BEST BBQ DISHES IN OMAHA
My Personal Mount Rushmore
As recently as 7-8 years ago, Omaha’s BBQ scene was pretty barren. There were a few restaurants offering decent smoked meats, but nothing that really stood out.
Fortunately, our city has been revitalized by a BBQ revolution, as several standout spots have opened within the past several years. When your meat cravings hit, here are the best of the best Omaha BBQ dishes (and where to find them).
This list is obviously highly subjective. Different palates prefer different styles (Kansas City, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, etc.) and cuts of meat. But from my eating travels, these are the dishes I think will always fulfill your meat-seeking quest.
***Note: Just one dish per restaurant is included on this list. I wanted to showcase many restaurants rather than shower all praise on a few elite joints.***
Beef Rib (Porky Butts BBQ)
It only graces the menu a few times a year as a special, but the appearance of the Beef Rib is worth following Porky Butts BBQ‘s social media accounts like a hawk. There’s simply nothing else like this meaty monster in the city.
The sheer size is enough to make one laugh in amazement when it arrives at the table. Checking in at over a pound of meat (not including the massive bone), one beef rib is massive enough to double as a defensive club in a pinch. As awe-inspiring as the size is, your amazement quickly gives way to a utopian state of mind as soon as you dig in. These ribs have such brilliant marbling and unctuous, gelatinous fat that, during the smoking process, tenderizes and lends its juicy brilliance to every morsel. Add in a glorious, crusty bark that crowns the rib, and you have darn near BBQ perfection.
As much as your brain tells you that you shouldn’t consume this much meat in one sitting, your tastebuds tell it to shut up as you blissfully devour every last glorious bite.
Other standout Porky Butts dishes: Burnt Ends; Ribs; Blane Burger
Brisket Taco (Mission Ave BBQ)
Mission Ave BBQ‘s brisket is the best in Omaha, and it alone would’ve been worthy of inclusion on this list. This brisket has a healthy fat cap that injects luscious, juicy flavor into every slice. It also has a vibrant pink smoke ring and is tender enough to cut with a spork.
But owner Scott Fogle is from Austin, where BBQ and tacos are synonymous, so he had to make a taco out of this glorious brisket. The meat is shredded and loaded into a hearty, grilled tortilla. A fresh, creamy guacamole, acidic red salsa, and salty cotija cheese complement the deeply beefy, savory flavor of the brisket.
Other standout Mission Ave BBQ dishes: Brisket; Ribs; Turkey
Ribs (J's Smokehouse)
The ribs at J’s Smokehouse are everything you’re looking for in a spare rib. A half rack has roughly 3/4 lb. of meat, all of which is moist and comes cleanly off the bone. The meat still has some resilience and chew, a little more tender than a steak, but it’s not at all tough.
The pepper-forward level creates a crispy, caramelized bark adds to the rich, meaty flavor of the ribs, which require absolutely no sauce. If you want some sweetness, J’s runs a cranberry BBQ sauced ribs special, but these ribs need no additional flavor to stand out.
Mackribeo (Block 16)
The McRib is a shameful abomination to BBQ, as I shudder to even think of what McDonald’s qualifies as “rib” meat. But Block 16‘s rendition? That I can get behind 100%.
The patty, comprised of baby back ribs and beef, is tender and smoky, with just the right amount of grilled char. The agrodolce BBQ sauce adds sweetness, as pickles and white onions cut the sugar with acidity and bite. A creamy, cooling mayo and crispy onion rings round out a sandwich that takes Ronald McDonald’s lunch money.
Honorable Mention Omaha BBQ Dishes
Ribs
Another Texas-style joint, Smokin Barrel knocks every meat out of the park. It’s brisket is fatty and juicy, the pork succulent and tender, and the sausage has just the right balance of herbs and spices to balance the fatty flavor of the pork.
But the ribs stand alone. These spare ribs are adorned by a crusty, salty bark that has a decent spiciness from black pepper. The meat is smoked perfectly, pulling from the bone with a slight tug of the teeth, and the smoky flavor is present but not overpowering.
BBQ Brisket Flatbread
Sauced dedication to scratch making everything possible shines on this sandwich. The smoked brisket burnt ends are smoky, fatty, and tender, and they’re complemented by sharp, nutty parmesan and cooling jalapeno aioli.
But the star is the way the tangy base marinara sauces plays with the smoky, sweet bourbon BBQ sauce drizzled on top. All aboard a crispy piece of naan, this indulgent flatbread further showcases that Sauced can do no wrong.
Hatch Mac Burrito w/ Brisket
Muchachos owner and former backyard BBQ warrior Nick Maestas draws inspiration from two places: his love of smoking meats and his grandparents’ Mexican cooking. Those influences collide brilliantly in this griddled burrito.
The smoky brisket is better than you’ll find at most BBQ joints, and it’s joined with Muchachos’ signature hatch mac & cheese, which gets a touch of sweetness from the hatch chiles. Add in salsas and a cooling avocado crema, and this is one of Omaha’s best burritos.
Bulgogi Torta
Korean BBQ is absolutely delicious, though it’s under-represented in Omaha. Thank goodness we have Corner Kitchen and it’s Mexian-Korean fusion to thank for this sandwich.
The bulgogi balances savory beef with a sweet sauce, accented by creamy coleslaw, crisp pickles, pepper-hoison sauce, and a warming Sriracha mayo. The telera roll, with a crisp crust and a fluffy inside, is the perfect delivery device for this wonderful flavor mash-up.
Moo Pulled Sandwich
As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in pulled meats, and the beef is its king. The meat is hearty and has a really nice bark, adding both flavor and texture.
For the sandwich, Pulled BBQ loads a hefty portion inside a bun along with pickles, provolone cheese, and sauteed onions. Take the flavor up a notch with a trip to the sauce bar, featuring 7 housemade sauces ranging from creamy Alabama White to the sweat-inducing, habanero-based RIP.
This list is not comprehensive. I’ve hit a lot of Omaha’s best BBQ spots, but I haven’t reached them all yet. So hit me with your favorites dishes! Tweet at me @danhoppen, or message me on Instagram @dan_hoppen.