The 10 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Atlanta

8. Thompson Brothers BBQ

Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Though you won’t see them in the flesh, all five Thompson brothers can be found at this modest strip-mall joint just north of SunTrust Park—grinning at you from the large photo over the counter or beaming down from the snapshots lining the wall that collects their various honors (from culinary to military to athletic). Once you bite into a rib, you’ll want to grin back. There’s just the right amount of tug and chew comparative to soft flesh and fat, all of it bursting with straight-from-the-smoker fragrance. Those ribs might overshadow the chopped pork, but if you’re going for a combo platter, that’s your next best choice. Skip the underseasoned collards and lackluster mac and cheese for the piping-hot, perfectly tangy Brunswick stew.

Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

2445 Cobb Parkway, Smyrna, 770-818-9098, thompsonbbq.com