Barbecue in Madison, WI: brisket, ribs, smokehouses and sauce

Brisket and Texas-style

• Beef Butter BBQ (3001 N. Sherman Ave.): Texas-style barbecue on the north side, led by the Texas smoked prime beef brisket, with ribs, wings and pulled pork sandwiches. Brats to go are on the site too.
• Primal Cue Restaurant and Catering (836 Grove St., Sun Prairie): veteran-owned and cooked over wood and fire. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, burnt ends and sausage links, with sides like cheesy potatoes, bourbon apples and cornbread with honeybutter. Most smoked meats are listed as gluten-free, though some sauces and seasonings may contain gluten.

Ribs and old-school pits

• Smoky Jon's Number 1 BBQ (2310 Packers Ave.): a family-owned, wood-smoked barbecue restaurant since 1970, with ribs, slow-smoked brisket, barbecue sandwiches and its Original BBQ sauce. Its championship sauces and seasonings are labeled gluten-free.
• Famous Dave's Barbecue (900 S. Park St.): the chain's Madison location, with Two Bones St. Louis-Style ribs, Southside Rib Tips and a Georgia Chopped Pork Sandwich.
• MISSION BBQ (4702 E. Towne Blvd.): a fast-casual chain whose motto is "Proudly Serving Those Who Serve," honoring the military and first responders. Smoked meatloaf, baked cheesy potatoes and seasonal sides like Granny's Sweet Potato Mash.

Smokehouses and taverns with a smoker

• North and South Seafood and Smokehouse (6604 Mineral Point Rd.): barbecue alongside Cajun and Southern dishes; burnt ends, Maui sticky ribs, armadillo eggs and an Icelandic cod fish fry, all cooked in the smoker. The Verona and DeForest locations are locally owned too (see below).
• Liberty Station (2161 Rimrock Rd.): an American tavern and smokehouse that smokes Creekstone Farms meats on a custom smoker on the west patio, with brunch and vintage-style cocktails.
• The Thirsty Goat (3040 Cahill Main, Fitchburg): a brewpub with 40 beers on tap and smoked pulled pork, brisket and chicken; the menu also lists a three-meat sampler with cornbread and baked beans.

Around the area

• Verona: North and South Seafood and Smokehouse (958 Liberty Dr.), with burnt ends in Kansas City sweet sauce, back ribs, rib tips and a chopped brisket sandwich, plus Cajun dishes like jambalaya.
• DeForest: North and South also has a smokehouse at 605 S. Main St.
• Sun Prairie: Primal Cue (above).
• Fitchburg: The Thirsty Goat (above).

Browse every barbecue restaurant in the directory, or see where to eat in Madison.