Richmond may not be the first city that comes to mind for barbecue, but after eating my way across the city’s smokehouses, I found a BBQ scene that’s far better than most people expect. In fact, my top pick is one of the best Texas-style BBQ restaurants on the East Coast.
If you’re still planning your trip, be sure to check out my guide to the best hotels in Richmond before deciding where to stay.
Below, you’ll find my guide to the best BBQ restaurants in Richmond, Virginia, ranked in order of preference. Barbecue is personal, though. If you prefer North Carolina-style pulled pork over Texas brisket, your rankings might look a little different than mine, and that’s perfectly fine. One of the best things about Richmond barbecue is its variety. From Central Texas-inspired brisket to classic Southern pulled pork, there’s a style here for just about every BBQ fan.
The Best BBQ Restaurants in Richmond
Whether you’re looking for classic Southern pulled pork, Central Texas-style brisket, or old-school neighborhood smokehouses, these are my favorite BBQ restaurants in Richmond VA. After trying barbecue all over the city, these are the places I’d recommend first.
#1. ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque
The first time I ate at ZZQ, I said it was the best BBQ in Richmond. After trying nearly every major smokehouse in the city, I haven’t changed my mind. It might even serve the best barbecue in Virginia, and I’d confidently put it on a shortlist of the best Texas-style BBQ in the eastern United States.
Chris Fultz was born in Austin and raised outside Dallas before moving to Virginia to pursue a master’s degree at UVA. While working as an architect in Richmond, he met Alex Graf in 2011. Barbecue had already been on his mind, and two years later the pair opened ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque in Scott’s Addition.
Staying true to his Texas roots and a deep appreciation for the Central Texas barbecue traditions of Lockhart and Austin, brisket is the star of the show here. The smoked meats are sliced to order, served on trays lined with butcher paper, and meant to be shared. The beef ribs are outstanding, and they also offer prime rib and pastrami on select days.
ZZQ opens at 11 a.m., and a line often forms before the doors open. It’s not uncommon for certain meats to sell out later in the day, so arriving early is your best bet. The biggest complaint you’ll hear is about the price. And yes, it’s the most expensive spot on this list. But in my opinion, it’s also the best. You’ll have to decide how much that matters to you.
What to Order: The brisket (arguably some of the best on the east coast) and the bacon ribs on Sundays.
#2. Deep Run Roadhouse
I’ll start with a bold and potentially controversial take:
Deep Run Roadhouse does not have the best brisket, ribs, or pulled pork in Richmond. But it might serve the second-best version of all of them.
And when you factor in the reasonable prices, that consistency makes Deep Run Roadhouse arguably the best overall BBQ value in Richmond, Virginia.
It’s about 20 minutes west of downtown Richmond, but it’s well worth the drive, especially if you’re feeding a group. Deep Run is a popular catering option for events of all sizes, including weddings, thanks to its crowd-pleasing menu and reliable execution.
The Train Wreck Bowl is one of their most talked-about items with your choice of meat layered over mac and cheese, cowboy beans, and cornbread, topped with onions and jalapeños. It’s hearty (borderline excessive) and perfect if you want a little bit of everything. Personally, I prefer building a platter with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, plus a side of hush puppies or Texas caviar.
What to Order: Nothing here is my undisputed #1 in Richmond, but everything is consistently solid. And this is exactly why it’s such a strong all-around pick. It’s also one of the best BBQ catering options in the area.
#3. Smohk
My #3 pick for Richmond barbecue sits directly across the street from my top choice. If you don’t know where to look, though, you might miss Smohk. It’s tucked behind Strangeways Brewing in Scott’s Addition.
The specialty sandwiches are solid, and they make a strong case for having the second-best brisket in Richmond behind ZZQ. The burnt ends appetizer is an excellent way to start. But what really sets Smohk apart is the smoked ribeye, which is something you don’t see often around town. Whether you order it as a sandwich or on a platter, pair it with a side of Brunswick stew.
What to Order: Brisket and the smoked ribeye, ideally with a beer from Strangeways Brewing next door.
#4. Ronnie's BBQ
Ronnie’s BBQ is a longtime, family-run spot that’s open only Friday through Sunday. And on a couple of recent visits, I just missed their operating hours. It’s firmly on my list for the next time I’m in town.
Run by Ronnie Logan Sr. and much of his family, this is a no-frills, old-school barbecue joint. It’s the kind of place that focuses on smoked meat rather than atmosphere. Locals consistently point to the ribs as the standout item, and it has built a strong reputation over the years for doing them right.
Ronnie’s is widely regarded as one of the more traditional BBQ spots in the Richmond area, and one that serious barbecue fans often mention. It’s also the only place on this list I haven’t managed to try yet despite two attempts. Even so, locals recommend it far too often for me to leave it off.
What to Order: The ribs.
#5. Smokey Mug
The Smokey Mug was one of my biggest surprises in Richmond’s BBQ scene. It’s part coffee shop, part Texas-style craft barbecue joint, and part Tex-Mex kitchen. And not exactly what you expect when thinking about traditional smokehouses.
While you can order meats like pulled pork and brisket by the pound (with pork spare ribs and pork belly burnt ends available Friday through Sunday), the real strength here is the creativity.
The coffee shop opens at 7 a.m., serving espresso drinks, bagels, and a small but thoughtful breakfast menu. The breakfast burrito and breakfast sandwich (served on a bagel) can be made with bacon, chorizo, or even pulled pork. On some days, you might also find suadero, a flavorful cut of beef more commonly seen in Mexico than in most U.S. barbecue joints. If you’re looking specifically for breakfast, I cover several other favorites in my guide to the best brunch and breakfast spots in Richmond.
At 11 a.m., the BBQ side takes center stage. The brisket taco, served on a house-made flour tortilla with refried beans, is a standout. The chopped brisket sandwich is smoky, with a well-developed bark, topped with mustard sauce, pickles, and red onions. And it’s one of my favorite sandwiches in Richmond. The pork belly burnt ends are a rich, indulgent treat you won’t find at many other spots in town. Even though it leans Texas-style, the pulled pork is among my favorites in the city, especially paired with their sweet espresso BBQ sauce.
What to Order: A breakfast burrito (or sandwich) in the morning, and the chopped brisket sandwich at lunch.
#6. Jadean's Smokin' Six O
Jadean’s has been serving barbecue in Richmond since 1976, longer than any other spot on this list. It also feels the most like a true neighborhood hangout, the kind of place where you’ll see familiar faces at the counter and locals stopping in regularly. It’s easy to imagine becoming a regular here.
From a strictly smoked-meat perspective, Jadean’s may not compete with the newer, craft-focused Texas-style spots. But focusing only on brisket bark or smoke ring would miss the bigger picture of what makes this place special.
For one, it’s easily the best value on this list. A three-meat platter with two sides comes with generous portions. Meats by the pound are also among the most affordable in Richmond. The daily specials menu is another highlight, occasionally featuring items you won’t see elsewhere, like soft-shell crabs when in season. They also serve baby back ribs, which aren’t as common at other local smokehouses.
If you’re looking for a trendy atmosphere or premium-priced barbecue, this probably isn’t your spot. But if you want a long-standing neighborhood restaurant serving solid BBQ at a great price, Jadean’s delivers.
What to Order: Check the daily specials, go for a value-packed platter, and don’t skip the banana pudding.
Richmond’s barbecue scene may not have the national reputation of Austin or Kansas City, but after eating at smokehouses across the city, I’m convinced it’s one of the most underrated BBQ destinations in the South. Whether you’re craving Texas style brisket, classic pulled pork, or a rack of ribs with just the right amount of bark, you’ll find some outstanding BBQ in Richmond VA.
If you’re planning a trip, these are the restaurants I’d recommend first to anyone looking for the best BBQ in Richmond VA. And if you try a place I didn’t include or completely disagree with my rankings, that just means you’ve found another reason to keep exploring Richmond’s growing barbecue scene.
If you’re staying for the weekend, don’t miss my guide to the best brunch and breakfast spots in Richmond for the perfect way to start the next day.
Freakin BBQ
Freakin BBQ has been serving wood-only barbeque since 2010, when the owner Jay brought his passion for North Carolina style BBQ to Richmond. I recommend you skip the brisket. And the pulled pork is fine, yet exponentially better when adding the vinegar-based BBQ sauce. What I really suggest coming for are two things that you can’t find at every other BBQ joint in town – the smoked wings with a heavy dose of dry rub and the lambchops. Freakin BBQ also hosts happy hour Fridays with DJs as well as karaoke nights.Â
What to Order: The smoked wings and the lambchops
