Americans have a long history and love affair with barbecue. As a nation, we’ve been devouring slow-roasted barbecue since the Civil War. Historians can trace barbecue’s history (with African, Indigenous, and Caribbean roots) back to the 1540s when Spanish conquistadors observed the Chicksaw cook meat over barbacoa.
Since then, it’s become a quintessential part of American cuisine and summer cookouts. Many states, especially those in the south, have their own barbecue styles and sauces. Texas, for instance, has a slow-roast pit style, while Tennessee serves its meats with tomato-based sauces. Even in North Carolina, the western and eastern parts of the state have their own styles.
Listing who has the best barbecue can be hazardous, with die-hard fans from the barbecue belt each insisting their version is the best. While we’re not taking sides on which style is better (we wouldn’t dare), we do have opinions on our favorites across the Bay.
Best Kansas-style Barbecue: Stateline Road Smokehouse (Napa)
This is the spot for burnt ends, tri-tip sandwiches, and caramelized banana pudding. Don’t sleep on their sides — specifically, their Rancho Gordo beans & greens and yukon gold potato salad. For dessert, share a strawberry cream soda cake.
Best Barbecue Pop-up: Bebe’s BBQ (Oakland)
Bebe’s is a new pop-up run by a former cook at Chez Panisse. The menu is compact, but fresh and exciting. There’s a mushroom asada sandwich topped with adobo rojo and pepitas; a Carolina hog sandwich on a potato bun; and a smoked wagyu burger. Don’t sleep on their sides — the charred scallion labneh dip served with chips provides some acidity to contrast the rich meat. For now, they only pop up in front of Kingfish in Oakland.
Best Japanese Barbecue: Aku’s BBQ (Traveling Pop-up)
Kushiyaki (or yakitori when talking about chicken) are skewers of meat cooked over a live flame. Aku’s BBQ has a rotating menu that includes chicken thighs, chuck, eggplant, and more. They’re all paired with unique sauces and toppings. There’s also a selection of izakaya with miso soup and prawn toast.
Best Colombian Barbecue: Salpikitos (San Jose)
Arepas aren’t always considered barbecue, but at Salpikitos they are since they’re made the traditional way grilled over live charcoal. The masa for the arepas is made by grinding corn kernels fresh each day. Then, they’re stuffed with chicharron, shrimp, or burger toppings. The can’t miss menu item here is the grilled arepa topped with macerated pineapple and a link of chorizo on a stick.
Best Indian Barbecue: Wah Jee Wah (Hayward)
Wah Jee Wah specializes in smoky, seared skewers made from paneer, chicken, mushroom, or lamb. They’re all heavily-spiced and marinated in a mixture of tomato, masala, paprika, and aromatic herbs. Enjoy the skewers with their masala mac and cheese or a side of flatbread. We recommend coming here with family and friends and sitting at their outdoor patio and taking in the pleasant smoky aroma from their outdoor grills as you wait for your order.
Best Korean Barbecue: 10 Butchers (Santa Clara)
10 Butchers is one of the most luxurious Korean barbecue restaurants in the Bay Area. For example, you can order a serving of black pork belly, a rare type of meat sourced from Black Iberican pigs with a unique nutty flavor. You can also order A5 ribeye wagyu or a slab of well-marbled, marinated short ribs. You’ll want to bring along as many people as you can to share in an indulgent feast, and to help you split the price tag.
Best Hybrid Barbecue: Fikscue (Alameda + San Francisco)
Fikscue serves up Texas-style barbecue influenced by Indonesian flavors. They recently opened a location in Thrive City, but their OG location is in Alameda. Their most popular item is the “dinosaur rib” which is aptly named for its size.
Best Mexican Barbecue: La Jacaranda Oaxaqueña (San Jose)
La Jacaranda Oaxaqueña offers a unique type of Mexican barbecue. Their special menu item is a tlayuda, a giant blue corn tortilla crisped to the texture of a cracker over a charcoal grill. It features a slab of carne asada seared over the grill. The tlayuda is then topped with lard, beans, Oaxaca cheese, chorizo, cabbage, and tomatoes. It’s a dish that doubles as a feast. They’re located in a food truck park, so visit on a warm summer day and come hungry to try out food from neighboring trucks offering other regional Mexican specialties.
Best Vegan Barbecue: Vegan Mob (San Bruno)
Vegan Mob is adored by vegetarians and omnivores alike. Seriously, people who swear they hate vegetables love this food truck! After adopting a plant-based diet, Chef Toriano Gordon experienced a complete transformation in his health and felt inspired to share his love of healthy, plant-based foods with others. He serves up a wide selection of vegan barbecue and soul food options inspired by his family’s recipes. He never skimps on freshness or flavor. You don’t have to take our word for it, either. One reviewer shared, “Everything they do is incredible. I would have to say that their ‘fried chicken’ could be the best I’ve ever tasted.” If you’re near the Mission, we recommend trying the spicy vegan fried chicken, shrimp po’boy, or brisket.
With the barbecue season in full swing in San Francisco. Skip firing up the grill and go local with tasty barbecue from local restaurants and food trucks. Whether you prefer the southern style, are craving a low and slow-roasted brisket, or seeking meatless options, the Bay Area has something for everyone. You can find out where all these barbecue creators will be by heading here.
Best Texas-style: Capelo’s
Reviewers often call Capelo’s “the best barbecue spots on the peninsula,” and with good reason. Their pitmaster, John Capelo, grew up in Texas Hill country and brought the best southern barbecue techniques to the Bay Area. Capelo’s serves up a variety of juicy, tender briskets and hot links, smoking meats for up to 18 hours to produce quality results for his customers. Several rave reviews aren’t just about his meats, but the mac and cheese (one reviewer called it “top notch.”). If you prefer your barbecue meatless, they also have a veggie burger with your choice of BBQ sauce. Capelo’s is more than just a food truck. They also have a beer garden featuring local craft beers! If you have a chance to stop by either the truck or their Redwood City beer garden, we recommend trying the hotlinks, pulled pork, or smoked chicken.
Best Pulled Pork & Brisket Sandwiches: Horn Barbecue (Oakland)
Horn Barbecue, of Michelin Guide acclaim, recently relocated due to a fire. You can now find them on 8th street, a brief five minute drive from our Off the Grid event at OMCA, serving customer favorites like smoked meats, hot links, and mac & cheese. Our favorite items on the menu are their sandwiches — the pulled pork and brisket chopped cheese to be exact. The pulled pork here is so tender it seemingly melts as the cooks shred it by hand. In sandwich form, it’s paired with pickled red onions and a deliciously sweet and savory barbecue sauce. Their incredibly juicy brisket is best enjoyed wrapped in a soft bun and mixed with melted cheese.
