Best BBQ in Las Vegas
People feel that BBQ is a touchy subject here in Las Vegas since it’s more of a luxury, upscale, and fine dining destination. And many tourists would happily debate the quality of a Vegas barbecue.
But while the barbecue restaurants here appear to offer generic country favorites to a casual observer, their techniques are far from it. Vegas has many restaurants with pit masters using the very same techniques of low and slow smoking, and they perfectly replicate the original tradition.
In fact, these pit masters even have dozens of years of experience and the real skills to pull off a crafted barbecue meal (complete with sides) to make you feel at home the first bite. And because of this, Vegas actually has quite a loyal following amongst the barbecue crowd.
That said, there are about a dozen popular barbecue restaurants here. So here’s our list of the best options. Each will have you drooling in hunger simply by looking at photos of their delicious pulled pork, beef brisket, and slow-cooked ribs. And recipes are so authentic that even a southern grandmother is jealous and wants the recipe herself.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Best BBQ in Las Vegas
Jessie Rae’s BBQ
Located on South Valley View Boulevard next to the Allegiant Stadium, Jessie Rae’s BBQ offers an award-winning menu that will water your mouth in no time.
Jessie Rae’s prides itself on offering a unique barbecue style, which they call Las Vegas-style barbecue. And they’ve created a unique blend that mixes the best elements from various regions to the point it’s now award-winning and famous.
For example, their God Sauce, in particular, offers a sweeter taste with a hint of vinegar and delicate spice. This combination brings a lot of personality and a unique flavor to the table that’s hard to describe. But you’ll know it once you taste it.
That said, Jessie Rae’s will drench this famous sauce onto all your hometown favorites. We’re talking brisket, baby back ribs, spare ribs, pulled pork, hot links, and even smoked chicken, all available by the half pound or pound. They also offer side dishes, including barbecue mashed potatoes, waffle fries, baked beans, and potato salad. So you have plenty of options to create a full meal.
Jessie Rae’s even offers catering and takeout options through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates. And they even sell their award-winning barbecue sauce by the bottle, so you can take that to go.
Rollin Smoke Barbeque
Rollin Smoke Barbeque has five locations throughout Las Vegas. But the closest one is on Highland Drive by the Fashion Show Las Vegas. Rollin Smoke is a wildly popular chain that’s now part-owned by Rick Harrison of the famous Pawn Stars TV show. And it’s even a restaurant featured on the Travel Channel.
Rolling smoke specializes in classic Hickory smoked Southern-style BBQ, which they’ve mastered through 20 years of experience. And they offer more depth in this barbecue style than other restaurants, so you’ll find that they have a larger selection of meats ready to satisfy your cravings. We’re talking brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, spareribs, hot links, meatloaf, and smoked chicken or turkey. But they also have rare options like catfish, shrimp, and wagyu brisket.
Rollin Smoke even serves several homemade dessert options, including banana pudding, sundaes, and a tasty peach cobbler. But besides these traditional mouthwatering meats, their menu also features sandwiches, burgers, and many side dishes like potato salad, coleslaw, mash, cornbread, and more. And Rick’s Rollin Smoke Tavern also features a full bar with happy hour specials. But, all of their locations offer both catering and delivery.
That said, Rollin Smoke is definitely the restaurant to consider if you’re looking for the best traditional barbecue experience in town.
Virgil’s Real BBQ
Conveniently located on South Las Vegas Blvd. in The LINQ Promenade, Virgil’s Real BBQ is a national chain originally founded in New York. But their Vegas location is an easy visit considering its fun, low-key atmosphere, and excellent location. But the food will also take your backyard Southern barbecue experience to the next level.
Virgil’s is a multilevel restaurant where the second-floor patio attracts tourists globally like nothing else to see its fantastic view. But Virgil’s isn’t just about a nice view. This restaurant uses custom designed smokers with various woods to create a wide selection of barbecue styles. We’re talking Carolina-inspired, Sweet Memphis, classic southern, Creole, and even Cajun. And because of this enormous range, they can easily cater to the diversity of taste buds in Las Vegas.
They deliver a large selection of meats, including ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, catfish, salmon, T-bone, and Angus steaks. They also serve barbecue breakfast with exciting items like a brisket egg sandwich, chicken & waffles, biscuits & gravy, steak & eggs, and breakfast burritos. So you can get homemade barbecue any time of day.
Virgil’s even has a live music stage. And they have plenty of drink options, including draft beer, whiskey, wine, shots, slushies, bourbon, mezcal, and even 1-gallon Party In a Jar cocktails to keep the party going. Otherwise, they offer catering, delivery options, and private dining for large parties.
So if you’re looking for a restaurant you can walk to on The Strip with all your comfort food favorites, this is the one to consider.
Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-B-Que
Located on South Las Vegas Boulevard in Treasure Island, Las Vegas, Gilley’s offers you country favorites and a fun environment to boot. And it’s not only one of the best restaurants to not only eat at, but it’s one you’ll want to spend your evening at too.
Gilley’s cooks with a southern touch, giving visitors a classic barbecue experience. And they offer a solid selection of meats ranging from baby back ribs, pulled pork, ribeye steak, and brisket. They also have a breakfast menu featuring burritos, Loco moco, steak & eggs, and an optional bottomless mimosa package on weekends.
But Gilley’s isn’t just about tasty barbecue. No, it’s also incredibly fun. Gilley’s overlooks the Sirens Cove of Treasure Island, a fountain area with a pirate ship that gives you a great view of the Las Vegas Strip. And it turns into a genuine western club at night, complete with live music from local talent and cowgirls in bikinis two-steppin’ and line dancing.
They also host Bluegrass & BBQ every Friday and Saturday, with live Bluegrass bands at 5 PM, no cover, and drink specials until 10PM. So get ready to eat some mouthwatering barbecue, dance, and ride their mechanic bull to round out your evening as a fun experience to remember.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. There’s our list of the best barbecue restaurants in town. And you now have a solid list of restaurants ready to wet your lips with juicy BBQ sauce.