5 Best Barbecue Joints in Hoover, Alabama to Try

Just south of Birmingham, Hoover is a city woven with Southern comfort and new-school energy.

The barbecue tradition here is deeply rooted: you’ll find multi-generational pitmasters perfecting pork, rib shacks with secret sauces, and newer joints giving classic Alabama white sauce a modern spin.

Come for the hospitality, stay for the super-smoky, all-day flavor.

1. Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q

This iconic Alabama-born chain started in Birmingham and flourishes in Hoover.

Jim ‘N Nick’s stays true to its roots: pit-cooked pork, beef, and chicken, signature cheese biscuits, and a white BBQ sauce that locals swear by for dipping.

Brisket, ribs, and loaded baked potatoes are musts—plus classic banana pudding for dessert.

2. Full Moon Bar-B-Que

With a cult following statewide, Full Moon’s Hoover outpost is a favorite for tender pork, smoky sausage, and those crisp signature chow-chow pickles on the side.

Sauce fans can try both classic tomato-based and tangy, house-made Alabama white.

Sides are Southern classics—mac and cheese, baked beans, and their legendary half-moon cookies.

3. Johnny Ray’s BBQ

A genuine local gem, Johnny Ray’s offers old-school barbecue with friendly service and real-deal pie.

Their hickory-smoked pork and fall-off-the-bone ribs come doused in house sauce, while the smoked chicken shows off what Alabama white sauce can really do.

Don’t leave without a slice of chocolate or lemon icebox pie.

4. Moe’s Original BBQ

Started in Alabama and now found across the South, Moe’s in Hoover is a gathering place for families, friends, and sports fans.

Their smoked wings and pork shoulder are legendary—served with house-made sauces (try both the red and white!).

The atmosphere is lively, and the fried catfish or Southern sides (collard greens, cornbread) are almost as famous as the barbecue.

5. Bluegrass Barbecue

A smaller, community-focused joint that fuses Kentucky and Alabama influences, Bluegrass is cherished for its deeply seasoned ribs, pulled pork, and burnt ends served with hearty, homemade fixings.

There’s always a rotating dessert special—bread pudding, cobbler, or pie—making a laid-back dinner feel like a family reunion.

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