The Best Barbecue Restaurant In Florida In 2024

Everyone has their vote for the best barbecue restaurant in Florida. There are many right here in the Tampa Bay area. Yelp has just come out with their list of the best barbecue spots in the United States. They also broke it down into the best places in Florida as well.

The best barbecue restaurant in Florida is a place called Hot Spot Barbecue, which is located in Pensacola. It comes in #9 in the nation overall. Hot Spot Barbecue opened a little over 10 years ago in June 2013. They say on their website, “Our goal is to serve the very best Southern Style Barbecue. Only the best meats are selected, seasoned with our special dry-rub, and cooked in our outdoor smokers. Nothing is deep fried. We use a combination of recipes, from family and friends, and all quality ingredients. We truly care about your dining experience; expect our service to be friendly and prompt.”

There are eight barbecue restaurants in the top 100 barbecue spots in the United States. Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ in Saint Augustine has made the list. Additionally Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que, which is located right here in Tampa came in #48 in the U.S. and third in Florida. Artman Country Smokehouse in Summerfield made the list as well as Hate Mondays Tavern in Miami. Finally, Crydermans Barbecue in Cocoa, Captain's BBQ in Palm Coast and Texas Best Barbecue in Inglewood round out the best barbecue restaurants in Florida.

The best barbecue restaurant in Florida is also one of the best in the country. Check out the Top 10 barbecue spots in the U.S. according to Yelp.

We all know how much America loves meat. If you aren't grilling burgers out back every weekend, what're you doing?  Here are The 5 Best Butcher Shops In Tampa Bay that are perfect for your next grill-out.

With beef prices up 30% higher than they were back in 2020. Pork chop prices are 27% higher than they were in 2020. And, chicken prices are 45% up from what they were before 2020. It is easy to understand why people are looking to big box stores like Walmart and Target over their local butcher. But, are you sacrificing quality for price? 

I'll be honest Laura's lean beef at Target is a solid budget option that is clean, tastes good, and comes in at a good price per pound, but the quality still isn't there. Sure, if you're looking to save on meat every week, big box stores are a solid option, but if you're looking to cook a couple of quality steaks to fuel your next grillout, Butchers are the way to go. Their quality is unmatched and you know you're getting a high-quality cut from a local source, every time.

Butcher Shops have many advantages over the common supermarket beef options. The first and most important is meat freshness. With butcher shops sourcing from local suppliers, you’ll be getting a fresher product every time.

Another reason to choose a local butcher shop is for their expertise and available cuts. They have spent years learning their craft to deliver the best product for your specific needs. Butchers tend to have a lot more options with their cuts and help you find the proper way to prepare your meat for the best results.

Local butchers live within your community. When you visit and buy locally, you’re not only sporting the people in your community but also the farmers, fishermen, and sources throughout the state. These butchers join in on local initiatives like sports teams and events to help keep the money within the community.

Apollo Meats has no shortage of meat options. From the classics like beef, pork, and lamb, to exotics like goat, gator meat, seafood and much more, Apollo Meats brings the full-service meat market with an old-fashioned atmosphere. They offer kabobs, seasoned baby back ribs, prime rib roast,  buffalo, double smoked bacon, natural casing franks, Boars head lunch meats, Alaskan crab legs, and more. Apollo Meats is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM  - 5 PM.

The Boozy Pig has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google with 310 Google reviews. They are a butcher shop and kitchen with charcuterie and various types of meat sourced directly from farmers, ranchers, and fishermen in Florida.  They are open Wednesday - Friday from 11 AM - 6 PM. Saturday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Sunday 9 AM - 3 PM.

The Heights Meat Market has 4 locations across the Tampa Bay area.  They carry a wide range of meats from Wagyu to Kangaroo. Their website says, "Since 2018, we have set the standard for providing superior quality meats and customer service to our local neighborhoods. From the farm to your table, our commitment to taste is true."

John's Butcher Shop has a 4.8 rating on Google with 134 total reviews. They do not have a website or an official social media page, but rest assured they are open for business. One Google reviewer recently said, "I am a Pennsylvania farm boy and transplant and I know quality meat. My new go-to place for great personal service and meat is John’s. Perfect quality cut custom meats. Freshness you can see and smell way above big box stores like Publix or Winn-Dixie. I can highly recommend John’s Butcher Shop." John's is located a 102 1st Ave SW in Lutz. You can give them a call for more information at 813-909-9746.

Quality Meat Market is another hot option coming in at 308 total Google reviews with a 4.7 average star rating. Located right near the Seminole Hard Rock, QMM has over 50 year of experience bringing fresh meats to the people of Tampa Bay. They offer family deals, bargain buys, and even meats for your pets.  They are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 5:30 PM.