A statewide survey by Sunshine State Tourism recently selected 49 restaurantsfrom around the state as finalists for the group's '2026 Favorite BBQ restaurant' in Florida.
From the Panhandle over to Jacksonville down through Miami and beyond, many well-known and some interestingly named restaurantsmade the list. Some of these include highly regarded entities like Apocalypse BBQ and Drinking Pig, both out of Miami, and the awesomely named Butthutt Smokehouse in Jacksonville.
There were several Palm Beach County restaurantsthat also made the list including two beloved barbecue hot spots along the 'Dixie Corridor' in West Palm Beach.
Yes, Tropical Smokehouse and Pig Beach BBQ both made the list.
The list was posted online on Saturday, Oct. 10 and voters
will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite barbecue restaurant up until Dec. 31. The results will be posted online the next day on Jan. 1.
Sunshine State Tourism was created by Derek Samson in 2025 and this is their second year of polling. After many years in traditional media including stints at The Idaho Statesman, The Kansas City Star, Yahoo Sports and USA Today, Samson wanted to create a site that would help people find great places based on the perspective of locals.
Samson said they curate the initial lists based on recommendations and reviews (no one paid to be on their list) and then leave it up the people to vote on their website and create a dialogue via their Instagram page.
The site's stated goal is "letting locals tell tourists where to go in the Sunshine State."
Pig Beach BBQ, West Palm Beach
Pig Beach co-owner, chef and pitmaster Matt Abdoo said it was their social media manager who first alerted them on Monday, Oct. 12 that they were named to the list of 49 finalists.
He said jokingly that they quickly "sent out the bat signal" to let all their customers and friends know about the designation.
Though he's no stranger to the limelight and has made numerous appearances on "The Today Show" and as both a judge and a competitor on "Beat Bobby Flay," Abdoo said he was thrilled to be on the list. "It's just a really cool thing... a little bit of validation that your hard work, your blood, sweat and tears is paying off."
Abdoo said they've added a few new items to their menu recently including a new "Slider Flight Program" for college and NFL games on Saturdays and Sundays. He said the flight features five sliders including a smoked beef cheek with pickled chilies and horseradish; a smoked and grilled chicken thigh with dill pickles and Alabama white sauce; crispy chicken tender with pimento cheese, hot honey and cowboy candy (candied jalapeños); a crispy grouper cheek with vinegar coleslaw and Key Lime comeback sauce; and a pork belly BLT.
He said his Bobby Flay besting dish: peach & habanero glazed pork chop, is currently their Monday special, but will be available seven days a week starting in December.
Abdoo said he'll be flying back up to New York City in a few weeks for a "Today Show" segment on Thanksgiving.
He also mentioned that Pig Beach BBQ will be working the Big Papi Golf Tournament on Nov. 14 at PGA National Resort.
Details: 2400 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-803-0333; pigbeachnyc.com/west-palm
Tropical Smokehouse, West Palm Beach
This West Palm Beach destination has been blessed with many awards and accolades in the five years since they opened including mentions in Southern Living, Palm Beach Illustrated, Boca Magazine and a recent appearance on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
They feature a Florida-forward barbecue menu packed with popular items like their brisket empanada and gator sausage (which they prepared for their appearance on 'Triple D'), smoked chicken drumsticks and highly-sought-after burgers.
Co-owner, chef and pitmaster Rick Mace's ethos has remained steadfast since their opening and is about high quality, but at an accessible price point.
"It's never been the intention for me to have chef-driven level of pretention about Tropical. It has always been the aim to have a neighborhood spot that is family friendly and straight forward with come-often prices."
"Why we deserve any level of recognition... regardless of the climate that everyone is navigating right now... our inputs have not waivered whatsoever since the inception of the restaurant." "We buy the best product.. and we've been very cautious and done only small annual increases in our pricing because of the fact that we want the restaurant to remain relevant to families and frequent diners."
He said they source their beef, pork and chicken from family owned farms and coops. Some of these include Bell & Evans chicken, Demkota Ranch Beef and Compart Duroc Pork.
"We will start always with great groceries," he said.
Mace said they're also very proud of annual events they do including their "Smoke & Sunset" and "Smoke & Sunshine" events which bring in renowned pitmasters from all over the country for a cookout, DJ, and more. Though he said they have to shut the restaurant down for two days at a time to make it happen, they've been able to turn a profit and donate a check to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) each year. The next "Smoke & Sunshine" event will be held Saturday, Jan. 23.
Mace loves to work others and push the envelope like the collaboration they did with Kewpie Mayo in 2025 or partnering with local restaurants like Celis.
A new event he's hoping to make happen in the near future is a collaboration with Everglades Oysters out of Everglades City. They are producing the 'first ever tropical oysters' in the continental United States.
Details: 3815 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-323-2573; eattropical.com
Other Palm Beach County finalists include:
Mrs. Smokeys Real Pit Bar-B-Q, Jupiter
Family owned and operated, Mrs. Smokey's opened in 1979 and is a quick service spot that is run by Elisa Howie (Mrs. Smokeys) and chef Scott Howie (Mr. Smokeys). Together they have over 50 years in the business. Don't miss their cornbread lasagna, award-winning fried biscuit sliders or strawberry shortcake.
Details: 5430 Military Trail, Jupiter. 561-557-3800; mrssmokeys.com
Nevs, Palm Beach Gardens
Opened in Palm Beach Gardens in 2022, Nevs is known for their Texas-style barbecue with emphasis on scratch preparation and consistency. The restaurant is owned and operated by Tommy Nevill and was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" on April 24. The morning after the episode aired the were lines waiting when they opened and they were sold out by early evening.
Details: 9910 Alternate A1A, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-437-6387; nevsbarbecue.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach BBQ hotspots make list for Florida's best 'cue
