Southwest Missouri has quite the collection of barbecue restaurants, each offering a unique take on the classic meal from Texas and St. Louis styles to Memphis and Kansas City barbecue. Springfield and the surrounding area have a barbecue style for everyone to get that finger-licking, sauce-covered, delectable meal they enjoy.
City Butcher
Texas-style barbecue is the name of the game at City Butcher. City Butcher has been feeding hungry, barbecue-loving bellies since 2014. Not only can you order great barbecue by the pound, but they have specialty sandwiches that can please just about anyone. The pitmaster's duo sandwich is both brisket and pork belly, or you can go big and order the City Smokestack. The City Smokestack is premium brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, and your choice of either Austin andouille, a Texas hot link, or my favorite, the jalapeno cheddar sausage, all on a bun. Add on a side of jalapeno cheesy corn or some smokehouse beans for a complete balanced meal.
Address: 3650 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
Smokin' Bob's
Smokin' Bob's takes the smoking game seriously. Not only are they smoking the classics like pulled pork and brisket, but the sides are so good that you could make an entire meal out of them. Don't get me wrong, I love all the smoked meats on their menu, but if you put that tray in front of me filled with smoked macaroni and cheese, smoked potato salad and smoked cheesy corn, I wouldn't complain one bit.
Address: 3309 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Buckingham's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q
Buckingham's has been a place that I have been visiting since I was a kid. Walking in and smelling the hickory smoke and your mouth starts to water. The menu item that never steered me wrong was the smokehouse stuffed potato. A giant baked potato stuffed with beef brisket, pulled pork, pit beans and horseradish coleslaw. I never thought that a loaded baked potato could taste so good.
Address: 2002 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
Whole Hog Café
Whole Hog Café is known for serving its award-winning, Memphis-style barbecue in Springfield since 2009. They have a great selection of smoked ribs and pork loin, with seven different barbecue sauces for you to smother their delicious smoked meats in. While they are killing it in the smoked meat department, one of my favorite things to always order when I go, is the burnt end cheesy corn and the potato salad. If you love wings, you can order smoked chicken wings, anywhere from five to 75 wings!
Address: 224 W. Sunshine St., Springfield
Address: 2731 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Crosstown BBQ & Subs
When it comes to well-known barbecue in the city of Springfield, one of the first places that come to mind is Crosstown BBQ. The third-generation-owned barbecue restaurant has been serving the folks of Springfield since 1970, and we still can't get enough Crosstown in our diets today! The famous bluto sandwich comes fully loaded with slicked smoked brisket, a hot link, and their regular or spicy barbecue sauce. The cooley is one of my favorites: smoked chopped pork, topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh coleslaw.
Address: 1331 E. Division St., Springfield
Pappy's Place
Pappy's Place has been serving Springfield barbecue since 1971, but the location itself has been around since 1903. The iconic location has a menu that includes smoked spareribs, ham, beef and pork. Looking to feed the whole family? Pick up the Pappy's pig out that is a whole rack of ribs and two sides, or maybe the beef up that comes with a pound of smoked beef with bread and two sides.
Address: 943 N. Main Ave., Springfield
Gettin' Basted
With at least 50 grand championships under their belt, Gettin' Basted has shown that their hot and fast, Ozarks barbecue is here to knock your socks off. Their menu is fully loaded with Wagyu beef burgers, smoked bologna, a pitmaster salad with barbecue ranch, and some awesome pimento cheese served with wonton chips. Can't decide what smoked meats you want to try? Order the judge's plate that comes with brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, sausage, and two large sides.
Address: 606 W. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa
Address: 2845 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson
Skinners Ribs & BBQ
I have eaten so much great barbecue from Skinner's BBQ over the last 15 years, that I should be an honorary member of the Skinner's team. My work has been catering in Skinner's ever since I started there, and it never gets old. They are a food truck that opened in 1997 and have been serving great barbecue ever since. It's not just tasty meats that have made them famous. It's also the dessert selection that the public also love. They make excellent key lime and chocolate pudding pies that you can order in full-sized or individual mini pies. They also have chocolate and peanut butter, vanilla with raspberry buttercream cupcakes. Skinner's is only open from around March to the end of October each year, so watch their social media pages to see when this year's grand opening is.
Address: US-60 Hwy & S. Farm Road 241, Rogersville
Campfire Barbecue
Who knew that just a stone’s throw from highway 60 in Republic was a shopping center that housed such a great BBQ? Campfire Barbecue shot onto the scene just a couple of years ago and has already become a well-known spot for great smoked meats and sides. What I really enjoy are the menu items where they get creative! The smoked brisket macaroni and cheese, a brisket burger topped with jalapeno sausage, and who can forget the famous Texas twinkies! Fresh jalapeño stuffed with pimento cheese, cream cheese, and brisket. Then wrapped with bacon and smoked to perfection!
Address: 1264 HWY E 60, Republic
Hog Tide Bar-B-Que
What do you get when you have a town with a population of under 8,000 people, and they have a BBQ spot that has more awards for their food than I can list? What you have is Hog Tide Bar-B-Cue in Aurora, Missouri! Owner Drew McNatt has a long history with barbecue competitions, and it shows with the smoked meats they are dishing out each day. Smoked chicken wings, ribs, brisket, as well as great burgers and sandwiches. A trip to Hoge Tide in Aurora or Willard should be on your to-do list!
Address: 1720 S. Engle Ave., Aurora
Address: 304 E. Jackson St., Willard
Old 76 Smokehouse
When you find yourself cruising down 76 highway, rolling into Branson West, you will see a small BBQ spot located next to a gas station. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is your run of the mill barbecue spot, this is Central Texas BBQ located right here in southwest Missouri! Old 76 Smokehouse is smoking delicious ribs, half chicken, bologna, and sausages that are made in-house, every day! The smoked meats are just the beginning of the great food, oh yes you cannot forget about the sides! Pit beans, corn casserole, and potato salad are a must try, and don’t forget about dessert! They are shipping in Key Lime Juice that is used in their homemade Key Lime Pie, that they are also making fresh daily!
Address: 9273 State Highway 76, Branson West
Big D's BBQ
Big D's BBQ has a menu filled with tasty chicken, brisket and burnt ends. It's the menu items that you don't traditionally find at other BBQ places that I enjoy. The pork egg rolls with hot sauce and the salted caramel banana pudding are among my favorites. They also do many off-menu specials that are amazing. The beefychanga is their spin on a chimichanga, that is filled with smoked brisket and mac and cheese and then topped with smoked queso, pit beans and drizzled with their Big D's lil sweetie barbecue sauce.
Address: 1550 State Hwy 248, Branson
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