3 BBQ Joints In VA Among Nation's Best, Southern Living Says

The best barbecue joint in Virginia is Mama Jean's Barbecue in Roanoke, according to a recent ranking from Southern Living.

For the first time in two years, the popular Alabama-based magazine on Sept. 17 released its list of the top 50 barbecue joints in the South, including three in Virginia.

Mama Jean's Barbecue, located at 3404 Brandon Ave. SW in Roanoke, ranked ninth behind City Limits Barbeque (No. 1) in South Carolina and Snow's BBQ (No. 2) in Texas.

Allman's BBQ, nestled at 1299 Emancipation Hwy. in Fredericksburg, is the 35th-best in the South, according to the ranking. Meanwhile, Redemption BBQ, located at 3420 Lauderdale Drive in Henrico, is the 45th.

Mama Jean's Barbecue

Owner Madison Ruckel, by way of Florida and South Carolina, relocated to Roanoke and opened food truck Mama Jean's Barbecue, according to the restaurant's website. According to Southern Living, the relocation occurred in 2018.

The barbecue joint is named after Ruckel's mother, Jean Parker Ruckel, according to its website.

On the menu are smoked brisket cheesesteaks, birria tacos, collard greens, banana pudding and gumbo.

Southern Living has this to say about Mama Jean's:

"The eclectic menu changes daily and spans regional boundaries, following Madison’s wide-ranging passions. Pulled pork, thick-sliced prime Texas-style brisket and savory, rice-filled boudin links are menu regulars, but the real standouts are the smoky slabs of 'coal-fired' spareribs and beefy double-patty brisket smashburgers. The specials might include smoked meatball parm hoagies one day and crispy smoked pork jowl tacos on fresh-made tortillas the next, and they’re accompanied by a lineup of sides—smoked potato salad, creamy cheese grits, pungent house-made kimchi—as good as any in the South. Virginia barbecue is on the rise, and Mama Jean’s is leading the charge."

Allman's BBQ

Allman's BBQ reacted to the news of its latest accolade in a Facebook post published Thursday.

"We’re honored to be recognized for our wood-smoked pork sandwiches, piled high with creamy coleslaw and dressed in our signature sweet vinegar sauce, all served on a toasted Martin’s potato roll. A huge thank you to our loyal customers and the Southern Living team for shining a spotlight on our Virginia barbecue tradition," Allman's said in the post.

The barbecue joint boasts a slaw dog, the pitboss stew, green beans, a deep-fried hamburger and hot dog, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, pork spare ribs and a brownie sundae.

Southern Living has this to say about Allman's BBQ:

"The folks at Allman’s get it right, for each pork sandwich comes by default on a toasted Martin’s potato roll with a generous dollop of crunchy, creamy slaw. Allman’s by no means a new joint—it opened in 1954—but it is new to this list. One big reason why is that owner Matt Haney decided a few years ago to return Allman’s to its wood-cooking roots, scuttling the restaurant’s gas assist cookers and replacing them with two wood-burning Lang offsets. Brisket, ribs and chicken now grace the menu, but the classic pork sandwich is still the way to go. The smoky pork is pulled into long thin strands and dressed in a unique sweet vinegar sauce. And finished, of course, with a dollop of crisp, creamy coleslaw. It’s all found inside a small brick building with large plate glass windows and plenty of old-school style. It’s a true Virginia treasure."

Redemption BBQ

"Virginia heritage barbecue" can be found at Redemption, according to its website.

Customers at the Lauderdale Drive spot can get more than barbecue; they can also partake in Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

Featured on Redemption's menu are Italian sausage pizzas, pulled pork shoulder, pork belly, beef rib burnt ends, smoked mushrooms, a Cuban-style Midnight in Virginia sandwich and scratch-made sauces reminiscent of the Virginian culture.

Southern Living has this to say about Redemption BBQ:

"Six days a week in a suburban shopping center outside Richmond, John Vest is working to redeem traditional Virginia barbecue. The pastor-turned-pitmaster starts with pasture-raised heritage pork, and he cooks the shoulders directly over hardwood coals then chops them into tender, juicy shreds with plenty of brown outside bits. The pork is dressed in a classic Southside Virginia sauce, with balanced fruity, tart and tangy notes that perfectly complement the smoky pork. Other regional takes include smoked pork belly in a Northern Virginia apple-infused sauce and Shenandoah Valley-style pulled chicken finished with tangy vinegar. The 'Praise the Lard Fries' are cooked golden brown in 100 percent lard, and so are the pork rinds, which puff up airy and crisp and are finished with a generous dusting of BBQ rub."

Here are the top 10 barbecue joints in the South, per Southern Living:

1. City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, South Carolina
2. Snow's BBQ, Lexington, Texas
3. Fresh Air Bar-B-Que, Jackson, Georgia
4. Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor, Texas
5. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin, Texas
6. Skylight Inn BBQ, Ayden, North Carolina
7. Lewis Barbecue, Charleston, South Carolina
8. B.E. Scott's BBQ, Lexington, Tennessee
9. Mama Jean's Barbecue, Roanoke, Virginia
10. Lexington Barbecue, Lexington, North Carolina

See Southern Living's full list of the top 50 restaurants in the South.