2 Jacksonville-area restaurants on Southern Living’s ‘The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints’ for 2022

Barbecue lovers rejoice: Two local barbecue joints, one in Northeast Florida and one in Southeast Georgia, have made Southern Living’s “The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints.”

From brisket to pulled pork, these barbecue joints have everything to cure your craving.

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“Taken as a whole, the rankings offer a capsule assessment of ‘The State of Southern Barbecue,’ and the state of barbecue in the South is indeed strong — and getting stronger each year,” the magazine said about the list.

Southern Living magazine last published the list in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country and closed down many restaurants.

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A spot in Jacksonville and one in St. Simons Island made this year’s list.

Coming in at No. 50 on the list is Jenkins Quality Barbecue, located at 830 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville.

“What’s the secret to the success of this long-running Jacksonville institution? The Jenkins family says ‘it’s in the sauce,’” Southern Living wrote of Jenkins. “Indeed, the golden hue of that signature mustard-based preparation is bound to grab your attention, and if you opt for the hot version (and you really should), it’ll put sweat on your brow and tears in your eyes.”

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To get to No. 24 on the list, you will need to head to the Georgia coast to try some Southern Soul Barbeque. The restaurant is located at 2020 Demere Road on St. Simons Island.

“In 2007, after cooking together for various charity events, (Harrison Sapp and Griffin Bufkin) launched their barbecue business in a subleased kitchen. Not long after, they moved into a half-century-old converted gas station at the side of a big roundabout just a mile off the beach,” Southern Living said in a 2019 article about the business.

“There are delicious slow smoked meats, of course — brisket, chicken, turkey, and sausage, all cooked over oak on Oyler and Lang pits. Sweet and smoky honey-basted ribs are particular crowd favorites, and Southern Soul’s rich, tangy version of Georgia’s traditional Brunswick stew is a delight,” Southern Living said about the restaurant.

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