North Loop Minneapolis Barbecue Restaurants

Fabled Rooster

Located inside North Loop’s buzzy Graze food hall collective, this veteran owned and operated Southern-style barbecue joint brings together the best barbecue traditions from the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia. Notable for its use of humanely-raised meats and sustainable seafood, the Fabled Rooster is best known for its brisket sammie absolutely packed with your choice of bbq sauce on Texas toast with housemade bread and butter pickles (but vegans will be pleased with the smoked Jackfruit Sammie as well). You’ll also find pork ribs, brisket egg rolls, horseradish havarti cheeseburgers, and seasonal sides like ginger sesame slaw and watermelon salad with fresh basil.

Tip: The Fabled Rooster is open daily for lunch and dinner take out, and there are plenty of places to enjoy your meal at Graze (including a rooftop patio with great views of the Minneapolis skyline). You can place an order for takeout via the online menu—which is also a great place to check to see if your favorite barbecue dishes are out of stock before you make the trip.

StormKing Brewpub + Barbecue

If you’re looking for Texas-style BBQ in Minneapolis, this North Loop barbecue spot offers meat by the plate, in a sandwich, or by the pound. Get a taste of everything with the “Perfect Storm”—a platter of chicken, brisket, pulled pork, a half rack of ribs, and two sides (coleslaw, beans, potato salad, or fries). Enjoy your meat fest with one of the dozen house-brewed beers on tap, a draft Long Island Iced Tea or Mai Tai, a pint of draft kombucha, or glass of kegged wine. Grab a slice of homemade strawberry rhubarb or key lime pie to finish your meal!

Tip: StormKing is open daily on weekdays starting at 4pm and weekends beginning at noon. Online ordering is available—perfect for ordering a meal for pickup after a Twins game. Enjoy the outdoor patio with picnic tables and firepits.

South Minneapolis BBQ Restaurants

Revival Smoked Meats

One of the newest South Minneapolis barbecue restaurants, Revival Smoked Meats opened in May 2022 in the Kingfield Neighborhood just down the street from sister fried chicken eatery Revival. The small, 80-seat neighborhood smokehouse is on the fancier side, with fine dining in its bones—co-owners Thomas Boemer and Nick Rancone opened Revival Smoked Meats in the same location as their former tony eatery Corner Table. Dig into “Texas Twinkies” (bacon-wrapped, brisket cream cheese-stuffed jalapenos), cheddar chive biscuits, jerk-seasoned grilled chicken, burgers, brisket, and cocktails from the full bar (try the Bourbon Sweet Tea or Rhubarb Margarita). For a sweet end to your meal, enjoy blueberry cobbler or a housemade blondie a la mode.

Tip: Revival is open seven days a week for dinner, and you can catch brunch starting at 11am on weekends. There’s no tipping at this new South Minneapolis barbecue hotspot—instead you’ll find a service fee added to your order to offer better wages and benefits to all staff.

Smoke in the Pit

Founded in 1998 in South Minneapolis, this Black-owned Southern dry rub barbecue restaurant near George Floyd Square is reigned over by pitmaster Dwight Alexander. You can taste his decades of meat craftsmanship as he, day after day, crafts delectable smoked wings, beef brisket, tender ribs, and fried catfish nuggets. Southern-style sides include candied yams, mac and cheese, fried spaghetti, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes.

Tip: Smoke in the Pit is takeout-only, with an order window and pick-up window for no-frills deliciousness. Lunch specials are served weekdays from 11am to 2pm—be sure to arrive early as bestsellers tend to run out (though a tasty substitute will always be recommended by the staff if that happens). Closed Sunday and Monday.

C&G’s Smoking Barbecue

Located just north of Tangletown on Nicollet Avenue and 48th, this no-frills counter service barbecue restaurant offers something for everyone—barbecue chicken, catfish with black-eyed peas, pulled pork sandwiches, smoked brisket and turkey, rib tips, smoked burgers, and coney island hot dogs. The menu sports a wider selection of desserts than many Minneapolis barbecue restaurants, including iced lemon cake, red velvet cheesecake, sweet potato pie, and fresh banana pudding.

Tip: Call and order ahead for fastest service. C&G’s offers free in-house local BBQ delivery on orders over $25. There are a few tables available for dine-in, but they can fill up—if there’s nowhere to sit, grab your barbecue to go and head to Minnehaha Creek Park a few blocks south for an al fresco picnic. Open 11am-8pm Tuesday through Thursday, 11am-9pm Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

Ted Cook’s 19th Hole BBQ

Specializing in soul food and pit-smoked meats, this South Minneapolis barbecue restaurant near Hiawatha avenue is named for founder and long-time owner Louis “Ted” Cook who mastered the pit from 1968 to 1986. With such a long history in the neighborhood, you won’t be surprised to find a nostalgia-inducing interior complete with framed vintage merch and photos of menu items taken decades ago. Menu highlights include beef ribs, pork rib tips, pulled pork, beef hot links, and fan-favorite jojo potatoes.

Tip: Ted Cook’s 19th Hole is open for takeout only, Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11am (closed Mondays).

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub

Another veteran of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Northbound is a South Minneapolis barbecue staple offering charming, dog-friendly patio seating in good weather. Enjoy the loaded Classic BBQ Platter with brisket, porchetta, and pulled BBQ chicken served with pickled veggies and white bread, or opt for applewood-smoked chicken wings tossed in your pick of a looooong list of sauces (from buffalo and jerk rub to apricot chipotle and Alabama white sauce). If you’re looking for beer snacks, you’ll also find poutine made with smoked Ellsworth white cheddar cheese curds, jalapeno hushpuppies, and chili cheese fries. For dessert, make the most of eating at a brewery and get the Peanut Butter Porter Parfait.

Tip: Open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 9:30pm and Friday through Saturday from 11am to 10:30pm. Northbound offers dine-in, take-out, and delivery, so you can have your smoked meats your way. They also offer Minneapolis BBQ catering with a food truck, take-and-go meals for a crowd (with a week’s notice), and full-service barbecue catering for special events.

Soul to Soul Smokehouse

Located inside South Minneapolis’s lauded Midtown Global Market, Soul to Soul Smokehouse brings together 60 years of family recipes from three longtime friends, Jewuan Marshall, Charles Robinson, and Anthony Simmons. Menu highlights include Millionaire Wings (brined, smoked, and fried whole chicken wings), four-cheese smoked macaroni and cheese, massive beef ribs, cornmeal-crusted fried catfish and jumbo shrimp, plus classic smoked chicken, turkey, pork, and brisket. Everything is available in generous portions by the plate, on a sandwich, by the pound, or in “family meals” that serve a crowd. For a little something sweet, pick up a slice of pecan bourbon butter cake, banana pudding, or sweet potato pie ice cream.

Tip: Midtown Global Market is a cooperative international market with restaurants, artisan goods, and groceries from around the world. Each business is independently owned and the market offers plenty of seating, so you can bring friends with different cravings and sit down to a meal together. Soul to Soul is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Northeast Minneapolis Barbecue Restaurants

Animales BBQ

This popular smoked-meat food truck parked on the patio outside of Bauhaus Brew Labs in Northeast Minneapolis is the perfect place for beer and a brisket on a sunny day. Expect classics like ribs, burnt ends, and pork belly as well as “cheffy” barbecue here—tequila braised pork, beef birria tacos topped with fried cheese, Korean gochujang rib tips, and truly spicy Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. The seasonal sides and desserts are equally inventive: think Peruvian mayacoba beans with queso fresco, basil-marinated peaches with almond relish, cumin-roasted carrot salad with Tajin crema, and strawberry tartlets with cornmeal sour cream crust and goat cheese.

Tip: The food truck menu changes frequently but specials are regularly updated on Instagram—with drool-inducing photos to match. Open Wednesday through Friday 4pm to 8:30pm and Saturdays noon to 8:30pm (closed Sundays).

Market BBQ

This old-school, family-owned Northeast Minneapolis barbecue joint has been serving up a wide variety of barbecue locally for over 70 years. Tuck into classics like brisket, smoked wings, pulled pork sandwiches, barbecue chicken sandwiches, cornbread by the loaf, and hand-breaded onion rings. Market BBQ also operates several food trucks you’ll frequently find parked at local breweries and events. If you’re looking for BBQ catering in Minneapolis, Market’s food truck is perfect for larger gatherings.

Tip: Indoor dining is available, with classic red-and-white-checked tablecloths. On holidays, they often switch to take-out only to serve more folks and their festivities—watch the website for updates.

Beast BBQ

At Beast, a melting pot of Texas, Carolina, Memphis, and Kansas City barbecue methods come together with locally grown and raised ingredients, smoked rotisserie-style over Minnesota oak in Northeast Minneapolis. You’ll find southern barbecue classics like humanely-raised meat platters with housemade pickles and garlic Texas toast (with options like St. Louis spare ribs, pulled pork butt, Minnesota-rasied chicken, and smoked wild salmon) plus less-classic, creative dishes (think housemade vegan jackfruit ribs, Red Lake wild rice salad, creamy brisket stroganoff with smoked mushrooms, tater tot nachos piled high with pulled pork or chicken, and smokehouse ramen.

Tip: Beast BBQ offers their full menu for dine-in and to-go, and offers Minneapolis barbecue catering as well. Closed Mondays, the kitchen is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from noon to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday from noon to 11pm.

Beyond Southern BBQ: Minneapolis Korean BBQ, Japanese BBQ, and Hawaiian Barbecue

Hoban Korean BBQ

Looking for Korean BBQ in Uptown, Minneapolis? Hoban has been bringing a traditional Korean barbecue experience to the neighborhood since 2016. This DIY-grilling style fills your table with marinated meats, fresh seafood, and vibrant vegetables in addition to a wide array of Korean banchan (side dishes like radish kimchi, potato salad, and seasoned soy sprouts). Enjoy beef, chicken, or pork bulgogi, pork belly, galbi (short ribs), and more—plus the enjoyable interactive experience of cooking each piece to your liking in the middle of your table.

Tip: Ordering is done on your phone via a QR code at the table, though servers are more than happy to help you navigate the process. Dine-in is available Tuesday through Sunday from 4pm to 11pm, but you can get your fix earlier for takeout or delivery Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11:30am. Reservations are available and recommended.

bb.q Chicken

Another Korean BBQ spot in Uptown, bb.q Chicken specializes in perfectly-fried and sauced up chicken wings. Everything is hand brushed, hand battered, and fried at lower temperatures for longer periods of time. This creates an unforgettably crispy texture, and the variety of sauces (reviewers love the soy garlic and Gangnam style sauces) provide the finishing touch. While wings here are the crowd-favorites, you can also order a whole fried bird, boneless pieces, and sides like kimchi, fried dumplings, and steamed rice.

Tip: bb.q Chicken is open everyday from 11am to 9:30 pm Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and 11am-10pm Friday and Saturday. Order ahead for take out or delivery, or dine in.

Dong Hae Korean Grill & Sushi

This Korean restaurant in Downtown Minneapolis offers tableside Korean BBQ, plus sushi, Japanese specialties, and all-you-can-eat options to explore a wide range of sushi and Korean dishes. (Heads up: the all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue option is not grilled at your table, it’s prepared in the kitchen and brought to you). If you’re not familiar with the Korean BBQ-style of dining, the servers are happy to help grill your food to perfection.

Tip: The restaurant is open 365 days a year and reservations can be made online via OpenTable. Note: the restrooms are not wheelchair accessible (stairs are required).

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

This Lyn-Lake/Uptown location of the North American Japanese barbecue chain puts a Japanese spin on the tabletop Korean BBQ style of dining. Armed with your own electric grill built into your dining surface, you’ll be able to DIY cuts of Japanese beef in various marinades and seasonings to your idea of perfectly grilled. They make ordering easy with a la carte options for seasoned Japanese bbq diners, and all-inclusive menus for 2, 3, 4, or 6 people with starters, bbq items, and dessert for folks who want to be led through the process (for the best prices, go during happy hour—weekdays 11:30-5pm).

Tip: Gyu-Kaku is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 am to 10pm, Friday 11:30 am to 11pm, Saturday from noon to 11pm, and Sunday from noon to 10pm.

Ono Hawaiian Plates

This casual North Loop Minneapolis Hawaiian barbecue restaurant specializes in “plate lunches”—large portions of barbecue chicken, chicken katsu, ahi poke, kalbi short ribs, and kalua pork—served Hawaiian style with rice and mac salad. You’ll also find Hawaaian treats like spam musubi, Kahuku-style garlic shrimp, and Hawaiian fried rice with spam, portuguese sausage, and bacon.

Tip: When ordering takeout, be sure to ask if you want utensils—they don’t include them automatically to avoid plastic waste.