4 MA Towns Tie For “Worst BBQ” On Bogus Best BBQ Cities List
Anytime anyone makes a “Best Of” list, feathers get ruffled. As a Massachusetts resident, this Best BBQ Cities list ruffled mine. The list comes courtesy of LawnStarter, and it’s a…
(Photo by Miles Willis/Getty Images)
Anytime anyone makes a "Best Of" list, feathers get ruffled. As a Massachusetts resident, this Best BBQ Cities list ruffled mine.
The list comes courtesy of LawnStarter, and it's a ranking of the Best BBQ Cities in America. They "looked at access to barbecue vendors and smokehouses, consumer ratings, competition awards, and the number of barbecue festivals, among 20 total metrics."
They ranked 500 cities, which is a lot. As expected, Memphis, Houston, and both KCs landed in the Top 5. But way down below, a quartet of Massachusetts cities joined those tied for last at 480. So we're going to show them some love.
Brockton
Look, I'm not saying any of these four belong in the upper echelon of this Best BBQ Cities list. But that doesn't mean there's not good BBQ to be had. Rod's Smoked BBQ & Pizza on N. Main St. in the City of Champions will scratch your BBQ and pizza itch.
Lawrence
Expand your horizons and taste buds the next time you're in Lawrence, MA. Jason's Korean BBQ is on S. Union St. They offer all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ. And I can't mention Korean or Japanese BBQ without thinking of this straight banger from BUBBLE-B.
New Bedford
Back to the South Coast we go. The city best known for amazing Portuguese fare is the home of Churrascaria Novo Mundo, which incorporates a rotisserie for its BBQ-style chicken. There's plenty of other meat on the grill there, too.
Quincy
The City of Presidents should've landed a lot higher on the Best BBQ Cities list. Foodwise, Quincy might best be known as the home of the first Dunkin' Donuts. But it's also the home of Black's Creek BBQ, a food truck and catering service.
So get out there and sample some MA BBQ! Or keep scrolling for North Shore roast beef!
When it comes to the best North Shore roast beef, you can go to the pros. Or you can just take a few minutes and look at my list.
I'm Adam 12, North Shore Legend. Just kidding. I'm no legend. I'm just a kid who grew up in Greenwood, which is the part of Wakefield that borders Melrose and Saugus. I lived there through the '80s and '90s. I saw some stuff.
And I ate some stuff. Birthday dinners on my mom's side of the family took place at the Hilltop Steak House. Birthday dinners on my dad's side took place at the Kowloon. And I'm still crushing cones all over the North Shore.
North Shore Roast Beef: Pro Tips
A while back, we had a Big Beefy Bracket on ROCK 92.9 to crown the Boston area's best beef joint. I know what I like, but I'm no pro, so I had Andy Ferg of North Shore Beefs on to explain the intricacies of the North Shore 3-Way.
North Shore Beefs and its gang of "Beefers" has grown into quite the community online. They run brackets of their own, review beef joints, and share mouthwatering pics. They are the beef professionals. I'm just a guy.
North Shore Roast Beef: One Reporter's Opinion
Being "just a guy" gives me a different perspective on the whole thing. I have my handful of beef joints that I hit up from time to time, and as I said above, I know what I like. I'm also a North Shore know-it-all, so I know where to go.
OK, there's my sales pitch. If your sold, keep scrolling. Below you'll find seven North Shore roast beef experiences that I believe to be exceptional. Check a few out on your own. I recommend you order yours 3-Way when and if you do.
Atha's, Peabody
Look at that damn roast beef sandwich. It's art. And it's one of the best-tasting beefs I've ever had the pleasure of wolfing down. Whenever I'm in the area, I'm grabbing a Junior 3-Way.
Billy’s Famous Roast Beef, Wakefield
Billy's is in Greenwood, right on the Melrose border, so generations from both towns have grown up on their beloved Billy's. Sure, I'm biased because I grew up down the street, but I popped in for a 3-way not too long ago and it's just as good as it was when I was in high school.
Jamie's Roast Beef, Peabody
Jamie's won our Big Beefy Bracket back in 2022. I haven't been back since, but this take on a 3-Way was outrageous. The Yoli: James River BBQ, roasted garlic aioli, American cheese.
Kipo’s, Wakefield
Kipo's has been slinging beef just outside of downtown Wakefield since 1976. They lost to Billy's in Round 1 of our Big Beefy Bracket in '22, but there's one thing that put's Kipo's ahead of Billy's in the minds of some Wakefieldians: they deliver.
Liberty Bell, Melrose
Did I pair this with a garden salad which I proceeded to cram into a half pita, douse with house dressing, and cram directly into my face? Yes. And did I chase it with a coffee heath bar ice cream cone from Kennedy's Ice Cream Bar next door? Also yes. Eat local. Eat North Shore.
Nick’s, Essex St., Beverly
No, not "Nick's Famous." I know, that's the one you've loved for years in Beverly. But the Nick's on Essex St. has usurped the former roast beef ruler. Just look at this monstrosity.
Supreme Roast Beef, Danvers
One last North Shore gem. The photo doesn't do it justice (because I'm lousy at taking food pics). Go get your own and see for yourself.
