17 Hidden New Jersey BBQ Joints That Could Easily Compete With The Southern Greats
Most people think real barbecue stops at the Mason-Dixon Line, but I’ve got news: New Jersey’s pit masters are quietly smoking meat that could make a Texan weep into their brisket. We’re not talking chain restaurants or sad grocery-store ribs.
These are actual smokehouses where wood burns low, meat glistens, and the locals guard their favorite spots like state secrets.
I’ve spent months tracking down these hidden BBQ treasures, and trust me, you’ll want to grab napkins and hit the road after reading this text.
1. Henri’s Hotts Barbeque – Folsom/Hammonton
A weekend drive that ends with smoke curling over the pines and a platter that tastes like a family reunion. Order the baby backs and jerked chicken; if it’s Sunday, the all-you-can-eat buffet is the move.
Henri’s sits tucked between farmland and forest, the kind of spot you’d miss if you weren’t looking. The ribs pull clean off the bone, glazed with a sauce that balances sweet and heat without drowning the smoke.
Last summer, I watched a table of eight demolish three full racks and still ask for seconds. That buffet turns into a feeding frenzy by noon, so arrive early or prepare to wait.
2. 1911 Smoke House BBQ – Trenton
Downtown, the pit hums, the ribs shine, and the wings wear a righteous char. Grab brisket, mac, and a side of good vibes at the downtown Trenton flagship.
The name nods to history, but the smoke is all present-day. Brisket arrives sliced thick, edges crispy, center tender enough to pull apart with a plastic fork.
Mac and cheese here isn’t an afterthought. It’s creamy, sharp, and baked until the top crackles. Wings come tossed in dry rub or sauce, both versions worth the napkin carnage.
3. Kimchi Smoke Barbecue – Westwood & Ridgewood
Texas smoke meets Korean swagger: brisket with gochujang glaze, the cult-favorite Austin Cho sandwich, and those fried Southern ribs. A tiny room, big flavor, and lines that tell the story.
The Austin Cho piles smoked brisket, kimchi slaw, and spicy mayo onto a soft bun, creating something that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Fried ribs arrive golden and crunchy, a texture twist that converts skeptics.
Space is tight, so most folks order and bail. But watching the pit masters work behind the counter is half the fun, smoke rolling every time they crack open the smoker.
4. Local Smoke BBQ – Neptune City • Red Bank • Sea Girt • Cookstown
Competition-team pedigree turned neighborhood staple. Think St. Louis ribs, Wagyu sausage, and collards that taste like they simmered all afternoon. Easygoing, beach-town casual.
These guys earned their chops on the competition circuit before opening shop, and it shows in every bite. St. Louis ribs come trimmed perfectly, bark dark and flavorful, meat tender without being mushy.
Wagyu sausage is the sleeper hit, snappy casing with a rich, beefy center that pairs beautifully with their tangy mustard sauce. Collards are cooked low and slow, silky and savory, nothing like the bitter greens you avoided as a kid.
5. Jersey Shore BBQ – Point Pleasant Beach & East Brunswick
A boardwalk-adjacent smoke shack where the brisket runs juicy and the burnt ends are a local whisper. Come sandy, leave saucy.
Point Pleasant Beach locals know to hit this spot after a beach day, when hunger peaks and standards drop. Except here, standards never need lowering. Brisket slices glisten with rendered fat, each bite melting on your tongue.
Burnt ends sell out fast, crusty nuggets of beef candy that disappear before you realize you should’ve ordered a double portion. The casual vibe means sand on your feet is not just tolerated but expected.
6. Big Ed’s Barbecue – Old Bridge
Rib country, Jersey-style: neon pig, checkerboard tables, and racks that fall to pieces in the best way. Order the full slab and don’t overthink it.
Big Ed’s has been around long enough to earn its reputation, the kind of place where regulars have their own booths. Ribs are the main event, coated in a sticky-sweet sauce that somehow avoids being cloying.
I brought my brother here last spring, and he finished a full slab solo, then eyed mine. The meat pulls clean, leaving bones so bare they could be used for soup stock.
7. Mutiny BBQ Company – Asbury Park
A modern pit with punk-rock energy: glossy slices of brisket, peppery turkey, and sides that actually matter. Small menu, big attention to detail.
Mutiny keeps things tight, focusing on a handful of proteins done exceptionally well. Brisket gets the spotlight, sliced thick with a smoke ring you could measure with a ruler.
Turkey breast comes crusted in black pepper, juicy enough to make you forget poultry can be boring. Sides rotate but always deliver, like the smoked corn salad that tastes like summer in a bowl.
The space feels more Brooklyn than boardwalk, all concrete and Edison bulbs.
8. Red White & Que Smokehouse – Green Brook (plus Barnegat • Little Egg Harbor • Manahawkin • Randolph and more)
Veteran-born, Americana-proud smokehouses slinging chopped brisket, pork platters, and the Patriot sandwich. Friendly, unfussy, and reliably smoky.
Red White & Que started as one location and spread because people couldn’t get enough. The Patriot sandwich stacks brisket, pulled pork, and sausage into one glorious mess that requires structural engineering to eat.
Chopped brisket comes tossed in sauce or naked, your call. Either way, it’s tender and flavorful, the kind of honest barbecue that doesn’t need gimmicks.
Service is quick and warm, perfect for feeding hungry families without fuss.
9. Hickory Hog – Point Pleasant
A low-key room where the ribs wear a deep bark and the pulled pork stays plush. It feels like you stumbled into somebody’s favorite secret.
Hickory Hog doesn’t advertise much, relying on word of mouth and repeat customers who know quality when they taste it. Ribs come out with a crust that crackles under your teeth, revealing tender meat underneath.
Pulled pork is moist and lightly smoky, perfect for piling onto a bun or eating straight. The place stays quiet even during dinner rush, a neighborhood spot that locals protect fiercely.
10. Hamilton Pork – Jersey City
BBQ with a border-town wink: smoked meats, tacos, and a back-garden hang that turns strangers into tablemates. Brisket plus elote equals happiness.
Hamilton Pork blends smoky Texas tradition with Mexican street food, creating combinations that shouldn’t work but totally do. Brisket tacos arrive piled high, topped with pickled onions and cilantro, each bite balanced and bright.
Elote gets the smokehouse treatment, charred and slathered in spicy mayo and cheese. The back patio transforms into a communal party on warm nights, picnic tables packed with people sharing plates and stories.
11. Woodchucks BBQ & Pizza – Point Pleasant
Yes, there’s pizza, but the locals come for smoky ribs, pulled pork, and a gentle price tag. A beach-town sleeper that over-delivers.
Woodchucks started as a pizza joint and added a smoker, and somehow, both sides of the menu thrive. Ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, brushed with a tangy sauce that doesn’t overpower the smoke.
Pulled pork sandwiches come loaded, messy in the best way, perfect after a day on the water. Prices stay reasonable, making it easy to feed a crew without emptying your wallet.
It’s the kind of spot you return to every summer.
12. Smokehouse Grille & BBQ – Wall Township/Farmingdale
Roadside comfort: baby back ribs, char-kissed burgers, hush puppies, and root beer to wash it down. The kind of place you discover on the way to somewhere else.
Smokehouse Grille sits along a stretch of road where you might not expect great barbecue, which makes finding it even better. Baby backs come glazed and tender, with just enough chew to remind you they’re real.
Hush puppies are golden and fluffy, served hot with honey butter. I stopped here once on a whim and ended up staying for two hours, chatting with the owner about wood types and rub recipes.
13. Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque – Clifton & Union
A NYC import that found a Jersey stride. Get the brisket or spare ribs with the cucumber salad; both NJ shops are going strong.
Mighty Quinn’s made a name in Manhattan before crossing the Hudson, and the Jersey locations maintain the same high standards. Brisket is sliced to order, edges crispy and caramelized, center pink and juicy.
Spare ribs are meaty and smoky, with a rub that lets the pork shine through. The cucumber salad provides a cool, crunchy contrast, cutting through the richness with vinegar and dill. Both locations stay busy, proof that good barbecue travels well.
14. Whole Hog Café – Cherry Hill
Arkansas roots, Jersey regulars. Pulled pork plates, a sauce lineup for every mood, and steady hours that make it an easy weeknight fix.
Whole Hog brings Delta-style barbecue to South Jersey, complete with a sauce bar that lets you customize your experience. Pulled pork is the specialty, tender and lightly seasoned, ready to be dressed however you like.
Sauce options range from vinegar-based tang to molasses-thick sweet, so everyone finds their favorite. The restaurant keeps consistent hours and delivers reliable quality, making it a go-to when you need barbecue without the guesswork.
15. Cubby’s BBQ – Hackensack
Old-school Bergen County smoke and a menu that reads like a picnic table: ribs, wings, rings, and nostalgia by the basket.
Cubby’s has been feeding Hackensack for years, the kind of place where the decor hasn’t changed and nobody wants it to. Ribs come sauced and sticky, piled high in red plastic baskets lined with wax paper.
Wings are crispy and tossed in your choice of sauce, perfect bar food that happens to be smoked. Onion rings arrive golden and crunchy, thick-cut and addictive. It’s comfort food done right, no frills, just flavor.
16. Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul – Ramsey
Smoked meat with a soul-food heartbeat: ribs, cornbread, and sides that taste like they’ve been in the family forever. Cozy, lively, and deeply satisfying.
Brothers blends barbecue with Southern soul food traditions, creating plates that feel like Sunday dinner at your favorite aunt’s house. Ribs are tender and smoky, but the sides steal the show.
Cornbread is sweet and moist, crumbling perfectly under a pat of butter. Collards simmer with just enough seasoning to make you reach for seconds.
The room buzzes with conversation and laughter, the kind of energy that makes solo diners feel welcome.
17. City Rub Smokehouse – Newark (Ironbound)
Part smokehouse, part sports-bar, game on the screens, smoke on the plate. Go for the rib platter or brisket, linger for the scene.
City Rub sits in Newark’s Ironbound district, where Portuguese bakeries and barbecue smokers coexist happily. The restaurant balances serious smoked meats with a relaxed sports-bar vibe, TVs tuned to whatever game matters that night.
Rib platters arrive loaded, meat glistening under the lights, tender enough to pull apart with minimal effort. Brisket is sliced thick and served with tangy pickles and white bread, classic Texas style.
It’s a spot where you can watch the game and eat barbecue that rivals anything down South.