Elk Grove Named One Of America's Best 'BBQ Cities'

By Rebekah Gonzalez

July 1, 2021

Photo: Getty Images

LawnStarter released a new ranking of 2021's Best BBQ Cities in America.

The study ranked a total of 199 American cities based on the following criteria: access to a barbecue, the quality of local barbecue, and the amount of barbecue-based events and festivals.

"What are the key ingredients of the best BBQ city?" asked the website. "Award-winning barbecue restaurants and chefs, experience hosting a “master-level” competition, multiple barbecue festivals, and high fan ratings, among others."

According to their findings, and a city in Sacramento County has been named one of the country's premier destinations for quality barbecue.

Elk Grove came in within the top 20 cities.

  1. Kansas City, MO
  2. Chicago, IL
  3. Houston, TX
  4. Cincinnati, OH
  5. Memphis, TN
  6. Louisville, KY
  7. St. Louis, MO
  8. New York, NY
  9. Minneapolis, MN
  10. Overland Park, KS
  11. Washington, DC
  12. Richmond, VA
  13. Denver, CO
  14. Los Angeles, CA
  15. Omaha, NE
  16. Atlanta, GA
  17. Grand Rapids, MI
  18. Austin, TX
  19. Elk Grove, CA
  20. Raleigh, NC

Other California cities were mentioned in the ranking. Their study found that Los Angeles has the most top-rated BBQ restuarants. And Santa Rosa boasts the highest median rating for BBQ restaurants.

To see where the other 179 ranked in LawnStarter's Best BBQ Cities in America, click here.

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