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I'm a big Dinosar BBQ in harlem fan...not too dry...not so saucy...just perfect..

I cannot choose but one: The Salt Lick Barbecue Restaurant, Driftwood, TX; Smitty's (formerly Kreuz's Market), Lockhart, TX; Dreamland BBQ, Tuscaloosa, AL; Cook's Barbecue, Lexington, NC; Artz Ribs, Austin, TX (because it is in the neighborhood I grew up in); and Mitchell's Barbecue Restaurant, Wilson, NC would be on there too if the man could open up a restaurant again. I want some of all of it right now.

It doesn't get much attention from the nyc bbq community, and it hasn't been particularly great lately, but I'm still going to have to go with the Hog Pit. They've got pretty solid pulled pork (with the little smokey burnt edges) and delicious cheese grits that you just can't find outside of the south. Yum!

outside NYC: Wilbur's in Goldboro, NC

within NYC: I've tried just about everywhere and the pork ribs at Fette Sau are insanely good; my favorite

In the five boroughs...I'd say my vote goes to the pulled pork sandwich at Pies 'n thighs.

Because although I've traveled through most of our southern states, I didn't really eat meat so much till I met Bill, haha. Sorry animurs. :O/

The Salt Lick, Austin, Texas

The County Line in San Antonio, TX. For NY places, the Smoke Joint.

Outside NYC: Hog Heaven in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It's on Highway 17. The pulled pork and ribs are amazing.

Inside NYC: I'm partial to the Smoke Joint in Fort Greene because Ben, the owner, is always incredibly friendly to folks, like me, who share his first name. The good food helps too.

Abosolutely Cooper's Pit BBQ on Hwy 87 in Mason, TX.

Outside NYC: The Carolina Smokehouse in Cashiers, NC.

Inside NYC: Fette Sau in Williamsburg.

Inside NY: Dinosaur- Chicken Wings, Watermellon salad
Outside: Kruetz Market- Brisket, Beef Ribs

Daisy May's for me...

I kinda wish I knew... I've tried to go to the BBQ fest for the past couple of years and have waited in line and waited in line and waited in line and been shut out every single time...

Except once when I got a sandwich at Salt Lick that I ate in one gulp because I was so hungry that I can't even remember if it was good or not. By that time it was simply sustenance.

So I have to go with my own, which isn't real bbq because I don't have a backyard for a barbecue so I have to make mine in the oven . It's delicious... but I bet the stuff at the Block Party's better!

Duck Deli, Corolla, NC

For the childhood memories only, and not necessarily for the quality of the food, I am going with Carson's ribs in Chicago. Sentimentality wins this one for me, mostly because i just haven't found a bbq place in NYC that thrills me enough.

Dinosaur BBQ all the way!

as i'm in nyc, the burnt ends, cornbread and beans at r.u.b.

In 1978 when i was 10, my family of 5 along with 2 dogs set out in a van for New Mexico for a little vacation. Along the way there and back we stopped at (at least) 2 barbacue places that I can remeber - Lexington Barbacue and Arthur Bryants. Even at 10 yrs old I noticed the different regional styles of barbacue and I loved both places - that was my introduction to barbacue and I always look back!!

I'm a recent convert to RUB. The lack of sauce makes me happy.

I've been to Dinosaurs twice, and I loved the ribs there. And the mac & cheese.

Daisy May is pretty good.

In NYC, Fette Sau is the best BBQ, the beef ribs were huge and tender, the brisket had just the right amount of fat & the porks ribs were sweet & smokey. And the Rub was seasoned perfectly, no condiments needed!!!

In Texas, The Salt Lick is an amazing family style bbq experience!! would love to know their recipe for their savory-sweet bbq sauce...i'm dreaming about it now:)

Blue Smoke in NYC

County Line in San Antonio and Rendezvous in Memphis (touristy I know, but the ribs were good and had a fun time). Lots of others really.

Daisy May's
Just had two pork butts for my birthday. Awesome stuff.

The Hog Pit for sure. I love sitting in a dive bar eating great BBQ. LOVE IT.

Dinosaur or Blue Smoke. But willing to try the others.

Hillbilly Willy's, Ooltewah, TN
http://www.hillbillywillys.com/

My backyard. I don't go out to eat too often but I did try Blue Smoke once and walked out of there severely disappointed...I'd rather save the cash and make it myself. That's not to say my BBQ is the best ever, it's just what I happen to like! The only BBQ I've had outside of NYC was at Big W's which was pretty good...Never been to the Block Party but have been wanting to go for so long and have always wanted to try BBQ from TN, TX, etc to see what real BBQ is all about!

Sweatman's in Holly Hill, SC (birthplace of Willie Randolph!)

NYC: Daisy May's
Outside: Goode Co. Houston, TX (pulled pork. . .)

I love Sonny's BBQ in the South! They make their pulled pork sandwich on Texas Toast and they have the best corn nuggets and fried okra. I also love their sweet sauce - every bbq joint should have a special sweet sauce.

In NY, I'll take Dinosaur BBQ over the competition anyday.

Hands down, Arthur Bryant's.

In NYC: Blue Smoke
In North Carolina: Lexington #2

I'd have to go with Dinosaur BBQ

I first ate at Arthur Bryants when Mr. Bryant was still alive. I told the person that I was with that the ends were free. She said "thats the best part" She was right. On another trip someone told me to go to Gates. I took my first bite and thought I would cry because I wasn't at Arthur Bryants. I would like to see if someone in the Big Apple can take me back to Arthur Bryants.

Blue Smoke is where it's at for me. It's also very close to my apartment, so I can roll home afterwards.

When I'm in L.A., I love Pecos Bill's in Glendale. I'm not sure if that's because the food is actually good, or I'm just reminiscing about my childhood. Pulled pork sandwiches eaten while waiting for the pony ride in Griffith Park - can't be topped.

Nothing compares to Eastern NC bbq and Allen & Son is the best of the best.

Holla:

Allen & Son Barbecue
6203 Millhouse Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-7576

am I allowed to have many favorite places? I liked red bones in boston, enjoyed dinosaur bbq in harlem very much the three or four times I've been. blue smoke was very very good. And I LOVED the brisket from Salt Lick at the bbq block party a couple years ago. I would say that was my favorite, but I've never been to the actual joint in person, they brought the joint to me. And i was impressed.

Well, back about 30 or 40 years ago, when I lived in Memphis, I used to go to the Rendezvous with the owner's son, who was in my high school class. We'd sit at the bar (being several years underage) and he would ply us with samples while we two teenagers consumed with robust delight.

But--- and I say this with all due respect-- my favorite BBQ ever was from any of the now defunct Memphis chain that served pulled pork sandwiches and had a handful of outlets around the city, places like Loeb's, Pig 'n Whistle, Topp's-- all great, all cheap, all only five to ten minutes away.

Several times a month we'd consume mounds of smoked pork on the requisite five inch bun, redolent in hickory aroma, squirted with a few extra doses of runny sauce (not the thick gunk sold in groceries) and always topped by a dollop of a mustardy cole slaw. And held together (briefly) by a toothpick.

Little did I know that this sort of heaven was not available everywhere. Done in by Mickey D, Booger King, etc. and rising real estate costs.

Gotta go with Bailey's Blauvelt Smokehouse in Blauvelt, NY. The brisket there is a work of art. I've been dreaming about Fink's BarbeReuben and BarbeCuban ever since I first went there.

My mom is from northern Alabama, where I spend many summers with my grandparents. They lived very close to to Big Bob's in Decatur, but I'll always claim that nearby Whitt's pulled pork with vinegar sauce and slaw is the best. Very similar in style to what Chris Lilly does, but it's missing one crucial element: childhood memories.

Barbecue is one of those foods that sometimes requires such memories. Like mom's pies or grandma's biscuits, there may be better tasting food out there, but we're always fondest of the food we have the fondest memories of eating.

Hand down RUB in New York City. For a kind of fancy chain experince Houston's is the way to go.

The BBQ NYC event that's happened for the past three years, most recently on Ward's Island.

i love the selection of bbq at Blue Smoke....as well as the strong cocktails that allow so much more food to go down. YUM!

I love Ubon's in Yazoo City, MS. They smoke everything beautifully and my mouth is watering just thinking about the food and hospitality they serve up. You cant go wrong with them!

Ubon's also knows exactly how to make PERFECT fried catfish!

In NYC I just cant seem to get myself away from Virgil's...

definitely RUB on 23rd street...just the smell of that place makes my mouth water.

Fette Sau in Brooklyn, mostly for the atmosphere.

Daisy May's, RUB and Dinsosaur

National: Kreuz Market, Lockhart, TX
NY State: Big W's, Pawling, NY
NYC: RUB (Daisy May's loses only b/c of their irritating TV ads)