Calgary is home to plenty of delicious barbecue joints, guaranteed to give you a lip smacking, finger licking experience. Whether you’re a barbecue veteran or ready to try smoky eats for the first time, it’s a great time to dig into the best barbecue in Calgary.

Big T’s BBQ  

Just a few minutes away from McMahon Stadium, Big T's BBQ is a family-friendly chain of restaurants known for their warm service and wood smoked southern cuisine. Try mouth-watering options like Big T’s platter, packed with spiced andouille sausage and sliced brisket. Big T also offers gluten free options on the menu for a different take on southern-style barbecue dishes. 

Comery Block Barbecue  

Comery Block Barbecue is a West-Tennessee inspired "BBQ and Bourbon" spot on Calgary's bustling 17th Avenue. Meats are smoked for 10 to 14 hours each morning and they've also got an impressive whiskey list of about 150 different types to choose from. Their 17th Avenue patio is perfect for people watching and sipping a cold drink on a warm sunny day. Enjoy brisket, barbecue chicken, pork, ribs, pulled pork, local beers, cocktails, and daily food specials. 

Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue 

Take your family out for an evening of Rodizio dining at the Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue. Named after South American cowboys, the Gaucho experience includes authentic Brazilian flavours and traditionally dressed servers. Customers get a personal barbecue chef to come to the table with massive skewers filled with tender cuts of the day. Indulge in delicate meats like the garlic top sirloin as well as sweet deserts like the Mousse de Maracujá, a passion fruit mousse topped with a tangy passion fruit reduction. 

Gyu-kaku Japanese BBQ 

Share a family style dining experience at Gyu-kaku Japanese BBQ. Gyu-kaku is a Japanese yakiniku restaurant where guests cook bite-sized pieces of meat over a piping hot grill. Every table at Gyu-kaku is installed with a personal charcoal grill and staff provide friendly suggestions to ensure everyone has a good time. Try delicious premium cut meats like 21-day aged Harami miso steak with a side of chicken cheese fondue or warm goma negi shio ramen. 

Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey 

Take a seat on the outdoor patio or grab a spot inside to enjoy hand-crafted whiskey cocktails and tender barbecue at the Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey. This Kensington restaurant has a friendly and lively atmosphere with communal seating and sports action on the big screens. Texas-style barbecue, like smoked brisket and pork spareribs, are smoked daily for up to 14 hours. The process creates a perfect balance of woodsy char and smoked flavours that make their meats fall-off-the-bone tender. If you’re looking for late-night barbecue eats, pop in each day after 10 p.m. for half-price meats. 

Jane Bond BBQ 

Jane Bond BBQ specializes in meaty Southern-style barbecue, but chef and proprietor Jenny Burthwright’s Caribbean heritage also makes an appearance on the menu with jerk chicken, coconut cornbread, and some other island flavours. Come in for a platter to share with friends, a sandwich to eat on your own, or take advantage of the restaurant’s robust and easy-to-use catering program for a barbecue feast at home.  

The Palomino Smokehouse 

A favourite hangout for locals, The Palomino Smokehouse is conveniently just around the corner from the Calgary Tower and Stephen Avenue, along the C-Train line. Barbecue favorites like beef brisket are slow roasted on one of the largest smokers in Western Canada. The Palomino also serves as one of Calgary’s most unique live music venues with stages on two floors, both featuring great local talent and touring bands throughout the week.  

Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse 

Enjoy an interactive dining at the Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse with a delightful Brazilian Churrascaria-style experience. Churrascaria restaurants offer tableside Rodizio service for all-you-can eat dining. For a set price, servers come to your table with skewers of juicy chicken, beef, sausages and other meats, carving each freshly grilled selection right onto your plate. There are also plenty of salads and sides to explore, including in-house baked breads and the famous Brazilian feijoada black bean stew.  

Seoul Korean BBQ Restaurant 

For over a decade, Seoul Korean BBQ Restaurant has been serving authentic Korean barbecue to Calgarians and visitors from around the world. The restaurant specializes in Korean all-you-can-eat, where guests cook meats on their own barbecue from a selection of fresh cuts ranging from marinated rib-eye to beef bulgogi. They also serve delicious non-barbecue dishes like a refreshing bowl of buckwheat noodles with a cold broth.  

South Block 

The third restaurant in the “Block” family, South Block’s focus is on Carolina-style barbecue, which means an emphasis on pork as well as a smattering of seafood. You can get the ribs, turkey, brisket and pulled pork that you’d expect from any great barbecue joint, as well as smoked shrimp cocktails, po’ boy sandwiches, and pimento cheese. South Block doubles as a brewery, with a nice selection of house brews, and also acts as a music venue with a rockin’ stage on the lower level.  

Tool Shed Brewing Company 

Tool Shed is one of Calgary’s oldest and most beloved craft breweries and its taproom is also one of the best spots to get incredible American-style barbecue. Tool Shed owner Graham Sherman happens to be a competition-level postmaster and he shares his wares via his Notorious P.I.G. kitchen, operated out of the brewery. Come in for top-notch smoked meat sandwiches, ribs, and nachos topped with barbecued meat.  

Traylor Parker’s Real Texas BBQ 

Owned and operated by a real deal Texan named Tex Parker, Traylor Parker’s is the food service provider at Big Rock, one of Calgary’s most iconic breweries. With a fleet of giant smokers behind the building, Tex cooks up some of the city’s best brisket and other smoked meats, all served on metal trays with slices of white bread, just like they do it in Texas. Don’t miss out on the banana pudding for dessert — it’s so good it almost outshines the meat.