Tier 1: (alphabetical order)

Fette Sau

High grade sourcing, strong rub and smoke levels, high probability of wow factor. Drawbacks are speed and sauces.

Hill Country

You can really taste the wood and the pepper-heavy rub. Brisket (both the lean and moist) and sausage are musts here even if not your usual order.

RUB

Burnt ends are the star here, but everything's good, often great. More strong rub and smoke. Sides and pulled pork underrated.

Tier 2: (alphabetical order)

Daisy May's

Arguably the best pork rib (wet or dry) and chili in the city. Beef rib good but expensive; boneless meats not so good.

Dinosaur

Ribs and creative sandwiches are the way to go here. Sides outstanding.

Fatty Cue
Southeast Asian take on BBQ might not be for everybody, but the flavors are scintillating.

Rack & Soul

Rare soulfood joint with real smoked 'cue. Saucy but it works, and the sauce is no crutch.

Wildwood BBQ

Upscale restaurant with another best ribs candidate, both beef and pork. Fantastic wings. Skip the sides.

Tier 3: (alphabetical order)

Harley's Smokeshack

Very creative, sort a modern take on old school 'cue. Good sauced ribs, innovative sides.

John Brown Smokehouse
Kansas City joint with excellent burnt ends and pulled pork the way to go. Frequent specials.

Mable's Smokehouse
Sort of a poor man's Daisy May's with much better brisket. Good add-on to Brookly Brewery.

Virgil's Real BBQ
Oft-maligned tourist trap turns out surprisingly respectable if expensive 'cue. Good pork sammy.

Tier 4: (alphabetical order)

Blue Smoke

Outstanding beef ribs and piggy pulled pork, with pork ribs and brisket less reliable.

Southern Hospitality

Surprisingly good ribs after a recent smoker upgrade. Jury (read: me) still out on the rest of the menu. Friendly staff, generous pours.

Smoke Joint

Decent to good with some of the best sides in the city.

Waterfront Ale House

More of a bar than a barbecue joint. Creative sandwiches, solid chili.

Tier 5: (alphabetical order)

Back 40 West

Boutique eatery with smoked fare. Sides better than the entrees. Don't miss the pig face nuggets.

Bone Lick Park

Decent joint with no real shining strengths or glaring weaknesses.

Butcher Bar

Sourcing pride yes, Southern Pride no. Some fragrant flavors with only a hint of a barbecue profile. High prices, free apple pie.

Ember Room

Todd English's Asian/BBQ fusion has some hits and misses. Chocolate ribs, anyone?

Georgia's Eastside BBQ

The best of the BBQ restaurants that have no smoker. Saucy.

Mexicue

Little Mexican tastes on potato rolls or tacos have just a hint of barbecue flavor, less than a hint of smoke.

Neely's BBQ Parlor

Disaster that involves Pat and Gina Neely in name only. Atmosphere is its major strength.

Pies n Thighs

As a hipster sandwich and donut joint, it works. As barbecue, not so much.

Tier 6: (alphabetical order)

Brother Jimmy's

The worst of the "real" BBQ joints smoking over wood. Hot servers, good sauces, mediocre 'cue.

BBQ's Smokeshack

Fast food BBQ joint might be cheaper than nearby RUB and Hill Country, but not nearly cheap enough.

Nicky's Beer & BBQ

Much more emphasis on the Beer than the BBQ, and it shows. Mechanical bull. 'Nuff said.

Rodeo Bar

If the 'cue is smoked (it might be), it doesn't taste it, but better than most of the fake ones.

Tier 7: (alphabetical order)

Dallas BBQ

1980s time warp faux BBQ. Cheaper than BBQ's Smokeshack, but a further step down in quality.

Duke's

Fun place, emphasis on drinks, barbecue an afterthought.

Golden Chicken & Ribs

Cafeteria quality.

Hog Pit

The only thing BBQ about this place is the sauce. Meats taste boiled. At least they have a fryer.

Live Bait

Dallas might be bad, but Live Bait's bad and expensive.