10 Mississippi BBQ Spots That Go From Small-Town Favorites To Legendary Plates
One of the oldest barbecue joints in this list opened in 1924, and it still serves hot tamales alongside its pulled pork. Apparently, some food partnerships are built to last.
Another started as winter income for a bait and tackle shop. Yes, the pork shares an address with fishing gear.
A third was built from salvaged tin and old records before going on to win a world championship.
Mississippi barbecue has a knack for turning unlikely places into local legends. Gas stations.
Roadside shacks. Old buildings with more stories than a Southern family reunion.
I love how the smoke often tells you more than the sign out front. These spots stretch from tiny Delta towns to Gulf Coast bayous, each with a reputation earned one plate at a time.
Somewhere along the way, the back roads became the main attraction.
1. Abe’s Bar-B-Q
Few restaurants can say they have been smoking pork since 1924. This Clarksdale classic can, and it sits near the famous blues Crossroads of Highways 61 and 49.
The business started as the Bungalow Inn, founded by Abraham Davis. His son took over in 1960 and gave it the name you see today.
So what should you order first? The barbecue pork sandwich is the headliner, and it comes regular or as the double-decker Big Abe.
Hungry for something different? Delta hot tamales come plain, with chili, or with chili and cheese.
There’s also the Tamaco, which piles lettuce, tomato, chili, and cheese onto tamales. It’s a fun mashup that only makes sense in the Delta.
Rib tips, a baby back rib plate, and a smoked beef sandwich round out the meats. Pork ribs here pair nicely with the house sauce.
That sauce is called Come Back Sauce, and it’s sweet and tangy. You can even buy it by the pint to take home.
The vinegar-based slaw adds a sharp, cool bite next to the tangy pork. Sides also include onion rings, chili cheese fries, and BBQ beans.
The room feels like an old diner, casual and low-key. It’s a step back in time, with lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and short Sunday hours.
Address: 616 N State St, Clarksdale, MS 38614
2. The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint
Rusted tin, reclaimed wood, plastic buckets, and warped records hold this place together. And somehow, that junkyard look became a Gulf Coast landmark.
Siblings opened it in 2001 as a 300-square-foot takeout joint built from salvaged materials. A brother later joined and added a blues venue to the mix.
A fire wiped out the original building in 2011. The family rebuilt it with the same scrappy style, and it now covers roughly 9,000 to 10,000 square feet.
The meats get smoked over pecan wood. Baby back ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and chicken all land on the menu.
Sandwiches cover pulled pork, pulled chicken, sausage, and smoked turkey. Got a little one along?
The Lil’ Shedhead BBQ Plate is sized for smaller appetites.
The trophy shelf is no joke. The team won the Grand Championship at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in 2015, 2018, and 2024.
Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has featured it too. Southern Living even ranked it number one on its Great American Bucket List in 2018.
Live blues plays on the stage, and string lights hang over the outdoor seating near the bayou. Grab a bottle of house sauce or rub before you leave, Shedhead.
Address: 7501 MS-57, Ocean Springs, MS 39565
3. Sacred Ground Barbecue
A Michelin Bib Gourmand for a barbecue spot in a town of about 1,600 people? That happened here in 2025, barely a year after opening.
Chef Derek Emerson spent around 30 years in Mississippi fine dining before this project. He opened it in 2024 with his wife Jennifer and their daughter.
The style leans Central Texas. Think salt, pepper, smoke, and time, not syrupy sauce.
Meats cook over local pecan, red oak, and hickory in two huge smokers the chef built himself. That’s dedication you can taste in the bark.
Brisket uses prime beef, and the ribs and pulled pork come from Duroc pork. Look for tri-tip, smoked turkey, and the massive dino bone beef rib.
Sides go well beyond the basics. Green chili mac and cheese, Carolina slaw, pinto beans, and the signature Brussels sprouts all earn a spot on your tray.
History runs deep on this land, which has ties to Jennifer’s family. The old Big D’s Barbecue sign still hangs proudly, a nod to the roadside stop that once stood here.
The patio has picnic tables, and inside you’ll find arcade games and shuffleboard. Plan ahead, since it’s open Thursday through Sunday only.
Address: 1052 Pocahontas Rd, Flora, MS 39071
4. Sonny’s Smokehouse
Brisket so tender you might forget the sauce bottle exists. That’s the kind of plate drawing folks to a small highway smokehouse in Ackerman.
Ackerman sits in Choctaw County with roughly 1,600 residents. It’s the kind of place where a good barbecue joint quickly becomes the town’s front porch.
The menu covers the big names. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken all make appearances.
Steaks are part of the deal too. A ribeye sandwich gives you a beefy break from the usual pulled pork bun.
Want something hearty but simple? A baked potato is on the menu, and it’s a solid partner for smoked meat.
The rib plate is a strong pick if you want a classic order. Pair it with sweet tea, which is a point of pride here.
Portions run generous, and prices stay friendly. The setting is casual, with dine-in, takeout, and outdoor seating available.
Timing matters with this one. It’s only open Thursday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 8 PM.
Expect a wait during busy stretches, and note there are no reservations. Bring a little patience and a big appetite, and your reward comes on a paper plate.
Address: 8936 MS-15, Ackerman, MS 39735
5. Swamp Shack BBQ
With a name like Swamp Shack, you might expect gators at the door. Instead, you get family-owned barbecue on US Highway 11 in Ellisville.
Ellisville is a small town of around 4,500 people. It’s quiet and rural, which makes finding a smoker this serious feel like a lucky detour.
Brisket and ribs are the stars of the show. The swamp brisket is smoky, juicy, and tender, without drying out.
Pulled pork rounds out the big three. If you can’t choose, you’re in good company, and nobody will judge a sampler mindset.
The ribs have a strong hometown following. Some folks call them the best ribs in town, and that’s a bold title to hold.
Service is counter and table, with dine-in and takeout. It also offers catering if you want this smoke at your next party.
Now for the important part: the hours. Lunch runs Tuesday and Wednesday, with later hours Thursday and Friday.
It’s closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Friday evening tends to get busiest, so a weekday lunch might be your calmer bet.
Dogs can join you outside. The space feels casual and easygoing, perfect for a road trip stop.
Address: 801 US-11, Ellisville, MS 39437
6. Hog Heaven BBQ
Some love stories end with a wedding. This one started with high school sweethearts and a smoker inside a Laurel gas station.
Brandi and Chris Lindsey launched the business in 2010 at a Shell station. They moved into the current building on Ellisville Boulevard in 2017.
Ribs are the signature here, with a sweet and spicy rub and good bark. Brisket and pulled pork hold their own right beside them.
The menu stretches wider than you’d guess. Fried or grilled pork chops, shrimp, fish, and chicken tenders all show up.
Sandwich fans get options like a Brisket Philly and a shrimp po’boy. Feeding a crowd?
The Whole Slab Family Meal and The Hog Special make it easy.
Sides are where many folks linger. Sweet potato casserole, fried okra, potato logs, and turnip greens give you plenty to sort through.
The house barbecue sauce is made in-house and leans sweet. It’s a fitting match for that rub.
There’s a drive-thru for quick runs and outdoor seating when the weather cooperates. Weekday hours mostly cover lunch, while Friday and Saturday stretch into evening.
For a family-run Mississippi spot, it’s become a true Laurel anchor. Not bad for a gas station start.
Address: 3204 Ellisville Blvd, Laurel, MS 39440
7. Pig Out Inn Barbeque
Swine Dining at its Finest is the motto, and honestly, it’s hard to argue. This Natchez favorite has served barbecue since 1996.
You’ll find it on Canal Street in historic downtown. The Mississippi River is just a block away.
The pit is custom-built and burns 100 percent wood. No grills are used for smoking, so the flavor comes straight from the fire.
Pulled pork, brisket, hot sausage, turkey, chicken, and ribs fill the lineup. Brisket gets plenty of love here.
Then come the wild sandwiches. The Bubbadelic stacks pulled pork, bacon, smoked gouda, and mac and cheese on grilled sourdough.
The Grateful Jam pairs brisket with house pimento cheese and bacon jam. Yes, the names are as fun as they sound.
Save room for something sweet. Mini pecan pie, mini buttermilk pie, sweet potato pie, and banana pudding are all homemade options.
The decor is eclectic and vintage, with blues music playing. Keep an eye out for the tie-dye pig.
Want a view? Grab takeout and find seating near the bluff overlooking the river.
It’s a Mississippi sunset with a side of mac and cheese.
Address: 116 S Canal St, Natchez, MS 39120
8. (CHOP) Clay’s House Of Pig
Worms and brisket under one roof? In Tupelo, that combo actually works.
Clay Coleman started this place in 2017 as winter income for his bait and tackle shop. It still runs out of that original shop today.
Clay passed in 2021, and his family carries on the business. They still smoke on a cooker his father custom-built.
Meats get smoked in-house over charcoal, hickory, and pecan. Pulled pork, ribs, brisket, rib tips, sausage, and pork belly all share the pit.
Here’s where it gets playful. You can get your meat on a bun, on a plate, or in tacos, quesadillas, or nachos.
The BBQ Tater is a baked potato loaded with meat, queso, bacon, and more. Corn Ribs are fried corn with plenty of crunch.
Pork Belly Burnt Ends deliver caramelized cubes of richness. For dessert, blueberry cheesecake cobbler and biscuit pudding are calling.
Homemade pickles round out the side list with baked beans, slaw, and potato salad. There’s a pick-up window and a small dining area.
Hours vary across published listings, so call ahead to confirm before visiting, especially if you’re planning a weekend stop.
Address: 205 S Veterans Memorial Blvd, Tupelo, MS 38804
9. Tay’s BBQ
A family barbecue story that started in the 1940s now feeds hungry folks on the Gulf Coast. The roots trace back to Millard Taylor in Columbia, Mississippi.
Today, the recipes draw on two families. The result is hickory smoke, a special dry rub, and serious patience.
St. Louis cut ribs are the big draw. They’re hand-rubbed, hickory smoked, and served dry unless you ask for them wet.
Smoked hot wings are another signature. Pulled pork, brisket, and smoked bologna sandwiches fill out the board.
Ever eaten barbecue like ice cream? The Pig Sundae layers pulled pork, coleslaw, sauce, and garlic dill pickles in a cup.
Coast life shows up on the menu too. A spicy smoked yellowfin tuna dip makes a fun starter.
Sauce lovers get three choices: Original, White, and a Spicy Sriracha Blend. Try a little of each and pick a favorite.
Sides carry names with personality, like Mendy’s Best Baked Beans and Low Tide Cole Slaw. Millard’s Mac-n-Cheese honors the man who started it all.
It’s open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. The counter-service setup keeps things quick and easy.
Address: 6522 MS-63, Moss Point, MS 39562
10. Rib Shack
Corinth sits only about 90 minutes from Memphis, so the rib bar is set high. Folks from the Memphis area have still called these ribs the best they’ve had.
That’s quite a compliment in rib country. And it explains why ribs top the signature list.
Expect them tender and fall-off-the-bone. Brisket and pulled pork make worthy backup singers.
The brisket sandwich is a menu highlight. It’s an easy pick when you want something you can hold with one hand.
Sauce gets real attention here. The kitchen offers a variety of homemade sauces, so you can test a few.
Fried okra is a popular side for anyone craving crunch. Classic Southern sides fill out the rest of the plate.
Now, about dessert. Homemade banana cake has its own fan club, and dessert is a known strength.
The restaurant offers counter service, table service, and a drive-through. It also takes reservations, which is handy for bigger groups.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM. Friday nights and Saturday afternoons get busiest.
Corinth is a historic railroad town with deep roots. Pull off US 72 and give this Mississippi rib stop its fair shot.
Address: 201 Highway 72 East, Corinth, MS 38834