My BBQ Pilgramage

[MI BBQ Newbie]

I'm fairly new to appreciating good BBQ (5 years or so), and quite new on doing it myself (coming up on 3 years with my smoker).

SOMEHOW I managed to talk my wife and kids into spending four out of my six week sabbatical this coming summer on a BBQ road trip where I plan on hitting all the BBQ shrines this fine country has to offer.

I'll list out my general itinerary, and I'd really appreciate recommendations of places to try during our trip. I tend to prefer family-oriented places that aren't big chains.

So starting in mid-Michigan we're heading to

-Chicago to
-Marion, Iowa to
-Kansas City to
-Topeka, KS to
-Oklahoma City to
-Austin, TX to
-San Antonio, TX to
-Corpus Christi, TX (this is part of the beach time for BBQ trade-off) to
-Baton Rouge, LO to
-Atlanta, GA to
-Myrtle Beach, SC (again, more beach time) to
-Rocky Mount, NC to
-Nashville, TN to
-Memphis, TN to
-Louisville, KY to
Home (Michigan)

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

-MI BBQ Newbie

[lantern]

As far as NC and SC go you can go to this site and read about the ones that are good. http://www.mfbb.net/?mforum=carolinabbqjoin


And as far as where you're going to be close to I'd suggest Allen and son in Chapel Hill on your NC swing.

Myrtle beach........don't eat BBQ there. Seafood and steak all the way. The Altlantic Grille was my fave, but is no longer in business, so I would suggest Rioz. It's a Brazilian style bbq/steak house. The waiters keep bringing meat till ya tell them to stop.

Seafood.....I like the Marina in North Myrtle.


I wish I had the time to go on a run like you're doing. Pretty jealous of YOU right now!!!!

[bluedogok]

My dad really likes Dink's BBQ in Bartlesville (north of Tulsa).

OKC - My favorite is Leo's BBQ, I also like Oklahoma Station, Bubba's and The Hickory Tree. They all have a different style and flavor but when we go visit my family in OKC we almost always make a stop at Leo's. Over Christmas it was the downtown location as the older location was still closed.

North Texas - I haven't tried too many in the DFW Metroplex but Sonny Bryan's is the one that I would go to when I lived there. A little west of Fort Worth is the Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville, I stopped there on a ride back to OKC.

Austin - My favorite is The Salt Lick, it is also pretty close to my house though. Other good ones in the area are Louie Mueller's in Taylor (northeast of Austin), Black's, Smitty's or Kreuz in Loackhart (southeast of Austin). In Austin proper, a friend really likes Sam's BBQ just east of downtown.

That is what I have.