Georgia takes its barbecue seriously, and some of the best plates in the state come from small roadside spots you might drive right past. These are the places where the meat cooks low and slow, the sides are made from scratch, and the sweet tea flows all day.
From the coast to the mountains, this list rounds up nine joints that keep classic Southern barbecue alive. Grab a napkin and start planning your next drive.
1. Southern Soul Barbeque, St Simons Island, GA
A former gas station on the Georgia coast is now one of the island’s most popular places to eat. Southern Soul Barbeque sits at 2020 Demere Rd on St Simons Island, and it fits the roadside joint idea perfectly.
The kitchen cooks its meat over oak, turning out ribs, brisket, and pulled pork with a lineup of house sauces. You can grab sauce by the pint to take home, or try something different like the Barbecuban sandwich or the smoked wings.
Sides carry their own weight here. Think mac and cheese, fried okra, and banana pudding for dessert.
It runs on counter service with a casual, family-friendly vibe. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 7 PM and Friday through Sunday 11 AM to 8 PM.
Parking can be tight, so give yourself a little extra time when the lot fills up.
2. Sconyers Bar-B-Que, Augusta, GA
Look for the reclining pig sign, and you have found Sconyers Bar-B-Que. This Augusta institution serves old-time recipes inside big rustic log-cabin digs.
The barbecue leans on pit-cooked tradition, with three different sauces to work through. Menu regulars include the rib platter, chipped pork, the turkey plate, and chopped beef, plus sides like potato salad and coleslaw.
One thing that sets Sconyers apart is its reach beyond Georgia. The barbecue was good enough to earn an invitation to cater for the White House, which is not something most roadside joints can say.
Keep the schedule in mind before you go. Sconyers is open only Thursday through Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, and closed the rest of the week.
It also accepts reservations, so calling ahead is a smart move, especially on a busy Friday or Saturday evening.
3. Fincher’s Barbecue, Macon, GA
Middle Georgia has trusted Fincher’s Barbecue for decades, and the place has stayed refreshingly plain about it. You will find it at 5627 Houston Rd in Macon, cooking over wood fires the way it has since 1935.
The pork has a light vinegar note that stays balanced, and the menu covers plenty of ground beyond barbecue. Pulled chicken, sliced brisket, hamburger steak, pork chops, and hot crispy fries all show up on the plates.
Here is the fun part. Fincher’s barbecue sauce once orbited the Earth aboard a mission with an astronaut, which may make it the only sauce on this list to leave the planet.
Breakfast fans have options too, since the doors open early on most days. Hours run from Tuesday through Saturday starting in the morning, with lunch and dinner service Sunday and Monday.
Parking is easy, and prices stay friendly.
4. Old Clinton Barbecue House, Gray, GA
Drive a little past the Gray By-pass out of the Macon area and you will reach Old Clinton Barbecue House. It has been an old-school stop for generations, and folks make the trip from across the state to eat here.
The barbecue comes pit-smoked, and you can order it without sauce to taste the outside cut where the flavor really settles. Brunswick stew is a signature side, alongside potato salad, slaw, and BBQ beans.
Save room for dessert. The pecan pie has earned a loyal following of its own.
You can find it at 4214 Gray Hwy in small-town Gray. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Parking is plentiful, and prices land in the affordable range, which makes it an easy family meal.
5. Country’s Barbecue, Columbus, GA
Live music and a down-home diner feel make Country’s Barbecue a Columbus favorite. Located at 3137 Mercury Dr, it dishes out Southern comfort food with housemade sauces you can take home.
The menu goes wide, which keeps it interesting. You can order the brisket platter, the BBQ chicken platter with all-breast chicken, brisket tacos, BBQ egg rolls, or the chopped pork platter.
Portions run large, and the setting stays casual and welcoming for groups and families. Banana pudding is the classic way to finish a meal here.
Of all the joints on this list, Country’s keeps the friendliest schedule. It is open seven days a week, 11 AM to 10 PM, so it works whether you are passing through at lunch or grabbing a late dinner.
Parking is easy, and reservations are accepted.
6. Poole’s Bar-B-Q, East Ellijay, GA
Up in the North Georgia mountains, Poole’s Bar-B-Q brings a fun, kitschy personality to the roadside stop. You will find it at 164 Craig St in East Ellijay, cooking slow and serving generous portions.
Pulled pork is the star, and the sauce selection gives you plenty of ways to dress it. The Oinker pulled pork sandwich and the pulled brisket sandwich are easy picks, and the four-meat, four-side sampler is built for sharing.
Sides do not get overlooked, with sweet potato fries, cornbread, and mac and cheese on the board. There is even a pastrami reuben if you want to stray from the classics.
Hours shift through the week, so plan ahead. It is open Monday through Wednesday 11 AM to 3 PM, Thursday through Saturday 11 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM.
This is a natural stop when you are apple-picking or driving through Ellijay.
7. Zeb’s Bar-B-Q, Danielsville, GA
Small-town charm defines Zeb’s Bar-B-Q in Danielsville. Sitting at 5742 US-29, it is a rural roadside fixture that keeps things simple, clean, and welcoming.
The barbecue is the draw, but regulars know the Brunswick stew is a big reason to pull over. Add a glass of sweet tea and you have a proper Georgia meal.
Service tends to be quick, and to-go orders often come together faster than you would expect. That makes it an easy grab when you have a hungry family in the car.
Zeb’s runs a shorter week, so check the clock before you head out. It is open Wednesday through Saturday 9 AM to 9 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Parking is plentiful, prices are fair, and reservations are accepted.
8. Holcomb’s Barbeque Inc, White Plains, GA
A sawdust floor is not something you see every day, and it is one of the details that makes Holcomb’s Barbeque so memorable. This quaint hometown spot sits right on GA-15 in tiny White Plains, deep in rural Greene County.
The barbecue platters come loaded, often paired with slaw and stew, and the ribs draw plenty of praise. Pork sandwiches with a tangy vinegar sauce are another reason people plan a stop here.
Comfortable seating and genuine down-home hospitality give the place a true barbecue-joint feel. It is the kind of small-town restaurant where the meal and the welcome both matter.
The catch is the schedule. Holcomb’s is open only Friday and Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM, and closed the rest of the week.
If you are exploring the Lake Oconee area, line up your visit with those two days.
9. Dolan’s Bar B Que, Statesboro, GA
Statesboro has its own barbecue champion, and Dolan’s Bar B Que has built a strong reputation on South Main Street. Located at 239 S Main St, it leans hard into smoke, turning out ribs, chicken, and pork.
The menu mixes classics with a few crowd-pleasers, from the ribs plate and pulled pork plate to BBQ loaded fries, brisket sandwiches, and a smash burger. The mac and cheese has earned real respect as a side.
There is an outdoor dining area and live music, which gives it a bit more energy than the average roadside joint. College students and families both find their place here.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM, closed Sunday and Monday. Parking is easy, reservations are accepted, and the fast service means you are eating soon after you order.
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