Little Miss BBQ’s University outpost just snagged the No. 1 spot on Yelp’s Elite-powered list of top barbecue restaurants in the United States, a win that plants Phoenix squarely in the national barbecue conversation. The compact smokehouse, known locally for its long lines and Central Texas-style brisket carved to order, topped Yelp's freshly released Top 100 BBQ roundup. For Valley diners, the honor is both bragging rights and a reminder of how far the local barbecue scene has come.
How Yelp picked the list
Yelp's Top 100 BBQ collection was built by identifying businesses in the site’s barbecue category and ranking them by ratings and the volume of reviews from Yelp Elite Squad members, according to ABC15. The outlet also notes Yelp confirmed businesses were open as of April 29, 2026 and used public health data where available.
What makes Little Miss stand out
Owners Scott and Bekke Holmes have built their operation around three offset smokers. Scott constructed two of them from 1,000-gallon propane tanks and runs them with wood fires rather than gas, which Phoenix New Times says helps render fat and develop brisket’s signature bark. “We get a ton of air flowing with these,” Scott told the paper, a setup cited by local pitmasters as a key reason Little Miss's brisket tastes distinct.
Smoke and wood
The kitchen leans on Arizona white oak, pecan, pistachio and mesquite, and will sometimes use olive or orangewood for specific cuts to shape the smoke and flavor the meat, per Eater Phoenix. That flexible approach to wood choice is part of what local critics say separates Little Miss from more standardized, gas-assisted pit operations.
Locations and hours
Little Miss BBQ operates two Phoenix locations, with the University counter and a Sunnyslope outpost listed on the restaurant's site. The site shows the University location opens at 11 a.m. on service days but warns that popular items often sell out; customers are advised to check the restaurant’s hours and pre-order for busy days, per Little Miss BBQ.
Other Valley favorites on the list
Other Valley smokehouses also placed on Yelp’s Top 100, including Caldwell County BBQ at No. 8, Eric’s Family Barbecue at No. 36, Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ at No. 61, Hapa Food Co. at No. 84 and Bobby-Q at No. 89, according to AZFamily. The range, from Central Texas-style pits to Hawaiian and Korean spots, shows how Arizona's barbecue scene has diversified in recent years.
What this means for diners
Local food writers say the ranking will likely draw more out-of-town diners to the University strip, where lines already form before doors open. Phoenix New Times previously noted that Little Miss’s fatty brisket often runs out well before afternoon, so regulars advise arriving early on busy days.
