Georgia restaurant is No. 2 best barbecue in the South, says Southern Living

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
Fresh Air Bar-B-Que, which has locations in Macon and Jackson, was one of three Georgia eateries in "The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints of 2023" by Southern Living.
Fresh Air Bar-B-Que, which has locations in Macon and Jackson, was one of three Georgia eateries in "The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints of 2023" by Southern Living.

There are many superstar BBQ restaurants across the south, and three of Georgia's recently earned high honors.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Atlanta, Southern Soul Barbeque in St. Simons Island, and Fresh Air Bar-B-Que in Macon and Jackson were ranked among "The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints Of 2023" by Southern Living, one of the region's top lifestyle magazines.

Fresh Air scored particularly well, with a No. 2 ranking. The list's author Robert Moss called it the epitome of traditional Georgia barbecuing. He describing how its famous pork is made from 15 to 20-pound hams slow-cooked over hickory and oak, then shredded and dressed in a thin, tangy red sauce. Moss also said they have the best Brunswick stew in all of the South.

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"With fine shreds of beef and minced onions and corn in a thick tomato broth, it’s a genuine Georgia delicacy," he said.

Southern Soul ranked 22nd on the list. The setting intrigued Moss as the restaurant has created a retro beach vibe out of a defunct gas station. He was also a big fan of the "delicious" slow smoked meats including brisket, chicken, turkey, and sausage, all cooked over oak. Other foods got name-dropped like the smoked mahi dip, reubens with house-cured pastrami, and smoked wings tossed in Georgia peach barbecue sauce.

Fox Bros and its three Atlanta locations ranked on 49th on Southern Living's list. Moss remarked how the city offers plenty of options for enjoying Texas-style specialties, but this small chain started by twin brothers twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox is always a stand out because of its lively atmosphere and "over-the-top" barbecue creations.

"Brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and ribs anchor the menu, and those meats get spun into creative, cross-regional combinations like 'chicken fried' ribs with Alabama-style white sauce, 'Tomminator' tater tots smothered with Brunswick stew, and towering smoked bologna and pimento cheese sandwiches," Moss said. "The Foxes call this 'Atlanta Style,' and it seems well suited to such a dynamic melting pot of a city.

Southern Living's list was not based on score sheets or empirical grading systems. It is a qualitative ranking based on the enjoyment of the meal and the overall experience of the visit.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Fox Bros, Southern Soul, Fresh Air make best BBQ restaurants list