Jenna Giustino 
Everyone knows that the South has claimed its territory over specific foods. Barbecue, in particular, is known for being associated with areas like the Carolinas, Texas, and Tennessee. But, JSG knows feels the benefit of New Jersey is that we it can take all those different flavors connected to each of those areas and use them all to diversify the BBQ experience for those living in the tri-state area. Whether it’s pulled pork, brisket, or wings, barbecue is an addicting food with sauces and sides that make it a whole experience. We compiled a list of some of our favorites at the Jersey Shore. Keep reading for a guide to the best BBQ at the Jersey Shore.
^ Jersey Shore BBQ
Buddy Love’s BBQ | 728 Boardwalk, Ocean City
Buddy Love’s BBQ is located directly on Ocean City’s boardwalk. Its meats include pork spare ribs, baby back ribs, chicken wings, and rotisserie chicken. Buddy Love’s also has handheld items like hamburgers, hot dogs, and a pulled pork sandwich. JSG loves the combo option that comes with two sides — choose from mac-n-cheese, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, or coleslaw.
Dickey’s Barbeque Pit | 6801 East Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township
Dickey’s Barbeque Pit is a chain BBQ restaurant; besides the Egg Harbor location, it also has restaurants spanning NJ, such as Elizabeth, Hoboken, Jersey City, Mount Holly, Union City, and Manchester Township. The build-your-own-plate option here is fun: guests can personalize their own it includes personalizing a BBQ dream dinner by selecting from different slow-smoked meats, homestyle sides, and our favorite — Texas toast. Besides having almost every meat, side, or sandwich, Dickey’s is also a good option for a group looking for a BBQ meal. Customers can order gallons of lemonade or iced tea, and group packs include packages of all the favorites in mass amounts.
Read More: A Guide to the Best Sandwich Shops at the Jersey Shore
Dougies BBQ | 256 Norwood Avenue, Deal
Dougie’s BBQ is located in Deal, just minutes from Asbury Park. It has a menu of classic barbeque go-tos like wings, rib eye, and poppers. But there are also unique options like its pretzel chicken, which is chicken strips coated with pretzels and jalapeno mayo. JSG also loves the pulled beef egg rolls and sweet potato chips.
The Hickory Hog | 2310 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant
The Hickory Hog smokes all its ribs and meats with apple wood, mesquite, and hickory in its smoker, and everything’s made to order. Its menu includes wings, and the salads can be topped with different proteins like grilled chicken or shrimp, chicken tenders, or pulled meat. The fried apps here, like its spicy pub pickles (beer-battered pickles with chipotle ranch) and corn fritters, are hard to resist.
Jersey Shore BBQ | 710 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach
Jersey Shore BBQ has many BBQ plate options, such as pulled pork, smoked turkey, sliced or chopped brisket, and kielbasa. Customers can also choose their own sauce, such as Texas BBQ, Memphis BBQ, Carolina Vinegar, Alabama White, Cherry Vanilla BBQ, or Low Country Mustard. In addition to the traditional BBQ options, Jersey Shore BBQ also serves up salads and wood-fired pizza.
Local Smoke BBQ | 2100 New Jersey Highway 35, Sea Girt + 719 New Jersey Highway 35, Neptune City + 244 West Front Street, Red Bank
Local Smoke BBQ has several locations across the Jersey Shore, including Sea Girt, Neptune, and Red Bank. This convenient BBQ restaurant serves St. Louis-style ribs, chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket, Wagyu sausage, and deep-fried catfish. Customers can order sides like potato salad, beans, tater chips, shoestring fries, mac n’ cheese, and slow collards. Some other favorites are the hot dogs, burgers, and cornmeal fritters.
Monty’s BBQ | 71 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands
Monty’s BBQ is an Atlantic Highlands barbecue restaurant. Its BBQ platters include pulled pork, St. Louis pork ribs rack, beef brisket, and smoked turkey breast, all served with coleslaw, pickles, onions, cornbread, and BBQ sauce. The restaurant also offers sandwiches and sides that can be ordered as mini, small, or large.
Mutiny BBQ Company | 808 Fifth Avenue, Asbury Park
Mutiny BBQ is a craft smokehouse located in uptown Asbury Park. It has authentic small-batch BBQ and uses flavors and methods from the Carolinas, Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, and Louisiana. The restaurant serves signature meats, scratch-made sides, sandwiches, and sides. JSG also loves dessert options like banana pudding and whoopie pies.
Pig Dog Beach + Bar | 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood
Pig Dog Beach + Bar is the place to ‘pig out’ in Wildwood on some twists on classic BBQ items. It serves BBQ ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and roasted chicken. It also includes more unusual unique barbeque options like the brisket quesadilla and BBQ lettuce wraps.
Raizes de Portugal Cafe + BBQ | 146 Brighton Avenue, Long Branch
Raizes de Portugal Cafe + BBQ is a Portuguese barbecue restaurant in Long Branch. It serves barbecue chicken, beef ribs, and pork ribs with rice, fries, and beans. Customers who are conflicted about which meat to choose can also order a combo. We get it — it’s hard to choose just one.
Smokehouse Grille + BBQ | 5012 NJ-33, Farmingdale
Smokehouse Grille and BBQ have Texas-style brisket, Carolina-style pulled chicken or pork, baby back ribs, and wings. It also has specialty jumbo hot dogs with various fun toppings. Smokehouse Grille and BBQ has a lot of burger and sandwich options and homemade sausages by the link.
Smokey’s BBQ | 1700 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City
At Smokey’s BBQ, customers can purchase BBQ by the pound or choose a family combo or combo platter. The menu includes pulled pork and chicken, beef brisket, and kielbasa. Smokey’s also has smoked chicken salad and banana pudding.
Smokies Craft BBQ | 333 Atlantic City Boulevard, Bayville
Smokie’s Craft BBQ makes all its food in-house and is known for its pork belly burnt ends. Its menu has chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and all the classic BBQ meats and sides. Smokie’s has BBQ bowls — JSG recommends trying the loaded french fry bowl, which is as good as it sounds. There are so many sauce options, which completes this BBQ experience at Smokies.
Sonny’s Grille | 821 Belmar Boulevard, Belmar
Sonny’s Grille has angus burgers and different sandwiches ranging from pulled pork to grilled chicken, but it’s known for its hot dogs. Hot dogs come grilled, dirty water, or fried; the options are endless. There are plenty of topping options for the hot dog and a build-your-own-dog part of the menu.
The Surfing Pig | 231 W 10th Avenue, North Wildwood
The Surfing Pig is a barbeque restaurant with a nice view in North Wildwood. Its BBQ apps include options like Kansas City burnt ends, loaded fries, and BBQ nachos. Its BBQ platters include St. Louis-style ribs, smoked prime ribs, and beef brisket. The Surfing Pig also has BBQ sandwiches, which can come with Old Bay fries, chips, or South Deck coleslaw.
Sweet Carolina Barbeque Co. | 1839 Hooper Avenue, Toms River
Sweet Carolina Barbeque Co. specializes in North Carolina-style barbeque, and all its meats are lowly + slowly smoked in-house. It has pulled pork/chicken, pork baby back ribs, chopped brisket, and burgers. Sweet Carolina makes all its BBQ sauces from scratch, with a Carolina-style vinegar dip and sweet BBQ sauce.
Wildwoods BBQ | 701 New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood
Wildwoods BBQ has brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and Aussie pork sausage. Some different menu items include fried cauliflower and brisket cheese fries. There is also a catering option and various sandwiches are also available.
See More: Best Barbecue Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City
Wing It | 1265 Bayshore Road, Villas
Wing It has an extensive menu that is great for snacking. It has poutine, BBQ ribs, pulled pork, fried chicken, burgers, and sandwiches. Of course, Wing It also has wings and many sauce options. It even has its tails, which are its version of boneless wings.
Woodchucks BBQ | 3009 NJ-88, Point Pleasant
Woodchucks BBQ appetizers are fitting for a BBQ restaurant. The spot has battered onion rings, fried pickles, BBQ nachos, and corn fritters. The menu also has wings, salads, mac and cheese bowls, specialty burgers, and gourmet grilled cheese. There are different classic BBQ meat options and family feast deals.
Follow @thejerseyshoregirl_ on Instagram for the latest Jersey Shore updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 40+ events weekly to peruse.
