My top priority when I arrived on the University of Alabama campus was finding out where the best restaurants in Tuscaloosa were–specifically the best barbecue. I know as freshmen we are supposed to eat in the campus dining halls where our parents spend hard earned money, but let’s be honest – everyone needs a break sometime. I am from the North where chain restaurants call themselves “barbecue joints” but fall seriously short. I knew that once I arrived in Alabama, experiencing the famous cuisine that is synonymous with the South was a must. Slow cooked tender ribs falling off the bone smothered in tangy, smoky robust sauce preoccupied my mind. I started on my mission, to see if Southern barbecue was in fact legendary, or if it was all hype.
Hoo’s Q is right across the street from Cook-Out. It is a “no gimmick, bare tin and wood walls” restaurant. You order at the counter, the food is brought out in five minutes or less, and it is easy on a college student’s budget.
I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a side of fries. The pork was very tender and had a nice smoky flavor. Their special barbecue sauce had mild heat and enhanced the flavor of the meat. The fries were superb because of the special seasoning. They were extremely salty but the fries were an excellent complement to the sandwich.
The second restaurant was Full Moon BBQ, which is right off McFarland Boulevard. Full Moon calls itself the “Best Little Pork House in Alabama.” The restaurant’s decor is very inviting with paintings, pictures, and UA sports memorabilia from years past plastering the walls.
Full Moon specializes in trays, which include a main dish and two sides. I ordered a half rack of ribs with a side of mac and cheese and steak fries. The ribs were excellent with the scrumptious meat practically falling off the bone. The mac and cheese was a perfect ratio of creamy cheddar sauce and al dente noodles. I enjoyed the crispy, steak fries with the soft insides. As an added surprise they give you a free cornbread muffin that was absolutely delicious with its mouthwatering flavor and moist, warm inside.
Dreamland Bar-B-Que prides themselves on “treating you like kin” and is located just over the bridge heading towards Northport. The amazing aroma of the open pit barbecue hits you as you step in the door. They cook all of their meats in wood ovens that you can see while you dine in the restaurant.
Before you order, you are served a plate of white bread with their famous barbecue sauce. A note of caution: their sauce has a kick to it, so make sure you have a glass of water by your side before you dunk the whole piece of bread! For my meal, I ordered a half rack of baby back ribs. The ribs at this restaurant are a tad tougher than Full Moon, but the overall size of the ribs are much larger. The seasoning on the ribs was flavorful and paired nicely with the sauce.
Tuscaloosa is a treasure trove of Southern barbecue restaurants. I only sampled a small number of them, but I am thankful I have 3 more years to continue my research! In an attempt to help other students, I have ranked the three places by the characteristics I feel are most important to college students. It isn’t just hype….Southern barbecue is truly legendary and bucket list worthy.
Best Overall Place
- Full Moon BBQ
- Hoos Q
- Dreamland BBQ
Best Food for Price
- Hoos Q
- Full Moon BBQ
- Dreamland BBQ
Best BBQ Sauce
- Hoos Q
- Dreamland BBQ
- Full Moon BBQ
If you would like to tell me about one of your favorite barbecue restaurants in town, I would love to hear about them! Please place your suggestions in the comments section.