New Jersey isn’t exactly known for its barbecue, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t here. From smoked brisket and snappy sausages to fall-apart pulled pork and lacquered ribs, these are some of the best barbecue joints in the Garden State.
Bill’s Barbecue – Vineland
A smoker, a couple of picnic tables, and lots of TLC is all Bill’s Barbecue needs to dish out some of New Jersey’s best barbecue out in Vineland. The weekend-only hidden gem keeps regulars coming back for mahogany-hued ribs, homemade cornbread, and an unmatched barbecue vibe. It’s the sort of joint that transports you elsewhere. Leaned over a picnic table, sauce dripping down your arms, you’ll ask yourself: am I in Texas or New Jersey?
Big Ed’s Barbecue – Matawan
This Monmouth County barbecue spot is a favorite for glossy fall-off-the-bone ribs—which you can get St Louis-cut, spare, or baby back—tender pulled pork sandwiches, and sliced brisket. Don’t forget some extra garlic bread for the table and an order of apple fritters to finish. That’s the Big Ed’s Barbecue way.
Christine’s House of Kingfish Barbecue – Shamong
Christine’s has a sort of old-school vibe that’s hard to fake—and the food backs that up with ease. The ribs are meaty, with a sheen to them, and the pulled pork comes stuffed into a steamy bun. Get a platter, and you’ll receive a container packed to the brim with the likes of sliced brisket, cole slaw, and cheesy mac. Christine’s House of Kingfish Barbecue is seasonal, usually opening sometime in April and closing in February for a much-earned break.
Hamilton Pork – Jersey City
Where else in Jersey City can you get authentic Tex-Mex and barbecue under one roof? Hamilton Pork brings Texas to the neighborhood with smoked brisket and turkey, huge beef ribs, pulled pork, pork belly burnt ends, and more. To add to the allure, enjoy several of their slowly-cooked meats in the form of a taco. Shredded beef rib meat, avocado, and crema on a fresh tortilla sounds pretty damn good to me.
Mutiny BBQ Company – Asbury Park
Hand-crafted sides and plenty of smoked meat are what has landed Mutiny BBQ national acclaim, including appearances on Food Network and mentions in Texas Monthly—the gold standard of barbecue writing. But it’s the locals that really keep Mutiny BBQ chugging along. They return again and again for juicy sliced brisket, cornbread casserole, snappy smoked sausage, and mounds of vinegar-doused pulled pork. A must-visit for any New Jersey barbecue fanatic.
Red White & Que – Green Brook Twp.
This roadside barbecue restaurant shows up again and again in all of the best of lists—and for good reason. Red White & Que has quickly become known for its variety of smoked meats, which pull from barbecue regions across the country. Think: Texas-style brisket, Carolina-style pulled pork, house-made sausage, and tender smoked chicken doused in Alabama white sauce. They even serve a Texas-style smoked pastrami which gives the best Jewish delis in the state a run for their money.
KB’s BBQ Smokehouse – Irvington
Baby back ribs, brisket, jerk chicken, fried catfish, pulled pork—this is just some of what’s in store at KB’s BBQ Smokehouse, which draws people from all over the state. The Irvington barbecue joint is a love letter from the Benson family, who’s family recipes keep regulars coming back for more. Beyond smoked meats and fried whiting, enjoy chili cornbread, collard greens, five-cheese mac, and candied yams.
Cubby’s BBQ – Hackensack
While regional barbecue is somewhat of a contemporary phenomenon in New Jersey, Cubby’s has been here doing their thing for over thirty years. Beyond tangy ribs and pulled pork, the Bergen County favorite has become known for hot roast beef and what they call a Hackensack Steak—an open-faced sandwich that piles thin-sliced steak, mushrooms, sautéed onions, and cheddar cheese on top of bread. A nod to the famous steak sandwich at nearby Lido, perhaps?
Jersey Shore BBQ – Point Pleasant
Indicative of the growing barbecue scene along the Jersey coastline, Jersey Shore BBQ dishes out jumbo smoked wings, brisket-stuffed tater tots (seriously), smoked pork belly, brisket, pulled pork, and even smoked kielbasa platters. Plus: barbecue-topped pizzas, brisket cheesesteak, and a second location in East Brunswick.
Local Smoke BBQ – Multiple Locations
With five locations across South Jersey and the Shore, Local Smoke BBQ is bringing real-deal smoked meat to the table. Classic brisket platters and pulled pork sandwiches remain favorites, but don’t skip the Bar-B-Cuban—a smoky take on the Cuban sandwich—the charbroiled burgers, or the wings either, which are smoked and then fried to order, tossed in your choice of sauce. $5 off all burgers on Tuesdays and $1 wings on Wednesdays.
Boss Hog Barbecue – South Plainfield
A handmade 500-gallon smoker named Goliath is the backbone of Boss Hog Barbecue in South Plainfield. It’s with that piece of hardware that Owner and Pitmaster Mark Johnson is able to produce mind-bending barbecue. What’s for order? Everything from Memphis-style ribs and smoked bratwurst, to fall-off-the-bone chicken quarters and brisket. Boss Hog produces a limited quantity to keep standards high—so get there before they sell out.
Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul – Ramsey
The Farella Brothers come from a rich history of food and culture as descendants of the Davis family—free men who worked and lived in the Outer Banks. Their childhood was spent traveling to the region to explore that history through family barbecues, fish fries, and more. They bring those family recipes and heritage to Bergen County at Brothers Smokehouse, where the menu reads like a family reunion. Dine on smoky ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. Beyond the pit, enjoy their Great Aunt Edna’s legendary fried chicken recipe and Mama Cheryll’s shrimp and grits.
Pulled Fork BBQ – Long Valley
Pulled Fork sells out of their famous barbecue nearly every single day, so get there early and secure your platters. Menu offerings change daily and reflect owner and Pitmaster Mike’s childhood growing up in Texas. One day might bring smoked sausage and pulled pork, while the next brings brisket and dry-rubbed wings. This is true small-batch barbecue, where the Pitmaster calls the shots. For a taste of small-town Texas barbecue—in both concept and flavor—Pulled Fork is your spot.
Back Alley Barbecue – Pennsauken Township
Blink and you might miss this no-frills barbecue joint, situated on the side of Haddonfield Road in Pennsauken Township. But what’s inside deserves your attention. I’m talking lacquered pork ribs, whole smoked chicken wings, fried catfish, and pulled pork. Beyond barbecue, don’t skip the candied yams and seafood gumbo.
Bearded One BBQ – Monroe Township
This barbecue truck posts up permanently on the side of NJ-33 in Monroe, where they serve their award-winning grub to a crew of hungry regulars. Pulled pork and brisket are obvious winners, but don’t look past the more inventive options like loaded fries, barbecue-stuffed tacos, and burgers made with a blend of ground brisket and topped with a mound of pulled pork.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
