Barbecue in Denver

2150 Broadway, Denver Five Points/RiNo

303-296-3334

Barbecue, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor, Menu

"Sauce is a condiment. In my opinion, it's optional." So says Don Hines, who owns Yazoo Barbeque Company. He came by his opinion in Memphis, where he worked on a number of barbecue teams. Instead of sauce, the pitmaster uses a Memphis-style dry rub on his ribs, pork shoulder and brisket to lock in flavor, then smokes those meats over pecan wood. After moving to Denver, he first gained fans with his little storefront on the edge of downtown, which is still our favorite for the smokier flavors and fall-off-the-bone texture. And despite his opinion that sauce is optional, he puts bottles of his own homemade version out on every table — but he insists that he learned to make that sauce here in Denver, not in Memphis.

13 articles

Yazoo Barbeque Company

9555 E. Arapahoe Rd., Englewood Southeast Denver Suburbs

303-792-9500

Barbecue, Best Of, Sponsor, Menu

"Sauce is a condiment. In my opinion, it's optional." So says Don Hines, who owns Yazoo Barbeque Company. He came by his opinion in Memphis, where he worked on a number of barbecue teams. Instead of sauce, the pitmaster uses a Memphis-style dry rub on his ribs, pork shoulder and brisket to lock in flavor, then smokes those meats over pecan wood. After moving to Denver, he first made fans with his little Yazoo storefront on the edge of downtown; he soon added this second, larger spot in a quiet strip mall. And despite his opinion that sauce is optional, he puts bottles of his own homemade version out on every table -- but he insists that he learned to make that sauce here in Denver, not in Memphis.

4 articles

1301 Santa Fe Tavern & Grill

1301 Santa Fe Dr. Central Denver

303-996-8970

American, Barbecue, Mexican, Steakhouse, Recommended, Menu

New owners have brought a new menu along with a new cleanliness regimen to the former dark, divey Hoffbrau, now renamed 1301 Santa Fe Bar & Grill. The rooftop smoking deck and wooden floor of the dining room got a good scrubbing, and the kitchen and interior underwent several much-needed repairs. The result is a comfortable neighborhood joint, with a dark bar for imbibing those happy-hour and late-night specials, and cozy tables where crowds can order off a menu that includes Mexican, Greek and American fare.

2 articles

AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q

2180 S. Delaware St. Southwest Denver

720-815-5571

Barbecue, Recommended

AJ's started out as an unusual venture: a weekend-only smokehouse serving meats slow-roasted in a smoker bolted onto the back of an old farm truck. Since then, it's expanded its hours and seating options, serving Wagyu beef pastrami along with traditional barbecue favorites like brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, sausage and turkey.

5 articles

Aloha Hawaiian Barbecue

8623 Washington St., Thornton North Denver

303-227-6800

Barbecue, Hawaiian, Menu

Color photos of menu items clutter the front window of this little shoebox Hawaiian joint in suburban Thornton, offering the promise of a filling, comforting and inexpensive meal inside -- a Spam musubi here will set you back less than the price of a cup of coffee elsewhere. Aloha's interior leans strongly toward the Spartan, with little decor other than a Hawaiian state flag and orange bench seats reminiscent of a 1970s burger shack. But it's a clean and lively space, with enticing aromas of sweet marinade rising from hot grill surfaces in the kitchen. Best bets are the teriyaki-style barbecued meats such as beef short ribs, chicken and steak, all rich and sticky with dark glaze. A side order of housemade kimchi will add just enough fire and funk to heavy but satisfying plate-lunch specials. Don't forget to say "Mahalo!"

2 articles

Anointed BBQ & Soul Food

2504 W. Hampden Ave. Sheridan

303-862-8103

Barbecue, Soul Food, Slideshow

7 articles

BD's Mongolian Barbeque

1620 Wazee St. Downtown Denver

303-571-1824

Asian, Barbecue, Mongolian

Diners call the shots at BD's Mongolian Barbeque, a bustling, decade-old LoDo spot that puts a modern spin on the traditional Mongolian feast. Build a stir-fry bowl from an assembly-line-style selection of meats, vegetables, starches and sauces, which are grilled on the spot by knife-wielding chefs. The possible combinations are infinite, from seafood-centric to meaty, mild to super-hot, and light to hearty: Customers control both portion size and caloric content. BD's also offers a variety of dishes for the less adventurous, including traditional pad Thai, fajitas, teriyaki and the original house combination. Beer and wine are also available in this interactive eatery.

4 articles

Big Hoss Bar-B-Q

3961 Tennyson St. Northwest Denver

720-855-3061

Barbecue, Restaurants, Recommended

This is the kind of neighborhood joint that everyone ought to have in his neighborhood, a place that's both casually friendly and aggressively social, that serves both PBR on tap and super-call whiskey, and that offers the menus of both a champion barbecue restaurant and a decent locals-only steakhouse. Carolina pork shoulder, closed-pit Texas brisket, fried cheese and half-chickens in Alabama white sauce -- what are you waiting for? Big Hoss Bar-B-Q is one of the best all-around spots in town.

10 articles

Big Papa's BBQ

6265 E. Evans Ave. Southeast Denver

303-300-4499

Barbecue, Restaurants, Recommended, Menu

There's no grizzled old papa at Big Papa's standing watch over a hickory fire in the parking lot, but rather one giant Southern Pride smoker in the back. This little storefront outfit works fast -- and with barbecue, speed is made possible only by the intelligent application of technology and mass-production methods. The ribs, the brisket, the chicken and the link sausage all get hours of straight hickory smoke -- which infuses the meat with as much magic as any real pit smoker could -- before they're considered done, wrapped, packed away in the coolers, and then served with Papa's great sauces.

10 articles

Big Papa's BBQ

5151 S. Federal Blvd., Littleton Southwest Denver Suburbs

303-476-6245

Barbecue, Restaurants, Recommended

There's no grizzled old papa at Big Papa's standing watch over a hickory fire in the parking lot, but rather one giant Southern Pride smoker in the back. This little storefront outfit works fast -- and with barbecue, speed is made possible only by the intelligent application of technology and mass-production methods. The ribs, the brisket, the chicken and the link sausage all get hours of straight hickory smoke -- which infuses the meat with as much magic as any real pit smoker could -- before they're considered done, wrapped, packed away in the coolers, and then served with Papa's great sauces.

5 articles

A Bit Twisted Brewpub & Smokehouse

2095 S. Peoria St. Aurora

210-875-2956

Brewpub, Barbecue, Breweries and Wineries

Blaze House BBQ & Soul Food

2210 S. Chambers Rd. Aurora

303-337-0508

Barbecue, Soul Food, Menu

Breckenridge Brewery and BBQ

471 Kalamath St. Central Denver

303-623-2739

Barbecue, Brewpub, Recommended, Slideshow

Colorado is the brewpub capital of the world, and Breckenridge Brewery was one of the early pioneers that helped the state claim that crown. The main attraction at the Ballpark location is the brewery's extensive selection of handcrafted beers, which can best be sampled during daily happy hour, but there's also a good selection of typical pub fare, everything from wings and nachos to soups, salads and burgers; a smattering of Mexican dishes, including enchiladas and fajitas, spices things up a bit. Drawing sporting types and business folk from LoDo and beyond, the Breckenridge Brewery is a reliable slice of Denver life.

36 articles

Brook's Original BBQ

1480 Arapahoe St. Downtown Denver

303-554-5280

Barbecue

Brooks Smokehouse BBQ & Cajun Cuisine

800 Oakland St. Aurora

720-297-0017

Barbecue, Recommended, Menu, Slideshow

Ron Brooks and his wife, Louella, run a Louisiana barbecue restaurant out of their home in suburban Aurora from Friday through Sunday, where they serve up twelve-hour smoked meats, some of the best sides in town — like a kicked-up creamed corn called maque choux — and a sampling of Cajun specialties, from gumbo to alligator "wings." Enjoy the Brookses' Bayou hospitality or call for catering to have your event brimming with deeply smoky pork ribs and a shortened menu from the home base.

6 articles

Brothers BBQ

568 Washington St. Central Denver

720-570-4227

Barbecue, Restaurants, Best Of, Menu

A born-and-bred Colorado chain founded by the British O'Sullivan brothers in 1998, Brothers offers everything a traditional barbecue joint must: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken and hot links, to be slathered with any of the array of homemade sauces. You can order those meats on sandwiches or in plate specials, family packs or even by weight if you want to take everything home. Brothers also has all the standard 'cue sides, including a mayonnaise-drenched potato salad, sweet and tangy baked beans, creamy coleslaw and even French fries and salad for those who like to venture outside the Styrofoam box.

9 articles

Brothers BBQ

6449 Leetsdale Dr. Southeast Denver

303-322-3289

Barbecue, Restaurants, Best Of, Menu

A born-and-bred Colorado chain founded by the British O'Sullivan brothers in 1998, Brothers offers everything a traditional barbecue joint must: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken and hot links, to be slathered with any of the array of homemade sauces. You can order those meats on sandwiches or in plate specials, family packs or even by weight if you want to take everything home. Brothers also has all the standard 'cue sides, including a mayonnaise-drenched potato salad, sweet and tangy baked beans, creamy coleslaw and even French fries and salad for those who like to venture outside the Styrofoam box.

10 articles

Brothers BBQ

9069 E. Arapahoe Rd., Englewood Southeast Denver Suburbs

303-799-9777

Barbecue, Restaurants, Best Of, Menu

A born-and-bred Colorado chain founded by the British O'Sullivan brothers in 1998, Brothers offers everything a traditional barbecue joint must: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken and hot links, to be slathered with any of the array of homemade sauces. You can order those meats on sandwiches or in plate specials, family packs or even by weight if you want to take everything home. Brothers also has all the standard 'cue sides, including a mayonnaise-drenched potato salad, sweet and tangy baked beans, creamy coleslaw and even French fries and salad for those who like to venture outside the Styrofoam box.

8 articles

Burnt End BBQ

5332 DTC Blvd., #100, Greenwood Village Southeast Denver Suburbs

720-638-1153

Barbecue, Menu

4 articles

Busey Brews

70 E. 1st St., Nederland Mountains

855-633-2739

Barbecue, Breweries and Wineries

Cabin Creek Smokehouse BBQ

25997 Conifer Rd., Conifer West Denver Suburbs

303-838-0375

Barbecue, Recommended, Menu

Cabin Creek is the first stable, solid location for owners John and Christi Patrick, barbecue veterans who got their start in catering. While Cabin Creek still does a tremendous amount of catering (including whole pigs for luaus), a lot of cars screech to a halt here for a fast hit of barbecue. The meats are slow-smoked on the premises over oak and hickory, and paired with excellent sauces. Two don't-miss menu items: the barbecue burritos and barbecue mashers (pork barbecue over mashed potatoes with cheese and sour cream).

5 articles

Cafe UR Way

10941 E. Colfax Ave. Aurora

720-297-0017

Barbecue, Pizza, Menu

Caldonia's Bar-B-Que

2252 S. Parker Rd. Southeast Denver

303-752-3829

American, Barbecue, Recommended, Menu

For more than twenty years, this very casual, sports-oriented spot has been cooking up credible BBQ, right down to the sweet, hickory-smokey Oklahoma-style sauce. While you're munching, watch the big game on one of the many TVs; in the summer, hit the huge deck to ogle the babes playing volleyball.

6 articles

Campfire

27883 Meadow Dr., Evergreen West Denver Suburbs

303-593-1018

Barbecue, Pizza

When restaurateur Jared Leonard relocated from Chicago to Colorado, landing in Evergreen, he knew he wanted to open a restaurant in the small mountain town. Inspired by the campfires he remembered from childhood, nearly all of the food here is prepared in an outdoor kitchen over live fire, from the Neapolitan style pizzas to rotisserie chicken and barbecue.

Carve Barbecue

1000 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale East Denver

Barbecue, Fast Casual

6 articles

Chilgogi Korean BBQ

9666 E. Arapahoe Rd. Greenwood Village

720-750-7856

Asian, Barbecue, Korean, Menu

Churn & Burn

No Address Central Denver

303-500-1242

Food Trucks, Barbecue, Ice Cream

Barbecue and ice cream: that's a winning combination in any book. Churn & Burn offers both, plying Denver's streets with goofy but delicious creations like a cornbread waffle bowl loaded with smoked meat, mac and cheese, barbecue sauce and coleslaw. But the crew's traditional barbecue holds its own even without the bells and whistles: slabs of peppery brisket, pulled pork, chicken, hot links, pork belly and even smoked portabello mushrooms all satisfy our prehistoric urge to gorge on proteins cooked over fire. Ice cream flavors change regularly, but expect equally eccentric combos, like an ice cream sandwich made with shortcake cupcakes or brownies. First you burn, then you churn — or switch it up and have dessert first; you'll love Churn & Burn either way.

Country Time BBQ

2504 W. Hampden Ave., Englewood Southwest Denver Suburbs

720-404-1916

Barbecue, Restaurants, Critics' Pick, Slideshow

Country Time BBQ owners Lawrence and Jennifer Barkers, onetime partners in life but now divorced and just business partners, remain true to one style of barbecue: their own. And it's so good that friends begged them for years to start a 'cue restaurant. Finally, the two relented and opened up a BBQ joint in Sheridan. Jennifer contributed a barbecue sauce recipe from her grandmother, who comes from Mississippi; Lawrence supplied the secret smoking technique. (He uses two kinds of wood, but he won't even tell Jennifer what they are.) Together they started building a takeout and catering business. The menu is basic, but it includes stellar brisket, pork and chicken staples plus a handful of sides -- all of which are exemplary, even if they hew to no tradition but the Barkerses' own.

8 articles

Cub's Q Barbeque

6955 S. York St., Centennial Southwest Denver Suburbs

303-794-5400

Barbecue, Menu

4 articles

Cupbop

7450 W. 52nd Ave., Unit C Arvada

720-741-2408

Korean, Barbecue, Menu

Cupbop

3452 W. 32nd Ave., Denver Highland/Lower Highland

720-741-2409

Korean, Barbecue

DJ's Watering Hole

988 W. Dillon Rd. Louisville

303-604-6000

Indian, Barbecue

1 article

Famous Dave's

16539 N. Washington St. Broomfield

303-280-6227

Barbecue

Dave Anderson already had a distinguished resume before he decided to get into the barbecue business. That was back in 1994, when he opened his first Famous Dave's in Wisconsin, a joint that was casual, comfortable and so down-home that the barbecue was served on a garbage-can lid, in homage to Anderson's personal cooking technique. Since then, Famous Dave's has been smokin', with close to 200 restaurants now open across the country -- including this outpost in Thornton. In a BBQ-deprived area, Famous Dave's is the real deal, serving up burgers, chicken, salads, sandwiches and, most important, St. Louis-style spareribs, hickory-smoked and slathered with Anderson's own Rich & Sassy sauce made from a secret recipe. And if you're feeling really hungry, you can order the All-American BBQ Feast, presented, yes, on a garbage-can lid.

1 article

Barbecue in Denver

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