
Louisiana's Top-Notch Barbecue
Our passion for food extends to the grill.
Our passion for food extends to the grill.
Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole cuisine is world-renowned — and given our position in the Deep South, so is our barbecue. Down here, you’ll find culinary masterpieces in the gumbo pot and on the grill.
Delve into our saucy, smoky side with these tasty recs:
- Up in North Louisiana, hot spots include Shreveport’s Hickory Stick and Real BBQ and More. Locals love Ruston’s Hot Rod Bar-B-Que and Brister’s Smokehouse BBQ, while West Monroe's JAC's Craft Smokehouse is a fan-favorite. All serve delicious ribs, brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken and sausage, sandwiches and all the classic side, like coleslaw and potato salad.
- In Central Louisiana, Clarence’sGrayson’s Bar-B-Q has been operating since 1967 – so you know it’s good. This barbecue stand is famous for its homemade rolls and whole smoked hams. In Alexandria, visit Outlaw’s BBQ for their specialty, the Chop Baker — a giant baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese, chives and bacon topped with brisket, pork, chicken, sausage or shrimp.
- In South Louisiana, check out The Joint and Frey Smoked Meat Co. in New Orleans. While the barbecue is great at Blue Oak BBQ, don’t miss out on the popular spicy fried chicken sandwich. In Baton Rouge, locals love Hannah Q Smokehouse and City Pork, the latter of which offers barbecue with an upscale twist. At Johnson’s Boucanière in Lafayette, enjoy traditional barbecue plus local Cajun fare like tasso and boudin. Covington’s Sweet Daddy’s serves up mac and cheese as divine as the barbecue itself.
Plenty of barbecue joints boast local or national awards and accolades, including Central City BBQ in New Orleans, BBQ West in Lake Charles, Cou-Yon's in Port Allen, and BRQ Seafood and Barbeque in Baton Rouge.
Looking to wash down your barbecue meal with a libation? New Orleans’ Cochon Butcher and Big Mike’s BBQ & Smokehouse’s locations in Houma and Thibodaux offer extensive beer menus.
Find more inspiration along our Culinary Trails and Libations Trail.