The Tastiest Barbeque in Omaha

Porky Butts BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (393) • $$

"Porky Butts is an Omaha gem. Can't say enough about this place. Whenever I come to visit from California, this is on the top of my list of places to visit. Due to scheduling and because we have been here before when we were turned away during operating hours because they were sold out of meat. Can you believe that? Dine in and take out orders wiped them out for the rest of the evening. So this time, I arrived before they opened. Oh snap!!!My go to is Texas Poutine. Handmade chips topped with queso, beef brisket, pulled pork, crumbled bacon, green onions and drizzled with BBQ sauce. You can replace the chips with fries for $1+. Ok, Porky Butts, until next time. See ya. Ok, bye."

Lighthouse Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.8 (339) • $

"My go-to order is the Thai Chicken pizza! Always great. Usually use the drive through. Staff are friendly & efficient"

Smokin Barrel BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (183) • $$

"We came to Omaha for a quick weekend away. As we neared the city we pulled up Yelp and typed in BBQ restaurants, knowing the whole family enjoys BBQ. Smokin Barrel BBQ came up and had fantastic reviews. It's a no frills location and place. Honestly, the way a BBQ place should be. Order at the counter and they cut the brisket right then, in front of you. The table are spools from wire/cabling. The man behind the counter, who I assume is the owner, is very charismatic and friendly. The lady behind the counter was also very kind. They have suckers for the kids (after they finish their meal). I couldn't decide if I wanted a brisket or pulled pork sandwich so I ordered last. My kids went for a pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a drink. My husband got the brisket (1/2# meat), side of beans, and a drink. After watching theirs be made, I was still torn. I told the man I wasn't sure so he combined the two into a sandwich for me. I had potato salad and a drink. My husband and I both fully enjoyed our food. The brisket won my favorite spot. It was moist and perfectly seasoned. Absolutely fantastic! Our kids both enjoyed getting bites of our brisket. While my husband and I enjoyed the pulled pork, both our kids found it to be "spicy" and I'd have to agree that it is "spicy" for kids but great for adults! I'm not docking any stars for this because it was delicious, just not super kid friendly. My potato salad was creamy and had great flavor. I had too much food so my husband got to finish it. He said his beans were good too. One interesting bit to add, when the two workers left the counter (when there wasn't a line), the restaurant patrons were silent. You can tell it's good food when everyone is silent and eating. Definitely a place to give a try. My husband said, "it might be dangerous to know this place is here." I'm guessing our future Omaha trips will include a stop here again."

Smoking Jay's BBQ

★★★★☆ 4 (229) • $$

"Friday night and the end of a busy week. I asked my wife what we wanted to do for dinner. She was considering the options and mentioned having a taste for barbecue pork. My mind thought of more well known chains, and questioned if a local grocery might have something to offer. And I landed on Smoking Jays, which is located just a few minutes from our downtown Omaha residence. I asked her if she wanted to be adventurous and she said yes. We were feeding three adults. She wanted a barbecue pork sandwich. My son wanted ribs, coleslaw and fries. I decided to get chicken, which like the ribs, comes as a meal with two sides. The sandwich gets one side, and she wanted waffle fries. For the purposes of sampling, I decided to get onion rings and potato salad, and let everyone taste whatever they wanted. Our two dinners and sandwich meal costs $76. I was concerned about how much food would be given. We all ended up with leftovers for later and were full. My half chicken was packed with a piece of garlic toast and a square of cornbread, which I thought was a little odd, but I appreciated the cornbread because the garlic toast was very obviously seasoned with garlic salt. The onion rings were also a bit salty. They seem to be homemade and battered, so tasty but with a bit of salt with each bite. I tasted a waffle fry and didn't taste any salt. They were part of my wife's sandwich and she enjoyed her meat and the fries and said they were not salty. The rack of ribs were very tasty and very much "falling off the bone". My son enjoyed the half of the ribs he was able to eat at the first sitting. He had some coleslaw and I had potato salad for sides, both of which were fine. Almost sure they are pre-made items, but they were acceptable. The final comment is about accessibility to the store. You can only get in by making a right turn, from the right hand lane, on 13th, and to exit during the rush hour traffic, I made a right hand turn onto Vinton (you can enter this way, too, but you need to have a blinker on and be very clear about your intentions) and when you get on Vinton, you need to be prepared to turn right again to navigate back to the Old Market area. So if you are downtown and in the mood for barbecue, it is a good option to check out, especially to bring home a lot of tasty food."

Hartland Bar-B-Que

★★★★☆ 4 (219) • $

"The ribs are a must. Definitely worth trying to call ahead to place your order but that isn't always an option depending on how busy they are"

Rib Shack Smoke House

★★★★★ 4.6 (115) • $$

"The bbq, potato salad and cornbread were tasty!Husband enjoyed the ribs and baked beans.We went twice in one week and it's become a family"

Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (121)

"On our road trip through Lincoln, my husband wanted steak for our anniversary dinner. But I wanted something fun and different since most steakhouses feel formal and stuffy which wasn't my road trip mood. So we ended up here to satisfy what we were both looking for. My husband got the beef platter, with so much meat, which included: Yaki - Shabu Beef, Filet Mignon and Kalbi Short Rib. And I got the Koen Kirin which included: Gyoza (3 pcs), Hanger Steak, Top Sirloin, Spicy Pork Belly, Chicken Bulgogi and Sweet Potato. Each table has a grill to cook your meats how you like and had 3 dipping sauces to add that tasty final touch. This was the perfect spot for our anniversary dinner."

Oklahoma Joe's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (152) • $$

"As far as dining goes, we enjoyed our lunch at Oklahoma Joe's. The problem I had was trying to locate a website with menu information. I couldn't navigate through all the sites to one that brought me to the Aksarben Village location. That could just be my searching skills, but normally I like to check out the website menu, and I couldn't. That being said Big Bro ordered a pulled pork sandwich and the baked beans. He thought they were both very good. I also ordered the baked beans but thought I was getting green beans. Little did I know that the baked beans are a signature dish on their menu. I liked them a lot, but did have to sort through some bits of meat in them. I also ordered the mac and cheese which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were only a couple of other diners so it was quiet in the industrial style space. Probably could be quite loud if the place was full. Next time I'm going to get the cornbread."

Southwest Pit BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (88) • $

"Just really good food and the service was great. The price of food for the amount they serve is consistent with what other BBQ places in Lincoln provide."

We'll Smoke U BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.8 (104) • $$

"I liked this place! I ordered the Carolina sandwich which was pulled pork with coleslaw on top. I put the sweet BBQ sauce on it. It was delicious! We were just passing thru but if I should venture here again, I would come back here for sure!"

Boyd & Charlie's BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (128) • $$

"Boyd & Charlie's was one of my favorite restaurants for several years. It seemed to drop off a little bit when they opened a second location near Aksarben, which was disappointing. We got take out tonight and were pretty pumped to discover that Boyd & Charlie's is back. The ribs were perfectly tender and the smoke was great. The corn casserole has always been excellent, as have the Bama Beans. The smoked Turkey was spot on. Packed a lot flavor. We got a lot of food for $30, and are excited to put an old favorite back in the rotation. So good."

Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill

★★★☆☆ 3 (139) • $$

"We have stopped their coming and going. Food has always been good. But folks your mens rest room was pretty bad with urine small everywhere. Got out the ammonia and hot water and scrub the walls and the floor. 409 won't get rid of the smell. The walls and around the entry door doesn't look like they have been touched in months. Take that carpet in front of the mens urnal and replace it or get rid of it. Don't let the rest rooms draw the place down. We come by and eat often."

Swine Dining BBQ & Catering

★★★★☆ 3.9 (75) • $$

"My husband and I have been visiting Swine Dining for years now (as it's very close to our house). It's a pretty small menu of meat and sides, but if you find something you like there, you will be hooked! The interior is pretty basic with concrete-like floor, brick red colored walls, and a handful of wood/black metal tables and chairs. The menu is on posters up on the wall as you walk in, and you order at the front and they bring your food out to your table. You can't go wrong with any meat here, so just choose what sounds good to you. I get the "All in the Pool" sandwich, which is a combination of pulled pork, beef brisket, and smoked sausage. Their high quality meats taste good all together, and especially with the sauces they provide on each table. I like the Mild BBQ, but if you're a heat person, you can get the hotter one. On a whim, I once ordered the Brisket Sandwich, and it did not hold up to the deliciousness of the All in the Pool version, but it was an okay second-place.We have also ordered the ribs before when they were available, and they literally fall right off the bone. You won't need a knife to hack at it, just a fork to pick the pieces off your plate. My kind of ribs!I'm a big believer that the drink you have with a meal can make or break the flavor palette. I mean McDonald's Coke, Chipotle Pibb, and at Swine Dining - it's their Strawberry Fanta! It goes so well with their food, you absolutely have to get it if you're a soda drinker (or skip it and have water, but you will be missing out!)The sides are also choice, with my favorites being the corn, beans, and mac and cheese:-Smoked Mac and Cheese: Cheddar, creamy, and smokiness added in there with perfect seasoning? Yum! If you're a mac and cheese lover, definitely give Swine Dining's version a try.-Cream Cheese (Jalapeño) Corn: This isn't always on their menu, so if it is definitely grab it! It has a little kick with the jalapeño, but the cream cheese cools it off a bit and makes it delicious. -Smoked Beans: I am a big baked bean lover, and these are great. The beans themselves are a little smoky, but there's a sweet touch because they add slices of cinnamon apples to the mixture. So tasty!And they have a few desserts to pick from too, if you're wanting a sweet treat after all that meat. We've had the Bread Pudding and the Apple Crisp.-Bread Pudding: This tastes more like a coffee cake than a bread pudding. I'm not complaining because I love coffee cake, but was expecting more of a bread pudding style. -Apple Crisp: My husbands favorite thing is apple, so he has had this a few times and is a fan. It's kind of a crumble of oatmeal like pie bits mixed in with sweet cinnamony baked apples.I'd say Swine Dining is a good choice for BBQ in Omaha, and it definitely will not break the bank. I prefer them over a lot of other big BBQ names in the city."

Wayne's New Skoo BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.4 (48)

"I've driven past a dozen times.... BBQ pops in my brain.. Yes - let's try Wayne's - Tiny little spot - Do not I'll say it again so not pass by this place. Holy deliciousness I called in an order- said I'd be there in 20- he said I'll see ya soon- Fries sizzling as I walked in - OH just getting in side the door and this lovely couple asks me if I'd like something sweet to go with my order. YES please that cheesecake and fresh fruit combo was crazy crazy fun and good. Oh back to the ribs - smoked to fall off the bone tender and full of flavor, crispy hot fries, cole slaw and a cookie. I was going to share... but I changed my mind after one bite. Run and I mean run fast and get some of Wayne's BBQ you won't regret it!"

Ramo's Pizza and Buster's BBQ

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (104) • $$

"I visited during a Nebraska Cornhuskers home game with my son. We ordered a special with a 2 topping large pizza and 4 piece garlic bread, added beverages and enjoyed it tremendously. Olivia served us and checked back after a couple of bites to make sure our food was good. She refilled our sodas on time.The parking lot is off the road. They have a deck for outdoor seating. It isn't covered. It wasn't too hot or freezing inside; it was just right. We were able to seat ourselves. While the place is known for its pepperoni and cream cheese pizza, we opted for mushrooms. I have had the Dodge's Favorite, All Meat and the Trash Can pizzas too. We got the traditional crust, and they have a thin crust option too."

C Berry's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (40) • $$

"Amazing amazing amazing. Pulled pork waffle fries drunken breakfast menu on point. Thankful!"

Jim's Rib Haven

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (56) • $$

"Another Omaha staple that I have driven past 1000 times but never checked out until last week. I'm upset with myself that I waited so long to check this spot out! I went with the back rib sandwich with saucy fries. The ribs were really tender and fell off the bone. They give you sauce options of mild, medium, or hot. I went with mild which had really good flavor and a nice sweet taste. The fries were krinkle cut with are my favorite type the saucy ones go crazy! Will be back to try out more of the menu!"

402 BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.7 (44) • $

"Our visit to 402 BBQ left a little more to be wanted. They were set up at the Mastercraft building in N. Downtown, and there was a little craft fair going on at the time as well as live music and an "open house" for some of the business there. We wanted to try as many things as we could on the menu between the two of us, so we ordered the brisket and pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese on top, and sausage/brat with mac and cheese. Perhaps we got there just a little too late, but the food was luke warm when served to us and seemed like the end of the day type service too. The speed was also surprising, I was handed my meal to me immediately as I was paying. Almost TOO quickly. I understand it was BBQ but that was too fast.As far as the brisket and the pulled pork- A OK! Nothing to write home about but certainly not bad in the least. The sausage/brat was just a disappointment to me, I thought the casing was rubbery and not snappy, and the temperature was too cold for my taste.I'd give it a try again, but this time I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be."

Oscar's Pizza & Wings Carryout

★★★★☆ 3.6 (44) • $$

"Have been coming here for years but decided to leave a quick review. Oscars is a great spot if you're looking for good pizza and wings! Great sports bar atmosphere and always has good service!"

Three C's Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (20) • $

"We came to Three C's Diner today while trying to complete the Iowa Pork Producers Tenderloin Trail. This was our sixth stop along the trail and we've really had a good time sampling some of Iowa's finest pork tenderloins! We arrived in a busy Corning late this morning but were happy to see there wasn't a big crowd waiting to get in at Three C's. We walked in to what I could a typical small town Iowa eatery - nothing fancy here, which almost always equates to really good food. They have your basic menu, including a full ice cream menu and have a special for the day. The prices are quite good. Two of us ate for under $25 for two sandwiches, a malt and two sodas. As I mentioned, we came for the tenderloins. I got a breaded one and my dad ordered the grilled version. These are some GREAT tenderloins? They're pretty thick, juicy and delicious so make sure you come hungry! The raspberry malt was great! The menu has salads, hamburgers, tenderloins, ice cream and all the typical food you'd find at a small town eatery. Don't quote me on this but I believe they serve breakfast as well.The service was friendly as to be expected. Our waitress was attentive and professional, not to mention very polite. We highly recommend Three C's Diner. Don't expect to be blown away by the atmosphere of the restaurant but expect the food to be REALLY good!"

Sports Page Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (33) • $$

"This sports bar is a local favorite and a solid choice for a drink and bite to eat. Menu is big enough, everyone should find something they like. Service is always great. Recommend."

Big Green Q

★★★★☆ 3.5 (20) • $

"Ran into this food truck at a concert at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. First up, they take the green in their name seriously -- you'll find locally sourced produce and hormone free meats. They both cook with and power their truck with compressed natural gas. Their utensils and containers are eco friendly as well. On to the food. You'll find a variety of sandwiches featuring smoked meats and veggies, plus sides like cole slaw, mac and cheese, and tater tots. I took what I thought was a risk by ordering the smoked veggie sandwich, which was various veggies, hummus, and mozzarella on a ciabatta bun. It exceeded my expectations. It was smoky, with just the right amount of crunch. Top it was a little of their house made sauce and it definitely gave me some needed energy on a blisteringly hot Friday evening.If you see the Big Green Q truck out and about, stop on by for a delicious and eco-friendly casual meal."

402 BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.9 (12)

"Several years ago (pre-covid) 402 BBQ was a regular food vendor at my workplace and I always especially enjoyed the smoked turkey with the Alabama white sauce. A Southern co-worker particularly enjoyed the white sauce because it's not that typical with barbeque fare around here. I recently learned that they have a drive thru permanent location near 84th & Center, a part of town I'm in frequently. My spouse who typically doesn't enjoy regular bbq flavor really liked the white sauce so I'm hoping to pay a visit soon. We really need to support our local small businesses like this one that have been really hurt by the past 3 years! From their website it seems like they work with Grubhub, Doordash, and provide catering services in addition to the drive thru and food truck. Food is great, the owner is super nice and I highly recommend. :)"

Bill's BBQ & Liquor

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (22) • $

"No wonder there is no rating for this place. You have to be nuts to go in there by yourself and a stranger in town. (See my photo and judge for yourself) You need to go with someone that knows this neighborhood. When I got directions to this place from the car rental counter, they strongly recommended that I don't even drive down to that side of town. I couldn't quite tell if they were worried about my safety or more worried about their new car in that neighborhood.......3 stars for a neutral vote for now.....anyone want to carpool down there?.....and anyone 6'5", 300 lbs and played for the Cornhuskers?"

Lazy Buffalo Bbq

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"This BBQ spot in Blackstone is officially my new obsession. It's in the same spot where Kathmandu Momo Station was before they moved, connected to Scriptown. While I was sad to lose the momo spot from the neighborhood, Lazy Buffalo is definitely making up for it. They opened in April but I didn't get around to trying them until a couple weeks ago, but I've been back 3 times since because I keep craving it!! I've tried the Gobbler (turkey sandy), the Alan Earl (pulled pork), the Blackstone Bologna, & the Rib Boat, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single one. One of my favorite elements is the texture of the sandwiches; each one is perfectly paired with the ingredients & type of bread to be a symphony of textures. I loved the sauce on the ribs. Their slaw also rocks, it has a really unique flavor but it's great. They're always super friendly as well! The only downside is they don't seem to have any beverages, which I guess makes sense if it's meant to be ordered while you're sitting at Scriptown, but not as ideal for takeout. I hope this place is really successful, I will continue to be a regular while I live in the area!!"