Looking for the best BBQ in Savannah? How about some traditional southern food?
Savannah in the deep south has plenty of it and the best place to find good hot food and southern hospitality in the south is at one of the many BBQ restaurants in Savannah GA.
I love Savannah’s climate, the laidback lifestyle, and the beaches, but most of all I love the southern food. Give me a warm mac and cheese or a pulled pork sandwich any day and I’ll be back for more.
In preparation for your next trip, I’ve put together a list of the best Savannah barbecue restaurants.
Wiley’s Championship BBQ
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Looking for Championship Barbecue? You’ll find what you’re looking for right here at Wiley’s.
Wiley’s has dozens of awards for great barbecue cuisine going all the way back to its inception in 2007. Last year, TripAdvisor voted Wiley’s the number 1 BBQ joint in Georgia and number 4 in the US.
In 2020 readers of Southern Living voted it the best barbecue restaurant in Georgia. Accolades like these are hard-earned. So, even the fussiest eaters will find a tasty meal to suit them at this barbecue.
Wiley’s extensive menu includes barbecued chicken, beef and pork platters, sandwiches, and sliders. If you can’t make up your mind, choose the sampler platter. It covers all options.
The specialty dish at Wiley’s is the St Louis deep-fried ribs. If you’re in a group, create a plate is good fun. You order meat by the pound and share it with the table, serving good food and comradery in one sitting. Wash it all down with ice cold lager or a good wine.
On Sundays indulge in the bottomless Mimosa on offer. Sides include the trademarked best beans on the planet and Dutch crust sweet potato casserole. The Little Wiley menu includes 6 options and the dessert menu is adequate.
Wiley’s also caters for functions and requires just 48-hours-notice to deliver with both full service and drop-off options. They have two smoking pits that together hold more than 700 pounds of meat so they will take on functions of any size. Wiley’s also has a range of sauces and you can buy gift baskets and sets.
Address: 4700 Highway 80 East Savannah
Phone: +1 912-201-3259
Website: Wiley’s Championship BBQ
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11 am to 7.30 pm or until the barbecue runs out
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Sandfly Bar-B-Q
Until recently Sandfly had two restaurants in Savannah, both serving the same delicious menu. Sadly, the pandemic put paid to the little Streamliner restaurant in Downtown Savannah.
Nevertheless, the larger Fergusson Avenue restaurant continues to serve some of the best BBQ in Savannah.
The menu options include pulled pork and brisket along with traditional sides like okra, Texas toast, mac and cheese, and fried beans.
Order your barbecue meat on serving platters, sliders, or sandwiches. There is also a vegetable platter for vegetarians.
The restaurant offers a choice of sauces with the meal. Yet the food is so well seasoned, you probably won’t need them.
If you have a big appetite you may want to try the hogg wild platter. It’s piled with brisket, pork, chicken, ribs, and sausage and it’s served with two Texas toasts and a couple of sides.
Outdoor seating along the canal makes for a cool and relaxed atmosphere. While indoors, warm wood and a rich color scheme add ambiance. Sandfly works on a counter service that ensures that you get your meal fast and piping hot.
The award-winning restaurant has served the area since 2007.
Address: 8413 Fergusson Avenue Savannah
Phone: +1 912-356-5463
Website: Sandfly Bar-B-Q
Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 am until the barbecue runs out
BowTie Barbecue Co.
Many will remember the 100-year-old Johnny Harris restaurant that closed in 2016 and perhaps miss some of the cuisines which they had grown to love.
Some of these dishes live on today at the Bowtie Barbecue Company. These include the batterless fried chicken and the 1924 salad.
The BowTie Barbecue Company prides itself on working from a scratch kitchen, one where everything is made from scratch. They build their business on integrity and family values.
Order from an extensive menu of smalls and stew, entrees, salads, sides, sandwiches, burgers, and, of course, plates. The restaurant has an extensive whiskey bar with more than 120 bottles of premiere whiskey. Those with a sweet tooth might find the dessert menu a little disappointing as it has but three options. There is no children’s menu.
The restaurant has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It frequently runs events like live music and board game evenings.
The outdoor area has a removable cover so inclement weather doesn’t impact available seating. Dogs are welcome outdoors.
BowTie Barbecue Company offers, dine-in, delivery, and curbside pickup. They also cater to large groups. Place your order online.
The restaurant food cart dubbed Beauregard’s Chariot often takes to the roads to sell delicious barbecue on the streets of Savannah.
Address: 6724 Waters Avenue Savannah
Phone:+1 912-354-7810
Website: BowTie Barbecue Company
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 9.30 pm Friday and Saturday 11 am to 10 pm
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Dicky’s Barbecue Pit
Dicky’s Barbecue Pit is a franchise, with outlets across the country. The first Dicky’s opened in Texas in 1941.
The restaurant became famous for its hickory-smoked barbecues. Franchising started in 1994. Today there are 500 restaurants in 44 states including this one right here in Savannah.
Like all franchises, the food and premises must meet the requirements of the mother company. So, you’re sure of receiving the same offering wherever you eat.
The Dicky’s barbecue menu includes pulled pork, smoked turkey, beef brisket, ribs, and spicy cheese sausage.
Traditional sides like beans and mac and cheese are also on offer. Every meal comes with a serving of complimentary ice cream.
The menu has something for everyone and you can save when you buy the “Deal of the Day”. Earn Loyalty rewards and you could eat for free. Children eat free on Sunday.
The franchise prides itself in responsible sourcing of agricultural products. Dicky’s earned a reputation for great catering even before it became a franchise.
It offers a wide choice of food that includes individually packed lunch boxes, delivery buffets, and full-service functions. The restaurant also does barbecue catering and party platters and plates.
Address: 13051 Abercorn Street Savannah
Phone: +1 912-200-3677
Website: Dicky’s Barbecue Pit Savannah
Hours: Daily 11 am to 9 pm
Papa’s BBQ and Seafood
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Papa’s BBQ and Seafood have been making and selling delectable food since 1972.
The business started as takeout and stayed that way until 1990 when the first sit-down restaurant opened on Whitemarsh Island with room for 35 diners.
Today Papa’s seats 125 and offers a full bar serving a wide selection of cocktails.
The menu has been scaled back over the pandemic but still offers a wide selection of appetizers, soups, and cold and hot plates.
Sides include okra, sweet potatoes fried Brunswick stew, and, of course, mac a cheese, all traditional southern staples.
Sandwiches and soup, salad, sandwich combinations are also popular choices.
There is a kiddie’s menu and rather a nice dessert menu. The restaurant hasn’t strayed from its days as a takeout joint and still offers takeout family portions.
Papa’s also offers off-premise catering for parties of 40 or more. They provide all the food, crockery, covered tables, and utensils.
Catering for smaller parties is for takeout only. You can also plan a country boil or oyster bake with Papas for parties of 50 or more. The restaurant will help you to customize your menu for any occasion.
Address: 119-A Charlotte Road Savannah
Phone: +1 912-897-0236
Website: Papa’s BBQ and Seafood
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11 am to 2.30 pm and 4.30 to 7.30 pm – Sunday 11 am to 4 pm
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Savannah Smokehouse BBQ and Brew
A relatively new restaurant, the Savannah Smokehouse, BBQ, and Brew occupies what was once a music store.
The sign outside the shop is one of only three original signs from old Savannah. The restaurant walls are stripped down to the original brick giving it a lovely warehouse finish.
This is a casual restaurant. So, order at the counter and take a seat.
The kitchen works from scratch, making almost everything in-house including the delicious rub that they use for their barbecue meat.
The downtown restaurant uses a Southern Pride smoker that needs less ventilation in the cooking process. Hickory wood gives the meat a sweet and smoky flavor that isn’t too harsh.
Sides are mostly traditional southern style and include such classics as Brunswick stew, cornbread, and mac and cheese. There is a kiddie’s menu and a dessert of the day.
Address: 16 West State Street Savannah
Phone: +1 912-335-1082
Website: Savannah Smokehouse BBQ and Brew
Hours: Daily from 11 am to 5.30 pm
Blowin’ Smoke Southern Cantina
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Blowin’ Smoke Southern Cantina pride themselves in their slow-cooked smoked meat. The meat is brined and then covered in a delicious rub. It then goes for 16 hours into a Pecan Wood burner till the meat is soft and falling from the bone.
Blowin’ Smoke has an interesting menu with lots to choose from. Appetizers, chips and dips, and tacos all start the meal.
Chicken and pork plates make the mains. If you’re really hungry try the Holy Smoke Platter which combines brisket, pulled pork, and beef rib. Add salads and sides to complete the meal.
There is a small children’s menu but no desserts. You can use the counter service and eat outside on the patio. Alternatively, try the full-service option inside the restaurant.
If you’re looking for an off-site caterer Blowin’ Smoke will do that too. The restaurant needs 24 hours notice to prepare a meal for more than eight people.
The a la carte menu contains BBQ meat and sides like honeyed plantains and collard greens. Blowin’ Smoke will customize a menu to your taste.
Address: 1611 Habersham Street Savannah
Phone: +1 912-231-2385
Website: Blowin’ Smoke
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 am to 10 pm Sunday noon to 9 pm
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Barnes Restaurant
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Barnes restaurant has been in the business of making delicious barbecue meats since 1975.
On the menu, you’ll find delicious pit-cooked barbecue meat, rotisserie chicken, seafood, salads, and sides.
Here you can combine your love of barbecue with a seafood starter like the delicious crab stew or shrimp salad plate.
Grab a main of hearty barbecue ribs or a pulled pork barbecue sandwich. Look out for daily and monthly specials.
Barnes has pit-cooked their BBQ meat every day for forty years. Over that time, they have stuck to using oak and hickory wood, no gas, no electricity.
This is what gives the meat the pink edges known as the smoke ring. Like many of the barbecue houses, Barnes also has its own proprietary sauce
Barnes operates a mobile kitchen taking to the streets, and filling the suburbs with the warm aroma of BBQ meat. Check their website for dates and locations.
The restaurant also has a fully-fledged catering section, capable of catering for thousands of people.
They promise to deliver traditional southern cuisine and offer a number of service options including boxed lunches, buffets, and full-service catering.
Address:5320 Waters Avenue Savannah
Phone: +1 912-355-3850
Website: Barnes Restaurant
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 4 pm Friday and Saturday 11 am to 8 pm
Korea Garden BBQ Restaurant
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For something a little different, the BBQ at the Korea Garden BBQ Restaurant is well worth a try.
Here you can enjoy beautifully marinated beef and pork over a refreshing cup of green tea.
The authentic Korean menu contains appetizers, stews, grills, and stir-fries.
If you’re looking for sandwiches or burgers, you’re at the wrong place, but here you will find delicious seafood dishes served with Korean sauces.
Pair your food with a rice or raspberry wine or a local or imported beer.
There is no dessert menu. Order individually for the barbecue or take one of the three preselected combos.
Enjoy the immersive experience of food cooked right at your table. The delicious aromas surround you before you get to eat the food.
The restaurant is beautifully appointed with minimalistic décor in warm shades of black and brown.
You can expect a warm welcome and friendly service from the staff. The food comes with a nice assortment of pickles and side dishes so you can customize your plate to suit your palate. A stainless-steel dish ensures that the rice stays warm while you enjoy your meal.
Address: 20 E Derenne Avenue Savannah
Phone:+1 912-201-1771
Hours:Monday to Saturday 11 am to 7 pm and Sunday 1 to 7 pm
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District Smokehouse
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Looking for late-night dinner on the weekends? You’ll find it at the District Smokehouse on the Riverwalk on the pavilion. This is the perfect place to eat if you’ve come to enjoy an evening of entertainment at the center.
The menu is surprisingly limited, particularly when compared with what’s on offer at some of the other BBQ restaurants. The restaurant offers sandwiches and stuffed potatoes. Platters by the pound are served with two sides. The smoky BBQ meat is delicious and there is plenty of it. There is a single dessert on offer. Wash it down with a cold craft beer, a cocktail, or a chilled glass of wine.
Open-air seating right on the water makes for a lovely setting.
Address: 500 W River st Savannah
Phone: +1 912-373-9100
Website: District Smokehouse
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 9 pm
Friday and Saturday 11 am to 12 am
Best BBQ in Savannah Conclusion
There you have it, a complete list of the best Savannah BBQ restaurants.
Enjoy the delicious food and warm southern hospitality in one of these lovely restaurants in Savannah GA.
