USA TODAY 10Best
Where to find the finest cuts of meat in America: Top 10 butcher shops
Best Butcher Shop (2023)
If you're looking for quality meat, friendly service, and reasonable prices, your local butcher shops can be great resources. Independent butchers know their products inside and out, and they can offer you expert advice and ideas on what you can make with your proteins. They also source their meat from local farms and ranches, which means you get to enjoy the variety and freshness of cuts that can often be made to order.
Here are 10 top-notch butcher shops that have been voted by our readers as the best in the United States.
- B & W Meat Company - Houston, Texas
- Beast and Cleaver - Seattle, Washington
- Beltex Meats - Salt Lake City, Utah
- The Butcher & The Bar - Boynton Beach, Florida
- Halteman Family Meats - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hudson & Charles - New York City, New York
- Blackbelly Market - Boulder, Colorado
- Snow's Fine Meats & Provisions - Abingdon, Virginia
- Smitty's Meatmarket & Smokehouse - Tomball, Texas
- John Mull's Meats - Las Vegas, Nevada
Photo courtesy of Revolu7ion93 // Getty Images
No. 10:
B&W Meat Company is a Houston institution, making in-house sausages, doing deer processing, and offering a variety of delectable meats and seafood. There are tons of unique items available here, from alligator sausage to pickled pig tails, ground buffalo, and more.
Photo courtesy of Bobby Cortez
No. 9:
Seattle's Beast and Cleaver is a family-owned butcher that uses local and sustainable organic meats. They have specialty items like dry-aged beef and charcuterie and also offer multi-course dinners and butchery classes for a more in-depth experience.
Photo courtesy of Easy_Asa // Getty Images
No. 8:
Founded by a chef, Salt Lake's Beltex Meats offers custom cuts of locally sourced meats that are antibiotic- and hormone-free. They even host a Whole Hog Breakdown class, where you can learn how to cut, saw, snap, and chop a whole hog for grilling and roasting.
Photo courtesy of Revolu7ion93 // Getty Images
No. 7:
Home to 100% house-made ground meats, sausages, and bone broths, The Butcher & The Bar is a full-service butcher shop and bar. The restaurant menu features custom craft sandwiches as well as small plates that showcase the fine cuts from the butcher shop, and even the ketchup here is made from scratch.
No. 6:
Halteman Family Meats is renowned for their home-smoked products. Their homemade pork, turkey, and chicken sausages are some of Philly's finest, and they even sell Fourth of July packages, as well as other large-quantity meat sets perfect for smoking or grilling.
Photo courtesy of Hudson & Charles
No. 5:
Hudson & Charles is all about locally raised grass-fed meats, and their pasture-raised whole turkeys are New York Thanksgiving staples. Besides superb meats, Hudson & Charles also offer one of the only intensive butcher apprenticeship programs in the country, should you be interested in a career.
Photo courtesy of Joni Schrantz
No. 4:
You can get sausages, salami, and charcuterie variations here that aren't sold in regular markets, and Blackbelly makes and cures their own meats. They also have a chic restaurant and are one of Boulder's premier catering companies to boot.
Photo courtesy of GMVozd // Getty Images
No. 3:
This neighborhood butcher shop has a great selection of deli items and locally sourced meat. Their roast beef, Black Forest ham, and turkey subs get raves, and the grass-fed beef steaks are a griller's delight.
Photo courtesy of Smitty's Meatmarket & Smokehouse
No. 2:
This family-owned meat market, game processor, and smokehouse claims to make the best beef jerky in Texas. They'll cut steaks to your specifications and will process any legally killed wild game. They've also got a great selection of rubs, marinades, and seasonings.
Photo courtesy of Dania Maxwell
No. 1:
John Mull's is a Las Vegas institution. The meat market features everything from regular meat cuts to feet, intestines, tongue, heart, and then some. They also do game processing and will skin and hang your deer or elk, Additionally, the on-premises Road Kill Grill is known as the best BBQ joint in Las Vegas.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels... Read More
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Krisi Monsiviaz
Krisi is a food enthusiast and community... Read More
Krisi is a food enthusiast and community cultivator. She desires to encourage, equip, and inspire others to create delicious food, gather with purpose, and host with confidence. She’s lived in multiple regions of the United States, traveled to, and lived in numerous countries throughout Europe and Asia. This experience has taught her how to build relationships and strengthen community around good food. You can find all of her recipes on her website. You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook for new recipes, kitchen hacks, and encouragement throughout your week.
Krisi Monsiviaz
Krisi is a food enthusiast and community cultivator. She desires to encourage, equip, and inspire others to create delicious food, gather with purpose, and host with confidence. She’s lived in multiple regions of the United States, traveled to, and lived in numerous countries throughout Europe and Asia. This experience has taught her how to build relationships and strengthen community around good food. You can find all of her recipes on her website. You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook for new recipes, kitchen hacks, and encouragement throughout your week.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Liz Smith
Liz Newton Smith is a food & travel content... Read More
Liz Newton Smith is a food & travel content creator located in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a wife, mom of 2 little girls, Physician Assistant, & a Certified Health Coach. She believes that anyone can cook! She shares easy, but delicious recipes on her social media channels - The Vintage Fork. She loves to put her spin on new and old recipes as well as experimenting with her own developments. There is not a food that she won't try (at least once) and she believes there is no destination too far (or too close) for a good time! You can follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog.
Liz Smith
Liz Newton Smith is a food & travel content creator located in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a wife, mom of 2 little girls, Physician Assistant, & a Certified Health Coach. She believes that anyone can cook! She shares easy, but delicious recipes on her social media channels - The Vintage Fork. She loves to put her spin on new and old recipes as well as experimenting with her own developments. There is not a food that she won't try (at least once) and she believes there is no destination too far (or too close) for a good time! You can follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
