Best BBQ? Try these 10 best barbecue restaurants and food trucks on the Treasure Coast

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·6 min read
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Editor's note: Since this article published, Flavor BBQ opened in Fort Pierce.

Baby back ribs. Pulled pork. Beef brisket.

These are just a few food favorites found on menus at traditional barbecue restaurants.

On the Treasure Coast, many non-chain restaurants are inspired by barbecue found in St. Louis, Kansas City, Central Texas and the Southern states.

Here are 10 of the best barbecue restaurants and food trucks born and bred in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

Bye Bye BBQ: Iconic Florida barbecue chain closes third restaurant, leaving only one in Vero Beach

Wilke’s 14 Bones BBQ

Wilke’s 14 Bones BBQ opened in Vero Beach in 2013. Owner Scot Wilke, who since 1993 had been running a Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q franchise at the U.S. 1 location south of 17th Street, decided to become an independent owner-operator. He features baby back ribs, pork, brisket, steaks, sandwiches and award-winning burgers. A menu highlight is the Kansas City burnt ends, a traditional barbecue delicacy consisting of pieces of meat cut from the point of a smoked brisket.

Juicy turkey and brisket, sold by the half-pound at Pepper & Salt, are beautifully cut and wrapped in red butcher paper.
Juicy turkey and brisket, sold by the half-pound at Pepper & Salt, are beautifully cut and wrapped in red butcher paper.

Pepper & Salt BBQ

John and Heather Chianis opened Pepper & Salt BBQ in 2022 on Old Dixie Highway, south of Fourth Street, after moving to Vero Beach from Houston the previous year. The couple began smoking meats as a hobby, but quickly fell in love with the BBQ community and wanted to bring their “low and slow” traditional Central Texas barbecue method to their new home. The most popular items have been the pork belly burnt ends and the brisket — smoked for 15 to 18 hours daily — both served by the half-pound. Other main meats include spare ribs, beef sausage and turkey breast.

A fire early Jan. 10, 2023, to a trailer used for cooking and food preparation at Big Worm’s BBQ food truck is a ‘big blow,’ but the business plans to ‘be back better than ever,’ a partner said.
A fire early Jan. 10, 2023, to a trailer used for cooking and food preparation at Big Worm’s BBQ food truck is a ‘big blow,’ but the business plans to ‘be back better than ever,’ a partner said.

Big Worm’s BBQ

Fort Pierce native Corey LaFlesh, known as “Big Worm” to most, opened Big Worm’s BBQ food truck with Tim Bartnick in 2020 in the parking lot of U.S. 1 Tint & Graphics in Fort Pierce. Using a combination of oak and hickory, proteins are slow-smoked at 225 degrees to guarantee food remains tender and flavorful. Meat options include seasoned and slow-smoked St. Louis-style ribs, chicken wings that are slow-smoked then flash-finished in the fryer, pulled pork, chopped chicken and chopped brisket. The menu features a BBQ sundae cup layered with baked beans, mac and cheese, pulled pork and sweet bacon coleslaw, topped with its signature barbecue sauce.

Stoney's BBQ in Fort Pierce opened in June 2022.
Stoney's BBQ in Fort Pierce opened in June 2022.

Stoney’s BBQ

Stoney and Princess Braynen opened Stoney’s BBQ in 2022 in the Sabal Palm Plaza in Fort Pierce after family and friends encouraged the couple to share their homecooked meals with the community. The most popular items have been the rib dinner, served with the choice of two sides, and the baked spaghetti, served with corn or green beans. The menu also includes chicken, pork chops, pulled pork, oxtail, meatloaf, hamburgers and non-pork options.

The Jones Old School BBQ food truck in Port St. Lucie specializes in fall-off-the-bone spare ribs.
The Jones Old School BBQ food truck in Port St. Lucie specializes in fall-off-the-bone spare ribs.

Jones Old School BBQ

Dwight and Merica Jones opened their Jones Old School BBQ food truck in 2012 in the parking lot of the Sunoco gas station on Prima Vista Boulevard near U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie. He started cooking steaks, ribs and chicken on a small grill for family before his hobby grew into a passion — and a food truck with a trailer and smoker. He specializes in fall-off-the-bone spare ribs, smoked chicken, pulled pork and brisket. Sides include collard greens, corn nuggets, green beans, fried okra, mac and cheese and sweet barbecue beans.

My Brother’s BBQ, which previously was a food truck, opened a permanent location in 2021 in Port St. Lucie.
My Brother’s BBQ, which previously was a food truck, opened a permanent location in 2021 in Port St. Lucie.

My Brother’s BBQ

James Thompson Jr. and Sabrina Allen started My Brother’s BBQ as a food truck in 2019 before they opened a permanent location in 2021 on Tulip Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, west of Florida’s Turnpike. The menu features brisket or pulled pork sliders, catfish nuggets, chicken wings or boneless wings, smoked or fried ribs and homemade lemonade and sweet tea. Sides include baked beans, candied yams, collard greens, corn nuggets, fried okra and green beans.

Southern Pig & Cattle Co.

Southern Pig & Cattle Co. in Stuart is the latest restaurant from the Tomlinson and Nolan families, who have been known for their award-winning barbecue for over 40 years. They opened the restaurant in 2011 to be reminiscent of Florida's cattle-ranching days, with char-grilled Grade-A steaks, premium smoked meats and sides. The restaurant on Federal Highway, south of Monterey Road, features batter-dipped onions "tanglers," honey corn nuggets, a cattle ranch beef brisket sandwich, baby back ribs, St. Louis ribs and catfish. They have two other locations in Ocala.

The menu at Sweet Smoke Southern Kitchen in Stuart features pork nachos.
The menu at Sweet Smoke Southern Kitchen in Stuart features pork nachos.

Sweet Smoke Southern Kitchen

Owners John and Margie Stiburek rebranded the former Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q location in Stuart in 2021 to become Sweet Smoke Southern Kitchen. The restaurant on Federal Highway, just south of Monetery Road, is a half-mile north of Southern Pig & Cattle Co. Sweet Smoke serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and specializes in classic comfort foods. The menu features traditional barbecue platters that include brisket, chicken, pork, baby back ribs, spare ribs and smoked turkey. Southern-inspired entrees such as chicken and waffles or bayou catfish are also available.

Brothers Q BBQ, a Port Salerno food truck, reopened Feb. 4, 2022, under new ownership after a four-month closure. The eatery serves ribs, brisket, chicken and more.
Brothers Q BBQ, a Port Salerno food truck, reopened Feb. 4, 2022, under new ownership after a four-month closure. The eatery serves ribs, brisket, chicken and more.

Brothers Q BBQ

The Brothers Q BBQ food truck started in 2014 in Stuart, but regular customer and Texas native Chad Felmet took over the business in 2022. He kept the same recipes, menu and location on Dixie Highway, just north of Indian Street. He serves smoked brisket, pork, chicken and ribs. All proteins can be served by the pound in a sandwich or slider. Side dishes include beans, coleslaw and mac and cheese. House-made sauces include sweet apple, tangy Carolina and spicy.

Blue Water Barbecue opened Feb. 15 in Hobe Sound. Its menu includes sandwiches, such as the brisket grilled cheese with gouda, caramelized red onion and barbecue sauce.
Blue Water Barbecue opened Feb. 15 in Hobe Sound. Its menu includes sandwiches, such as the brisket grilled cheese with gouda, caramelized red onion and barbecue sauce.

Blue Water Barbecue

Local businessman Eric MacLeod opened Blue Water Barbecue in Hobe Sound this year. The location — less than a mile north of Bridge Road on the west side of U.S. 1, just north of Windham Lane — used to be a shed sale lot. Chef Bill Henrique was featured on the Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” and pit master Tim Musa previously owned a barbecue catering company in Loxahatchee. The menu starts with these snacks: crispy Brussels sprouts with Buffalo sauce, blue cheese and crumbled bacon; street corn with pickled red onion, cilantro, queso fresco and Tajin seasoning; and “totchos” with tater tots, queso, sour cream, jalapenos and pico de gallo, plus a choice of meat. Highlights include the brisket grilled cheese with Gouda, caramelized red onion and barbecue sauce; and the smoked meatloaf sandwich with Swiss cheese, crispy red onion and smoked ketchup.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Best BBQ: 10 best barbecue restaurants, food trucks on Treasure Coast