Looking to sample the best barbecue around town?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top barbecue outlets in Detroit, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings for pulled pork, ribs, brisket and more.
1. Slows Bar BQ
Topping the list is Slows Bar BQ, where you'll find slow-cooked pork, ribs, beef brisket and smoked chicken. Eat the meat alone or with one of the house sauces. Pair it with sides like mac and cheese, coleslaw and jalapeño black beans. Then turn your attention to the rotating craft beer menu, where you'll choose from sour beers and saisons, wheat beers, malty beers, cider and more. Located at 2138 Michigan Ave. in Corktown, it's the highest rated barbecue joint in Detroit, boasting four stars out of 1,867 reviews on Yelp.
2. Pop'n Smoked BBQ
Next up is Pop'n Smoked BBQ, situated at 13849 W. 8 Mile Road. Ribs and rib tips are a specialty here. There's also smoked sausage, full and half chickens, and pulled pork. For a change, try loaded beef brisket egg rolls dipped in mustard, or french fries piled with brisket. With 4.5 stars out of 51 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score barbecue has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Vicki's Barbeque & Shrimp
Vicki's Barbeque & Shrimp, a Detroit institution on the city's west side, has received four stars out of 34 reviews on Yelp. The family-run takeout joint at 3845 W. Warren Ave. has been attracting customers for decades. The legendary spot is famous for its pork spareribs cooked over an open pit, smoked chicken and fried shrimp. The menu is simple, but the homemade St. Louis-style sauce is complex — sweet and tangy and full of flavor.
4. Nunn's Barbeque
Nunn's Barbeque is another go-to, with four stars out of 27 Yelp reviews. The takeout spot features rib tips, pulled pork, turkey ribs, pigs feet and jumbo shrimp. Sides run from fries and onion rings to candied yams and black-eyed peas. Head over to 19196 Conant St. to see for yourself.
5. Royal Barbecue
Finally, check out Royal Barbecue, which has earned four stars out of 18 reviews on Yelp. There's barbecue here, to be certain, including ribs and pulled pork, along with some of the expected sides, like baked beans and collard greens. But the huge menu goes far beyond that to include jambalaya, chicken wings, catfish, deli sandwiches, pizzas, wraps, burgers and more. If you have room, look to desserts like cheesecake, carrot cake and banana pudding. You can find Royal Barbecue at 5844 Mount Elliott St.
