. Maybe one or two come close. I have to drive 125 miles to get some decent que and stew every now and then. Good luck to all of you.

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For ribs (some of y’all don’t consider ribs BBQ), drive to Tuscaloosa, AL and hit up the original Dreamland Barbecue. Ain’t nuthin’ like em nowhere (including the franchise locations in B’ham, Roswell and Norcross unfortunately).

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Pig-N-Chick on Roswell Road….

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OB’s BBQ in McDonough! The best BBQ anywhere!

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Best inside the city of Atlanta…If you have not tried Rolling Bones BBQ – smoked wings beats fox bros all day!!! I live in between both places and have tried both. No sauce required!
Rolling Bones pulled pork and beef brisket……. skip the ribs.. I definitely go to Fox Bros for the ribs…

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There is no such thing as the “Best” BBQ in Atlanta…most of these places are mediocre at best. The only ones I can stomach and who come within a SMIDGEN of the real Texas BBQ that I’m accustomed to are Jim N Nick’s (not bad for a chain) and Fox Brothers. My problem with Fox Brothers is that it’s very inconsistent. Some days it’s great and other times I’ve been and it’s barely palatable.

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Sprayberry’s in Newnan (the original location is a better experience than the newer one by I-85). Took out-of-town family there once, now it’s a “must visit” every time they’re here.

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I am coming to Atlanta on the 27th. Coming to the Emory area on I 20. How do I get to Fox Brothers? Y’all have done flat out thrown a craving on me!!!

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oops….here IN Georgia…spilled BBQ sauce on my tongue and misspelled that ‘un

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Community BBQ in Decatur is very good and their bake beans is a meal in itself. Jim and Nicks is also good as well as Fox Brothers. You can’t go wrong with any of those.

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wyatts n atl best bbq hands down and i no my bbq.

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Dreamland BBQ by far….the ribs are awesome, and the brunswick stew even better!

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OBS BBQ in McDonough. Hands down best in GA.

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Mad Dogs below Honey Creek in Conyers is very very good.

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Fox Brothers is about the best I’ve been able to do here in town, but there really isn’t good bbq in this area. To those that keep saying Old South. Please stop. Get out and try some real food sometime. Old South served the worst barbecue plate I’ve ever seen. I love barbecue and brunswick stew, but theirs was disgusting. I hit a drive-thru on the way home from that dump.

I think I’ll go thaw some Honey Monks now…

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COMMUNITY Q!

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Love Maddy’s in Decatur! Great potato salad too!

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Two places: Heavy’s BBQ in Crawfordville and Sconyer’s BBQ in Augusta. Anything in metro-Atlanta is not worth eating. Sprayberry’s in Newnan is about the closes thing to good BBQ in metro-Atlanta and that place sucks compared to Heavy’s and Sconyer’s.

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Rogers’s BBQ in Hogansville (also LaGrange, but haven’t eaten at that one) converted me from Sprayberry’s years ago. Someone posted that the Rib Ranch is closed? Surely not! But as I have moved out of state, can’t veryify. They would be my second favorite after Roger’s.

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KEVIN JONES AKA (BLACK LOVE) ELLENWOOD,GA

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North Carolina Barbecue

For all those of you complaining about the mention of NC in this Atlanta survey: that’s the standard by which all others are judged. For example, I rate Fresh Air about equal with Honey Monks; Swallow at the Hollow with Mac’s in Charlotte, Community Q with Jimmy’s. There is no right way, but there are lots of wrong ways (South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee for example).

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Hey I dunno about all this regional arguin’ I thought the question is; the best in the Atlanta area. Oh, I thought it was for your vote, not slamming others.

If you want good fried clams go to The Waterfront Restaurant in Camden, Maine

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DEANS IN JONESBORO. HANDS DOWN THE BEST BBQ .

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Shane’s always gives me the squirts. Thanks but no thanks. Dreamland lives up to its name. I would drive to Tuscaloosa for it, but I’m glad they are in the suburbs.

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Sonny’s with Shanes coming in a close second.

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@Yeah Right..I have been to Gates in Kansas City and it is yummy..Glad to see that someone other than me has finally found Iron Horse in Villa Rica..

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1bearz you must be smoking i lived in Oakland and am from the tru south where Q comes from and Flint’s is road kill cooked way to long. Sorry Pig and Chik

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Only a Yellow Jacket would think Sonny’s is BBQ.

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Maddy’s in Decatur gets my vote. And leave that Kansas City style out of the discussion, its not worthy of a good southern debate! Sonny’s also is not worth calling Bar-B-Que. I don’t know what you would really call it for sure!

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Helloooooooooo????? Atlanta? Is everybody over 40 dead or gone? Hickory House !! We grew up on it! The real deal with the OLD guys as pit masters! Give it a try and see how it SHOULD be done.

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Hambone’s in College Park is the best. Everything on the menu will make your mouth water!

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This is like picking youir favorite child!

We are partial to Harold’s. And a close second is The Barbecue Shack in Athens, but just cause that’s the flavor of my childhood.

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Dreamland BBQ

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Barbeque Masters in Morrow, GA….Best Ribs and Sauce!!!

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south- Sprayberry’s in newnan for best meat, stew and sides and sauce

north- johnny’s BBQ in gainesville best meat and stew

further north- North GA BBQ in helen best meat and stew

all have meat that you can taste the smoke. because its actually smoked. unlike sonny’s or shane’s. it’s pretty pityful when the best thing on sonny’s or shane’s menus are the chicken tenders. not to mention, shanes microwaves just about everything they serve.

and all have stew made the way it should be: no beans and no potatoes! and ground fine. dont dare serve me chunky veg soup and call it brunswick stew!

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and for the ones that think the age of the joint means they must be the best(like fresh air sine 1929)

sprayberry’s has been in the same location, selling the same great bbq sine 1926!

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BBQ in Atlanta waste of time. Drive to KC and eat at oklahoma joe’s

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Fat Matt’s Rib Shack

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I quit going to Pig & Chick when I asked the owner if their pulled pork came from a boston butt or a picnick shoulder and he told me they were the same thing. They’re not.

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Pig N Chik for pulled pork. Slopes for Brunswick Stew

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No, I am saying when the OWNER of a “bbq” restaurant doesn’t know the difference that it is a bad sign. Was I not clear?

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Only a tech fan would say Sonny’s!

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McDonald’s McRib, bring it back!

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Fox Bros hands – best beef brisket and brisket chili in town, not fatty and cooked perfect. Bonus for the Lopez – tater tots smoothered in brisket chili and cheese

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The PIT (off MLK Jr. on Joseph Lowrey), hands down! It’s a hole-in-the-wall, but you cannot beat the flavor. M-m-m-!!!

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justjanny, I’m not risking my life by going into the hood to eat BBQ.

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Nobody’s even mentioned dba Barbeque near Ponce & N Highland. Outtasight everything!!!

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I can’t believe no one has mentioned one of the best spots ITP…Daddy D’s! The BBQ and sides are all around excellent!

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BEST BBQ IS IN COLUMBUS,GA. SMOKEY PIG ,13TH STREET ,MACON ROAD AND EVEN COUNTRY’S IS GREAT. TAKE A TRIP SOUTH YOU’LL LOVE IT.

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Dean’s Bar-b-q North Main St. Jonesboro, GA.

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Hickory Pig! Consistantly great BBQ. I like mine on white bread.

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big shanty bbq in kennesaw, by far the best around. fox bros and fat matt’s also good.

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Community Q on Clairmont, or Maddy’s on Scott Blvd… the BEST!

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I come back to Williamson Brothers after going to all these other places and not much can beat their “outside pork” sandwich. Great ribs too. As for Brunswick stew, the Dunwoody Old Hickory House has the very best ever!

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Williamsons brothers in douglasville has the best sauce, best bruinswick stew is Merles in Dallas,GA.

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Jackson, GA is the place to go- Fresh Air BBQ and Blind Pig ARE the BBQ’s in greater metro area!

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Oh yeah that’s Tasha at Sam’s House in Carrollton…best bbq and the best service

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sorry forgot my second item…KC gooey sugary sauce seems to be what all these transplants ,and any retard that says sonny’s or shane’s , is looking for, but the best sauces are vinegar based!

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Olde South BBQ Smyrna. BBQ and sauces are great plus the sides – especially green beans and hush puppies.

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Bub-ba-Q in Jasper or Woodstock!!!

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1. ‘Cue in North Fulton (alpharetta/milton area) – former Swallow at the Hollow staff (chef maybe?) Love everything about this place except the stew.
2. Hickory Pig – Gainesville. Everything is wonderful.
3. Harolds, mainly for the stew.

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Oh, and to lump all BBQ in the same category ain’t right. You got to split it up with chains and mom and pop’s… Georgia style or Carolina style… and if you eat real ‘que there’s been a hog killin’ right before the cooking started. You ain’t talking ‘que if you’re talking beef. Real ‘que comes from a fat pig or hog. And… you don’t need a knife to cut real ‘que… real ‘que falls off the bone without much prodding.

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Community BBQ! Any one posting the best as Shane’s Rib shack is a complete moron! Yeah, and McDonalds has the best Burger in the ATL, what a joke

Shane’s became a franchise, but I live 2 minutes from the original shack and I can vouch for the ‘cue. I won’t sit here and tout it as the best in Atlanta because living SOP I haven’t tried many of them. But Shane’s, at least the one I know, is legit. Small, hole in the wall joint with awesome ‘cue.

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Without a doubt, it’s Thompson Brothers in Smyrna. This Oklahoma family KNOWS how to smoke a beef brisket. Their sauces are unparalleled. And who else in this part of the world offers smoked bologna?? They’re the best — and some really great guys to boot.

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*gaaah – i meant JACKSON – not Jacksonville

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Fox Bros. is the best BBQ I have had in the State of Georgia. The full parking lot and parking up the side street attest to its popularity with folks from downtown who opt to go there rather than other places that were the most popular in the past.

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Community has the best beef and sides (amazing beef rib)
Fox has the best pulled pork (pork ribs are hit or miss)
Sauces are equal.
The sides at Fox are strange. They put their rub in their slaw for example. Yuck
I’ve tried almost every other BBQ in Atlanta and none compare to these two.

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Shane’s STINKS!! They boil their meat. That is not bbq. Rolling Bones is the best in Atlanta. Southern Soul in St. Simons beats them all though.

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PLEASE!!! Chains do not give the best ‘Overall’ BBQ experience. Southern Pitt was gross and greasy. Harold’s-just okay. Sprayberry’s – to much vinegar and somehow they gave me one with hot peppers by not paying attention to a customer.

For the REAL BBQ experience you must go to DEANS BBQ in Jonesboro. It’s been there longer than I’ve been alive…. (I just had the 20th anniversary of my 29th b’day) and their dining room is not far off from being a screened porch. Best BBQ, stew, tea, cake and personalities on the Southside.

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Thompson Brothers BBQ on cobb pkwy. I could swear I tasted a pinch of cinnamon in the sauce, and it was OUTSTANDING!

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Jim n Nicks

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Stay AWAY from Fat Matt’s. They BOIL their ribs before dressing them up with sauce. THAT is not BBQ!

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Sauce- Fatt Matt’s; Meat- Community in Decatur, but Barne’s in Savannah beats any Atlanta ‘que by leaps & bounds..

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boston butt or picnic sholder???????
which leg do you want it to come from! same thing

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THe Very Best BBQ was from Aleck’s BBQ stand at the corner of MLK and Willis Mill Rd. He also had a location on MLK near Morris Brown College. Mr. Aleck has been since departed this earthly house but his BBQ was what I childhood was consumed of. Make mine a small end rib sandwich witha Pepsi cola Please.

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I’m only going over this once ppl. Fat Matt’s is a joke, KC Pit BBQ was hands down the best, so good the feds had to shut it down for fear the ppl wouldn’t need the gov’t. Rolling Bones is pretty good and Fox Bros is solid. If you want real BBQ though you need to go to Texas and eat at Cooper’s in Llano or the Salt Lick in Driftwood. Now that i’ve spoken, the matter is settled.

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The absolute best bbq in the Lawrenceville area is Hometown BBQ on Hwy 29. Great pork and terrific stew!!!

Kathy

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Clearly its Rolling Bones BBQ on Edgewood. I would never step foot in any of these other places after going here..I’m with General Zod, maybe it isn’t a place for earthlings, lol!

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Fox Bros, Swallow in the Hallow, and Pig n Chik!

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Looks like most any place pleases metro Atlanta bbq eaters since no metro Atlanta bbq joint ranks above average in any national comparison of great bbq joints.

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Shanes Rib Shack is great for a chain Waaaaay better than Sonny’s Mad Dogs BBQ in Conyers is very good. BUT the fact is No one in Atlanta can compete with Fresh Air BBQ in Jackson Ga. They invented BBQ and stew in 1929, Yup It’s a little bit of a drive but it’s worth every mile Check em out before you say something stupid

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McGhin’sSouthern Pit BBQ in Griffin is the best ever! The food is the freshest I’ve ever had in a BBQ place. The restaurant itself is nice with its country decor. Also, try the coleslaw … it’s amazing! Here’s the link to their site if you’re interested.

http://www.southernpitbbq.com/

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Shane’s Rib Shack in Buckhead really rocks. The restaurant is small with limited parking, but they get you in and out of there really fast. The food is the best, and the portions are huge. The grey haired manager is there all the time and knows everyone by name and what they order. That’s what brings us back all the time.

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If I really wanted to show them good barbecue, I’d take them to Memphis.

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Why Swallow at the Hollow of course – but for once a year – The Roswell Masons 2nd Sat in October. The really best stuff.

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R.I.P. Big Ed’s!!!!

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There is nothing bad on Slope’s menu!

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Dreamland is the best I have found in Atlanta by far, at least for pulled pork. The ribs and chicken can be a bit dry and the sides selection is limited. Pig n Chik is OK. I don’t consider Shanes to be real BBQ, despite their ads to the contrary–it tastes like BBQ at a Denny’s or similar cheap general restaurant. Jim n Nicks is surprisingly good, but the service — at least in Cumming — has been consistently poor and slow on all of our visits, and the food overpriced, so we’ve removed that from our frequent visit list. ‘Que in Alpharetta is good, and Smokejack isn’t bad either, though a bit heavy on the pocketbook. Haven’t eaten at Williamson Bros in years. But I still find the best BBQ at hole-in-the-wall joints in Texas. Good cue, good value, real pit smokers, no pretense.

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If you have not already, a must try is Smokejack BBQ in Alpheretta!!!

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shanes is good if you’re constipated. best is mine

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Been here in Atlanta metro for a few years now, and have YET to find something worth writing about. Let it be told, Atlanta is best known for southern food, but outside of soul food (which is not all that grand) either, I don’t think it exists. The bbq here is just plain out right poor for what is being served and covered with TOO much sauce! Funny, when the topic of bbq comes up for who has the best in the U.S., the city of Atlanta is never mention and for good reason.

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Great BBQ good prices good atmosphere (See ya in Hiram)

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I’d be hard pressed to make a choice between Fox Brothers and The Community Q. I liked the baby back and spare ribs from The Q better but I thought Fox smoked them (pun intended) on the short rib. The pulled pork was equally excellent. The Q has that awesome Mac and Cheese and Fox Brothers have that awesome remoulade to go with their fried dill pickles. I put them equal on their Brunswick stew. They taste different, but both are great. You would almost think the two places were owned and run by friends……….. oh wait, they are.

I don’t get the Harold’s nods. The one time I went I had what tasted like pork over cooked in an oven, frozen until it was freezer burned and then heated up in a steam oven. It was this gray, dry, tasteless matter that I HOPE was some sort of animal flesh other than rat.

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‘Cue is opening for lunch in Cumming tomorrow. Haw Creek Plaza. Yoohoo!

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Unfortunately the best place closed many years ago. It was Home Folks Corners in Butts county. They had the best stew and ribs. The ribs had the right amount of fat and you never had to chew the meat off the bone. Wish it was still open.

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dairy queen bbq sammich

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Pulled Pork Winner- Pig N Chik, Beef- One Star Beef Ribs, Chicken- who cares, Ribs- Mustard Seed

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Craig’s in DeValls Bluff . . . if the Big A is Arkansas. Otherwise, I love me some Daddy D’z (especially the collards and Q wraps)

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It’s the best BBQ in Atlanta.

You idiots talking about places out of state or even out of the metro area are dumb. Who cares about NC, Memphis, or where ever. The question was the best BBQ in the A and that A stands for Atlanta.

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As Lewis Grizzard said, the closest Atlanta will ever come to authentic bar-b-que is when a tractor-trailer of hogs jack-knifes in flames on I-285. You must order your bar-b-que from North Carolina for authentic, OMG-This-Is-Awesome “que”.

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Anybody who says Fat Matt’s is a yankee. Anyhow, what is surprising about Atlanta cue is that there is nothing great inside the perimiter. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, you would think that some of our city’s African-American folk could produce great BBQ. But, no, you have to go outside the perimiter to find good cue, which happens to be made by white folk.

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Try Country’s BBQ in LaGrange or Columbus for a real treat on ribs. Their stew is good, as well as their sliced or diced BBQ. Great service!

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