Best ribs
Grand Champion BBQ may be the new kid on the block, but this new barbecue spot is already impressive. It was both the readers pick and our pick for best ribs in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
YOUR PICKS
1. Grand Champion BBQ
You say, “Tastiest ribs on this or any other planet are the baby back ribs at GC BBQ. Hickory smoked heaven.” and “Grand Champion has earned its name! Their ribs are moist and smoky and to sauce them would be a culinary sin! Perfection!”
2. Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
3. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
4. Community Q
5. JJ’s Rib Shack
6. Thompson Brothers BBQ
OUR PICKS
1. Grand Champion BBQ
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “Owner Robert Owens will convert devotees of BBQ spare ribs with the exceptionally thick and juicy baby back ribs he serves at Grand Champion BBQ in Roswell. Unlike most baby back ribs, Grand Champion’s will surprise you with the amount of meat on each bone, and Owens does a remarkable job of infusing the meat with a strong smoke flavor.”
2. Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q
3. Dave Poe’s
4. Community Q
5. Sam’s BBQ 1
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
234 comments Add your comment
Drew
November 7th, 2011
3:24 pm
Community Q
MBA Mama
November 7th, 2011
5:09 pm
JJ’s Rib Shack all the way!
PJ
November 7th, 2011
5:10 pm
Swallow at the Hollow
Donkey200
November 7th, 2011
5:21 pm
Heirloom BBQ.
g
November 7th, 2011
5:25 pm
Beef Rib at Fox Brothers BBQ. Awesome
ms.puff
November 7th, 2011
5:39 pm
jj rib shack
RL
November 7th, 2011
5:56 pm
Beef rib at Community Q!
kennethc
November 7th, 2011
5:58 pm
fatt matts without a doubt
Mr. M
November 7th, 2011
6:06 pm
Houston’s.
Daisy
November 7th, 2011
6:11 pm
Sam’s BBQ 1.
Skipper
November 7th, 2011
6:22 pm
Fat Matt’s
B
November 7th, 2011
6:28 pm
Jim n Nick’s!
HG3
November 7th, 2011
6:30 pm
Wallace’s BBQ in Austell.
snb
November 7th, 2011
7:35 pm
Community Q
Baltisraul
November 7th, 2011
8:24 pm
Beef @ CommunityQ. And pls nobody better say Sonny’s or they will have to leave the state of Georgia within 48 hrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No exceptions!
Anita
November 7th, 2011
9:33 pm
Killer ribs & best BBQ anywhere!
Anita
November 7th, 2011
9:34 pm
Wallace’s BBQ in Austell. Killer ribs & best BBQ anywhere!
up north
November 7th, 2011
10:19 pm
Believe it or not, Norcross Station.
Rib Lover
November 7th, 2011
10:51 pm
JJ’s. The Best!!!
Bill
November 8th, 2011
12:37 am
This being Atlanta, I’m sure Fat Matt’s will win. A Tennessee friend of mine asked me where to get good ribs in Atlanta. This was ten years ago. After reading all the Atlanta reviews, I said, “Fat Matt’s.” My friend dressed me down after his visit to Fat Matt’s saying I should know better.
Anyhow, I haven’t had any good ribs in Atlanta. Atlanta is not a great cue town.
kt
November 8th, 2011
1:41 am
Williamson Brothers BBQ
SAWB
November 8th, 2011
2:06 am
Fat Matt’s is the obvious answer and the correct answer.
SAWB
November 8th, 2011
2:08 am
Oh yea a quick note. Barbecue in Atlanta is ALWAYS from a PIG all that other stuff is just grilled meat. Yes, it may be very good grilled meat, but grilled meat just the same.
Tina S
November 8th, 2011
4:41 am
Fox Brothers!…all the way!!!
heywood
November 8th, 2011
6:22 am
Sams BBQ1 and Community Q- they are both outstanding.
Baltisraul
November 8th, 2011
7:40 am
Sawb………you don’t grill beef ribs you Bar-B-Que them. You grill steaks and hamburgers. Yes, many folks in the South love beef ribs. Your narrow stance on” pork only” left town years ago.
Jason
November 8th, 2011
9:42 am
JD’s in Acworth (newly opened).
I get a kick out of the religious Fat Matt’s zealots. Word of advice to all of you….try other places. Seriously, there actually other BBQ/Rib joints around town. They really do exist and if you tried some of them, you might find some mighty good ribs out there.
CAP
November 8th, 2011
10:13 am
swallow at the Hollow is good – so is Smoke Jack
Victor
November 8th, 2011
10:20 am
Heirloom Market & BBQ for truly smoked ribs and not in some electric/digital smoker.
Fat Matt’s is a joke, let’s boil the ribs first, no one will notice after we drown it in HFCS sauce. It’s for the sheep who don’t know any better. It’s like saying Mary Mac’s has the best fried chicken.
ChefDawg
November 8th, 2011
10:23 am
Community Q does an amazing job with their ribs. Great Smoke ring and the perfect bite. Ribs should never “fall off the bone”. That just means that they were over cooked.
Amanda
November 8th, 2011
10:43 am
Fat Matt’s
kevin
November 8th, 2011
10:57 am
Fat Matt’s is terrible. Daddy D’z has solid ribs.
Father Murphy
November 8th, 2011
11:05 am
I like baby ribs
GaPeachy
November 8th, 2011
11:36 am
Boooooooo! Everybody always says the same places. You all have got to try some of the smaller mom and pop rib joints, they are always much better. Great place in the westend called the The Mustard Seed. The best ribs and bbq chicken I have ever had and they specialze in this special mustard sauce that just brings out the falvor in the barbecue. A must try!
Jennifer
November 8th, 2011
11:42 am
Daddy D’z and The Local!
mary b
November 8th, 2011
1:02 pm
i miss dusty’s bbq….
Vince
November 8th, 2011
1:04 pm
Fox Bros.
KC
November 8th, 2011
1:05 pm
Thompson Brothers! Always smoked to perfection and their sauce is incredible.
Marietta Gal
November 8th, 2011
1:06 pm
Dave Poe’s…used to be Sam & Dave’s on Whitlock Ave. Dave bought out Sam, but the BBQ is still as good as ever.
Susie
November 8th, 2011
1:10 pm
Fox Bros
ATL Native
November 8th, 2011
1:11 pm
Wyatt BBQ on Memorial has the best ribs that you can ever find. Don’t let the building deceive you. They have the best soul food in town!
tony
November 8th, 2011
1:15 pm
houstons
Hardlyeverposts
November 8th, 2011
1:19 pm
Rib Ranch, hands down
pat
November 8th, 2011
1:20 pm
JJ’s Rib Shack is the best in town. People wait hours to get some.
Rickster
November 8th, 2011
1:21 pm
Texas Roadhouse. The meat literally falls off their “fall off the bone” ribs.
c2mfj
November 8th, 2011
1:22 pm
If you aren’t saying Fatt Matt’s, it’s because you haven’t been there.
Brandon
November 8th, 2011
1:25 pm
Pit Boss on Virginia Ave down by the airport… plus you smell like BBQ when you leave so its the gift that keep on giving!
bleau
November 8th, 2011
1:28 pm
pig n chick
davis
November 8th, 2011
1:29 pm
FOX BROTHERS
bob
November 8th, 2011
1:29 pm
My own ribs on the Gig Green Egg!