Updated: July 22, 2026
In this guide
Anthony Bourdain once said, “Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.”
Good barbecue takes most of a day to make and about four minutes to eat, which might be why the places that do it right in Columbus earn the loyalty they do. The scene has turned over plenty since this guide first ran, so every spot below was re-checked in July 2026.
If you’re craving some perfectly cooked ribs or too-beautiful-to-eat brisket in our fair city, allow me to intervene. Here is where you can find the best BBQ in Columbus.
| Name | Style | Neighborhood | Good to know |
| Tennessee Pitt BBQ | Cherry wood and coals | Food truck, location varies | Check their Facebook for today’s spot |
| Ray Ray’s Hog Pit | Dry-rubbed, 12–16 hours | Franklinton (+3 locations) | Walk-up window at Land-Grant Brewing |
| Hank’s Texas BBQ | Central Texas | Clintonville | Second location in Delaware; closed Mondays |
| Smoked on High | Southern | Brewery District | Wed–Sun only, until sell-out |
| B & K Smoke House | Old-school | Olde Towne East | Small storefront, big portions |
| Texas Steele BBQ | Central Texas, white oak | King Ave weekends | Food truck; Sat–Sun noon–4 or sell-out |
| Smoked Lick BBQ | Smokehouse | Hilliard | Mostly carryout and catering |
| Hoggy’s | Scratch-made Southern | Bethel Road | Open daily until 8 p.m. |
Tennessee Pitt BBQ
Tennessee Pitt BBQ is a fan favorite here in Columbus. The food is cooked with care over cherry wood and coals, and the incredible customer service puts them over the edge from fantastic to freakin’ amazing. It doesn’t matter whether you’re getting wings, ribs, greens, mac & cheese, or all of the above. You will leave a very full and very happy customer!
Where: Food Truck (various locations)
Website: Tennessee Pitt BBQ
Ray Ray’s Hog Pit
Ray Ray’s Hog Pit serves up pork, beef, and chicken, all of which is dry rubbed and cooked with a smokey and delicious flavor over 12 to 16 hours. But the meat isn’t the only perfect thing around Ray Ray’s. They’ve got some killer sauces, including spicier options like habanero and jalapeño. They’re down to four locations after a rough 2025, and the Franklinton one is a walk-up window at Land-Grant Brewing. To view the full menu, click here.
Where: 424 W Town St, Columbus, OH 43215
Website: Ray Ray’s Hog Pit
Hank’s Texas BBQ
Hank’s does Central Texas barbecue the orthodox way, which means salt and pepper on the beef and nothing else standing between you and the smoke. The Clintonville shop has built a serious brisket reputation, and there’s now a second Hank’s up in Delaware, which tells you how the first one is going. They’re closed Mondays.
Where: 2941 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202
Website: Hank’s Texas BBQ
Smoked on High
Smoked on High smokes Southern-style barbecue out of a converted Victorian house in the Brewery District, with seating in the yard when the weather cooperates. They run Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until they sell out, so a Monday craving is going to have to wait. The mac n’ cheese is a genuine reason to order a side.
Where: 755 S High St, Columbus, OH 43206
Website: Smoked on High
B & K Smoke House
For those craving good, old-fashioned barbecue, B & K Smoke House should definitely be on your list of places to try. The store itself may be tiny, but it makes up for the “cozy” atmosphere by serving up some of the most insane sized portions. They also make collard greens that are so good that you’ll end up dreaming about them.
Where: 1114 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43205
Website: B & K Smoke House
Texas Steele BBQ
Akil Steele grew up in central Texas, moved to Ohio, missed the food, and started cooking it himself over white oak. His truck keeps a weekend residency on King Ave, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4 or until the brisket is gone, whichever lands first. Tuesday through Friday it moves, and the day’s location goes up on Street Food Finder.
Where: 1060 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 (weekends); location varies Tue–Fri
Website: Texas Steele BBQ
Smoked Lick BBQ
Hilliard lost Legacy Smokehouse in May 2026, and Smoked Lick is the reason the neighborhood still smells like smoke. It opened in Patch Plaza in early 2025 and runs mostly on carryout and catering, with a roll-up window into the sports pub next door. Order ahead, because they do sell out.
Where: 4333 Cosgray Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026
Website: Smoked Lick BBQ
Hoggy’s
Hoggy’s got its start in Linworth in 1991, grew into a local chain, fell apart, and came back. The revival at 830 Bethel Road has made the comeback stick: when a local food podcast ranked the best briskets in Columbus, Hoggy’s took the top spot. Everything is made from scratch, and they’re open daily until 8 p.m.
Where: 830 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH 43214
Website: Hoggy’s
Columbus BBQ FAQ
Who has the best BBQ in Columbus?
There’s no settled answer, but Hoggy’s and Ray Ray’s Hog Pit took the top two spots the last time a local outlet ranked Columbus brisket, and the Texas-style arrivals like Hank’s have crowded the field since.
Didn’t a big BBQ chain start in Columbus?
City Barbeque did, in 1999, from a converted doughnut shop on West Henderson Road. It’s grown to around 80 restaurants across a dozen states and is headquartered in Dublin. This list sticks to the smaller local operators.
What happened to Legacy Smokehouse?
The Hilliard favorite served its last day on May 31, 2026, after co-owner Chad Smock’s heart attack, and the owners said they’re looking at ways to keep Legacy going through catering or events. Harvest Pizzeria has signed for the Main Street space, with an opening expected in fall 2026.
Fair warning: the good places sell out. Go early, or go hungry.
