Many areas of the South are famous for their many styles of delicious barbecued meats, and Florida is no different. Tampa tends to be a melting pot of people from all over the country and the barbecue in the area reflects this diversity. Whether you’re looking for that delicious Carolina flair, Memphis, Texas, or any other region, Tampa will have an establishment to satisfy your craving. While this list can’t begin to mention how many places there really are in the Tampa Bay area for quality barbecue, it’s a good start to discovering some of the best places.
- hungry harry is located at 3116 Land O Lakes Blvd just over the county line in the far north of Tampa. The building is situated on a beautiful lake and looks like a giant red barn. Harry’s has been in business for almost 30 years and it’s pretty delicious. Their ground beef is some of the best in town and they’ll gladly load it up with one of their signature tomato-based sauces. Prices at Harry’s are extremely competitive and you should have no problem feeding your family, even on a tight budget.
- Alex’s Southern Style Bar-BQ is located at 5362 W. Village Dr in North Tampa in the Carrollwood neighborhood. Located in a shopping mall, many people can walk past this place without even knowing it’s there (despite plumes of delicious smoke billowing from the building). Alex has been making this delicious smoked meat since 1995 and neighborhood residents have flocked to his shop since it opened. A very good place to have a pulled pork sandwich or a pulled beef sandwich with a different and delicious tomato-based sauce. The staff are always friendly and happy to cater to the large crowd of customers they receive on a daily basis.
- BBQ Big John’s Alabama is located at 40th St and Hillsborough Ave in Tampa. This place is a must for the true aficionado of delicious smoked meat and signature sauce. The Alabama style is evident in the name and comes through in the thick sauce and large cuts of meat. With extremely large portions and some of the best signature sauces in the business, I highly recommend not missing out on the restaurant that has been a Tampa staple since 1969.
- Jazzy’s BBQ is another establishment that started in the mid-90s and is located in downtown Tampa at 5703 W Waters Ave. The restaurant was founded by a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back, Johnny Ray Smith. Jazzy’s has a sweet or hot sauce that are both unique and delicious. With daily lunch specials for this delicious meal, it’s best to call ahead or arrive with plenty of time to spare.
- New World Brewery It is not traditionally a barbecue restaurant, but it does offer a buffet of delicious smoked meats Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm. New World is located at 1313 E 8th Ave in Ybor City. This is one of the best bars for quality craft beer in all of Tampa, so adding some delicious barbecue is a perfect match.
This list barely touches on all the options for delicious barbecue in the Tampa Bay area. I recommend you try them all and then venture out on your own and make your own list of delicious meat palaces.
