It’s no secret, Denver has some great barbecue. Of course barbecue means different things to different people depending on where you live. In the Carolinas, it’s decidedly whole hog. Tennessee, think pork shoulder. In Kansas City, it’s ribs. And in Texas, brisket leads the charge.
Each defends its style religiously, sometimes looking down at all other styles that don’t follow the same techniques and flavors to the letter. But Denver has no such religion, meaning pitmasters here are free to offer a little bit of everything, in their own way, free of any rigid traditions or culinary dogma.
The result is a mix of neighborhood barbecue joints serving family recipes, high-brow culinary smokehouses pushing the boundaries, and international fusion concepts that make apologies to no one. The only thing they have in common is smoke, meat, and time.
In no particular order, here are the must-visit barbecue destinations in town, perfect for testing your meaty boundaries while savoring all that a good pitmaster has to offer.
Rolling Smoke BBQ
Originating as a food truck, Rolling Smoke now has multiple brick-and-mortar outposts bringing its “Southern-style” BBQ to the Denver Metro area. That includes a regular post at the top of Red Rocks Amphitheater to get your smoke on during this summer’s concerts.
Expect smoky ribs slathered in sauce, burnt ends, and the Brisket French Dip Sandwich that rivals most dips in Denver. Don’t miss the loaded mac-and-cheese selection or rotating sides either, especially the corn fritters and collard greens. It’s barbecue done the old-school way, with flavor and fire leading the charge. Multiple locations, rollingsmokebbq.co
Roaming Buffalo BBQ
Roaming Buffalo leans into Colorado’s wild side, offering pulled Colorado lamb, bison brisket, and bison green chile sausage alongside the classics. It’s a hyper-local twist on barbecue that delivers big on flavor. The smoked turkey is another standout, moist and aromatic, with sides like Red Eye Cowboy Beans, smoked andouille sausage mixed with grits, and the strange-sounding but really delicious Smoked Sweet Potato with Pecan Butter.
There’s also smoked tofu for the non-meat eaters. All of this comes with freshly-baked cornbread, which you will definitely want to ask for. 2387 S. Downing St., Denver, roamingbuffalobbq.com
Seasoned Swine BBQ
What started as a barbecue truck housed in a former Hostess transport in 2015 has become a beloved Golden restaurant today. Owned by Jacob Viers, Seasoned Swine focuses on cherrywood and takes a gourmet approach to low-and-slow barbecue featuring quality meats and housemate everything.
Sandwiches, aka “swinewiches,” are the way to go here, all served on a toasted brioche bun. While the name leads towards a pork focus (like candied ribs glazed with honey), there’s also brisket, chicken, and the smoked turkey sandwich. The latter is a dark horse favorite for those in the know. Standout sides like French beans, spicy avocado slaw, and green chili queso all add to the unique touch. 15800 W. Colfax Ave., Golden, seasonedswine.com
Small Batch Smokehouse
Formally called the Jerk Pit Smokehouse, this Highland hot spot has been serving great Caribbean-style barbecue for the last two years. This is a good time to bring up that the United States doesn’t hold a monopoly on barbecue. In fact, it wasn’t even invented there. Barbecue was born in the Caribbean.
Get a sense of this culture thanks to the Jamaican flair Small Batch Smokehouse infuses into every bite, from brisket, to ribs, to pork, to chicken. It’s spicy, smoky, and charred in all the right ways. And it goes beyond the smoke with other Caribbean options like the oxtail and fried catfish, and sides such as curry pineapple coleslaw and rice and beans to round out the island-style experience. 3210 Wyandot St., Denver, lohismoke.com
Smokin’ Outlaw Kitchen
Pitmaster Brandon Hawk opened Smokin’ Outlaw Kitchen as a food truck in 2019, and then moved into a brick-and-mortar spot in Englewood two years later. The menu isn’t as vast as some other spots around town, but it’s dialed in for deliciousness.
On the meat side, the restaurant specializes in brisket, ribs, hot links, smoked chicken, and pulled pork. Get it on a platter or in a sandwich or taco. Sides include bacon-laced green beans, green chili corn, jalapeño cornbread, and more. 4211 S. Natches Ct., Englewood, smokinoutlawkitchen.us
Pit Fiend Barbecue
Located in RiNo, Pit Fiend Barbecue smokes up a fierce variety of meats over live fire, offering a menu that’s anything but traditional. Sure, owners Michael Graunke and Juan Pablo Llano serve the standard brisket and beef ribs, but there’s also pulled lamb and housemate sausages on the menu.
For vegans and vegetarians, the team offers barbecued jackfruit and mushrooms. Open Wednesday through Sunday, look for daily specials and try the array of globally-inspired sauces. 2826 Larimer St., Denver, pitfiendbbq.com
SMŌK Barbecue
Inside the Source Hotel’s sleek RiNo market space, SMŌK offers an elevated take on barbecue without losing its casual roots. Chef Bill Espiricueta’s approach combines traditional Texas technique with serious creativity, such as brisket nachos on pork-fat tortillas, or smoked salmon with pickled mustard seeds.
Bonus, side dishes are no afterthought. The creamed corn with roasted chiles, sweet potato tots, and tangy slaws all bring punchy, playful flavors. SMŌK also serves one of the best breakfast burritos in Denver. 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver, denversmok.com
Mama Jo’s Biscuit & BBQ
Owners and life partners Ben and Jodi Polson started their Carolina-style barbecue and biscuit business in 2021 as a food truck, only to launch a brick-and-mortar in February, 2025. We are so happy they did. Not only are the biscuits absolutely crave-worthy, but the smoked meats coming out the restaurant also slay.
For $54you will want to order the Mama’s House, it’s the best way to try a lot of the great food here. The platter includes a quarter-pound each of pulled pork and ribs, a smoked hot link, two biscuits, house pickles, sauces, and choice of three sides. We recommend adding on the collard greens with bacon, or the pimento cheese, which goes on just about everything.
Post Oak Barbecue
Named for the specific oak wood sourced from Austin, Texas that fuels the smokers, Post Oak is as Central Texas as it gets, even down to the Lone Star flags and Shiner Bock on tap. The Berkeley neighborhood restaurant touts the use of 100% certified Angus beef, along with carefully selected pork, poultry, and other proteins.
Overall, the vibe is rustic yet rowdy, with vinyl records and a whisky list boasting spirits from Colorado, Texas, and across both the country and even the world. Sides include crispy fried okra, garlic mashed potatoes with brisket gravy, and jalapeño-cilantro coleslaw. For dessert order the classic Gooey Butter Cake or Banana Pudding. 4000 Tennyson St., Denver, postoakdenver.com
Ragin’ Hog BBQ
Boasting “southern-style barbecue” only (and making a point to diss Kansas City style), this Berkeley storefront brings freshly-smoked meats to the forefront daily. The pulled pork is tender and smoky, the ribs fall-off-the-bone, and the spicy barbecue sauce has just the right kick.
But don’t forget the sides, which includes the expected coleslaw and creamy mac and cheese, as well as a traditional Brunswick stew. There’s even a nod to Colorado with a “Green Chille” stew as well. We’ll leave you with two more words to consider, “buttermilk pie.” 4361 Lowell Blvd., Denver, raginhogbbq.com
Wayne’s Smoke Shack
Wayne’s might look unassuming from the outside, but inside it’s Texas all the way. Here you’ll find brisket and sausage links straight out of Austin, but also less common offerings such as candied bacon, pineapple-glazed ham, and hot-smoked catfish.
Look for addictive sides too, such as Beef Butter Rolls, Green Chili Mac & Cheese, and baked beans full of pulled pork. Desserts rotate seasonally, including a Colorado-proud peach cobbler. Keep in mind, this Superior smoke shack is only open Friday and Saturday for lunch, starting at 11 a.m. and going until 3 p.m. or sold out. 406 Center Dr., Superior, waynessmokeshack.com
Lulu’s BBQ
While located in downtown Louisville’s main street, LuLu’s feels like a Southern roadhouse, complete with whiskey cocktails, vintage signage, and live music on weekends. While billed as Texas-style, it borrows heavily from the owners’ Oklahoma roots too. There’s plenty of options for everyone, including ribs, brisket, pulled port, smoked wings, and even a smoked tofu for the vegetarians.
The Hot Mess sandwich combines brisket, pork, and housemade barbecue sauce to create a 10-napkin masterpiece. Don’t skip the rib tips, fried pickles, or Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. Keep an eye out for a second location in the works for Arvada, it’s been on the docket for over a year. 701B Main St., Louisville, lulus-bbq.com
G-Que BBQ
One of the most decorated smokehouses on the competition circuit in town, G-Que is helmed by Jason Ganahl, a barbecue champion who knows his way around a smoker. The brisket is juicy and beautifully barked, and the ribs strike the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Make sure to try the smoked chicken wings and housemate kettle chips too. Bonus: the small chain of restaurants also offers perks for those who sign up online. Multiple locations, gquebbq.com
Riot BBQ
What happens when you pair a Michelin-recognized pitmaster with a James Beard-recognized Top Chef contestant? You get two cooks smoking up some of the most unique barbecue in Denver. Riot BBQ combines pitmaster Patrick Klaiber’s Texas barbecue roots with chef Manny Barella’s Mexican traditions. The combo proves just subtle enough not to interfere with expectations, but different enough to raise eyebrows.
For instance, replacing red pepper flakes in pulled pork mop sauce with a mix of dried chiles including pasilla, ancho, guajillo and morita. Or, using salsa macha in the slaw instead of mayo. Add in the esquites cornbread, wagyu pastrami, and brisket tacos, and you’ve got a fusion worth experiencing. 2180 S Delaware St, Denver, riotbbqcompany.com
Yazoo BBQ Company
A longtime local favorite, Yazoo BBQ Company uses four different Memphis-style dry rubs to season its meats, and eschews cooking with sauce for a no-frills, all-smoke approach. However, you can douse your meat with a side of housemade sauce ranging in heat. So grab either a combo plate piled with beans and potato salad, or one of the meaty sandwiches. 2150 Broadway, Denver, yazoobbq.com
Piggin’ Out Smokehouse
Piggin’ Out focuses on the fundamentals such as smoky pulled pork, sticky ribs, and beef brisket, all while incorporating global flavors. Think teriyaki sauce on pulled pork with the Hawaiian Huli or Jerk chicken with Jamaican honey on the Smokin’ Jerk Sandi. Even the mac and cheese comes in three options including traditional, candied bacon, and green chili.
Don’t miss the other side dishes either, such as traditional baked beans, Mile High Frito Pie, and the Nashville Honey Cornbread. Plus, it’s all placed in an outdoor, barn-like setting for extra immersion. 9987 Morrison Rd., Lakewood, pigginout.com
Hesher BBQ Co
Technically, Jeff Gebott and Tony Fitzgerald’s Hesher BBQ Co. isn’t a restaurant, it’s food truck and catering company. But, given the team has won numerous awards, including at DiningOut Events’ Top Taco this year, where it took home first place Judge’s Choice for the Asada BBQ Showdown in the VIP area, we had to include it. Hesher also has a permanent spot at Parkway Food Hall in Longmont, open seven days a week. Find more about the concept and where the truck will be next via the barbecue spot’s Facebook page.
