These 19 pit barbecue restaurants in metro Phoenix sling pulled pork, ribs and brisket

Endia Fontanez, Arizona Republic
Updated ·7 min read
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Father's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to start planning where to take Dad for the special day. If he's a barbecue lover, we've got you covered.

Metro Phoenix has a diverse array of great barbecue options, from a Food Network-famous pitmaster on Roosevelt Row to Eric's Family Barbecue in Avondale. Longtime institutions like JL Smokehouse and Honey Bear's BBQ are still going strong in Phoenix, while newcomers like Pork on a Fork in Chandler have opened high-tech dining rooms.

Whether you're on the hunt for the best brisket or looking to scratch an itch for pulled pork, you've got plenty of options in the Valley.

Here's your guide to 19 pit barbecue joints in metro Phoenix.

Bootleggers

Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse serves upscale comfort food and award-winning barbecue in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Menu highlights include brisket tacos, a boot BBQ burrito, St. Louis ribs, smoked prime rib and a chopped brisket sandwich. For dessert, options are fresh fruit cobbler, fried ice cream, butter cake and a Jack Daniels brownie.

Details: 7217 E. First St., Scottsdale. 480-404-9984. Also, 3375 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix. 602-996-4228, bootleggerssmokehouse.com.

Bobby-Q

The popular barbecue restaurant has three locations in metro Phoenix, offering wood-fired barbecue platters with the option of St. Louis style ribs, smoked pulled pork, beef brisket or spicy smoked link sausage. Or, if you're really hungry, there's the Whole Hog Heaven meal for $79.50, which includes a feast with two types of ribs, two meats and three sides.

Details: 8501 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix. 602-995-5982. More locations at bobbyqbbq.com.

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Danky's Bar-B-Q

Danky's is a small, family-owned and operated business run by five generations of butchers. If you're taking out the whole family, consider one of five party specials ranging from $59.99 to $144.99 that include several types of meat and sides such as slab ribs, brisket, chicken breast, coleslaw, mac and cheese and cornbread.

A selection of barbecue and sides at Danky's Bar-B-Q in Phoenix.
A selection of barbecue and sides at Danky's Bar-B-Q in Phoenix.

Details: 4727 E. Bell Road, Suite 31, Phoenix. 602-996-2016, dankysbbq.com.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit

Dickey's Barbecue Pit has 32 locations in Arizona, serving pit-smoked wings and meats, loaded baked potatoes and sandwiches ala carte.

Details: Multiple locations. dickeys.com.

Eric's Family Barbecue

The full complement of offerings at Eric's Family Barbecue in Avondale.
The full complement of offerings at Eric's Family Barbecue in Avondale.

Eric's Family Barbecue offers unique "Avondale-style" barbecue using 100% wild mesquite imported from Mexico. Starting at $19.99 a pound, brisket and sausage are popular choices, especially the jalapeno-cheddar sausage. But make sure to show up early if you want a lot of options — they are open until 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 5 p.m. on Sundays, or until sold out.

Details: 12345 W. Indian School Road, Avondale. 623-248-0148, ericsfamilybbq.com.

Frasher's Smokehouse

In addition to traditional Saint Louis-style barbecue items like brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, Frasher's Smokehouse offers smoked turkey gumbo, toasted ravioli, pizza and steak salads. Frasher's Smokehouse also serves cocktails like Bloody Marys, Moscow mules and peach margaritas.

Details: 3222 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-314-5599, frasherssmokehouse.com.

Hap's Pit Barbecue

Hap's Pit Barbecue has been serving hand-rubbed meat in Phoenix since 1991, and was featured on season four of Food Network’s show "Burgers, Brew & ‘Que." The esteemed barbecue joint offers whole pig, chicken or lamb, pork or prime ribs and Tennessee-style (topped with slaw) pulled pork, rib tip and cheddar cheese sandwiches.

Details: 4801 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-267-0181, hapsbbq.com.

HEK Yeah BBQ

Located in north Phoenix, HEK Yeah BBQ is a small, family-owned barbecue joint serving traditional barbecue items like pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. Meat can be purchased by the pound, family serving style or ala carte.

Details: 15044 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. 602-626-8404, heckyeahbbq.com.

Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q

Arizona's only location of the Wichita, Kansas-born barbecue restaurant offers classic barbecue dinners, ribs, sandwiches, loaded potatoes, smoked meats and ranch house salads.

Details: 4046 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. 602-354-8194, hogwildpitbbq.com.

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Honey Bear's BBQ

Honey Bear's has been a Phoenix barbecue institution since the 1980's. Staple menu highlights include Tennessee-style ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and cowboy beans.

Details: 5012 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix. 602-702-3060, honeybearsbbq.com.

JL Smokehouse

JL Smokehouse in Phoenix has long been a beloved destination for authentic barbecue like mouthwatering brisket, pulled pork and unique items like a smoked bologna sandwich, BBQ tacos, BBQ nachos and BBQ spaghetti. Pitmaster J.L. recently opened a second location in Mesa.

Details: 2010 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix. Also, 2650 E. University Drive, Mesa. jlsmokehouse.com.

Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse

Smoked meats at Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse.
Smoked meats at Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse.

Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse offer a variety of ways to enjoy brisket: traditional, on a quesadilla, on loaded fries, on a salad or as a sandwich. Other items from the smoker include spare ribs, pork shoulder or a BBQ platter with all three.

Details: 34522 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 180, Scottsdale. 480-595-9930. Also, 20825 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. 480-278-7044, libertystationtavern.com.

Little Miss BBQ

Little Miss BBQ is one of the most iconic barbecue joints in Phoenix, with locations in Sunnyslope and the original location on University Drive. In addition to the wildly popular brisket, they also offer daily specials, like smoked pastrami.

This year, they're offering Father's Day specials including a whole 5-6 pound brisket and a bottle of barbecue sauce for $160, a whole 4-5 pound pork shoulder for $60, a whole 3-pound turkey breast for $60 and a 2.5-pound rack of pork ribs for $55.

Details: 8901 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. Also, 4301 E. University Drive, Phoenix. littlemissbbq.com.

Naked Q

Naked Q offers serious barbecue sandwiches with pulled pork, pulled chicken, jalapeno hot link sausage or sliced turkey for just $10, or chopped brisket for $11. Barbecue platters are $12 for one meat or $16 for two meats. Sides include creamy slaw, BBQ beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, cornbread or the veggie of the day.

Details: 2340 W. Bell Road, Phoenix. Other locations are at nakedq.com.

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Pork on a Fork

Pork on a Fork is one of eight local vendors that were chosen to serve from their food truck at State Farm Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. Pulled pork sandwiches with mac-n-cheese are one of the dishes that they will be serving up that Sunday.
Pork on a Fork is one of eight local vendors that were chosen to serve from their food truck at State Farm Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. Pulled pork sandwiches with mac-n-cheese are one of the dishes that they will be serving up that Sunday.

From humble beginnings slinging cold cuts at farmer's markets to stints inside local sports arenas, Pork on a Fork has garnered a mass of passionate fans with its pulled pork sandwiches, pork ribs and beef brisket. Owners Justin Erickson and Wes Hansen opened their Chandler location in 2022, the first full-service, dine-in location of the beloved barbecue joint. The express location in Deer Valley is a good option for quick takeout.

Details: 1972 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. 480-535-8384. Also, 1515 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix. 623-434-1794, porkonafork.com.

Rudy's Bar-B-Q

Born out of San Antonio, Texas, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q now has locations in six states, with five in Arizona. Rudy's serves traditional barbecue items like pulled pork sandwiches and prime ribs.

Details: 845 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. 480-663-6311. Other locations at rudysbbq.com.

Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse

Barbecue, sweet potatoes and coleslaw from Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse.
Barbecue, sweet potatoes and coleslaw from Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse.

Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse in Ahwatukee offers Mississippi-style barbecue with "all the fixins and peach cobbler, too!" Guests can choose a meat plate, meat and mac bowl or rib dinner, or go for a family-style meal with two meats, two sides and bread, made to feed families of 3-4 for $39 or 6-8 for $74.

Details: 4929 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix. 623-221-2608, sweetmagnoliasmokehouse.com.

Trapp Haus

Phil Johnson prepares meat at his barbecue restaurant Trapp Haus.
Phil Johnson prepares meat at his barbecue restaurant Trapp Haus.

Trapp Haus pitmaster Phil Johnson, aka Phil the Grill, is known as the "Jay-Z of barbecue." His barbecue joint on Roosevelt Row serves traditional brisket and ribs, house-made beef pastrami, dino bone short ribs and sandwiches like the "boss hog" made with pulled pork, chopped Angus beef, brisket, jalapeno honey slaw and BBQ sauce.

Details: 511 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-466-5462, trapphausbbq.com.

Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: BBQ restaurants in metro Phoenix: Try these 19 spots for pit barbecue