5 Best Barbecue Joints in Provo, Utah, to Try

Provo is known for its beautiful mountain backdrop, a youthful college-town energy thanks to BYU, and a food scene that’s surprisingly full of heart.

While you might think first of soda shops and Utah scones, there’s a passionate barbecue undercurrent here—equal parts down-home tradition and Western ingenuity.

Provo’s best BBQ joints tend to be creative, unpretentious, and family-friendly, drawing on influences from Texas, Kansas City, and the Pacific Northwest.

Here, smoked meats are often paired with house-baked bread, local roots, and plenty of homemade sides.

1. Smokey’s BBQ & Grill

A much-loved spot in the heart of Provo, Smokey’s is known for their generous plates and melt-in-your-mouth brisket.

All meats are slow-smoked in-house, and the ribs draw rave reviews for their tender bite and deeply caramelized bark.

The pulled pork is especially popular with locals, slathered in a sweet, tangy house sauce.

Add to that their hearty mac and cheese, jalapeño cornbread, and a rotating pie selection, and this is a must for newcomers and regulars alike.

2. Black Sheep Café

More than your average barbecue shop, Black Sheep marries Southwestern tribal influences with smoke and spice.

Try the Navajo tacos topped with their slow-smoked meats (brisket especially), or dive into a plate of Pueblo-inspired green chile pork.

Housemade blue corn muffins and Hatch chile slaw round out the menu, and fans love that everything is prepared from scratch with a creative twist.

3. Five Star BBQ Company

As the name suggests, this place aims to impress—and succeeds.

The setup channels Texas roadhouse vibes, but the menu skips around the South (think Carolina slaw, Texas sausage, Kansas City burnt ends).

Here, brisket is cooked low and slow, barky on the outside and juicy within.

Don’t miss their smoked turkey or cheesy potatoes, and definitely sample their collection of house sauces, from classic sweet to spicy and mustard-based.

4. Bam Bams BBQ

A competition-style smokehouse started by a BBQ pitmaster who knows his way around championship meats.

Expect thick-cut brisket, rib platters, and pulled pork that often gets compared favorably to “the best in Austin.”

Their signature “meat mountain” is legendary—try if you’re sharing or feeling brave. Also, their seasoned potato salad and housemade pickles are great sides.

5. Wallaby’s Smokehouse

An Aussie-themed twist for your barbecue adventure! Wallaby’s serves up all-American barbecue yet infuses a bit of Down Under charm—think brisket, chicken, and ribs, plus a few Australian sides like “chips” (fries) with chicken salt.

Sauces are sweet and tangy, the staff is famously friendly, and lunch platters are big enough to share.

Their peach cobbler dessert is a local favorite.