Best of Philly

Best Barbecue

2021 Best BBQ Restaurant

Zig Zag

There are smoked whole chickens smothered in everything bagel spice, and sandwiches stuffed with brisket and a fistful of pulled pork seasoned with fish sauce and lime. The slaw here is made with tehina, coriander, sumac and Aleppo pepper. There’s even a Szechuan-style cucumber salad. None of it really makes sense together (especially as far as barbecue restaurants go) — until you get there and eat. Read More »

2111 East York Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2021 Best BBQ Pop-Up

North By Texas

Sometimes it’s an onion-stuffed porchetta. Sometimes it’s brisket with a bark so thick, you’d think it doesn’t want to be eaten. Whatever it is, you can rest easy knowing NXTX’s barbecue only uses meat that’s sourced ethically and is smoked by a homesick dude from Austin — which can only mean damn-excellent BBQ. The pop-up operates out of Cadence. Read More »

161 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2019 Best BBQ

South Philly Smökhaus

You can smell Smökhaus owner Eric Daelhousen’s ’cue cred before you’ve even walked through the doors of BOK. Get the chicken salad. Trust us. Read More »

821 Dudley Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-309-3549 | Website

2018 Best BBQ

Mike’s BBQ

A daytime-only BBQ spot is a tough sell in this town, mostly because this town doesn’t really take BBQ seriously. But Mike’s is dead serious about its brisket (bright pink under its heavy crust), chicken (perfectly smoky) and spare ribs (as sweet as candy). Read More »

1703 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-831-2040 | Website

2014 Best BBQ

Fette Sau

With a judicious use of smoke, well-chosen brown liquors and stay-all-day outdoor seating, Fette Sau is still the champion when it comes to American barbecue in Philly. The cafeteria-style ordering means leftovers, making this the meal that keeps on giving. Read More »

1208 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-391-4888 | Website

2013 Best Barbecue

Fette Sau

Historically, Philly's not been a barbecue town. But neither was Brooklyn when owner Joe Carroll opened his first Fette Sau there. Now that we have one of our own, smoked-meat junkies have reason to celebrate (and a tiny bar full of brown liquors at which to do so). Read More »

1208 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-391-4888 | Website

2012 Best Barbecue

Zachary’s BBQ

Two words: free samples ? of everything. Sometimes the best food comes out of a kitchen in between a gas station and a dry cleaner in a strip mall in Montgomery County. This is one of those times. Read More »

1709 Markley Street, Norristown, PA | 610-272-1800 | Website

2011 Best BBQ in the 'Burbs

Phamous Phil’s BBQ

Unexpected, but true: Phil's is our spot for deeply smoky pulled pork, brisket sandwiches, smoked wings and ribs that are among the tastiest north of the Carolinas. Read More »

3839GermantownPike, Collegeville, PA | 610-489-7675 | Website