By: When it comes to a solid plate of barbecue in Tampa, you’ve got a lot of choices. Barbecue’s an art though. Some restaurants are insanely skilled at their craft, meticulously working every element down to the smallest detail, while others just pass on by with mediocrity. These five eateries will definitely do you solid though if you’re looking for some great barbecue in Tampa.
First Choice – First choice might be Brandon’s best kept secret when it comes to some truly fantastic barbecue. This little hole in the wall is situated right next to the Brandon DMV on highway 60 and serves up an assortment of slow smoked chicken, ribs, pork, brisket, and sausage for you and your taste buds’ enjoyment.
Jimbo’s – We recently stopped by Jimbo’s for our Taste Tour of 813 column and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Jimbo’s has been in the area for over 30 years, so you know they’re doing something right when it comes to good barbecue. Their regular and catering menus offer a variety of classic barbecue meat – ribs, pulled pork, chicken, sausage – and classic sides from baked beans to hush puppies.
Lee Roy Selmon’s – Unlike the rest of these guys, Lee Roy Selmon’s is a big restaurant chain in the area, but that doesn’t stop them from knowing their way around a delicious plate of barbecue. Stop in to watch the big game and enjoy a variety of contemporary barbecue including pulled pork, brisket, short ribs, wings, and more.
Kojak’s House of Ribs – You probably know what you should order just by reading the this eatery’s name. Their delectable ribs come dry rubbed in a flavorful seasoning that’s been keeping people coming back for over 20 years and their wide selection of pulled pork, chicken, and sausage definitely shine as well.
Holy Hog Barbecue – Holy Hog is rather new in comparison to these other places, but they’re gunning to make some of the best Southern barbecue in the Tampa Bay area. They use the best cuts of pork, beef, and other meats they can find to create some great, smokey, barbecued perfection.
