Barbecue hits all year long, but there’s something about summer that really brings out the flavor. These local barbecue joints are here for you, with mouthwatering ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket and sausages, as well as tasty alternatives such as wood-smoked salmon or jackfruit. The list below includes the winners and top vote-getters from this year’s Best of Arlington 2026 Awards, plus some additional spots worth checking out.
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co.
This Best of Arlington 2026 Award winner for best barbecue has been feeding Arlingtonians and visitors since 1995. (Founder John Snedden opened his first place five years earlier in D.C. before venturing across the river.) The menu features all the meats you’d expect: baby back pork ribs, pulled chicken, pit beef and brisket, plus pescatarian options like grilled salmon and catfish, and proteins can be ordered by the pound for takeout. Sides include baked beans, mac and cheese, Texas corn pudding, collard greens and fries. 3471 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Ruthie’s All-Day
Chef Matt Hill’s goal is to have “a special neighborhood place that makes bellies happy all day, every day,” according to the website of the restaurant he named after his paternal grandmother. Start with an order of skillet cornbread to set the mood and then go all in on smoked pulled pork shoulder, sticky spare ribs, brisket and wood-grilled branzino. Pair your protein with pulled pork pinto beans, hand punched fries or crispy Brussels sprouts with fish sauce vinaigrette. A popular finisher is a plate of warm campfire cookies with ice cream. (BTW, if you find yourself in Fairfax, swing by Hill’s newly opened RAD location in Fairfax Corner.) 3411 Fifth St., S., Arlington
Sloppy Mama’s Barbecue
Joe Neuman started serving his signature barbecue out of a food truck in 2014. Five years later, he opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Langston Boulevard, turning out ribs, chopped pork, turkey and even vegan barbecued jackfruit from two massive wood smokers named Waylon and Merle. Also available: Pig Wings (smoked rib tips), pimento cheese and pork rinds, home-made hot sweet pickles and collard greens. Neuman also recently began serving breakfast, including a plate of brisket, egg and cheese, on Saturdays. For home grillers, the restaurant’s signature sauces and rubs are available for purchase, too. 5731 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Smokecraft Modern Barbecue
Owner and pitmaster Drew Darneille knows a thing or two about award-winning ‘cue. He’s a regular on the competition circuit, including as the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle coming next month to Washington, D.C., and in 2023 earned a Chef’s Choice award at the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational. Find out what the buzz is about by ordering a sandwich stuffed with pulled pork or chicken, cherry wood-smoked brisket pastrami, ham, or turkey. In fact, there’s nothing Darneille won’t smoke. His menu also includes smoked avocado deviled eggs, and smoked Buffalo chicken dip, smoked cocktails and cedar planked brownie s’mores. 1051 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
Texas Jack’s Barbecue
All of the barbecue, sauces, dressings and desserts are made from scratch at this Lyon Park mainstay. Find bone-in beef short ribs, pork spare ribs, pulled chicken, Texas-style sausage by the link and combos of all of the above. Prefer a pescatarian option? Ask for the grilled salmon. Barbecued meats also find their way into apps like the ’87 Cutlass Supreme Nachos (topped with your choice of pulled pork, chicken or brisket) and The Big Papa, a loaded baked potato with cheddar, sour cream, pico, crispy onions and a choice of brisket, brisket chili or pulled pork. 2761 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Lyon Park)
Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ
Ready for barbecue in taco form? This concept by butcher and pitmaster Nathan Anda originated in Del Ray now has an outpost in the Mosaic District, serving heaping platters of hickory-smoked meats with sides like cilantro rice, black beans with cotija and fried plantains, plus tortillas for overstuffing. Accompaniments include green chili verde with smoked pork, bacon-braised collard greens and fried plantains. 8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Pikoteo
Restaurateur Manuel Iguina inherited the on-site Southern Pride rotisserie and smoker when he took over the former Boss Hog’s space in McLean in 2023. Caribbean-inspired dishes are the standouts here, according to our dining critic, but the menu also includes a barbecue section featuring smoked pork, ribs, chicken, brisket and wings, which you can pair with Latin offerings like house-made salsas, fried plantains and black beans and rice. 6811 Elm St., McLean
Hal & Al’s BBQ
For Texas-style barbecue made with halal meats and a taste of the Chesapeake—the secret spice is Old Bay—swing by this Ballston Quarter carryout and satisfy your craving with a brisket sandwich, tallow wings or The Gobbler, turkey sausage smothered in chili on a potato roll with a side of cornbread. You can also top a mac bowl with your preferred protein. Round it all out with smoked apple pie a la mode with a drizzle of dulce de leche. 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
The Falls
This popular Falls Church haunt was originally called Liberty Barbecue, and that legacy remains, even though it underwent a name change and a revamp in 2023. Fan favorites from its early days live on in the “Slow Smoked” section of the menu, which touts choices like brisket, pulled pork and honey-ginger glazed baby back ribs. Make it a proper Southern meal with sides of creamy grits or baked mac and cheese. 370 W. Broad St., Falls Church