UPDATED DECEMBER 11, 2020
Florida may not technically be in the barbecue belt, but it’s still home to some great ‘cue. We’ll leave it to the stalwarts to argue whether Texas or Tennessee is tops. Meanwhile, check out our list for the best BBQ Orlando has to offer.
@swineandsons
Best BBQ in Orlando
The perfect pulled pork at Swine & Sons stars in its own sandwich. Plus, it makes a cameo in the Southern Cuban (pictured; available only at Winter Park location) or covers a pile of fries tossed with pimento cheese, pickled jalepeños, “fierce Pierce” bbq sauce, and bacon. The Sanford location, inside Tuffy’s Bottle Shop and Lounge, also offers a side of Texas-style baked beans to complement your ‘cue. 669 North Orange Ave., Winter Park; 200 South Myrtle Ave., Sanford.
Jesse’s Rib Shack has been serving ribs with their “magic” sauce since 1987. Check their Facebook page for hours and specials, including fried lobster and seafood mac-and-cheese. 2202 West Pine St., Orlando.
Family BBQ Recipes
At BBQ 50 inside Marketplace in Avalon Park, owner/pitmaster Dan Ashby uses family recipes passed down for generations to craft Kentucky BBQ and Southern-style sides like GrandAshby’s mac-and-cheese. Slather your apple-cider brined pulled chicken or red-oak smoked pulled pork with Whitley County white sauce, a Kentucky twist on the ‘bama version, or a mustard sauce created by Ashby’s Aunt Myrtle. 3801 Avalon Park East Blvd., Orlando.
The recipes used at Keller’s Real Smoked BBQ were passed down from Andy Keller, founder of the Florida-based Fat Boys Bar-B-Q restaurants in the 1950s. Their menu is mostly traditional–no twists on the classics, just straight-up classics such as Brunswick stew, smoked turkey, brisket, and sliced pork. Sides like collards and green beans would make your Southern granny proud. 280 South SR 434, Altamonte Springs; 3893 Lake Emma Rd., Lake Mary.
courtesy of Git-N-Messy
The folks behind Git-N-Messy BBQ maintain that, “If it ain’t messy, it ain’t BBQ.” In December 2021, they moved to Henry’s Depot in Sanford, where a wall pays tribute to founder Chuck Cobb (pictured), who passed away earlier that year. Chef Cobb’s famous smoked brisket still stars in their menu, both on a sandwich and in a queso dip with jalapeños. 212 West 1st St., Sanford.
Winner of BBQ Competitions
Lots of locales claim to be the barbecue capitol, but for the owners of Uncle Kenny’s BBQ it’s no contest: their home state of Missouri. They continue to compete (and win) competitions sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and the Florida Barbeque Association. Still, their menu gives space to outliers like Nashville hot chicken and Carolina pork. 141 US-27, Clermont.
@4riverssmokehouse
4Rivers Smokehouse fans may clamor for newfangled menu items such as the Messy Pig–a pile of pulled pork between layers of coleslaw topped with pickles and jalepeños and sandwiched in a brioche bun–but it all began with brisket when the first location opened in Winter Park in 2009. The 4Rivers version is aged for 30 days, rubbed with a signature blend of spices, smoked for 18 hours and sliced to order. Locations throughout Central Florida.
@pigfloyds
Barbecue with a Donut
You may have previously enjoyed barbecue without a hot donut to accompany it, but Ian Russel has made sure that you never have to do so again. The Culinary Institute of America grad is the chef/owner of Smoke & Donuts, where traditionally spiced and smoked meats meet regionally inspired and locally sourced side and of course, donuts. The menu is small but mighty, and both classic and creative sandwiches are served on potato rolls from Olde Hearth Bread Company. Sliders (pictured above) are served on vanilla-glazed donuts with sea salt. 2545 Coolidge Ave., Orlando and at Á la Carte, 609 Irvington Ave., Orlando.
@cecilsbbq
