Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna, Arkansas
In the Arkansas Delta, you will find this jewel in the rough. Jones Bar-B-Q Diner began as a hole in the ground until his grandfather constructed cinder block pits. This might be the oldest BBQ joint in the entire country! It is now operated and owned by James Jones, who is a fourth-generation pitmaster. This might be a no-frills restaurant, but the experience will be worth making the drive. We love that they cook the meat with hickory embers. You can order the pulled pork sandwich, with or without coleslaw, at 6 a.m. If you get lucky, you might even score links. They are not offered daily!

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner In Marianna, Arkansas
La Barbecue in Austin, Texas
There might be many young people in the Texas barbecue scene, but there are also plenty of old hats that came from a long pitmaster heritage. The latter have salt and pepper in their blood. LeAnn Mueller is one such person. She bussed tables at Louie Mueller Barbecue and now runs one of the best barbecue operations in Austin! It took four different locations until it landed in a convenience store at long last. Isn’t it neat to think that you can get a delicious slice of brisket while grabbing a Gatorade as well? Cool!

La Barbecue In Austin, Texas