

Food and travel are inseparable parts of a journey. You can get to know about the local culture by tasting the flavors that residents hold dear. Tulsa, Oklahoma, is recognized all over America as a city that smokes some of the most flavorful and juicy BBQ. The locals’ penchant for bbq comes naturally given how Tulsa forests are abundant with trees whose wood is used for smoking meat. Tulsa’s bbq tradition is the result of three American cultures melding: Native American, black American, and white American culture. Whether you prefer tender chopped brisket, pulled pork, smoked bologna, or beautifully glazed wood-flavored ribs; or meat smoked in pecan or hickory wood; or cooked low and slow, or hot and fast, Tulsa has the perfect BBQ for you. Read below to learn about the best BBQ joints in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1. Burn Co Barbeque
Unlike many bbq joints that cook their meat slow on low fire, Burn Co Barbeque crew love to smoke their meat hot and fast using Hasty-Bake Charcoal oven, a Tulsa brand. Co-owner/pitmaster Adam Myers says charcoal ovens allow them to cook meat at a temperature necessary to create the distinct flavor. There are always customers lining up at the store. It has several restaurant elements as good as their BBQ: great booming music while you wait; a rich, inviting smell of hickory and charcoal smoking; mural art depicting how people are so enthusiastic and happy. These create a homey and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. The ribs, chopped brisket, and pulled pork are outstanding, while the smoked sausage and bratwurst are amazing.
Burn Co Barbeque
Address: 1738 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119, United States
Website: Burn Co Barbeque
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10:30am - 2:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
2. Knotty Pig BBQ, Burger & Chili House
Build up your appetite and visit Knotty Pig BBQ, Burger & Chili House. A crowd favorite is the Hogfather, a specialty burger that’s stacked high, making it a fun challenge to get a full bite. The burger is one-third pound beef patty topped with pulled pork, crispy fried bacon, slices of tender ham, hot links and melted cheddar, and several American kinds of cheese. A place famous among locals especially when they plan to eat in large groups, Knotty Pig serves classics such as St. Louis Ribs and Frito pie. They also offer some unique and unexpected combinations such as the Knotty Bowl - a stack of your choice of smoked meat with hand-cut French fries, mac-n-cheese, chili, a cheeseburger patty, fried onions, pepper jack cheese, and jalapenos.
Knotty Pig BBQ, Burger & Chili House
Address: 6835 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74112, United States
Website: Knotty Pig BBQ, Burger & Chili House
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 11am - 4pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 8pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
3. Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue & Catering - South Tulsa
Hailed by USA Today as the restaurant serving the tastiest ribs in America, and recognized by chef superstar, Anthony Bourdain as one of 13 places that you need to try out, Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue & Catering has continued to live up to its reputation as a go-to spot. Its owner, Joe Davidson, built and sold over a million smokers and won many BBQ competitions. It also won the Grand Champion Overall Title at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship. Visit the Tulsa branch now for a taste of world-class Oklahoma-style brisket, America’s best ribs, and the best beans on the planet.
Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue & Catering - South Tulsa
Address: 6175 E 61st St, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States
Website: Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue & Catering - South Tulsa
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 8:30pm; Thu: 11am - 3pm; Sat: 11am - 9pm
4. Albert G's Bar-B-Q - E 1st St
Albert G’s Bar-B-Q has been smoking flavorful ribs, brisket, and pork since 1992. Up to now, it proudly maintains its quality slow-smoked meals with freshness as every meal you get is made from scratch. Its unique ingredients are always fresh, cooked with the warmth of good old fashioned home-made cooking, and with the precision of a modern kitchen. Famous in its menu is the Angus brisket smoked for 12 hours, allowing the rub and flavor to stick to the meat ribs. Aside from the delish pulled pork and wood-flavored ribs, the smoked chicken wings with house-made Roughneck Sauce and Route 66 flavorful nachos are a must-try.
Albert G's Bar-B-Q - E 1st St
Address: 421 E 1st St, Tulsa, OK 74120, United States
Website: Albert G’s Bar-B-Q - E 1st St
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu: 11am - 2pm; Sat: 11am - 10pm
5. Leon's Smoke Shack BBQ
Excellent tasting barbeque served in a warm atmosphere that feels like family is what Leon’s Smoke Shack BBQ is all about. The service alone in this BBQ joint is superb, while the food is delightfully unforgettable. Its wide range of meat from mouthwatering beef brisket, bologna, hot links, sausage, pulled pork, spare ribs, baby back ribs smoked in the tradition of pecan wood, are all products of Leon’s Smoke Shack BBQ’s love and passion for simple yet scrumptious dishes. Sample flavorful meat with delightful combos or have it with baked potatoes on top.
Leon's Smoke Shack BBQ
Address: 601 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK 74112, United States
Website: Leon’s Smoke Shack BBQ
Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 11am - 6pm (closed from Sun - Wed)
6. Oklahoma Style Bar-B-Que
A family-owned restaurant, Oklahoma Style BarB-Que has been smoking mouthwatering bbq and baking appetizing potato pies since 1993. Coming from a rich family tradition of smoking barbecue and baking sweet potato pies, the texture, color, and appearance of the food they serve is mouthwatering. This humble yet spacious joint, located on the east side of Harvard Avenue, serves some of the best Southern classics. It serves a delectable choice of ribs, pork, brisket, hot links, and sliced beef. Its moist, tender, and mouthwatering chicken, tender and scrumptious turkey legs, savory baked beans, and lemon cake and peach cobbler are also knock-outs.
Oklahoma Style Bar-B-Que
Address: 2225 N Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74115, United States
Website: Oklahoma Style Bar-B-Que
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Fri)
7. RibCrib BBQ - S Harvard Avenue
BBQ ribs that melt in your mouth and sliced smoked brisket oozing with flavor are some of the sumptuous treats smoking at RibCrib BBQ. From its humble beginnings in 1992 when air-conditioning was still unaffordable for them, RibCrib’s perseverance has paid off. RibCrib now boasts 61 branches in eight states. It has also remodeled its original restaurant, bringing back the site’s glory as a stunning shingle-style BBQ house. With walls made of smooth pine paneling that adds warmth to its already excellent customer service, the place is a fitting location for one of America’s best BBQ dishes. When in Tulsa, make sure to have a bite of their scrumptious Carolina pulled pork sandwich - slightly “messy” and highly stacked shreds of pork, tomato, lettuce, crunchy coleslaw, and mustard sauce on a bun.
RibCrib BBQ - S Harvard Avenue
Address: 1601 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74112, United States
Website: RibCrib BBQ - S Harvard Avenue
Opening hours: Sat - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu: 11am - 5pm (closed on Fri)
8. Billy Ray's Catfish & BBQ Co.
The founder of Billy Ray’s Catfish & BBQ Co., Billy Ray Cooper would often credit his grandmother’s secret recipe, which he discovered hidden in a silverware chest for the success of his bbq joint since 1984. True enough, the sauce has a lot to do with the rib’s juicy, moist, and sumptuous taste. Another thing that made the BBQ joint so successful is the dedication they give to smoking the meat, earning them the moniker, fall-off-the-bones ribs. The restaurant started as a local favorite, then it attracted travelers passing by Route 66. Visitors trooped in after they smelled the aroma of meat barbecuing in the pits. Also popular among visitors is the crunchy fried catfish tacos.
Billy Ray's Catfish & BBQ Co.
Address: 3524 Southwest Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74107, United States
Website: Billy Ray’s Catfish & BBQ Co.
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 8pm; Sat: 11am - 8pm (closed on Sun, Mon & Fri)
9. Billy Sims Barbecue - Farm Shopping Center
At Billy Sim’s Barbecue, smoking bbq and football are ingeniously combined to give you a great experience. Former professional football player of the Detroit Lions, Billy Sims, and his business partner added additional flavor to Tulsa’s strong bbq culture by opening their bbq joint in 2004. Now, they have 45 franchise locations in eight states, each as great as the other. The restaurant theme pays tribute to Sims who also won the Heisman Trophy. There are also many interesting football memorabilia on the walls and shelves. The food is best enjoyed as a group. One of the winner menus is The Wishbone- an uber-loaded four-meat combo. The moist and flavorful chicken is way above any competition. The creamy, mayo-based baked potato sprinkled with bacon bits has thick and smoky flavors, making it the most memorable baked potato you ever tasted.
Billy Sims Barbecue - Farm Shopping Center
Address: Farm Shopping Center, 5225 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK 74145, United States
Website: Billy Sims Barbecue - Farm Shopping Center
Opening hours: Sat - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu: 11am - 7pm (closed on Fri)
10. Stutts House Of Barbecue
Stutts House Of Barbecue smokes meat in a true, old-fashioned way. Delight in your meat custom-smoked using pecan and hickory wood. Using the classic pit rarely seen nowadays, Stutts House Of Barbecue recreates the tender and flavorful BBQ that most people grew up with. The St. Louis-style ribs are flavorful and unbelievably tender, you can bite right through it. The beef has an excellent texture, and the hot links have the right amount of spiciness. An added plus factor is the ambiance. The place has an old rustic feel to it, similar to a quaint farmhouse with paintings and old pictures.
Stutts House Of Barbecue
Address: 2021 E Apache St, Tulsa, OK 74110, United States
Website: Stutts House Of Barbecue
Opening hours: Thu - Sat & Mon: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
Take a bite of the best BBQ in Tulsa
Whether it be the ambiance or the tradition that brings people together, or simply the joy of tucking into flavorful smoked meat and baked potatoes, BBQ in Tulsa will truly be a definitive food experience. Travel now and get a taste of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s wonderful tradition of barbecuing.
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