Florida has been making a name for itself in the BBQ world over the past few years. We asked you on social media where to find the best barbecue in Tampa Bay and you didn’t disappoint. We put together a list of the 7 Best Barbecue Spots in Tampa Bay.
Earlier this year, Southern Living Magazine named Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach the 8th best BBQ spot in the country. Then, Taste of Home named Shiver’s Bar-B-Q in Homestead, FL, as the best barbecue in Florida. Both of those options are different types of BBQ, so that comes down to personal preference.
Do different states have different styles of BBQ?
The short answer is yes, and they’re all much different from the next. BBQ isn’t a one size fits all type of cooking and in fact, the wood used to cook the various meats really decides the kind of flavor you’re getting. The big four in BBQ are Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, and Carolina Style BBQ.
In Texas, you have the sweet and hot flavor blasted brisket. In Carolina, pulled pork is the go-to. In Memphis, they love their smoked meat and hardwood charcoal. Finally, Kansas City has grown to perfect all kinds of BBQ.
In Florida, you’ll see a variety of types of BBQ. We’re known for doing things differently down here and that’s why some of the barbecue you see here, you won’t see anywhere else. There’s tons of different kinds of barbecue in the state of Florida from food trucks, trailers, and full fledged restaurants. Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach offers gator meat … if that scream FLORIDA, we’re not sure what does.
So what’s the best barbecue in Tampa Bay?
We asked and you answered. There were dozens of great choices to choose from, but the people have spoken.
Here are the 7 Best Barbecue Spots in Tampa Bay.