The Best Barbecue Spots in the Sacramento Area

Craving some sticky-sweet, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs? How about some fork-tender, slow-smoked brisket? For many, summertime and barbecue go hand-in-hand. But not everyone has the time to slow-smoke their own meats. Luckily, the Sacramento area has plenty of spots where you can find authentic barbecue, including ribs, brisket, chicken, and pulled pork. Plus, you can get your fill of classic sides like cornbread, collard greens, and banana pudding for dessert!

But first things first. In California, “grilling” is synonymous with “barbecue.” But to true barbecue aficionados, this is a reprehensive violation of all that is sacred. True Southern barbecue is any cut of meat cooked low and slow over woodsmoke. The seasonings and the sauce are second. There are dozens of varieties of barbecue in the U.S. and beyond, including Hawaiian barbecue, Korean barbecue, and Mexican barbecue, known as barbacoa.

But if you’re looking for traditional American barbecue, you’re in luck. The Sacramento area is home to plenty of great barbecue spots, each specializing in their own style. Following are some barbecue spots to check out.

Brody’s | Freeport

Photo Courtesy of Brody’s Restaurant | IG: @brodysrestaurant

This rustic riverside spot in the little town of Freeport, just west of Elk Grove, has some of the best barbecue in town. Their house-smoked meats include chicken, tri-tip, pulled pork, ribs and sausage. You can order it as-is or have it stuffed into a morning burrito, plopped on top of waffle fries, or stuffed into a sandwich. You can even wash it down with a Southern-inspired cocktail such as backyard bourbon lemonade or a peach margarita.

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Tank House | Midtown Sacramento

This hip barbecue joint in midtown Sacramento serves up all the classic dishes, including brisket, pulled pork, and baby back ribs. You can order their slow-cooked meats on a plate or in sandwich form. If you have a large group, the “Beast Feast” or “Midtown Chowdown” barbecue platters will feed the whole gang. They also include sides like cornbread, mac & cheese, or tots. Enjoy your meal in the cozy interior or out on the spacious outdoor patio backing up to the historic water tank house built in 1881.

Hog Wild Bar-B-Que | Placerville

Located in Placerville, this traditional barbecue eatery is all about the meat, which is smoked at low temperatures for hours over cherry wood. The smoke and the house-made spice rubs provide all the flavor you’ll need, but if you like it saucy, you can always try their homemade barbecue sauce. Meats include brisket, chicken, pulled pork, ribs, and sausage, all served with from-scratch sides like potato salad, ranchero beans, or coleslaw.

Ludy’s BBQ | Woodland

Photo Courtesy of Ludy’s BBQ | IG: @ludys_bbq

This downhome spot in Woodland is a popular choice for those craving traditional barbecue cuisine. They offer meat combo platters with your choice of ribs, smoked chicken, tri-tip, or brisket, plus sides like poppyseed cornbread, coleslaw, or mac & cheese. Sandwiches and salads are also available, as are family packs so you can feed a crowd.

Smokey Pit BBQ | Auburn

Slow-smoked, Texas-style barbecue is the draw at this no-frills joint in Auburn. You can sink your teeth into ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, tri-tip, or a combination of them all! Plus, you get your choice of sides like corn on the cob, macaroni salad, or barbecue beans. You can even buy their house-made sauce to go!

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Belly Barbecue | Folsom

Photo Courtesy of Belly Barbecue | IG: belly_barbecue

If you’re in the Folsom area, consider a visit to this authentic, Texas-style barbecue spot. Specialties include everything from ribs and brisket to turkey and sausages. They even have pork belly with a bourbon-pear glaze. You can also get all the classic side dishes, including cheese grits and cornbread, or try the Georgia-inspired Brunswick stew, made from a mixture of barbecue meats and Southern spices. For dessert, indulge in sweet potato pie or buttermilk chess cake.

Urban Roots | Sacramento

This popular spot in Sacramento’s Southside Park neighborhood is part barbecue joint, part brewery. The restaurant dishes up classic barbecue fare such as smoked brisket, ribs, tri-tip, turkey, and the ever-popular burnt ends. They also offer traditional sides such as collard greens with ham, burnt end beans, and mac & cheese. They also brew their own beer, including lagers, IPAs, porters, stouts, and Belgian-inspired ales. Their expansive outdoor patio is a great spot to enjoy it all.

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Bear West BBQ | North Highlands

Head to North Highlands for an authentic barbecue meal! You can get St. Louis ribs, barbecue chicken, tri-tip, pulled pork or hot links. They come in sandwich form or with your choice of sides, which include Southern-style specialties such as baked beans, candied yams, or green beans. They even have banana pudding for dessert!

Bull ’n Mouth | Davis

Photo Courtesy of Bull ‘N Mouth | IG: @bullnmouth

This lively restaurant in Davis is known for its hearty pub fare, expansive beer menu, and kitschy décor. But they also have quite the barbecue menu, which includes hardwood-smoked beef ribs with house-made barbecue sauce, slow-smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce, and pulled pork, which can be served on its own or in a sandwich. Sides also have a southern flair, such as Hush Puppies and Alabama slaw.

Back Forty Texas BBQ | Roseville & Shingle Springs

With locations in Roseville and Shingle Springs, this long-standing barbecue spot is known for its award-winning meats, especially their fall-of-the-bone ribs. In addition to smoked meats, they also serve steak, salmon, and prime rib, plus burgers and sandwiches. If you’re craving a Southern dessert, you can indulge in banana pudding or peach cobbler.

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Poor Red’s BBQ | Diamond Springs

In operation for nearly 100 years, this landmark restaurant in Diamond Springs is known for its house-made cocktails and hearty American fare. Barbecue dishes include ribs, chicken, and pulled pork, all dusted with special spices and doused in homemade sauce. They also serve steaks, sandwiches, and appetizers such as barbecue pork tips, wings, and pulled pork sliders. 

Daddy O’s Smokehouse | Rancho Cordova

Photo Courtesy of Daddy O’s Smokehouse | IG: @daddyozsmokehouse

Low and slow is the motto at this laid-back smokehouse in Rancho Cordova. The recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, resulting in fork-tender brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and more. They also serve sides such as barbecue beans, mac & cheese, candied yams and “soul slaw.”

Types of American Barbecue

• Texas Barbecue. Although there are several barbecue styles within Texas, it’s perhaps best known for its beef, especially brisket, slow smoked over oak with a simple dry rub.
• Kansas City Barbecue. KC barbecue doesn’t discriminate when it comes to meat (although burnt ends are perhaps the most popular) but its signature is its sweet, thick, tomato-based sauce. It also involves slow smoking over wood.
• Memphis Barbecue. Pork is the name of the game in Memphis barbecue, especially ribs and pork shoulder, which is used for pulled pork. Dry-rubbed meat is slow-cooked in a pit and typically served with sauce on the side.
• Carolina Barbecue. Although styles vary in the Carolinas, pork reigns supreme here, either whole hog or pork shoulder. Both are slow smoked over hickory, pecan, or oak. The defining characteristic is the sauce; typically, a thin, vinegary sauce or a tangy, mustard-based sauce.