ATLANTA — Southern Living has named its “Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South,” and three Georgia barbecue joints made the list.
From brisket to pulled pork, these barbecue joints have everything to cure your craving.
The Peach State fared well in this year’s ranking with three restaurants, two of which are in metro Atlanta.
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Earning a spot in the top 3, Fresh Air Bar-B-Que in Jackson is almost at the top of the list.
“The original Fresh Air Barbecue in Jackson, Georgia, is the oldest pit-cooked barbecue restaurant in Georgia still in its original location,” the restaurant’s website said.
Fresh Air Barbecue was established in 1929, originally owned by Dr. Joel Watkins, and later purchased in 1945 by Butts County native George W. “Toots” Caston.
Since then, “four generations of Toots Caston’s family have either worked in or been directly involved with the history of Fresh Air Barbecue, adding their ideas and improvements to the business.”
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If you’re heading over to the coast, you can check out No. 23 on the list, Southern Soul Barbeque on St. Simons Island.
Southern Soul Barbeque calls an old converted gas station home and invites diners to grab a bite at a long picnic table under a tall metal awning.
“A laid-back, retro beach vibe and an ever-shifting selection of smoky specials has long made Southern Soul a must-visit barbecue destination,” Southern Living said.
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But if you’d rather stick it out in Atlanta, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q made the list at No. 48.
Started by brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox, Fox Bros. opened its first location along DeKalb Avenue in Atlanta in 2007.
“You can stick to the fundamentals—brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and ribs—or sample an impressive array of creative cross-regional specialties like “Tomminator” tater tots smothered with Brunswick stew and “chicken fried” ribs with Alabama-style white sauce," Southern Living wrote.
You can check out the full list here.
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