There’s nothing like smoky, tender, fall-off-the-bone barbeque. Luckily, you don’t have to travel to the South to find seriously amazing BBQ. Massachusetts is actually full of unassuming spots that serve crazy-good ribs, pulled pork, cornbread and more. Here are some of the best BBQ restaurants in Massachusetts for you to visit when the craving for deliciousness hits.

Please note that these spots aren’t ranked in order.

1. West Side Steak & BBQ, Worcester
Yelp/Frank H.
Yelp/Emily C.
This place packs a lot of flavor into their BBQ, but that doesn’t mean they skimp on portions! Relax in the comfortable and casual atmosphere inside or head outside with your spoils and enjoy the patio. West Side is also BYOB, so bring your favorite libations.

Address: 2 Richmond Avenue, Worcester, MA 01602
Visit the website by clicking here.
2. Texas Barbecue Company, Northborough
Yelp/Christopher G.
Yelp/Rick S.
You can find a little slice of Texas right in Northborough at this charming and authentic barbecue joint. Everything here is smoked with green hardwood like pecan, hickory and oak for 12 to 18 hours. That means it comes out tasting like something fallen from heaven. Don’t forget to try their Texas-style potato salad.

Address: 309 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532
Visit the website by clicking here.
3. Bub’s BBQ, Sunderland
Yelp/Joshua P.
Yelp/Chelsea F.
This old-fashioned BBQ joint looks a bit like a roadside cabin, but the heavenly scent wafting from inside is unmistakable. The house sauce here boasts some killer flavor, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find better pulled pork anywhere. Portions are big and prices are small, so feel free to load up your plate.

Address: 676 Amherst Road, Sunderland, MA 01375
Visit the website by clicking here.
4. Pit Stop Barbeque, Mattapan (Morton Village)
Yelp/Pit Stop BBQ
Yelp/Valentina H.
Though it may look like a small red shed, this joint is actually a major BBQ hidden gem. Everything is slathered in incredible Carolina-style sauce and the Cajun seasoning is out of this world. Even if they can only seat four people at a time (for real), you couldn’t ask for a better spot to get takeout.

Address: 50 US-15, Aldie, VA 20105
Visit the website by clicking here.

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5. The American Barbeque, Rowley
Yelp/Tracy S.
Yelp/Derek W.
This down-home country spot is the perfect place to fill up on all the Southern classics, as well as some pretty fantastic Mexican fare. The menu is large enough that you’ll be able to try something new each time you visit, which is going to be pretty frequently after you try their genuine smoked BBQ.

Address: 5 Railroad Avenue, Rowley, MA 01969
Visit the website by clicking here.
6. Tennessee’s BBQ, Framingham
Facebook/Tennessee’s Real BBQ
Facebook/Tennessee’s Real BBQ
This award-winning BBQ joint hasn’t let all the accolades go to its head –it’s still very much a local barbeque spot with a lot of heart. Grab a plate of their ribs served dry or "mopped" with their amazing tomato-based and chocolate-laced BBQ sauce. All the sides are prepared fresh daily right in the shop, so you know everything on your table is going to be amazing.

Address: 341 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701
Visit the website by clicking here.
7. Blue Ribbon BBQ, Arlington
Facebook Blue Ribbon BBQ
Facebook Blue Ribbon BBQ
Blue Ribbon BBQ has quite a few spots throughout Massachusetts that offer up some delicious ‘cue. Inspired by classic barbecue joints throughout the American South, Blue Ribbon is a no-frills approach that always delivers on deliciousness.

Address: 908 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476
Visit the website by clicking here.
8. B.T.’s Smokehouse, Sturbridge
Facebook B.T.'s Smokehouse
Facebook B.T.'s Smokehouse
Welcome to B.T.’s Smokehouse, one of the best spots to chow down on Southern-style BBQ in Massachusetts. But this local joint is so much more than BBQ—you’ll find tons of options to choose from on this menu, from the catfish to the chopped salads, the brisket, and beyond. Make sure to BYOB before you visit!

Address: 392 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01566
Visit the website by clicking here.

Have you ever been to any of these delicious barbecue spots?! Share your experience with us in the comments section! For more of the best BBQ restaurants in Massachusetts, check out some more of our favorites here.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Best BBQ Restaurants In Massachusetts

Marisa Roman | September 29, 2019

Is Massachusetts known for BBQ?

While we can offer you the best barbecue in Massachusetts, it should be known that Massachusetts itself is not really known for its BBQ. In fact, Massachusetts is more known for having great coastal cuisine and seafood. Clam chowder, for instance. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t delicious BBQ options throughout the state. You can find some really stellar BBQ spots in Massachusetts if you know the right place to look. Like this list, for example…

What style of BBQ can be found in Massachusetts?

A lot of local restaurants in Massachusetts that cook up BBQ do so in a particular style. For example, Texas-style barbecue is big in Massachusetts. When we say Texas-style, we mean slow-cooked, a pit-smoked barbecue that uses a particular wood to smoke the meat. Usually leaving it on the pit for 12-18 hours is the norm. However, you can still find a scrumptious hidden gem restaurant in Massachusetts that’ll focus on a delicious St. Louis-style pork ribs, slow-smoked over hickory wood. Also, if you look hard enough, you’ll be able to find some dry-rubbed Memphis-style ribs, too, that might be rare in Massachusetts, but it’s definitely there.

What are the other best hole in the wall restaurants in Massachusetts?

There is nothing quite like finding a delicious hole in the wall restaurant in Massachusetts that remains much of a hidden gem. Thankfully, there are plenty of hole in the wall spots in Massachusetts worth considering for a unique dining experience. A few of the best small spots to consider the next time you’re hungry include Pete & Henry’s in Royalston, Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou in Springfield, Pajer Superette in Agawam, El Rincon Boricua Restaurant in Holyoke, and Jack’s Hot Dog Stand in North Adams.

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Explore Massachusetts

Featured Addresses
2 Richmond Ave, Worcester, MA 01602, USA
309 Main St, Northborough, MA 01532, USA
676 Amherst Rd, Sunderland, MA 01375, USA
US-15, United States
5 Railroad Ave, Rowley, MA 01969, USA
341 Cochituate Rd, Framingham, MA 01701, USA
908 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476, USA
392 Main St, Sturbridge, MA 01566, USA