The Best BBQ Joints in Detroit

From Memphis to Texas to Alabama and back to our own backyard, Detroit has attracted pit stylings for as long as folks have been migrating here for auto jobs. We all have our favorite spots -- some are tourist destinations; others are holes in the wall only appreciated if you happen to live down the street and can get a whiff of the smoker. Lucky for you, we've rounded up the best of them.

Parks Old Style Barbecue detroit best BBQ
Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/detroit/restaurants/parks-old-style…; target="_blank">Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q</a></h2>

<em>North End</em><br />
When you’re looking for a Southern-style, vinegar-based BBQ that’s a step away from the sweeter sauces around town, you’ll want to go for this North End, family-owned spot, known for its succulent rib tips.<br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/vickis-barbeque-48208&quot; target="_blank">Vicki's Barbecue &amp; Shrimp</a></h2>

<em>West Side</em><br />
Check out the smoky, ribs-done-proper that come out of Vicki's smokehouse, which have caught the attention of the likes of Anthony Bourdain, who gushes over all things Detroit comfort food.

Lazybones smokehouse best BBQ in detroit
Lazybones Smokehouse

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/detroit/restaurants/lazybones-smokeh…; target="_blank">Lazybones Smokehouse</a></h2>

<em>Roseville</em><br />
A place that tackles nearly every style of barbecue, cranking out moist and tender Carolina pulled pork, Texas beef brisket, and Kansas City burnt ends. Order any of it in your burritos, sandwiches, and the daily specials that lunchers swear by.

Detroit BBQ Company best barbecue
Detroit BBQ Company

Food truck
Food trucks are almost a cliché in Detroit, but when it comes to brisket with a nice protein-to-fat ratio, you'll gladly seek out Detroit BBQ Company on the GPS, often found at the Royal Oak Farmers Market and other foodie events. Beware: It routinely sell out faster than you can say meat sweats.

Slow's Barbecue best BBQ detroit
Slows Bar BQ

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/detroit/restaurants/slows-bar-bq&quot; target="_blank">Slows Bar BQ</a></h2>

<em>Corktown</em><br />
Some say Slows helped put Detroit back on the foodie map. Given the line that’s always spilling over here, you’ll understand why, with its wide selection of ribs, brisket, signature sweet and spicy sauces, and local brews.<br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/detroit/bar/berts-marketplace&quot; target="_blank">Bert's Marketplace</a></h2>

<em>Eastern Market</em><br />
This Eastern Market staple is a gathering place for folks with a craving of classic BBQ, wings, live music, and cheap cocktails.

Zeke's Rock N Roll BBQ Best barbecue Detroit
Zeke's Rock and Roll BBQ

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/detroit/restaurants/zekes-rr-bbq&quot; target="_blank">Zeke's Rock 'n' Roll BBQ</a></h2>

<em>Ferndale</em><br />
Think Elvis meets classic BBQ. Old-style ribs and brisket, plus barbecue-stuffed egg rolls, and a cool rocker vibe. Deep in Ferndale on Nine Mile.<br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/detroit/bar/lockharts-bbq&quot; target="_blank">Lockhart's BBQ</a></h2>

<em>Royal Oak</em><br />
Texas-style barbecue in Detroit is hard to come by, which is what makes Lockhart’s so special. Dry rubbed and slow cooked for upwards of 14 hours, you’ll find nothing but classic flavor in the ever-trendy Royal Oak.

Bad Brads BBQ best barbecue detroit
Bad Brad's BBQ- Shelby Township

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/detroit/restaurants/bad-brads-bbq&q…; target="_blank">Bad Brads BBQ</a></h2>

<em>Shelby Township (&amp; other locations)</em><br />
Think chicken and waffles, heavenly brisket sandwiches that come with smoked au jus, and you’ll understand why this chain works so well in metro Detroit.

Stonewood Smokehouse BBQ best detriot barbecue
Stonewood Smokehouse

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/detroit/restaurants/stonewood-smoke…; target="_blank">Stonewood Smokehouse</a></h2>

<em>Roseville</em><br />
If you’ve ever come across Stonewood proprietor Gary Wakeford, you’ll know the love and care that goes into his meaty ribs. They’re marinated and smoked, giving them a rich flavor that lingers in your mouth for days.<br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/detroit/restaurants/sweetwater-taver…; target="_blank">Sweetwater Tavern</a></h2>

<em>Bricktown</em><br />
Sweetwater Tavern is primarily known for its award-winning chicken wings, but don’t let that deter you from assuming that you can't get your barbecue fix here. Get the rib tips and wings combo and you’ve landed upon a blissful meaty match

Red Smoke barbecue best bbq in Detriot
Red Smoke Barbeque

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/detroit/restaurants/redsmoke-bbq&qu…; target="_blank">Red Smoke Barbecue</a></h2>

<em>Greektown</em><br />
Put a pin in the gentrification of Greektown with the renaming of the eponymous casino to Jack. Red Smoke Barbecue has that upscale vibe and the typography to match the neighborhood, but the BBQ, taking on nearly every regional style, is solid. Watch for the regular specials, like sliders in your choice of BBQ-marinated meats.<br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/detroit/bar/union-woodshop&quot; target="_blank">Union Woodshop</a></h2>

<em>Clarkston</em><br />
It's outside of Detroit proper, but Union Woodshop is the haul that Detroit's pitmasters demand you visit. The chefs are methodical about their green hickory-smoked traditional BBQ. Regionalia is captured in its sauces, from Decatur, Alabama (mayo-based, peppery and tart) to our backyard in Hell, Michigan (laced with ghost peppers). The kitchen takes as much care with the rest of its menu covering just about any type of food you could possibly want -- pizza, sandwiches, burgers, salads -- and it's all legitimately good.<br />
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<em><a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/serena-maria-daniels&quot; target="_blank">Serena Maria Daniels</a> is a freelance writer and editor in Detroit who would rather be licking her fingers of BBQ sauce than deal with angry emails from her editors. Follow her saucy exploits at <a href="https://twitter.com/serenamaria36?lang=en&quot; target="_blank">@serenamaria36</a>.</em>