Best BBQ Spots in Miami

Best barbecue in Miami? Yes, you read that right. The destination has steadily built a roster of world-class barbecue joints, rising the ranks to compete with the iconic barbecue destinations you already know and love. We’re talking mouthwatering brisket with a deep smoke ring and pork so tender it pulls apart with a fork. Whether you’re loyal to Texas-style or craving a Caribbean twist, the city has something for every appetite. Read on for the best barbecue in Miami.

Drinking Pig BBQ

Tucked into one of Coconut Grove's casual courtyards is Drinking Pig BBQ, a newer brick-and-mortar concept by chef Raheem Sealey that started as a backyard pop-up in 2020. It's beloved for classic, slow-smoked barbecue paired with bold Caribbean flavors.

Experience the fusion when ordering the massive beef ribs, sticky-sweet spare ribs and brisket, all dipped in the mustard barbecue sauce. The thick cornbread with honey butter is a favorite, as is the macaroni and cheese with a Parmesan-and-breadcrumb crust. Creative, island-inspired sides like Jamaican jerk chicken patties are also on the menu.

Smoke & Dough

What makes this Miami-centric barbecue joint in Kendall so special is that quite literally everything on the menu is wood-smoked, including its smoked ham-and-cheese croquetas and loaded pastrami tequeños. But if you’re going for the meats, try Smoke & Dough's cafecito-rubbed brisket, which cooks for 15 hours to get to that tender consistency. Its full rack of baby back ribs comes with a guava-ancho barbecue sauce.

Don’t forget an order of flan that’s smoked directly on the pits for a subtly smoky finish. The menu also features weekly specials like smoked burger Fridays, mofongo and trifongo on Saturdays and a Sunday brunch.

Slab Daddy

Carolina-style barbecue defines Slab Daddy in Allapattah. The barbecue hotspot by Adrian Ricouz operates out of a parking lot with a food trailer, smoker and casual picnic tables nearby for enjoying your feast.

The no-frills joint prepares barbecue staples like spare ribs, green chili pork, smoked chicken wings and brisket, plus sides like jalapeño cornbread and macaroni and cheese. For a modern twist, order the green bean salad with mango to complement your meats. The fritanga platter combines a juicy assortment of meats with rice, beans, plantain chips, Nicaraguan slaw and queso frito.

Apocalypse Barbecue

Apocalypse Barbecue owner Jeffrey Budnechky prides himself on being a smokehouse that blends traditional barbecue techniques with South American and Caribbean influences. Budnechky’s Kendall spot started as a backyard project with a 22-inch Weber Smokey Mountain in 2020 and evolved into its current locale.

Since then, he’s been serving up pit-smoked ribs, half-pound brisket with mojo mustard, short rib empanadas and smokehouse favorites fresh off the pit – not to mention “smokafried” wings, which are $1 on Wednesdays. Weekends can get busy, so we recommend checking the waitlist and reserving a spot before you arrive.

La Traila Barbecue

Once a pop-up, Austin-born pit-master Mel Rodriguez’s La Traila Barbecue finally has a place to call home in South Miami. Expect crowds hungry for craft Tex-Mex–style barbecue, which pays homage to Rodriguez’s hometown roots. You'll taste it in every side, from Texas-style creamed corn and queso blanco macaroni and cheese to the sweet potato cornbread topped with a dollop of whipped honey butter.

Fresh tortillas come with your meal, built for shoveling up scoops of slow-simmered borracho beans and classic Mexican red rice alongside your smoked meat of choice. If you go, don’t forget to order the loaded brisket and queso empanadas. The best deal is a family-style platter that includes 12-hour smoked brisket, turkey, ribs and pulled pork carnitas, plus four hearty sides to match.

Hometown Barbecue

Hometown Barbecue in Miami proves that barbecue doesn’t have to be traditional to be tasty. Self-taught pit-master and Brooklyn restaurateur Billy Durney is behind this Allapattah concept, which offers diners authentic pit-smoked meats and both traditional and nontraditional sides. Case in point: You could order a huge beef rib and Oaxacan chicken or go for smoked chicken wings topped with mole dust and served with cilantro, queso fresco and charred poblano crema.

Traditional sides, like beans and slaw, are available, as are brisket queso with tortilla chips and broccoli charred on the plancha with chili oil and more of that poblano crema. Wash it all down with a glass of chilled wine or go for an inventive cocktail – mezcal piña sour, anyone?

Shiver’s BBQ

Miami institution Shiver's BBQ is a family-owned restaurant in Homestead that’s been serving authentic, hickory-smoked barbecue in log cabin–style digs for over 60 years. The owners pride themselves on hand-selecting their cuts and dry-rubbing the meats before smoking them low and slow over real oak and hickory wood.

Shiver’s BBQ features a pretty extensive menu, so it’s best to come with your crew and enjoy a platter with a little bit of everything. Start your meal with fried pickle chips and burnt ends. Then continue with a full slab of baby back ribs, pulled pork or maybe even fried catfish, with your choice of two sides. Think hush puppies, black-eyed peas, cornbread soufflé and jalapeño cheese grits.

COTE

While not your typical Southern barbecue, COTE in the Miami Design District deserves a spot on this hot list. The Korean barbecue restaurant in Miami is considered the country’s first and only MICHELIN-starred Korean steakhouse. Walk through a neon-lit hallway into the moody dining room, typically abuzz with crowds enjoying date night, celebrations and dinner with friends.

The premium cuts of steak are cooked to your liking by servers who use a built-in, smokeless charcoal grill. Opt for a full à la carte menu or the Butcher’s Feast, which pairs four selected cuts of USDA Prime and American wagyu beef with savory Korean accompaniments.

Fogo de Chão

If you’re looking for Brazilian barbecue in Miami, consider a reservation at Fogo de Chão. With two locations, in Miami Beach and Coral Gables, the churrascaria pays homage to the Brazilian tradition of serving continuous, large, fire-roasted skewers of meat, carved table-side by gaucho chefs.

Simply flip your meal card to green to signal you’re ready to eat. Cuts range from picanha and filet mignon to bone-in ribeye, lamb and more. Don’t forget to fill up a plate at the Market Table, which abounds with seasonal salads, fresh fruits, cured meats and imported cheese. Your meal also comes with various Brazilian side dishes, like pão de queijo and caramelized bananas.