No gas, no fluff — just the 12 picks for best BBQ in Denver for 2025. Smoked brisket, ribs, links, and real heat with maps, menus, and cracked reviews.
How I Found the Best BBQ in Denver (So You Don’t Waste Your Appetite on Mid)
This image may be AI-generated and do not necessarily reflect the actual food from the reviewed establishments of the best bbq in denver guide
If you’re Googling best BBQ in Denver and still end up chewing on dry pulled pork with zero bark, this list is for you.
I didn’t build this off Yelp reviews or food tours. I got in my car, hit every single BBQ spot worth a damn in this city, and judged them harder than a Texan at a vegan cookout. Brisket, ribs, burnt ends, sausage — I ordered everything, took notes, and left with a meat hangover more than once.
This is the real breakdown of the best barbecue in Denver Colorado right now. No closed joints. No fake awards. Just smoked meat that makes you forget what day it is.
If you’re serious about barbecue and tired of seeing “top 10” lists that read like they were AI-written by someone who’s never left Manhattan, this is your blueprint.
Table of Contents
Updated: May 2025
Best Ribs in Denver” + “BBQ vs Colorado Smoke — What’s the Difference?
1. Pit Fiend Barbecue
2826 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Instagram credit: @pit_fiend_bbq
You want experimental BBQ that still hits like Texas heat? Pit Fiend is it. Located in RiNo and run by culinary arsonists, this place throws traditional rules out the window — and somehow still nails it.
I ordered the brisket, squid ink sausage, and a side of smoked jackfruit just to see if they were bluffing. Every bite was cracked. The brisket bark had crunch, the fat cap melted, and the sausage tasted like someone smoked a Michelin star.
If you’re looking for the best bbq in Denver with creative flair and zero compromise on smoke, this is your first stop. Bonus points for the metal playlist and zero influencer energy inside.
2. SMŌK Barbecue
3330 Brighton Blvd #202, Denver, CO 80216 (inside The Source)
@denverplaces 📍 Smōk at The Source #denverplaces #denvercolorado #denvereats #denverfoodie #denverfood #denverbbq #michelinguide #smokbbq ♬ LOSE MY BREATH X LADY – CarterWalsh
Tiktok credit: @denverplaces
SMŌK is where barbecue meets culinary school precision. You walk into The Source expecting pretentious vibes, but they’re slinging brisket like a Texas roadside shack — just with better lighting and craft beer on tap.
I hit their brisket taco, which sounds like fusion but lands like tradition with an edge. Their house sausage is smoky, herby, and doesn’t feel like filler. They even nailed the sweet potato tots, which shouldn’t slap this hard but absolutely do.
Out of every spot I tested for this best barbecue in Denver breakdown, SMŌK was the most consistently dialed-in across meat, sides, and vibe.
3. Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que
2387 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80210
@cowgirlseat Trying Colorado barbecue as a native Texan 🔥 📍 @RoamingBuffaloBbq – Denver, CO #barbecue #coloradobbq #bisonribs #denverfood #creatorsearchinsights ♬ Fast – Instrumental Version – Skrxlla
TikTok credit: @cowgirlseat
Roaming Buffalo isn’t here to do what everyone else is doing — they’re pushing Colorado-style barbecue and actually giving it meaning.
Where else in Denver are you going to get bison ribs, smoked lamb shoulder, and housemade jalapeño cheddar sausage without a 45-minute wait and a side of influencer BS?
The bison ribs were rich, slightly gamey (in a good way), and smoked just soft enough to fall apart without turning to mush. Their lamb shoulder was next level — juicy, rosemary-forward, no dryness in sight.
If you’re building your own map of the best bbq in Denver Colorado, this is the wild card that absolutely has to be on it.
4. Post Oak Barbecue
4000 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
TikTok credit: @postoakdenver
I walked into Post Oak already skeptical. Everyone claims to do Texas-style BBQ — almost none of them actually do it. But Post Oak? They flew in the wood from Austin. Literally.
Their post oak-smoked brisket came out thick cut, glistening, with bark so dark it looked illegal. I ordered the jalapeño cheddar sausage and some smoked turkey just to test range, and all of it was elite.
It’s clean. It’s loud. It smells like mesquite sweat and heritage technique. If you’re chasing the best bbq in Denver Colorado and want true Texas structure without a plane ticket — this is your place.
5. Ragin’ Hog BBQ
4361 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
Instagram credit: @raginhogbarbecue
This place looks like a shack. It feels like Arkansas. It tastes like your uncle spent 15 years perfecting rubs instead of raising kids.
Ragin’ Hog serves up rib tips, pulled pork, brisket, and the best Brunswick stew I’ve had outside the South. And don’t sleep on the buttermilk pie — flaky, sweet, ridiculous.
There’s no rooftop view. No curated playlist. Just smoked meat done right with zero ego. And in this best barbecue in Denver showdown, this place punches far above its square footage.
6. Wayne’s Smoke Shack
406 Center Dr, Superior, CO 80027
Instagram credit: @waynessmokeshack
Yeah, it’s technically in Superior. I don’t care. If your best bbq in Denver list doesn’t include Wayne’s, it’s not real.
This is Central Texas-style to the bone: no sauce, no distractions, just thick-cut brisket that drips when you press a fork on it. You order at the counter. You get in line early. You leave in silence, full and thankful.
I also grabbed the green chile mac and cheese and a side of smoked turkey. The turkey alone might be in my top 5 bites this year — and I’ve eaten a lot for this project.
Wayne’s isn’t trendy. It’s not pretty. It just wins.
7. Georgia Boys BBQ
237 Collyer St, Longmont, CO 80501
@outindenver Georgia Boys- BBQ Food – 141 Fifth St, Frederick, CO – 250 3rd Ave, Longmont, CO – 2473 W 28th St, Greeley, CO #creatorsearchinsights #coloradofood #outindenver #bbqfood ♬ original sound – outindenver
TikTok credit: @outindenver
Out in Longmont, Georgia Boys BBQ is doing Southern-style barbecue that feels like someone exported a pitmaster from Macon and gave him a suburban garage to work in.
I rolled through and got the rib platter with fries and a giant scoop of banana pudding. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone juicy, with just enough bite to remind you this wasn’t pressure-cooked fluff. And the pudding? Best dessert I had in this entire best bbq in Denver Colorado run — no contest.
They also serve meat piled on nachos, loaded fries, or just straight up on butcher paper. Doesn’t matter — it hits.
8. Rolling Smoke BBQ
11605 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80127
Instagram credit: @rollingsmokebbq
Rolling Smoke BBQ does not care about being cool. They care about your plate being so heavy it bends the tray. I walked in and immediately smelled hickory, brown sugar, and low-grade violence.
I got the burnt ends, baby back ribs, and a side of cornbread soaked in honey butter — and I’m still thinking about it days later. The mango habanero sauce was straight-up cracked: sweet first, then kicked me in the teeth mid-bite. 10/10.
The people working here are proud and it shows. This was hands down one of the most underrated best bbq in Denver Colorado experiences I had — no fluff, no filler, just smoke and satisfaction.
9. GQue BBQ
5160 W 120th Ave Unit K, Westminster, CO 80020
@quicksincolorado 🔥 Savor the flavor at Denver's best BBQ joint! G-QUE BBQ @GQueBBQ All locations open 11am – 8pm (or until it's gone!) 📍 5160 W 120th Ave Unit K Westminster CO 80020 📍 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive Suite 143B Lone Tree Co 80124 📍 7085 W Alaska Dr Lakewood, CO 80226 🧀 🍖 Quick BBQ Tip – add Mac and Cheese to your brisket and pulled pork sandwich #denvercolorado #denverfoodscene #denvereats #bbqfood #macandcheese #ComproDoPequeno ♬ Hip Hop Background(814204) – Pavel
TikTok credit: @quicksincolorado
GQue is Colorado’s flex BBQ spot. Competition style, championship banners, precision-sliced meat with that butter-soft texture and knife-cut confidence.
I hit their BBQ pork sandwich, some brisket, and a side of jalapeño bacon mac — and everything tasted engineered for a judges’ table. It’s clean, consistent, and locked in.
This place feels polished without being corporate, and the smoke rings on the brisket are so pink you’d think they color-corrected it in Photoshop. If you’re building a list of the best barbecue in Denver, this one’s impossible to leave off.
10. Hickory & Ash
8001 Arista Pl, Broomfield, CO 80021
Instagram credit: @hickoryandash
Hickory & Ash is where BBQ grows up, puts on a blazer, and still leaves your fingers sticky. Upscale interior, yes — but they’re slinging wagyu burnt ends, smoked duck wings, and bourbon cocktails like it’s an Olympic sport.
I ordered the wagyu plate, and every bite was rich, crisp-edged, and melt-in-your-mouth smooth. No chew, just submission. They also had a jalapeño bacon cornbread that came with a whipped honey butter that should be bottled and weaponized.
It’s not rustic — it’s elevated. But don’t get it twisted: this spot belongs on any real list of the best bbq in Denver because it proves smoke and sophistication aren’t mutually exclusive.
11. Seasoned Swine BBQ
Food truck + pop-up locations — check Instagram for schedule
@blondeswhoeat Replying to @molly THIS BBQ PLACE IS UNREAL!! #seasonedswinebbq #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverrestaurant #fyp ♬ original sound – Blondeswhoeat
TikTok credit: @blondeswhoeat
Mobile. Smoky. Unapologetically indulgent. Seasoned Swine slaps trays of meat like they’re trying to win a custody battle through flavor.
I tracked them down at a brewery pop-up and got the candied ribs, pulled pork mac bowl, and green chile mac and cheese — all of it came out hotter and fresher than half the brick-and-mortar spots I hit.
The ribs were sticky, sweet, and held enough spice to make you sweat just a little. If we’re talking the best bbq in Denver, this spot proves location doesn’t matter when the meat hits like this.
12. Smokin’ Yards BBQ
900 W 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80223
@thedenverfoodie Smokin Yards BBQ in Denver Colorado. #denver #colorado #denverfood #bbq ♬ Country Trap Blues – djkdawg
TikTok credit: @thedenverfoodie
This spot doesn’t care about being on lists — which is exactly why it belongs on one. Located off 1st Ave with a patio that overlooks the river, Smokin’ Yards BBQ is heavy on smoke, light on hype, and delivers serious bark.
I grabbed the pulled pork sandwich, ribs, and their hot links — all came out fast, hot, and dripping juice like they had something to prove. Their coleslaw and cornbread are legit sides, not filler. That slaw cut the fat, the cornbread mopped it up.
If you’re on a hunt for the best bbq in Denver, Smokin’ Yards is the one that feels low-key but delivers high-tier. It’s the kind of place you bring someone to prove you actually know food in this city.
FAQ: Best BBQ in Denver (2025 Edition)
What’s the best BBQ in Denver right now?
If we’re talking brisket and full plate dominance, Pit Fiend and SMŌK are top tier. For something more traditional, Post Oak hits that Texas heat beautifully.
Where can I find unique barbecue in Denver Colorado?
Roaming Buffalo does bison ribs and lamb shoulder, and Seasoned Swine throws candied ribs onto mac bowls like it’s a contact sport. Both are cracked.
What’s the best barbecue spot near downtown Denver?
Pit Fiend is right in RiNo and Roaming Buffalo is just south near DU. Both crush the downtown zone without tourist bait vibes.
Are all these BBQ restaurants in Denver still open?
Yes — all 12 of these spots are confirmed open as of May 2025. Nothing closed, nothing ghosted, nothing mid.
What’s the best upscale BBQ in the Denver area?
Hickory & Ash does wagyu burnt ends, smoked duck wings, and bourbon cocktails. If you want steakhouse vibes with smoke on the plate, that’s your play.
Do any of these BBQ places have the best ribs in Denver?
Rolling Smoke and Georgia Boys delivered the strongest rib plates — juicy, seasoned, and barked right.
Final Word: The Best BBQ in Denver Isn’t a Secret — It’s Smoked Into the Walls
This image may be AI-generated and do not necessarily reflect the actual food from the reviewed establishments of the best bbq in denver guide
Let’s keep it real: most BBQ lists are written by people who’ve never sweat through a smoker or picked bark off their fingers. You just read one written by someone who showed up, ordered it all, and judged it with no fear of hurt feelings.
This list of the best bbq in Denver isn’t theoretical. It’s tested. Eaten. Reviewed after nap-level food comas. You’ve got Texas joints, Colorado-style outliers, food trucks, and upscale spots that know their wood smoke and fat ratios better than some pitmasters in the South.
So whether you’re looking for the best barbecue in Denver Colorado with brisket that breaks your soul, or just need a rib platter that puts you to sleep on a Sunday — this list is now your compass.
Bookmark it. Share it. Argue with it. Then go eat.
Did we miss one? Recommend your best bbq in denver here
About the Author
I’m David Lanketh, a 48-year-old Colorado native who’s burned through more napkins than most people have barbecue cravings. I built this list the hard way — one smoked tray, one meat coma, one sauce-stained shirt at a time.
I hunt down the best food spots in Colorado and give the community what they want. Whether it’s green chile in Pueblo or burnt ends outside Broomfield, I’m here to track down the best spots in Colorado that are actually worth your gas money.
Learn more about the no-BS mission behind this site here.
