Earlier in 2024, Scott Brothers expanded beyond the confines of their former home at Winter Hill Brewing in Somerville and moved north to Middleton to put down roots there. At their new spot within the Lot on South Main, they’ll continue their barbecue-themed menu and some more, serving brisket and other barbecue classics on weekends.

This husband-and-wife shop sits in a strip mall in Wilmington, just north of Boston. Despite being in just its second year of operation as a brick-and-mortar shop, Code 1 BBQ has won the hearts and minds of the locals. It’s known for its succulent pork belly finished on the flattop grill with a touch of maple syrup, as well as a tender brisket that melts in the mouth. 

Rich Sim does his Texas-style barbecue pop-up around the city, with a regular appearance at Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden. Sim’s passion-driven smoked meats have amassed some following: The thickly sliced brisket is tender and juicy, and you can customize the fat-to-lean meat ratio to your liking. Another standout is the kimchi slaw, which perfectly cuts the fattiness in a pulled pork sandwich. Be sure to follow the Sim’s BBQ website for updates for additional pop-ups at other breweries such as Widowmaker in Braintree.

Medford’s sizable barbecue joint and music venue opened in summer 2019, a move from its original space in Wakefield. Chef and owner Jonathan Post, a Nashville native, serves pulled pork, Texas brisket, St. Louis spare ribs, and more by the tray, accompanied by sides such as cheese grits and collards. There’s a packed live music calendar with plenty of blues, soul, and more.

At 36 years old, Redbones has cemented its popularity in Somerville’s Davis Square. It’s perpetually crowded and the ambiance is fun, particularly at the downstairs bar, Underbones. Redbones’s strength lies in its lively vibe and solid beer list. The restaurant doesn’t really specialize in any one aspect of barbecue; there’s a giant menu that has a little bit of something for everyone, so it’s an easy choice if there’s a big group to feed. Try the banana pudding for dessert.

Smoke Shop opened in Cambridge in 2016 thanks to Andy Husbands (who owned the now-defunct Tremont 647), a longtime barbecue devotee and fixture on the competitive circuit. His Kendall Square restaurant and its newer counterparts in East Boston, Fort Point, Somerville’s Assembly Row, and Cambridge’s Harvard Square feature big platters of meats, from burnt ends to ribs, piled high with sides. Don’t miss the wings, coated in sticky-sweet agave and spices. On the beverage side, there’s so much whiskey. (Find a mini counter-service version of Smoke Shop at West End food hall Hub Hall, too.)

Fried chicken and barbecue can go hand in hand and you can get both at this beloved neighborhood joint for a barbecue-themed picnic. At this counter-service restaurant, you can order combos of fried chicken, fried catfish, short beef ribs, and pork ribs with delicious sides that are probably the best in the city.

Jason Santos’ Southern restaurant pays homage to traditions, and barbecue made the cut on his menu. In addition to the richly seasoned, grilled baby back ribs and New Orleans barbecued shrimp, a number of hearty sides that came with New Orleans twists are top contenders to complement the meal, such as the smoked mac and cheese topped with Cheetos crumbs.

Larry Jimerson closed down his Chelsea restaurant, Larry J’s House of Q, in 2012 and quickly relocated to Boston’s Seaport, opening up Larry J’s BBQ Cafe, a small counter-service shack. There’s no seating inside, but outdoor seating is available when weather permits. (He eventually opened another location in Revere, too, but it closed in early 2021.) Jimerson smokes his meats over apple and hickory wood, offering up ribs, smoked link sausage, smoked brisket, smoked turkey legs, and lots more.

Tiffani Faison’s lively, loud Fenway barbecue restaurant, Sweet Cheeks Q, serves everything from pork ribs to pulled chicken to brisket, and diners can’t go wrong with any of the sides, especially the farm salad or the mac and cheese. Sweet Cheeks Q also offers a couple of fun desserts, like the giant Nutter Butter. Plus, everything about the restaurant’s biscuits is true. Save room — one biscuit is roughly the size of a human face. Sweet Cheeks Q has a full bar, and the beer selection is strong.

Formerly known as M&M Ribs, M&M BBQ began as a food truck and catering operation before finding a home inside Dorchester Brewing Company in early 2020. Get the pork ribs, of course, but also try one of the sandwiches, which feature pulled pork, shredded beef brisket, fried chicken, or bratwurst. M&M offers ample gluten-free and/or vegetarian options, too.

This South Shore newcomer has been quickly building up a fanbase since opening in early 2019. It’s known for its sauce choices — there are about a dozen — and over-the-top dishes like a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with pulled brisket, mac and cheese, and honey barbecue sauce. The cornbread, which comes with a choice of butters (whipped, cinnamon, or bacon), is a must.

Plan a little road trip 60 miles southwest of Boston to Sturbridge: B.T.’s Smokehouse is a worthy destination, featuring meats slow-smoked over apple and hickory, available in sandwiches, platters with sides and cornbread, and more. Watch for dishes like andouille dog bites and sticky rib tips, too. (Near Worcester? Check out the restaurant’s younger sibling, B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ, which also features fried chicken, as the name suggests.)