Best BBQ in Tulsa: Where to Find Great Barbecue
For the best BBQ in Tulsa, start with Albert G's Bar-B-Q for Tulsa-style ribs and a full menu, Oakhart Barbecue for Central Texas-style brisket at lunch, and Nicky's Smokehouse inside Mother Road Market for Oklahoma-style plates. RibCrib, which started in Tulsa, is the reliable chain option, and BurnCo Barbeque and Mac's Barbecue are well worth a short drive to Jenks or Skiatook. Several of these sell out or keep short hours, so check before you go.
Tulsa barbecue at a glance
| Restaurant | Where | Style or specialty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert G's Bar-B-Q | Harvard, downtown and Tulsa Hills | Tulsa-style ribs, brisket, bologna, hot links | A full sit-down barbecue meal |
| Oakhart Barbecue | Pearl District | Central Texas style, post oak smoke | Brisket and ribs at lunch |
| Nicky's Smokehouse | Mother Road Market (Market District) | Oklahoma style | Groups who want to mix cuisines |
| RibCrib | Multiple locations | Hickory-smoked chain barbecue, founded in Tulsa | Convenience and catering |
| BurnCo Barbeque | Jenks | Charcoal-cooked on Hasty Bake grills | A south-of-Tulsa meal |
| Mac's Barbecue | Skiatook | Hickory and pecan wood, competition pedigree | A barbecue road trip |
What to expect from Tulsa barbecue
Oklahoma sits between two famous barbecue regions, so Tulsa menus borrow from both. Some places follow the Central Texas approach of brisket smoked over post oak; others lean toward sauced, Kansas City-style plates. Local menus also tend to include items you may not see elsewhere, such as smoked or sliced bologna and hot links, and some spots list "Tulsa style" ribs on the menu. If you are visiting, ordering a combination plate is the easiest way to taste a few of these at once.
The best BBQ in Tulsa, place by place
Albert G's Bar-B-Q
Albert G's is the most complete barbecue restaurant on this list, with three Tulsa locations: the Harvard Avenue original, a downtown restaurant on East First Street and a Tulsa Hills location on South Olympia Avenue. The menu covers chopped and sliced brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey, bologna, Polish sausage, hot links and Tulsa Style Ribs, sold as plates, sandwiches or by the pound. Every meal comes with access to a pickle, onion and pepper bar.
A few items stand out because you will not see them on every barbecue menu: tabouli as a side dish, deep-fried corn ribs as an appetizer, and the Fat Albert G's sandwich, which stacks bologna, brisket, turkey, pulled pork and a hot link with coleslaw and sauce. Albert G's was one of TulsaPeople's 2025 A-List winners for barbecue, and it also offers catering and reservations through its website.
Oakhart Barbecue
Oakhart brings Central Texas barbecue to the Pearl District. According to TravelOK, it was opened in 2021 by competition pitmasters Chris Emmons and Brian Hodges, who smoke over post oak, the wood most associated with Texas brisket. The restaurant's own site describes it as hand-crafted, oak-smoked barbecue for lunch.
The key detail is timing. Oakhart is lunch only, Tuesday through Saturday, and stays open until 3 p.m. or until the meat sells out, whichever comes first. If brisket or ribs are your goal, get there early, especially on Saturdays. It was also a 2025 A-List barbecue winner.
Nicky's Smokehouse
Nicky's runs a stall inside Mother Road Market, the food hall at 11th and Lewis on Route 66. The Infatuation's 2026 guide to Tulsa's best restaurants picked it as the place to try Oklahoma-style barbecue, praising its smoked ribs, brisket tacos and pulled pork sandwiches along with sides like barbecue beans and cowboy caviar. On weekends, the guide recommends arriving early for specials such as bulgogi burnt ends.
The food hall setting is a real advantage for groups: one person can order barbecue while others pick from the market's other vendors, and there is a large back patio. Mother Road Market is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays, while Nicky's lists its own hours as Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until sold out. Check both schedules before you go.
RibCrib
RibCrib is a chain now, but it started in Tulsa. Bret Chandler opened the first one in 1992 in a converted old house with a smoker and a short menu, and the company has since grown to roughly 48 to 50 locations across eight states, according to recent directory and company materials. The brand still describes itself as slow-smoked barbecue "since '92," and it handles catering for large groups. RibCrib appears in several 2025 A-List categories, including barbecue and catering, which reflects how many Tulsans grew up with it.
BurnCo Barbeque
BurnCo was one of TulsaPeople's 2025 A-List barbecue winners. Its official website currently lists a location in Jenks, at the Riverwalk development just south of Tulsa. BurnCo says it has been in business since 2011 and cooks everything fresh on Hasty Bake charcoal grills, which are made in Tulsa. The menu runs from chopped brisket and baby back ribs to Polish and hot link sausage, and the restaurant says it makes its own Canadian bacon. BurnCo also offers catering and event planning.
BurnCo's earlier Tulsa location was destroyed by a fire in February 2022, and the barbecue is now served in Jenks, so check its website or social pages for current hours before going.
Mac's Barbecue
Mac's is in Skiatook, north of Tulsa, and it has a long competition history. The restaurant says Mike McMillan started it in 1985 and built its reputation through barbecue contests, and its site lists honors including a reserve grand championship at the American Royal and a grand champion ribs award from the Jack Daniel's competition. The meat is cooked over hickory and pecan wood with a house rub, and the sauce is a family recipe made weekly.
Mac's BBQ runs Cain's Kitchen at Cain's Ballroom in downtown Tulsa, so concertgoers may find its barbecue there on show nights. Cain's says the kitchen is operated by Holly and Adam Green of Mac's BBQ. The Skiatook restaurant is closed Sundays and Mondays, so plan a weekday or Saturday visit. Mac's was a 2025 A-List barbecue winner.
Best Tulsa BBQ by situation
- First barbecue meal in Tulsa: Albert G's, for the range of meats and Tulsa Style Ribs.
- Brisket purists: Oakhart, if you can make it at lunch.
- Mixed group or picky eaters: Nicky's Smokehouse at Mother Road Market.
- Catering for a crowd: RibCrib, Albert G's or BurnCo, all of which offer catering.
- Worth the drive: Mac's in Skiatook or BurnCo in Jenks.
- Before a show: Check whether Mac's is serving at Cain's Ballroom.
Tips for eating barbecue in Tulsa
- Go early. Smoked meat is limited each day, and places like Oakhart close when it runs out.
- Check the day. Several places on this list, including Oakhart and Mac's, are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Order by the pound for groups. Albert G's and others sell meat by the pound, which is often easier than individual plates for a family.
- Try something local. Bologna, hot links and Tulsa-style ribs are worth ordering at least once.
- Call ahead for large carryout orders. Some places ask for advance notice on big lunch or catering orders.
How this list was put together
This guide combines reader-voted results from TulsaPeople's 2025 A-List awards, recent coverage such as The Infatuation's guide to the best restaurants in Tulsa, tourism listings such as TravelOK, and each restaurant's own website. Places were included only when there was a recent sign they were still operating. Hours and locations change often, so check before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What style of barbecue is Tulsa known for?
Tulsa does not have one strict style. Menus mix Texas-style brisket and Kansas City-style sauced plates with local favorites like bologna, hot links and Tulsa-style ribs.
Which Tulsa BBQ place sells out?
Oakhart Barbecue serves lunch only and closes at 3 p.m. or when it sells out, so it is the one to plan around.
Is RibCrib from Tulsa?
Yes. The first RibCrib opened in Tulsa in 1992.
Where can I get barbecue near Route 66 in Tulsa?
Nicky's Smokehouse is inside Mother Road Market at 11th Street and Lewis Avenue, on historic Route 66.
