Here's a sampler platter of well-regarded 'cue purveyors as rated by Zagat surveyors. Many serve a variety of regional styles so you can take a rib road trip without having to travel.
Atlanta
Fat Matt's Rib Shack:
Fall-off-the-bone meat and live blues attract regulars to this cash-only Va-Highlands shack (404-607-1622).
Harold's Barbecue:
A venerable Southside 'cue classic that also dishes up a mean Brunswick stew (404-627-9268); there's an independently owned and operated Jonesboro location too (770-478-5880).
Rolling Bones Premium Pit BBQ:
Expect mesquite-smoked meat served in a hip converted gas station at this snazzy Downtowner (404-222-2324).
Swallow at the Hollow:
Roswell haunt serving super-size portions of super BBQ in a rustic setting with live country music on weekends (678-352-1975).
Chicago
Carson's Ribs:
BBQ classic supplying ribs and other eats in River North (312-280-9200) and Deerfield (847-374-8500).
Fat Willy's:
Sides like mac 'n' cheese accompany the BBQ and other Southern staples at this Logan Square spot (773-782-1800).
Ribs 'n' Bibs:
Smoked-on-the-spot ribs and standout sauce explain the appeal of this simple, mostly take-out Hyde Park BBQ pit (773-493-0400).
Twin Anchors:
Tasty ribs generate long waits for fans of this longtime Old Town BBQ specialist equipped with a historic bar (312-266-1616).
Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse
photo: Ian Cole
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Angelo's Barbecue:
A longtime Ft. Worth institution, this Near West vet is popular for its classic smoked meat and authentic Texana surroundings (817-332-0357).
Cousin's Bar-B-Q:
Good Texas eats at good-value prices explain the appeal of these Ft. Worth spots (South Side: 817-346-2511; Southwest: 817-346-3999) and their drive-thru-only Keller cousin (817-379-0306).
Railhead Smokehouse:
Real Texas BBQ draws buffs to these joints in Ft. Worth's Cultural District (817-738-9808) and in Colleyville (817-571-2525).
Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse:
Everyone from day laborers to billionaires can be found tucking into BBQ beef and cold brews at this Love Field–area classic (214-979-0102) and its many Dallas-area siblings.
Eureka, MO
Super Smokers Bar-B-Que:
Good, fast, cheap eats are the hallmark of this super-casual chain west of St. Louis in Eureka, MO (636-938-9742).
Fiorella's Jack Stack
Kansas City
Danny Edwards' Famous Kansas City BBQ:
Get there early because the kitchen closes at 2:30 PM at this Downtown KC, MO, lunch spot that's considered a standout in a rib-rabid town (816-283-0880).
Fiorella's Jack Stack:
One of the rare 'cue purveyors with decor – expect white linen napkins along with the likes of fork-tender brisket at this Downtown KC, MO, spot (816-472-7427) with two area siblings (Martin City, MO: 816-942-9141; Overland Park, KS: 913-385-7427).
Oklahoma Joe's:
Set in a gas station, this acclaimed Downtown KC, KS, joint turns out KC-style meats as well as signature Carolina pulled pork (913-722-3366); there's also a branch in Olathe (913-782-6858).
Las Vegas
Memphis Championship Barbecue:
Yes, you can hit the BBQ jackpot in Vegas thanks to this quartet serving everything from ribs to pulled pork to brisket (East Side: 702-260-6909; North Las Vegas: 702-644-0000; Northwest: 702-396-6223; West Side: 702-254-0520).
New York City
Blue Smoke:
Call it ribs 'n' riffs: a roundup of various regional-style 'cue is featured at this popular Gramercy Parker (212-447-7733) as well as at its downstairs jazz club adjunct, Jazz
Standard (212-576-2232).
Daisy May's BBQ USA:
Manhattanites can sample everything from Memphis dry-rub pork ribs to Texas chopped beef brisket thanks to this Hell's Kitchen BBQ specialist (212-977-1500).
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que:
Bodacious BBQ at bargain prices draws buffs to this Syracuse import in Harlem (212-694-1777).
Philadelphia
Bomb Bomb Bar-be-que Grill:
An Italian BBQ joint? Sounds unlikely, but the ribs get raves at this simple spot in South Philly (215-463-1311).
Rib Crib:
It's only open Thursdays–Saturdays, so expect a wait at this longtime Germantown to-go joint acclaimed for great ribs and sides (215-438-6793).
Sweet Lucy's:
Pulled pork, ribs and sweet tea satisfy homesick Carolinians as well as local 'cue fanciers at this humble Northeast Philly joint (215-333-9663).