Some of the best barbecue in Wisconsin is nowhere near a big city. It is out on county highways, in old taverns, gas stations, and little Main Street storefronts where the smokers run all day.
These nine spots pull in people from an hour or more away, all chasing brisket, ribs, and pulled pork that stack up against anything down south. If you like a good road trip with a full plate at the end of it, this list is built for you.
Grab some napkins, gas up the car, and let a few backroads lead you somewhere delicious.
1. LD’s BBQ, East Troy, WI
Only in Wisconsin will you find a serious smokehouse operating out of a gas station, and LD’s BBQ in East Troy pulls it off. The oak-smoked meats here have earned this counter-serve spot a reputation that stretches well beyond Walworth County.
The menu keeps things honest. Pulled pork, ribs, sliced brisket sandwiches, and Ribs-N-Beans anchor the lineup, and four house-made sauces let you dial in your plate.
Portions run generous, prices land in the $10 to $20 range, and the mac and cheese is thick enough to earn its own fans.
Don’t skip the banana pudding on your way out. Seating and outdoor tables are available, but expect a wait during the Saturday afternoon rush.
You order at the counter, so this is a fast, casual stop rather than a sit-down affair. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, then open Wednesday through Sunday, with plenty of free parking to make the pit stop easy.
2. J & J BBQ & Catering, Nelson, WI
Nelson is a tiny river town, and J & J BBQ & Catering fits right into that laid-back, no-frills mood. Sitting near the Mississippi, it rewards anyone willing to point the car toward the western edge of the state.
Pit-smoked ribs come out tender and fall-off-the-bone, and the smoked brisket and pulled pork hold their own alongside smoked wings and broasted chicken. The Brisket Burger and the Ribs and Shrimp are standouts, and you can build a proper plate with ribs, fries, and beans.
There is a bar in the back and a private dining room, plus a kids’ menu and high chairs, so families settle in comfortably. Sides are made to order and the service moves quickly.
Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, with a slightly earlier 10 a.m. open on Sundays. Parking is easy and reservations are not taken, so just roll in when the smoker is going.
3. Bob’s Bitchin’ BBQ, Dodgeville, WI
Down in southwestern Wisconsin, Bob’s Bitchin’ BBQ has quietly become one of the names people mention when they talk about the best barbecue in the state. The funky, industrial space leans a little trendy without losing the comfort-food heart.
House-smoked meats and scratch-made sauces are the whole point here. The Burnt Ends Dinner and Brisket Dinner do the heavy lifting, and you can round things out with Q Fries, battered cheese curds, and vegan coleslaw.
Local touches like Potosi Root Beer show up on the menu too.
With eight hot sauces to sample and a big craft selection, there is plenty of variety to keep repeat visits interesting. Nightly specials add even more reasons to check the board before you order.
Multiple TVs make it a solid spot for catching a game, and table service means you can actually sit and settle in. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday, so plan your detour around that.
4. Bad Bones BBQ, Arbor Vitae, WI
Barbecue with a lake view is a rare combination up in the Northwoods, and Bad Bones BBQ delivers exactly that overlooking Little Muskie Lake. It makes a great stop when you are already headed north for a weekend.
The meats are the draw here. Brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey, ribs, and chicken all come off the smoker tender and juicy, and a wide lineup of homemade sauces lets you experiment plate by plate.
Sides carry their own weight too, from BBQ cheese curds and Carolina fries to pit beans and mac and cheese. Portions run big, so come hungry.
A fireplace, live music, and dog-friendly outdoor seating give the place a relaxed cabin feel. Hours are shorter than most, with Wednesday and Thursday running 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday open at noon, so time your drive accordingly.
5. Primal Eats, Gillett, WI
Out on County VV near Gillett, Primal Eats runs a full-on Texas-style smokehouse experience with a patio full of picnic tables and a fire pit. It has turned into a countryside gathering spot as much as a restaurant.
The barbecue is the reason people make the drive. The three-meat sampler with brisket, pulled pork, and sausage is a great way to taste the range, and the brisket comes out juicy and well seasoned without being overly smoky.
Beyond the classics, the menu stretches to brisket mac and cheese, a Primal Meat Lovers Pizza, cornbread, a fried perch platter, and cherry cobbler for dessert. Prices sit a touch higher at $20 to $30, but the plates back it up.
A beer wall, live music, a gift shop, and a bounce house for kids make it a genuine destination for the whole family. It is open Wednesday through Saturday, so aim your backroad drive for the middle of the week or a weekend.
6. Busted Knuckle BBQ & Tavern, New Richmond, WI
Picture a classic Wisconsin tavern that happens to smoke Texas-style barbecue fresh every day, and you have Busted Knuckle BBQ & Tavern in New Richmond. The wood-fired approach shows up in every plate that leaves the kitchen.
Ribs and brisket are the headliners, and the large combo platters are built for people who came hungry after a long drive. Candied bacon, brisket mac and cheese, and smoked ribs with sweet sauce round out a menu that knows what it does well.
Table service and a full tavern setup make this an easy sit-down meal, and the fireplace adds to the comfortable feel. It is a good spot for watching a game, too.
Hours are generous by barbecue standards, running Wednesday through Saturday until 10 p.m. and Sunday until 9 p.m. Free parking and a kids’ menu keep things simple for families rolling through the St. Croix Valley.
7. Leroy’s BBQ Grill BRF, WI, Black River Falls, WI
If you find yourself cruising through Black River Falls, Leroy’s BBQ Grill is the kind of dedicated smoke stop that makes the exit worth taking. Fair prices and speedy service make it an easy weekday lunch or dinner.
Brisket is the star, tender and generous, with pulled pork that leans sweet and tangy right behind it. Ribs, smokehouse baked beans, and a family platter give you plenty of ways to feed a group.
The menu has fun with its lineup too, from the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Beef Daddy to the Sloppy Sow Wrap and Pig-Zilla Fries. Portions run hearty across the board.
Seating is casual and quiet, with outdoor tables and a dog-friendly patio. It is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., so plan around those midweek and weekend hours.
8. Marko’s Smokin’ BBQ, Collins, WI
Collins is about as small-town as it gets, and that remote setting is a big part of what makes Marko’s Smokin’ BBQ feel like a real discovery. There is even room enough to pull a semi in and sit down for a hot meal.
Brisket comes out tender and pairs perfectly with the house barbecue sauce, whether you get it on a plate or tucked into a ham and cheese sandwich. Ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and beef burnt ends fill out the rest of the smoker’s work.
Smoked chicken wings and burnt ends are worth ordering if you want something a little different. Prices stay reasonable in the $10 to $20 range.
The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable, with a bar onsite, free Wi-Fi, and a kids’ menu. Unlike most spots on this list, it takes reservations, and hours are limited to Wednesday and Thursday only, so call ahead before you make the trip.
9. Peters’ Boyz Texas BBQ, Kimberly, WI
Slow and low is the whole philosophy at Peters’ Boyz Texas BBQ, an authentic Black-owned smokehouse in Kimberly that brings serious Texas technique to the Fox Valley. It stands out as one of the only true barbecue joints in the surrounding cities.
The brisket is the calling card here, moist and flavorful, and the pulled pork keeps pace right behind it. The Piggy Back Platter loads up ribs and pulled pork with coleslaw, barbecue beans, and cornbread that people rave about.
Beyond the plates, the menu has personality, with brisket tacos, a pulled pork sandwich, hush puppies, fried pickles, and fried okra cooked just right. The creamy mac and cheese and homemade sweet tea round out the Southern spread.
The dining room is casual, comfortable, and family-friendly, with high chairs and a kids’ menu. Hours run Wednesday through Saturday, closed Sunday through Tuesday, so plan your plate accordingly.
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