2 Birmingham BBQ joints featured on “The Ultimate Road Trip for America’s Best BBQ”

Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Q
If you haven’t been to Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q, right on the edge of Cahaba Heights and the Cahaba Community, down the hill from The Summit, what are you waiting for? Photo via Sharron Swain for Bham Now

Online travel publication Far & Wide recently featured two Birmingham BBQ joints on an article titled, “The Ultimate Road Trip for America’s Best BBQ“. With a title like “Ultimate”, you know it has to be good.

Far & Wide BBQ
Far & Wide’s 8-stop trek to find the best barbecue joints in the country. Photo via Far & Wide

Far & Wide writer Jessie Fetterling’s recent article, “The Ultimate Road Trip for America’s Best BBQ“, features legendary barbecue joints in eight cities across the country:

  • 1st Stop: Kansas City, Missouri
  • 2nd Stop: Dallas, Texas
  • 3rd Stop: Austin, Texas
  • 4th Stop: Birmingham, Alabama
  • 5th Stop: Columbia, South Carolina
  • 6th Stop: Lexington, North Carolina
  • 7th Stop: Memphis, Tennessee
  • 8th Stop: St. Louis, Missouri

Who Made the List?

2 Men and a Pig — “Trendiest Joint”

2 Men and a Pig
Pulled pork from 2 Men and a Pig. Photo via 2 Men and a Pig

First up on the list is 2 Men and a Pig. Far & Wide named this award-winning barbecue company as Birmingham’s “Trendiest Joint”. Since 2005, three lifelong friends—one of whom is nicknamed “Pig”—have been cooking up barbecue in The Magic City. Nowadays, 2 Men and a Pig offer up full service BBQ catering, food truck operations, vending, fundraisers, concession stand operations and more.

Here’s what Far & Wide had to say about 2 Men and a Pig:

“Some may doubt that delicious BBQ can come from a food truck, but those people likely haven’t tried 2 Men and a Pig. One Yelp reviewer writes, “THE MEAT BY ITSELF HAD FLAVOR!!!”

That’s all caps people — need we say more?”

Miss Myra’s Pit Bar B-Q — “Most Unique Joint”

Miss Myra
Brandon at Miss Myra’s Pit Bar B-Q. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Since 1984, Miss Myra’s Pit BAR-B-Q has been cooking up some of the best pit barbecue in The Magic City. The joint specializes in barbecued chicken, beef, pork, ribs, sausage and tons of homemade desserts and sides.

The folks at Far & Wide have been big fans of Miss Myra’s for years. In 2019, Far & Wide named Miss Myra’s its “top pick” for best sandwich in Alabama. Here’s what Far & Wide had to say about Miss Myra’s:

Miss Myra’s is where the locals in Birmingham have been going since 1984. Not only does Miss Myra Grissom Harper make a killer white sauce that gives Big Bob a run for his money, but her smoked chicken and banana pudding are the stuff of dreams.

Oh, and don’t forget to taste the pie!”

What Makes Birmingham BBQ so Unique?

Miss Myra's BBQ Chicken
In 2019, Far & Wide named Miss Myra’s Bar-B-Q’s BBQ Chicken Sandwich with White Sauce as “top pick.” Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Although the trek from Austin to Birmingham is the longest leg of the trip, Far & Wide says Birmingham’s unique spin on BBQ is worth the drive.

And what sets Birmingham apart? It all comes down to the sauce. Building on the barbecue traditions of Tennessee and the Carolinas, Birmingham is famous for its unique Alabama White Sauce. Speaking of Alabama White Sauce, Miss Myra’s has shared their famous recipe with Bham Now in the past.

Here’s how to make it:

  • 2 quarts heavy-duty mayonnaise ( the kind purchased at Costco’s or Sam’s)
  • 1 quart white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons pepper

Slowly pour vinegar into mayonnaise, using a whisk to work out all the lumps. While whisking in vinegar, also mix in salt and pepper. Once all the lumps are gone, place mixture in refrigerator before serving to allow sauce to thicken.

What is your favorite place for barbecue in Birmingham? Tag us @bhamnow and follow us on FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedIn and sign up for our FREE Newsletter to get news like this delivered to your inbox every day.

Nathan Watson
Nathan Watson

Senior Content Producer + Photographer

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