14 New Jersey BBQ Joints That Locals Prefer To Keep Secret (And You’ll Taste Why)
Some food hunts start with a map and a plan, but my best barbecue discoveries usually begin with a wrong turn, a hungry mood, and the sudden realization that my car smells like smoke for the rest of the day.
New Jersey has a habit of surprising people who think they know it well, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its quietly excellent barbecue scene, where pitmasters work patiently behind modest storefronts while regulars pretend nothing special is happening inside.
I learned early on that asking locals directly rarely helps, because the best answers come with nervous smiles and vague directions, as if they are protecting a shared family recipe.
Across New Jersey, these joints sit near beaches, highways, and ordinary neighborhoods, turning out ribs, brisket, and pulled pork that reward anyone willing to follow the scent and trust their appetite.
I have waited in short lines, eaten from paper trays balanced on car hoods, and left more than once wondering how a place this good stays such a well-kept secret.
If you are willing to skip the obvious spots and listen closely to the quiet recommendations, these fourteen New Jersey barbecue joints make a very strong case for keeping things deliciously under the radar.
1. Hamilton Pork, Jersey City, New Jersey
Hamilton Pork sits at 247 10th Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, and the glowing pig in the window feels like a quiet invitation rather than a shout.
I still remember ducking inside one busy evening and watching trays of brisket and pork ribs disappear faster than the staff could slice them.
The menu leans hard into smoked meats, but the tacos and sandwiches turn those cuts into compact little flavor traps that are hard to put down.
I usually build a plate around the brisket, then start negotiating with myself about whether I can justify adding burnt ends.
Mac and cheese, charred vegetables, and other sides crowd the tray until there is barely any metal left showing.
The room stays loud with conversation, yet everyone goes suspiciously quiet in the first few bites.
Every time I walk back out onto the sidewalk, I tell myself I will spread the word slowly so the line does not double overnight.
2. Kimchi Smoke Barbecue, Westwood, New Jersey
Tucked along 57 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, New Jersey 07675, Kimchi Smoke Barbecue is where smoky Texas traditions crash into bold Korean flavors in the best possible way.
I wandered in one afternoon for a quick bite and ended up staying long enough to work through a serious sampler of ribs, brisket, and sausage.
The meat comes out with deep bark and real smoke flavor, then gets piled high with kimchi, scallions, and sauces that wake everything up.
There is usually at least one over-the-top special on the board, and I always pretend I will resist before immediately caving.
Sides such as slaw, fries, and rich mac and cheese turn the tray into a full-contact sport.
Regulars speak about this place in a careful tone, as if worried the line might wrap around the block if they get too excited.
Every time I leave, I feel oddly proud that something this inventive is hiding in a small North Jersey storefront.
3. Mutiny BBQ Company, Asbury Park, New Jersey
A few blocks from the beach at 808 5th Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712, Mutiny BBQ Company quietly puts out some of the most lovingly tended meat in Monmouth County.
I first stopped in after a long day on the boardwalk and immediately understood why locals keep talking about their small batch approach.
The pit crew cooks just enough each day, so the brisket, turkey, and ribs arrive juicy, tender, and clearly not reheated from yesterday.
I like to build a tray with a little of everything, then try to figure out whether the brisket, pork belly, or sausage wins that particular visit.
Scratch-made sides such as beans, slaw, and cornbread quietly threaten to steal attention away from the main event.
The room feels relaxed and friendly, the kind of place where strangers end up comparing smoke rings across tables.
When the meat sells out and the doors close early, it feels less disappointing and more like proof they are doing things the right way.
4. Local Smoke BBQ, Neptune City, New Jersey
Local Smoke BBQ in Neptune City sits at 719 Route 35, Neptune City, New Jersey 07753, and looks almost too casual for the serious competition-level barbecue coming out of the kitchen.
I rolled up one afternoon on a recommendation from a friend and immediately caught the scent of long-smoked pork drifting across the parking lot.
The menu runs through brisket, pulled pork, turkey, ribs, and chicken, each kissed with the kind of smoke that suggests many hours of practice on the circuit.
I tend to start with a platter of ribs and pulled pork, then realize I also need at least a small order of burnt ends.
Mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread help soak up the sauces, and somehow I always find room for all of it.
Locals talk about this place in simple terms, usually starting and ending with the word dependable.
Driving away with a to-go box in the passenger seat feels like winning a small personal lottery.
5. Jersey Shore BBQ, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
On a busy corner at 710 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey 08742, Jersey Shore BBQ hides championship-level smoke behind a laid-back shore-town personality.
I ducked inside one afternoon after hearing whispers about their ribs and ended up staying long enough to work through almost the whole platter.
The ribs arrive with a deep bark and gentle tug, while the pulled pork and brisket feel indulgent without ever crossing into heavy overload.
I usually cannot resist ordering the cornbread and greens, then wondering how I thought this would be a light lunch.
Tables fill with families, salty-haired surfers, and people in still-damp beach clothes, all united by the same mission to eat very well.
There is an easygoing rhythm here that makes time move a little slower between bites.
Every time I step back out toward the boardwalk, I catch myself already planning excuses to return.
6. Red White & Que Smokehouse, Green Brook, New Jersey
Red White & Que Smokehouse sits just off the highway at 150 US Route 22, Green Brook, New Jersey 08812, and somehow manages to feel both roadside casual and carefully dialed-in.
I wandered in on a random weekday and watched as trays of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork disappeared almost as fast as they came out.
The menu leans patriotic in theme, but the real story is the smoke, which shows up in deep flavor and clean, rosy slices.
I like to order a brisket and sausage combo, then spend a few minutes appreciating the bark before I take the first bite.
Sides such as pit beans, slaw, and mac and cheese round out the plate so thoroughly that dessert becomes purely theoretical.
Regulars chat with the staff the way neighbors talk across a fence, relaxed and familiar.
Driving past now without stopping feels like ignoring a perfectly clear sign that today could be better with barbecue.
7. Big Ed’s BBQ, Old Bridge, New Jersey
Big Ed’s BBQ anchors a busy stretch at 305 Route 34, Old Bridge, New Jersey 07747, and delivers exactly the kind of rib-heavy comfort you hope for from a place with its name in lights.
I remember my first visit starting with the phrase all you can eat and ending with me slowly admitting defeat to a stack of bones.
The ribs come out glossy, tender, and generously portioned, with plenty of sauce for the people who want every bite coated.
I tend to sneak in an order of wings or pulled pork, too, because moderation seems strangely out of place here.
The large dining room fills with families, birthday groups, and couples who clearly know they will not need dinner later.
Service moves fast, platter after platter landing on tables with a practiced rhythm.
When I finally step back into the parking lot, I usually need a moment just to convince myself to rejoin the outside world.
8. Henri’s Hotts Barbeque, Hammonton, New Jersey
Down along the Black Horse Pike at 1003 Black Horse Pike, Hammonton, New Jersey 08037, Henri’s Hotts Barbeque feels like pure South Jersey hospitality wrapped in smoke.
I first found it on a weekend drive and was greeted by the smell of ribs and chicken drifting across the lot before I even opened the door.
The menu leans into slow-cooked ribs, chicken, and pulled pork, all with that satisfying balance of smoke, seasoning, and tenderness.
I like to pile a plate with ribs and pulled pork, then add whatever sides are calling my name that day, usually mac and cheese and cabbage.
Picnic tables and relaxed counter service keep the mood casual, so nobody feels rushed to finish before the next person sits down.
Locals line up here with the calm focus of people who know exactly what they want.
Every time I head back out to the highway, I feel grateful that I decided to wander a little off my usual route.
9. The Hickory Hog, Point Pleasant, New Jersey
The Hickory Hog, set at 2310 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant, New Jersey 08742, looks modest from the outside but carries serious smoke inside.
I dropped in after a long beach day and watched the staff pull racks of ribs and trays of meat from the smoker with obvious pride.
The ribs and pulled pork headline the show, but the menu stretches into burgers, sandwiches, and combo platters that make decisions a little tricky.
I usually solve that problem by ordering a two-meat plate and then quietly ignoring the idea of leftovers because everything tastes better right away.
Sides such as fries, slaw, and cornbread round things out, and the portions lean toward generous.
Families, locals, and vacationers fold into the dining room in a steady stream that never quite turns frantic.
By the time I reach the last rib, I already feel like a regular.
10. Boss Hog Barbecue, South Plainfield, New Jersey
Boss Hog Barbecue sits at 13 South Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, and gives off the comforting vibe of a neighborhood spot that takes its craft seriously.
I first swung by for a quick sandwich and ended up stretched out with a full platter of ribs, pulled pork, and chicken.
The smoke rings on the meat hint at a patient cook, and each bite carries enough flavor that the sauce feels like an accessory rather than a crutch.
I enjoy pairing the meats with collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread until the tray looks like a small backyard feast.
Staff greet regulars by name, and even newcomers get treated as if they have been coming for years.
There is an easy warmth in the room that matches the food.
Walking back to my car, I always think that this is exactly the kind of place people mean when they whisper about hidden spots.
11. Smoke Shack BBQ & Burgers, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
On Ringwood Avenue at 402 Ringwood Avenue, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey 07442, Smoke Shack BBQ & Burgers keeps its focus on straightforward comfort served fast.
I wandered in on a road trip craving something smoky, and found trays of ribs, pulled pork, and burgers heading out to tables in steady waves.
The smoked meats show up with plenty of bark and tenderness, while the burgers pick up extra flavor from time in the same kitchen.
I like to order a combo that pairs a sandwich with a side of ribs, then spend a minute appreciating my own good decisions.
Fries, onion rings, and other sides turn even a simple order into a small event.
The space feels relaxed and unfussy, more interested in sending you out satisfied than in impressing you with decor.
By the time I crumple my napkin, I am already scanning the menu for what to try on my next pass through town.
12. Bearded One BBQ, Monroe Township, New Jersey
Bearded One BBQ sits at 933 Route 33, Monroe Township, New Jersey 08831, and has the easygoing look of a roadside shack with remarkably polished flavors.
I stopped here after hearing friends argue over who found it first, and the smoky smell around the building settled the debate in its favor.
The menu leans into ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage, each cut showing off a deep, even smoke.
I enjoy ordering a rib platter and then adding just enough brisket to make the choice between the two pleasantly impossible.
Mac and cheese, beans, and other sides stack up around the meat until the tray barely has any empty space.
Picnic tables, relaxed service, and friendly chatter keep everything feeling informal.
When I drive away past the hand-painted signs, I usually end up checking my calendar for the next time I can swing by.
13. Harry’s Smokin’ BBQ, Toms River, New Jersey
Harry’s Smokin’ BBQ hides in a strip center at 213 NJ Route 37 Unit 6, Toms River, New Jersey 08753, and rewards anyone who follows the smoke trail.
I first visited when it was still mostly known as a food truck, and the transition to a full restaurant did not soften the flavors at all.
The ribs, pulled pork, and brisket come out with serious bark and tenderness, the kind of texture that suggests a lot of time watching the pit.
I usually order a sandwich stacked high with meat and then talk myself into adding a rib or two on the side.
Tater tots, mac and cheese bites, and other fried sides keep the mood fun and a little bit reckless.
Locals talk about Harry’s in a slightly hushed tone reserved for spots they hope stay just under the wider radar.
As I pull back onto Route 37, the only real problem is deciding which menu item deserves attention next time.
14. Cubby’s BBQ, Hackensack, New Jersey
Cubby’s BBQ sits at 249 South River Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601, and has been quietly feeding Bergen County for decades.
I first walked through the door on a winter afternoon and was greeted by a counter lined with ribs, fries, and towering sandwiches.
The ribs steal most of the attention, with tender meat that comes away from the bone with almost no effort.
I like to pair them with a pulled pork sandwich or hot dog, then add fries or a baked sweet potato to round everything out.
The room feels casual and a little nostalgic, the kind of place where families and solo diners both settle in comfortably.
There is nothing fussy here, just large portions and staff who keep things moving with practiced efficiency.
Every time I step back outside, I understand why some regulars insist this is the only place they trust for ribs in North Jersey.