Best BBQ restaurants in Winter Park
These are the eight highest-scoring BBQ restaurants in Winter Park, ranked by our earned composite score, which weighs Google rating, review volume, recency, and guest sentiment (see our methodology). Between them they cover dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering across the Winter Park area.
Picks are ranked by relevance to bbq restaraunt.
At a glance
| # | Business | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonny's BBQ | 4.6 (4089) | moderate | Everyday BBQ, dine-in to catering |
| 2 | City Barbeque | 4.7 (2435) | moderate | Catering and smoked meat by the pound |
| 3 | 4 Rivers Smokehouse | 4.6 (4337) | moderate | Brisket and catering for local businesses |
| 4 | Sweet & Sassy Hickory Smokehouse | 4.8 (26) | — | Saturday farmers market smokehouse |
Ranked picks
Sonny's BBQ
Why it ranks first
Sonny's BBQ holds the top composite score on this list, backed by over 4,000 reviews and a high-confidence rating. Regulars keep coming back for staff like Laura who know them by name, a clean and quiet dining room, and slow-smoked plates the business has served in the area for 50 years.
Pros
- Staff known by name and praised consistently
- Clean, quiet dining room
- Slow-smoked meat with reliable quality
- Full range of dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering
Services: bbq catering, carolina style bbq, texas style bbq, smokehouse bbq · Price: moderate
City Barbeque
Why it ranks second
City Barbeque sits right behind the top spot with a 4.7 rating across 2,435 reviews. Staff greet regulars by name, the brisket, pulled pork, and ribs draw consistent praise for being moist and flavorful, and catering orders are known to arrive early in a clean, modern space.
Pros
- Tender, flavorful brisket, pulled pork, and ribs
- Catering arrives early with generous portions
- Staff remembers regular customers by name
- Modern, clean dining space
Services: texas style bbq, bbq catering, bbq buffet, carolina style bbq · Price: moderate
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Why it ranks third
4 Rivers Smokehouse earns a high-confidence score from over 4,300 reviews, with people reportedly driving 40 minutes round-trip just for the brisket. Local business owners lean on it for regular catering, citing consistent quality and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere, and the fresh in-house bakery adds another reason to stop in.
Pros
- Reliably tender, flavorful brisket
- Staff trained to customize orders
- Fresh in-house bakery items
- Consistent quality whether dine-in, delivered, or catered
Services: carolina style bbq, smokehouse bbq, bbq catering, texas style bbq · Price: moderate
Sweet & Sassy Hickory Smokehouse
Why it ranks fourth
Sweet & Sassy Hickory Smokehouse posts a 4.8 rating and pulls a loyal Saturday crowd at the Winter Park Farmers Market, though its 26 reviews mean this score carries less certainty than the bigger sit-down spots on this list. Staff Lori and Elizabeth remember customers and smoke everything fresh, with burnt ends and brisket that regulars single out by name.
Pros
- Owner-led, personable service
- Meat smoked in-house daily
- Everything cooked fresh to order
- Bold, complex house sauces
Services: smokehouse bbq, texas style bbq, carolina style bbq, bbq food truck