Dreamland Bar-B-Que at number three, Archibald’s Bar-B-Q at 14 and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q’s at 21. Those are the three Alabama entries on Southern Living’s new “The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints” list, which published today.

Snow’s BBQ of Lexington, Texas, topped the tally. Texas was also the state most heavily represented on the venerable lifestyle magazine’s list, with 14. Other states with the most winners included North Carolina and South Carolina with eight each and Tennessee with five. Cities with multiple winners included Lexington, Texas, Memphis, Charleston, Kansas City and Lockhart, Texas.

The methodology? Southern Living’s “contributing barbecue editor,” Robert F. Moss, traveled the South to try different barbecue places and hand-picked the winners, based on factors like overall experience, setting, food presentation, sauces, and authenticity to the region.

Moss dined at all 50 restaurants on the lists in person, according to Southern Living. In addition to his contributions for that magazine, Moss, who’s based in Charleston, has written five books on food culture and culinary history

Of Tuscaloosa-founded regional chain Dreamland, Moss wrote, “If you love ribs, you owe yourself a visit to Dreamland.” He added, “The big, meaty slabs have a wonderfully chewy texture with crisp bits of char around the edges, for they’re not slow-smoked but grilled over a hickory fire in a big brick pit. Be sure to add a link of sausage to your order, for it has a rich, smoky flavor with a punch of smoky brown char from the pit.”

Moss wrote of Northport’s Archibald’s BBQ: “At Archibald’s, the ribs are served doused in spicy, orange-hued vinegar sauce with slices of white bread laid over the top — perfect for creating impromptu sandwiches or soaking up the savory sauce.”

Decatur’s Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q founder Robert Gibson, Moss noted, “single-handedly created an entire sauce category when he started dunking his smoked chicken in a unique mayo-based white sauce.”

As far as Southern barbecue trends go, Moss found, “ambitious pitmasters are seeking something else to differentiate themselves. They’re turning to less common cuts, like beef cheeks and pork steaks, and less common meats, like lamb and fish. Some are even aspiring to stake out a new, more modern style that’s unique to their particular region.”

In Southern Living’s 2022 top Southern barbecue list, Archibald’s clocked in at seven, Big Bob Gibson at 23 and Dreamland at 32. Yep, in just one year Dreamland rose nearly 30 positions in Moss’ rankings.

This summer, AL.com released a top 10 Alabama barbecue list. On that list, writer Bob Carlton ranked Archibald’s at number one, Big Bob Gibson at two and Dreamland at five. Leading up to the statewide Alabama list, we also ranked the top five barbecue places in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile.

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