Barbecue lovers, rejoice! BBQ season is here, and we have just the thing to fuel the fun. Orlando is full of diverse, delicious options to satisfy all tastes, from Southern soul food to inventive BBQ food trucks. Time for finger-lickin' style with our list of the best local BBQ spots in Orlando.
Pair this great grub with one of our 50 Summer Date Ideas!
Simple and Traditional BBQ
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ
153 Sugar Belle Drive, Suite M, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Ellie Lou's promises to “rub you the right way,” and with mouthwatering platters and several delectable BBQ sauces, you're sure to leave this family-owned restaurant satisfied. Pair St. Louis style ribs, chopped BBQ platters, sandwiches, and more with southern specialties like corn muffins, fried green tomatoes, and 3 cheese mac.
If you're lucky enough to visit on a Sunday, try the Gospel Grits, cheddar and smoked gouda grits made with tomatoes, corn, green onions, and special seasoning. Inject a little regional flair with Kansas City, Memphis, Carolina Gold, Alabama White sauce, or Mississippi Comeback Sauce, or spice things up with the habanero and ghost pepper-infused Southern Lava sauce.
Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que
5818 Conroy Rd, Orlando, FL 32835
You'll find smoked Texas brisket, pork, and chicken on the menu, as well as more unique Southern specialties like gizzards, catfish, and even gator meat. Baskets come with fries and baked beans, and combos also include coleslaw and garlic bread.
Everything is super affordable, so you can splurge on extra specialty sides, desserts, and beverages. Keep things simple with mustard or mild, sweet, hot, or killer BBQ sauce, and bring that Southern flavor home with a chilled beer or wild cherry Cheer Wine.
Get out of your comfort zone and try something new together, like Bubbalou's fried gator bites or chicken gizzards.
Southern and Soulful BBQ
Angel’s Soul Food & BBQ
2516 Sanford Ave, Sanford, FL 32773
Head out to Sanford for some traditional Southern soul food, from BBQ chicken and pulled pork to smothered pork chops with candied yams. Don't sleep on the desserts, like peach cobbler, banana pudding, and butter pound cake. Portions are huge, so you get plenty for your money and can try even more tasty sides!
Date night tip: Fort Mellon Park and the Sanford Riverwalk are just a couple of miles away. Take your food to go and enjoy a quiet picnic and waterfront stroll with your meal, or explore other Sanford Date Ideas.
Briskets BBQ Shack & Grill
298 Geneva Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
Their “Smoke Render Tender” (SRT) meat smoking process delivers what many say is “The best smoked meats they have ever had”. That is a compliment that they don't take lightly.
They use many smokers to fulfill the volume of requests, they don't give in by using large commercial gas or electric smokers, they just keep it simple and use lots of small offset smokers just burning wood (No charcoal, gas or electric heat sources) which delivers the best smoked meats holding true to enjoying what real smoked BBQ is all about.
Date night tip: This is a small “shack” with only outdoor seating at picnic tables, so bring your patience and a hat!
Unique and Creative BBQ in Orlando
Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa
1326 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
This buzzworthy smokehouse in Orlando's hip Mills 50 district serves more than your grandma's classic pulled pork. Pig Floyd's combines traditional fire, smoke, and pit cooking methods with globally-inspired flavor.
Dress up a classic BBQ platter with fresh, house-made chimichurri or honey sriracha sauce, or go all out with local favorites like the Banh Mi pork belly sandwich, topped with lucky dragon sauce, pickled veggies, jalapeño, and garlic ginger aioli on a toasted baguette. Enjoy mouthwatering shareables and sides, like Mexican street corn and sticky ribs, and round out your meal with a crisp draft beer.
Yellow Dog Eats
1236 Hempel Ave, Windermere, FL 34786
Not a traditional spot for BBQ in Orlando, Yellow Dog Eats is not strictly a BBQ restaurant – you'll find tons of inventive sandwiches, wraps, salads, and deli-style sides here. That said, the craft BBQ section of their menu is not to be missed! Everything starts off with a base of tender pulled pork and signature Fish's Gold BBQ sauce on a fluffy bun. From there, pile on sweet or savory toppings like gouda cheese, spicy pickles, pecan-smoked bacon, or even thick-cut brie for a meal that will tease your taste buds. You can also get a full or half rack of baby back ribs, doused in Fish's Gold sauce and served with kettle chips and slaw.
Everything is served inside a historic home in downtown Gotha, making Yellow Dog feel like a delicious locals-only secret. Plus, it's pet-friendly, so you can bring the whole crew!
Date night tip: Impress your date with off-menu specials that showcase Yellow Dog's culinary creativity. Specials are posted daily on Instagram. Enjoy your meal on the patio or in the garden for a chill backyard atmosphere, and enjoy live music when it returns.
And if you find yourself in NSB, add Yellow Dog Eats to your itinerary of things to do in New Smyrna Beach!
The Polite Pig
1536 Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830
This Disney Springs quick service staple has a local flavor you might not expect. It's owned by James and Julie Petrakis, the team behind local restaurants The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder. The menu highlights the seasonal flavors of Florida for a fresh, modern take on BBQ. Savor a mouth-watering array of wood-smoked or grilled BBQ sandwiches, platters, fried chicken, and market sides, washed down with craft beer, small batch cocktails, or one of 60+ selections from the bourbon bar – one of our favorite Disney Springs bars.
Date night tip: Try the butcher board! It's made for two people, and includes pork, smoked chicken, prime brisket, and cheddar sausage, paired with slaw, pickles, cornbread, and two market sides for just $45.
After dinner, take a stroll around Disney Springs and catch a live performance by the water.
Smoke & Donuts
601 N. Primrose Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
What was once a family-owned food truck is now an adorable brick and mortar BBQ spot. Enjoy the best of both worlds: savory smoked BBQ and sweet handmade donuts. What's not to love? Order your donuts separately if you like, or go all in with brisket sliders served on vanilla and Mediterranean sea salt donuts. And the fun doesn't stop there. Husband-and-wife duo Ian Russell and Juliana Peña bring the flavor!
This menu delivers a bold twist on Southern BBQ. Besides incredbile smoked meats there are inventive bowls. Choose from signature proteins like brisket burnt ends, brown butter turkey breast, or even smoky jackfruit for a vegetarian take, all served over ginger-lime rice or fresh romaine with vibrant toppings.
Don’t miss the Pitmaster's Feast (feeds 5–6) or the creative remixes like the PB & K Sandwich with pork belly and garlic-ginger kimchi. And for dessert? Treat yourself to housemade donuts like The Lou topped with brisket burnt ends or the Sm’Oreo loaded with marshmallow and cookie crumbles.
Smokemade Meats + Eats
1400 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32806
After three years of delighting Orlando residents as a pop-up, Smokemade Meats + Eats finally has its own brick and mortar spot. The brisket and the ribs will absolutely blow you away, but save room for delicious sides like potato salad, cucumber and tomato salad (perfect for summer), and decadent mac & cheese. Expect a line – but it is worth it!
BBQ in Orlando Food Trucks & Pop-Ups
Up in Smoke
Another hard-to-find eatery with a tasty payoff, Up in Smoke serves small batch Memphis style BBQ in Orlando and beyond. Try hearty BBQ bowls and sandwiches like the Macdaddy (pork topped with mac and cheese) or the Huckleberry (chicken topped with blackberry dijon and fried onions), plus classic sides like cole slaw, baked beans, and potato salad. Find them at local food truck fairs, and stay tuned to social media to see where they'll pop up next.
Date night tip: Find a food truck event near you and meet some friends for a fun food truck group date!
