Best brisket
Fox Bros. brisket is your pick for the best in and around Atlanta. Here, it’s pictured with Texas toast and sides of mac and cheese and green beans. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
YOUR PICKS
1. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
You say, “For brisket, you have to trust the Texas boys at Fox Bros. They smoke WHOLE briskets with the flat AND the POINT, giving it the higher fat content that is the benchmark of true Texas brisket. If you don’t like brisket with the point, then hang out at the assortment of OTP places mentioned that only smoke the flat. Admittedly, places like Dave Poe’s do better with pulled pork, but Fox Bros dominates in the ‘cue of their home state.”
2. Grand Champion BBQ
3. Heirloom Market BBQ
4. Community Q
5. Sam’s BBQ1
The sampler platter at Grand Champion includes pork, chicken and our pick for the best brisket in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
OUR PICKS
1. Grand Champion BBQ
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “When ordering the brisket at Grand Champion BBQ in Roswell, take the opportunity to order either the lean or fattier moist cut, depending on your preference. Whichever you prefer, the brisket at this relative newcomer to the Atlanta barbecue scene arrives packed with flavor from their dry rub and a heavy dose of smoke.”
2. Big Shanty Smokehouse
3. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
4. Heirloom Market BBQ
5. Community Q
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
219 comments Add your comment
Bob Hintz
May 15th, 2012
11:17 am
Dave Poe’s is ahead of the rest. Consistently excellent!
C from Marietta
May 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Dave Poe’s BBQ on Whitlock is the best resturant brisket.
BUT I am going to try me some Fox Bros BBQ!
Please folks don’t waste our time by saying “my kitchen”.
Canedawd
May 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Big Shanty BBQ in Kennesaw is the best ever
Andy
May 15th, 2012
11:25 am
JDs BBQ in Woodstock!
Junior Samples
May 15th, 2012
11:26 am
Ordinarily I’m a fan of Fox Brothers, but the brisket at Two Urban Licks is outstanding. Not sliced, just a big slab on the plate.
R2D2
May 15th, 2012
11:32 am
Just tried the sliced Brisket at Sonny’s and it was as good as the one I had at Salt Lick’s in Texas last month. Normally I don’t eat Brisket as it tends to be fatty put this was tastey and tender.
Hans
May 15th, 2012
11:34 am
The best brisket is anywhere BUT Fox Bros.
Ima Glutton
May 15th, 2012
11:43 am
@Fred
Get OTP Fred! Grand Champion is worth the short drive to Rosietta (Marietta and Roswell meeting at Shallowford n Johnson Ferry)
They use a dry rub, and honestly it’s better that way. Their sauces could use some help
GadgetGeek
May 15th, 2012
11:48 am
My vote goes to Fox Bros. though I think BBQ1 is very good. Just please, please don’t put the words Fat Matts anywhere near anything about BBQ, it just ain’t..
You want the absolute best brisket go to a nationally sanctioned BBQ event (MIM, KCBS) etc. and get a chunk of something that any of the winners produce, it will be your gold-standard from then on.
…..
Donna
May 15th, 2012
11:54 am
P Reds
Mike
May 15th, 2012
11:58 am
Smokin’ Gold just off the square in Dahlonega has the best brisket I’ve EVER had. It’s so tender that it cuts easily with a fork. Flavor like I’ve not tasted anywhere else. LOVE IT!!!
PKT Ed
May 15th, 2012
12:00 pm
Best brisket ever is no brisket. I don’t even have to try it to know.
Lewis Grizzard
May 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
For me, the choice is easy – either BBQ1 or Heirloom Market BBQ are far & away the best!
Tom Landry
May 15th, 2012
1:44 pm
I know Texas BBQ, and the only place in the Metro-burbs that has brisket which compares to the Lone Star State quality is Sam’s BBQ 1 on Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb. So tender you can cut it with a plastic fork. Whoever said Sonny’s should be shot! BBQ 1 is the real deal!
Rob
May 15th, 2012
1:51 pm
Here’s a Google map with the most popular locations in this blog shown.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209748598476158564487.0004c014750a4a09d8af8&msa=0
Sonny
May 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
Sonny’s! If we opened in TX we would dominate!
Pam Roe
May 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
Grand Champion BBQ
Nom Nom
May 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
100% Grand Champion BBQ. It has the perfect amount of smoke every time and they slice it to order for you…as fatty or skinny as you like it!
G
May 15th, 2012
3:12 pm
I’ve eaten at all of the top BBQ restaurants in town, and Grand Champion BBQ definitely has the best brisket. Their ribs and mac and cheese are also incredible.
Amanda
May 15th, 2012
3:27 pm
FOX BROTHERS!!!
phey
May 15th, 2012
3:30 pm
the Yacht Club in L5P absolutely has the best brisket, and their pulled pork is pretty rockin, too. love that joint.
Karen
May 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
Fox Brothers!
BFellows
May 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
For brisket, you have to trust the Texas boys at Fox Bros. They smoke WHOLE briskets with the flat AND the POINT, giving it the higher fat content that is the benchmark of true Texas brisket. If you don’t like brisket with the point, then hang out at the assortment of OTP places mentioned that only smoke the flat. Admittedly, places like Dave Poe’s do better with pulled pork, but Fox Bros dominates in the ‘cue of their home state.
Jim
May 15th, 2012
4:23 pm
Fox Bro. All else is either beef jerky or beef stew!
Kyle
May 15th, 2012
4:34 pm
Matthews Cafeteria Tucker, GA If you’ve never tried it, you dont know what youre missing and Ive tried a lot of different brisquet. Its only served every other Tuesday so call ahead and ask. If its not brisquet Tues. it will be corned beef.
Puggie Mama
May 15th, 2012
4:34 pm
Two Urban Lick’s when it is on the menu.
Jim n Nick’s – Smyrna, anytime.
Eastern NC
May 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
Heirloom Market is my fav. BBQ1 second and real close. But being from Eastern NC, I’m partial to pig.
rick
May 15th, 2012
4:44 pm
Brisket??? Get a pulled pork BBQ sandwich at Fresh Air in Jackson. That’s real eating!
Stevemwt
May 15th, 2012
4:45 pm
Interesting comments about GC BBQ in Roswell. One of the owners at GC previously worked for Sam’s BBQ1 and interesting how the GC BBQ and sides (see macaroni) are so similar to Sam’s. Would not step foot in that joint after what he pulled (and it wasn’t just pork) on Sam. Just say’in…….
Sonny
May 15th, 2012
4:47 pm
4th and Swift
Rick
May 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
Community Q BBQ (but their beef rib is even better)
Paul
May 15th, 2012
4:58 pm
GC-BBQ. Having sampled Texas beef brisket numerous times, I can say without hesitation that GC has every Texas joint beat. I have had not had any so moist and flavorful anywhere else in Alanta either. If you’re a brisket lover you owe it to yourself to try Grand Champion.
Toby Miller
May 15th, 2012
5:03 pm
Best brisket in in the ATL? Have not found it. Everyone cuts off all the fat and therfore cuts off all the flavor. Brisket is to be cooked low and slow with the fat on and when you slice to serve you leave some of the fat on.
Try Salt Lick BBQ in Texas for the best brisket and BBQ anywhere.
Ty
May 15th, 2012
5:05 pm
Grand Champion BBQ
Chris
May 15th, 2012
5:06 pm
If you are ever headed to Savannah, stop by Papa Buck’s in Metter just off I-16. Some of the best barbeque and brisket around.
Alpha23
May 15th, 2012
5:17 pm
J.D.’s BarBQ in Acworth! This location hasn’t been opened long, but that ole North Carolina boy knows his brisket!!
Nathan
May 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
The Sam & Dave’s Mac ‘n Cheese recipe was actually originated by Dave Roberts. It is the basis for the Mac ‘n Cheese at Sam’s #1, Dave Poe’s, Community Q, and G.C. BBQ.
kennethc
May 15th, 2012
5:25 pm
MATTHEWS THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mitch
May 15th, 2012
5:38 pm
Burnt Fork….love the burnt ends!!
Mike.Stott
May 15th, 2012
5:46 pm
As a Hawaii Boy – all this barbecue talk was new to me when we moved here 5 years ago. Have tried maybe 25 different places over that time and love GC Barbecue in Roswell. Smokie, flavorful, and great quality. I eat there once a week and order the brisket every time! Do yourself a favor and try them out.
Horsetoothedjackass
May 15th, 2012
5:50 pm
Without a doubt, Fox Brothers. If anyone is going to know how to do brisket right, two brothers from Texas would.
Unlike other states, we really don’t have a “Georgia” style BBQ since Atlanta has been a longtime transportation hub, the various styles pop up everywhere in Georgia. Here pork is still king when it comes to BBQ, and it used to be that any place that did brisket did a sorry job of doing so and it was more like a roast that got put in the smoker for a few hours after cooking in the over and gave brisket a bit of a bad rep. The first really good brisket I ever had was at (of all places), a chain BBQ place about 8 years ago. Then when Fox Brothers opened several years back, I truly discovered what brisket is all about. I’ve tried it at other places since then, and nobody has come close.
Claucworc
May 15th, 2012
6:07 pm
Ive had Grand Champion, Fox Bros, and Roys in Stone Mountain. I think Roys had the best of all of them, but the ribs are so good at Heirloom, I cant help but think the brisket will be off the charts as well when I try it next itme.
Woodman
May 15th, 2012
6:09 pm
Ive had brisket lots of places in the south including joints in Texas. You’ll be hard pressed to find better brisket than what you get at G.C. bbq in east cobb.
William
May 15th, 2012
6:16 pm
One Star Ranch is great. Had heirloom’s brisket today and thought it was too tough.
RaleighDawg
May 15th, 2012
6:17 pm
No such thing as ‘good’ brisket in Georgia. If you’re ever in San Angelo, Texas you gotta try PaddleSack….and outside of Austin, Texas is Salt Lick…if only you could email brisket !!
RaleighDawg
May 15th, 2012
6:20 pm
Sorry – a little dyslexic today *smile*….I meant SaddlePack in San Angelo !!
MTOSAV
May 15th, 2012
6:31 pm
GC BBQ! Having sampled just about everything on the menu, their brisket has always stood out. I appreciated that they asked me if I wanted a lean or fatty cut! I’ve tried the others, and they’re good, but just not good enough to be the best!
Vince
May 15th, 2012
6:36 pm
fox bros, Fox Bros, FOX BROS!
Corry
May 15th, 2012
6:49 pm
Jim N Nicks in Smyrna!
Kristine
May 15th, 2012
6:53 pm
GrandChampion BBQ has the best brisket I’ve ever had in my life, and I’m not particularly young!