After a long day's ride (or even a short one), nothing hits the spot quite like some good old-fashioned BBQ. If you've ever taken a trip to the southern U.S., you may have visited one of the pit BBQs or rib joints and thought how lucky you are to be in the only place that can actually do BBQ right. Well guess what? We're doing BBQ up here in Ontario and what's more: it's actually better in Ontario! While most places look to the south for inspiration—Memphis and Carolina BBQ styles are well represented—you will find a northern touch in many of the menus of these fine establishments.
This is a big list, totally worthy of Ontario's enviable girth, so we're going to need a lot of help finding the very best in the province. Go to our Facebook Page and let us know what are your favourite BBQ joints to stop in at while riding in Ontario.
Northern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario
North Bay
Recommended Route: The Lake Temiskaming Tour
This local drinking hangout has been transformed into a top-notch restaurant and pub located on the shores of Lake Nipissing and right there in downtown North Bay. An ideal stop for a group ride lunch or dinner. Or start the day off with their famous brunch. The Back Ribs and Chicken is a sure bet but check out whatever they have on special that night.
Sudbury
Recommended Route: The Georgian Bay Coastal Route
Recently moved a couple of doors down to a bigger location, they'll still be serving over 30 flavours of wings, signature beers and all manner of tasty, finger-licking good food.
Cochrane
Recommended Route: The Great Legends Tour
Fall-off-the-bone ribs just off the Trans-Canada. This Tex-Mex themed resto also does good chicken. Large portions ensure you'll leave with a full tummy.
Algoma Country
Sault Sainte Marie
Recommended Route: The Grand Algoma
Portuguese restaurant in the east end of the Soo and right on the Trans-Canada features Churrasqueira with 1/2 price wings every Wednesday and Steak Night on Fridays.
Located right in downtown Sault Ste. Marie with a patio and smoker on site, this is a perfect destination for the weary traveller looking to get their fill of BBQ and beer.
Traditional pub serving pizza, ribs, wings and all the usual comfort food at affordable prices. Check their facebook page for specials and evening enterainment.
St. Joseph Island
Recommended Route: The Grand Algoma
Located right on the water and attached to the Hilton Beach Inn, this is the best place to hunker down for a night or make your homebase for the weekend while cruising Algoma Country. Their smokehouse is pumping out the best ribs and pulled pork on the island.
Northwest Ontario
Kenora
Recommended Route: The Nor' Wester
Located on Rabbit Lake Road, just north of Kenora city centre and beautiful Lake of the Woods, this casual bar and restaurant has a choice menu with tasty daily specials. A perfect stop on a long Northern Ontario ride.
Sioux Lookout
Recommended Route: The Nor' Wester
This roadhouse style restaurant just off the lake isn't really a BBQ per se, but we figure if you're out exploring these roads, you know your choices are going to be slim. They serve foods of all kinds, including wings.
Thunder Bay
Recommended Route: Thunder Bay Waterfalls & Scenic Lookouts
New on the scene in Thunder Bay, this food truck is quickly becoming the go-to place to pull over while on the Ride Lake Superior motorcycle route. Try their "Thrilled Cheese"—the traditional cheese-lover's favourite sandwich stuffed with BBQ pork, or take a pound of brisket for the road. The truck pops up in various locations around town so check their Facebook page before you go.
Deep south, Cajun-style swiss chef cooking smoked perfection way up north. Easily found in downtown Thunder Bay. It's a small place but they do take-out as well. The smoked meat is excellent and the fried chicken is unbeatable. Lots of things on this menu you just won't find anywhere else for miles around.
A new arrival to TBay offering all you can eat Korean BBQ and Chinese cuisine. Each table has its own grill so you can cook your meats, seafood and vegetables to your liking.
Vermilion Bay
Recommended Route: The Nor' Wester
Just west of Vermillion Bay on Highway 17 you'll see the signs (with moose antlers in the logo) for a place called Busters Barbecue. You may think your eyes and stomach are gettting the best of you, but this is actually a really amazing BBQ restaurant way up north. With a Canadian twist on regional southern barbecue, this award-winning restaurant has been featured on the Food Network and has been winning top awards for almost 10 years. People come from all over to fill up on ribs and brisket and bring home some of the best sauces. Perfect stop for a day cruising in Ontario's Northwest.
Southern Ontario
Ontario's Southwest
Chatham
Recommended Route: The Freedom Trail
In 2010, after years of perfecting their ribs and sauces (and winning top awards at ribfests near and far) Blazin BBQ opened their ribhouse in Chatham. A fun place place for the whole family.
Harrow
Recommended Route: Cruise the Coast
Cajune and Creole style BBQ with outdoor seating, a great menu and located right in the heart of Ontario's Southwest. Sounds like a good day for a ride!
Leamington
Recommended Route: Cruise the Coast
Classic ribhouse in Leamington with solid specials like Wednesday's 1/2 rack of ribs for $10 and Thursday's $5 wings. Check the restaurant for details and different specials throughout the year.
London
Recommended Route: Visit Middlesex Route
London's first and best BBQ and smokehouse. Southern comfort food specializing in smoked everything—brisket sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, smoked chicken and whatever else they feel like smoking from ribs to wings to fish. Big portions and awesome food. You can't go wrong here.
Good prices, big portion sizes and award winning ribs make Boss Hog's the perfect choice for a stop in London. They're bottling their famous BBQ sauce now so you can take some of the goodness home with you.
These folks know how to treat the meatatarians. All their BBQ comes to the table naked—with the sauce on the side. With 7 different flavours to choose from. Hard to say between the wings or the ribs which is top choice on the menu.
Attention chicken-lovers! Specializing in Portuguese style Piri Piri rotisserie chicken and panini press sandwiches made to order, they can be found seven days a week at London's Covent Garden Market.
Excellent affordable BBQ joint known for its fast and friendly service. Lots of solid choices on the menu including the Z-man burger which comes with pulled pork and creamy garlic sauce. Great spot to stop in and fuel up for a ride.
Simcoe
Recommended Route: Ontario's Garden
An instituion in Simcoe, Christien's menu has something for everyone including top-notch BBQ. Large portions of quality food at good prices. The ribs are the reason to be there, so make sure not to fill up on their famous celery bread.
St. Thomas
Recommended Route: Experience Elgin County
The best pulled pork sandwich in St. Thomas. Perfect place to watch the game and unwind from a day's riding in Ontario's Southwest.
Windsor
Recommended Route: Ride the Windsor Essex Peninsula
Recently moved to a larger location to accommodate the number of locals coming back for more, this place is solid in all respects but the smoked meat is the real draw. Pulled pork, smoked wings, ribs and impressive sides, but most of all you've got to try the pulled pork sundae.
Great ribs and a variety of sauces all at reasonable prices. The portion sizes are nothing to complain about either, but in case you are still hungry, they have 12 made-in-house desserts.
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Cambridge
As Cambridge's first smokehouse BBQ, this place has earned a reputation for serving up the most mouthwatering platters in the region. From the St. Louis Side Ribs to the Pulled Pork Platter, you can't really go wrong here.
Guelph
With locations in Guelph, Waterloo and Cambridge these folks have got you covered when visiting the region. A side of poutine goes with any meal to make sure you leave with a full belly.
Meaty, cheap and greasy.Dad's food truck offers onion rings, cole slaw, fries, back bacon sandwiches and more but the reason people keep coming back is for the pulled pork sandwiches.
Kincardine
Recommended Route: Along the East Coast of Lake Huron
Quality and authentic southern barbecue on wheels. This food truck is currently operating out of Victoria Park in Kincardine. One of the top sellers last year was the Mac and Cheese with Pit Candy Bacon. Check the facebook page for what's on this season!
Goderich
Recommended Route: Along the East Coast of Lake Huron
At first glance it's just a traditional old diner, but this place is pretty unique with an in-house smoker made from a repurposed old safe. The montreal smoked meat sandwich is popular but check in and see what they've got going on as they're always doing specials.
Kitchener-Waterloo
A southern inspired pit barbecue restaurant created as a reflection of the owner's experience riding their Harley and visiting real honkytonk juke joints and backroad barbecue shacks throughout the Southern U.S. Hog Tails is a blend of authentic southern cooking, blues music and the exciting world of motorcycling. A worthy destination for any daytripper in Southern Ontario.
Casual place with a unique take on favourite comfort foods. Suitable for both vegetarians and carnivores. Features are the homemade sauces, smoked meat poutine and a killer pulled pork sandwich.
Serving the same mouth-watering pit BBQ you may have tried from their trailer but now available seven days a week at their restaurant location. Look forward to eating in a licensed setting featuring new items like Pulled Pork Poutine with Carolina sauce.
The Lancaster Smokehouse
This Kitchener favourite has a simple mission: keep it local, keep it fresh and homemade. All of their locally-sourced meat is smoked over 100% Hickory hardwood using their own recipes for the rub and sauces. They use only the freshest ingredients and nearly all of the menu is made from scratch. Open Monday to Saturday. Watch for regular blues nights.
This Kitchener favourite has a simple mission: keep it local, keep it fresh and homemade. All of their locally-sourced meat is smoked over 100% Hickory hardwood using their own recipes for the rub and sauces. They use only the freshest ingredients and nearly all of the menu is made from scratch. Open Monday to Saturday. Watch for regular blues nights.
Bruce Peninsula, Southern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe
Barrie
Recommended Route: 5-Hour Lake Simcoe Tour
Serving big portions in little time, Big Chris' place is licensed and has an onsite smoker. A huge favourite in Barrie and surrounding area.
These guys have been at it for 20 years and have racked up over 50 BBQ championships for ribs, chicken and sauces.
Specializing in Ribs and Wings but also featuring curious sides like the "Onion Devils" and Deep Fried Pickles.
Collingwood
Recommended Route: Grey-Bruce Waterfall Tour
Offering traditional fare like smoked ribs, beef brisket and pulled pork alongside more adventurous numbers like smoked trout, smoked balls of meat, smoked beef short ribs, smoked portabella mushroom burger, wild boar bacon and smoke banana ice cream all in a casual atmosphere. The Smoke experience isn't complete without taking some time out on their patio to relax and wind down from a day's ride.
Midland
Recommended Route: Georgian Bay Coastal Route
On the banks of the Wye River lies one of Canada's most glorious BBQ treasures. Sourcing locally and preparing most of the food on the premises using their 8 shelf smoker, deep wood fire pit and Adobe oven for BBQ and baked goods, Mad Michaels is well worth a drive out to Midland!
Orillia
Recommended Route: Georgian Bay Coastal Route
Located about three minutes north of gasoline alley on Hwy 11. Serving generous portions of amazing BBQ smoked on site and at fair prices, this is the perfect place to stop on a trip to the north.
Big portions of BBQ make this a great choice for where to eat when in downtown Orillia.
Port Elgin
Recommended Route: Along the East Coast of Lake Huron
Ideal spot for BBQ just off the shores of Lake Huron in downtown Port Elgin. Monday and Tuesday it's Rib Night, Wednesdays are 1/2 price wings and Friday offers a steak special. Relax on the patio or in the cooler months you can warm up next to the fireplace.
Sauble Beach
Recommended Route: The Bruce Coast Lighthouse Touring Route
Serving BBQ ribs until they run out—which can often be pretty early. This classic restaurant is a good option before a ride to the beach.
Brantford
With their sister restaurant operating out of Alabama, you can count on Camp 31 to serve real southern bar-b-que. Includes road-trip worthy ribs, tremendous sides and homemade Iced Tea. This is one of the best BBQ joints this side of the 49th.
This place ahs something for everyone. Specials throughout the week including all-you-can-eat ribs on Wednesdays and a full Prime Rib dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Kids eat free on Sundays.
Feeding the meat-lovers of Brantford since 1937, Strodes has become famous for it's sausages and smoked kielbasa. They do everything from pulled pork to chicken schnitzel to lasagna. Everything is made fresh on-site.
Burlington
Wings Wings Wings! This is the place for...Wings. Best in Burlington and may be best in Ontario. Tuesday is wing night. They also have ribs and other things which I'm sure are all really good. Try the wings!
Georgetown
This is a very popular spot in Georgetown serving a wide variety of meats in the authentic southern tradition. They use a hickory fired smoker and cook their meats "low & slow," giving them that distinctive hickory flavour.
Hamilton
Serving southern BBQ and 50's drive-in classics, this is notable for it's breakfast menu—try the Sausage Bacon Biscuits. The perfect way to start off a day before exploring the renowned riding roads between Winona and Lake Erie.
Voted Favourite Wings from 2004 to 2012 in the Hamilton Spectator's Readers' Choice Awards and with three locations, Red Rockets is an easy choice for fast take-out when in Hammer town.
Their "real deal" BBQ menu is made with fresh ingredients and has everything it takes to make your mouth water for that authentic southern-style BBQ goodness. All you can eat ribs on Tuesdays and half-price wings on Thursdays.
Recently relocated to King & Walnut, Hillbilly Heaven is still catering to the meatetarians of the Hamilton area. They load of the smokers twice a day with a cook time of 12 hours and when it's done they serve it all on paper plates.
The first Korea- style BBQ for Hamilton. Enjoy cooking your meat to perfection right at your own table. Their all-you-can eat menu is a real turn-on for meat lovers.
Chuck's premium burgers are all-natural and hand made in-house. With over 60 toppings and 9 different kinds of poutine, if it's burger you're craving this is the place.
Milton
Recommended Route: Forks of the Credit
Long-time source for Southern BBQ in the area. Winner of over 50 BBQ championships for ribs, chicken and sauces. Great food and lots of of it. You will leave satisfied.
Niagara
Niagara Falls
This is the place to go for a special dinner on a night out in the Niagara Region. With unlimited portions and 12 succulent cuts of meat carved at your table and a huge buffet you can't go wrong here. Best cuts are the ribeye and beef bottom.
St. Catharines
A wide variety of foods from smoked brisket to pulled pork to home made burgers all at really low prices—Everything is under $10! A value-seeker's top option for where to eat in downtown St. Catharines.
Located next to the Holiday Inn and including a bowling alley in the same building, this is an excellent one-stop in St. Catharines. The steak and mushrooms is a favourite as well as the Sunday brunch.
York, Durham and the Hills of Headwaters
Bowmanville
Where they say it's Ribfest all year long. Perfect place to bring the family as it has something for everyone. Also a fine spot to watch the game.
Keswick
A fine spot just off Cook's Bay in Keswick serving BBQ Ribs, pizza, fish and chips, pasta and breakfast.
Orangeville
A casual dining experience in Grand Valley, just outside of Orangeville. Using all fresh ingedients and local meats has made it a very popular spot among the locals. The best is their hormone, antibiotic and additive free, dry aged for 21 days steaks. Serving an ever evolving choice of cuts.
Oshawa
The inspiration for putting this list together, this is THE place for motorcycling and BBQing in Ontario. With a huge weekly motorcycle cruise-in every Thursday at 5 pm, riders have been coming to this iconic landmark to meet and eat with friends for years. If you haven't been before, it's worth planning a trip around. As for the food, the name say it all. But why choose one over the other when you can have the best of both worlds with a Chicken & Rib Combo?
Nice little bistro in the 'schwa with good prices for good BBQ. Favourites are the pulled pork sandwich for lunch or the BBQ ribs for dinner.
Their new restaurant is conveniently located in downtown Oshawa, just a couple of minutes off the 401 and has live music on Friday nights and great choices from local microbreweries. Buster Rhino's serves delicious ribs, juicy brisket and host of mouthwatering BBQ goodies. Their killer sauce is carried by a number of restaurants in the area but why not treat yourself and go straight to the source?!
Pickering
After three years of winning so many awards at the various ribfests around the province they've finally opened up a restaurant in Pickering, just a minute off the 401. Seving killer ribs, wings, sandwiches, sides and award winning sauce, this place is already a big favourite among the locals. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
Blue Mountain
Recommended Route: Where to Ride in the Kawarthas
The perfect place to break from an afternoon cruise in the Blue Mountain area. Rusty's is right at the base of the mountain, has a nice wooden decor and most important of all: the brisket sandwich is huge and really tasty.
Bobcaygeon
Recommended Route: Where to Ride in the Kawarthas
Serving gourmet comfort food made with fresh, local ingredients, Bistro 49 is always serving something new and creative. Try their Baseball Steak cooked on the outdoor BBQ grill served with Mushroom Beurre Blanc Sauce, Smashed Potatoes and Veggies.
Brighton
Recommended Route: The Roads of Northumberland
With a big menu to please everyone and including a hand cut AAA char broiled New York Striploin streak, this classic resto is an easy choice for any group visiting the Kawarthas.
Campbellford
Recommended Route: The Roads of Northumberland
An impressive bistro in downtown Campbellford. They serve fall-off-the-bone ribs and amazing bbq beef brisket along with perfectly roasted corn on the cob and homemade iced tea.
Kawartha Lakes
Recommended Route: Where to Ride in the Kawarthas
Voted Lindsay's favourite Breakfast, Lunch and Family Restaurant, their ever-changing menu feature familiar stand-by's alongside unique creations like the "Revved-Up Rostis." A perfect side of the road stop.
Located on Highway 7A between Oshawa and Peterborough, surrounded by some of the region's best roads, Heaven on Seven offers great BBQ and Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream.
Keene
Recommended Route: Where to Ride in the Kawarthas
With motorcycle parking, live music, amazing slow cooked ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and specials throughout the season, this may be our favourite choice for Ontario BBQ's. Only open from April to the end of December so make sure to get there as often as you can this season!
Belleville
Recommended Route: Prince Edward County
Belleville's hometown smokeshack and sportsbar, serving hot food and cool drinks with 12 tv's and live entertainment.
A favourite family BBQ resto in Belleville. The best thing on the menu is their giant chicken wings.
Cornwall
Recommended Route: HIghway Two from Gananoque to East of Cornwall
A beloved family-owned family restaurant specializing in barbecued chicken for the classic small-town Ontario experience.
Forest
Recommended Route: Lennox and Addington County Rides
A family-friendly restaurant with a menu to suit everyone's tastes including great chicken dinners and wings.
Kingston
Recommended Route: Lennox and Addington County Rides
Kingston's favourite for wings. Also serving sandwiches, salads and appetizers, but it's the wings that keep people coming back for more.
A casual restaurant in Kingston's west end. Gina makes a variety of foods with a love for authentic souther-style BBQ. The meats are cooked on low for hours and hours until the smoky flavour permeates every sinew.
Operating out of the parking lot at Nellies Gas Bar in Harrowsmith, all the meat is done in the truck and sourced locally whenever possible. Sandwiches, poutine and meat, meat, meat!
Napanee
Recommended Route: Lennox and Addington County Rides
Named after an intersection in Tulsa, you know southern style slow cooked BBQ is close to their hearts. Best bet is to go for the pulled pork but it's also worth experimenting with specials like the "Beet Black and Blue Salad," flank steak, grilled beets and Danis blue cheese served on mixed greens with red onoins and topped with a poached egg!
Prince Edward County
Recommended Route: Prince Edward County
Located just a 25 mintue ride from Sandbanks Provincial Park and surrounded by local wineries and other attractions, this is an excellent place to stop for a bite. Mostly open during long weekends. Check their facebook page before you head out!
Trenton
Recommended Route: Prince Edward County
A family-owned and operated business serving excellent BBQ until they sell out (usually not until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights). Using local suppliers and serving local beers, this place has heart. From delicious homemade sides to mouthwatering brisket, ribs and pulled chicken, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu but this is the only place you can get Deep Fried Cheese Curds.
Ottawa and Countryside
Ottawa
Recommended Route: Ride the Ottawa Valley
An unpretentious Bank Street eatery specializing in southern food and going even further to offer an impressive Tex-Mex menu alongside first-class BBQ. Bring a couple of buddies and see if you can finish their family platter. With occasional live music and specials throughout the week.
Texas style BBQ served hot off the grill just outside of Ottawa. Tuesday is Wing Night, Wednesdays is Rib Night and Thursday is Brisket and Hogs Back Night. Closed Mondays. Perfect stop on the way heading east out of town.
Big portions of top quality Canadian meats done right using Quebec maple and Ontario applewood in the smoker. From Jamaican jerk to Tennessee chicken they pay delicious homage to BBQ's roots. Favourite: Pulled Pork Sandwich.
This is a great place to watch the game and eat some dry rub ribs. They also have a Biker's Monthly Event on the 13th of every month and an All You Can Eat special every monday from 4pm till close.
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Eagle Lake
Recommended Route: The Highlands Fall Loop
This may be one of Ontario's best kept secrets and we're going to spill it here: there's a old airstream up in Eagle Lake, just minutes off the 118, north of Haliburton serving the best pulled pork sandwiches. It's only open in the summer and it's closed on Tuesdays but it's more than enough reason to make the trip. The outstanding riding roads in the region don't hurt either.
Harcourt
Recommended Route: The Highlands Fall Loop
Traditional Southern BBQ served at it's finest in the heart of the Haliburton Highlands. It's all homemade and done over a maple wood fire. Located right on the side of an excellent riding road, Loop Road.
Bracebridge
Recommended Route: The Algonquin Route
A fun place to stop in for a burger, wings or ribs while cruising in Muskoka.
