This BBQ Hotspot In North Dakota Has Been Serving Up Some Of The Best Ribs Since 2012
By Tori Jane|Published February 15, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
It’s not very often you encounter a place where both the barbecue and the brews are worth writing home (or in this case, a whole article) about, but when you do, oh man… it’s something special, isn’t it? It always feels great to take that first bite into the best ribs or brisket you’ve ever had in your life while eyeballing a house-brewed IPA to wash it down with, but we found this little joint in Bismarck where you can do that to your heart’s content (or should we say your stomach’s?). The locals all know where you can find the best ribs in North Dakota, and if you ask a few people – go ahead, we’ll wait – chances are they’re all going to tell you to head to the same place: Laughing Sun Brewery, on Front Avenue. Check it out:
It all started with a dream and a wish; in 2009, there were no breweries in Bismarck to speak of.
In 2012, brewmaster Mike Frolich opened a hip little spot with every intention to create a community based around amazing beers, local music, artists, and the best barbecue anyone's ever had. It was - and still is - an outrageous success, and it's hard to find a night here where there's nothing going on.
As soon as you walk in, your senses are ambushed by the smell wafting from the kitchen.
The reviews generally circle back to one or two things, in particular, every time: the unique brews and the ribs. Everything here is made in-house, from the beers to the rub and sauce to the fall-off-the-bone tender, flavorful meat that'll melt in your mouth no matter WHAT you order.
We're pretty confident that no matter what you get, you're in for an adventure for the senses. This place might have started as Bismarck's first-ever brewery, but it's cemented its place in locals' hearts with these incredible dishes and support for local art and artists (among other folks).
Even the sides are to die for; the mac and cheese is incredible (and you can get it with brisket - same with the beans!), the cornbread has an elote twist, and the soup of the day is always a good choice.
If you crave entertainment while you eat and imbibe, once again, Laughing Sun comes in first - like we mentioned, it's a hotspot for local artists and bands to perform and engage with the community, and you'd be hard-pressed to find an evening here not filled with music and laughter.
Come for the ridiculously amazing barbecue (especially those ribs), stay for the beers and the bands!
What Frolich set out to do has been accomplished over and over again under this roof; as at least one of its reviews says, everyone knows where to get the best beer and barbecue in North Dakota, and it's in Bismarck at Laughing Sun.
