AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN/NEXSTAR/WKRN) — Where can you find the best barbecue in the country? Yelp's new ranking may steer you in the right direction.

The platform recently ranked the "Top 10 Cities for BBQ in the USA," and two cities from Texas — Austin and San Antonio — topped the list.

Austin, coming in at No. 1 in Yelp's ranking, scored high in metrics focusing on interest, availability and well-reviewed restaurants, according to the site's analysts. Special shout-outs were given to barbecue joints including Franklin Barbecue, Terry Black’s Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meat, and the Michelin-starred La Barbecue.

Austin’s barbecue was also commended by reviewers for its "simple" yet "flavorful" seasonings, according to Yelp.

"Austin has earned its reputation as a top barbecue destination," an article announcing the rankings declared.

Nipping at Austin's heels was San Antonio, which took the No. 2 spot on Yelp's list. The city was highlighted for having a selection of both traditional and fusion barbecue restaurants, some of which included Reese Bros BBQ, BBQ, Smoke Shack and Garcia Barbecue.

In third place, Yelp ranked Kansas City, Missouri, as another "top barbecue destination," thanks in no small part to the city's burnt ends ("a local specialty") and its signature Kansas City-style barbecue sauce.

While they weren't in the top three, a couple Tennessee cities did make the top 10.

According to Yelp, Memphis' deep-rooted barbecue culture and signature flavors make it a standout destination, earning it the No. 4 spot on the list. Not only is the city well-known for its dry-rub ribs and pulled pork -- offered at beloved restaurants like Cozy Corner and Elwood’s Shack -- but barbecue fans also praise Memphis for letting local diners choose between dry spice-rubbed meats and those slathered in sauce.

"Whether you prefer the saucy ribs of Central BBQ or the spice-rubbed meats at Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, Memphis barbecue delivers a smoky, flavorful experience that keeps people coming back for more," Yelp wrote.

Meanwhile, Nashville rounded out the list at No. 10. Yelp users have noted the combination of classic Tennessee barbecue with the influence of Nashville's famous hot chicken. Yelp highlighted top-rated spots like Peg Leg Porker -- which made the 2024 Top 100 Barbecue Spots list -- and Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint with their hickory-smoked meats, as well as Bringles Sports Oasis with its jalapeno-infused spin on barbecued sausage.

The full ranking, as determined by Yelp, can be found below.

1. Austin, Texas
2. San Antonio, Texas
3. Kansas City, Missouri
4. Memphis, Tennessee
5. Charleston, South Carolina
6. Greenville, South Carolina
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. Tulsa, Oklahoma
9. Durham, North Carolina
10. Nashville, Tennessee

To determine its rankings, Yelp said its analysts used a "blended metric" based on three factors: consumer interest in BBQ, the total number of barbecue restaurants, and the average rating of each. The analysts also only included a maximum of two cities from each state "to ensure geographic diversity," meaning it's possible that additional cities in Texas, South Carolina, or Tennessee could have ranked within the top 10 had each state not been restricted to two entries.

More information can be found at Yelp, including information on top-reviewed barbecue restaurants in each city.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/2-tn-cities-ranked-among-yelps-top-10-cities-for-bbq-in-us/