2 weeks Ago
A lot has changed on the Lincoln barbecue scene since Jake Van Lent and his friends released their rankings of the best spots in 2018. For one, Phat Jack's, which topped the list, closed in July after a 15-year run. The runner-up, Lippy's BBQ in Malcolm, shuttered its doors too.
Meanwhile, Mulberry BBQ and Canyon Joe's have burst onto the scene. The shakeup prompted the Nebraska Barbecue Council — a group of barbecue lovers made up of Van Lent, his brother Alex, and buddies Henry Dobson, Jonny Baker and Tommy Volberding — to update those first batch of rankings, which the Journal Star published in June 2018. "We're kind of always evaluating the barbecue scene," said Jake Van Lent, the president and co-founder of the group, who is also a grain merchandiser for Archer Daniels Midland.
"I kind of compare it to the AP poll for football." The group's shared love of barbecue is what sparked the first top 10 list in 2018. Then, in 2020, they released an Omaha version.
And in 2021, Van Lent even helped run a ribfest with local bands and barbecue. Even though Lincoln is smaller than barbecue giants like Kansas City, the scene has grown, Van Lent said. "It's maybe not a really big town, but the barbecue (scene) is really coming along, so we're really pleased with that," Van Lent said.
The following rankings, which only took into consideration brick-and-mortar restaurants in the Lincoln area, aren't endorsed by Ground Zero. 2441 N. 11th St.
Previous ranking: 3, as Single Barrel. Owned by Single Barrel, Mulberry takes no shortcuts and pours love and heavy wood smoke into every dish. Its flagship items are beef brisket and house-made andouille sausage.
The brisket falls apart and melts in your mouth the way you wish all brisket would. The smoked andouille sausage bursts with flavor, blending the zest of Louisiana with the comfort of Midwestern barbecue. Mulberry’s ribs are good, but they tend to be on the small side for St.
Louis ribs, and the meat falls off the bone too easily to win a rib competition. Sides are no afterthought: the cornbread stuffing and red coleslaw are unique twists on barbecue classics. We recommend the triple barrel sandwich, piled high with pulled pork, andouille sausage and brisket.
200 S. 18th St. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Owner Joe Hager has brought Texas-style barbecue to Lincoln in a big way. The ribs have excellent texture, good smoke and a really good rub. Hager acknowledged that he’s working on sourcing a brisket with more marbling, and this has led to the flat being a little dry, but the point side is terrific and has a perfect bark.
Rarely do we consider pulled pork to be memorable, but Canyon Joe’s pulled pork is. Every side dish is a culinary experience, such as smoky Borracho beans, or the restaurant's mac and cheese with a signature spice blend. 2801 Pine Lake Road, Suite B.
Previous ranking: Not ranked. If you visit Mary Ellen’s on the right day, you’re going to get the best ribs in Lincoln. The big, meaty spare ribs that owner Charles Phillips fixes can be absolutely incredible, with a big smoke ring, amazing bark and perfect tenderness.
Mary Ellen’s barely lost a tiebreaker for first place at Dillon’s Auto Ribfest. But being a customer is far from easy. Mary Ellen’s is closed two days a week and usually only open 4-8 p.
m. Some days, when they are open, they don’t even serve ribs. Other days, they serve baby-back ribs, not spare ribs.
And ordering carryout is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. But if you do get the big, meaty spare ribs ..
. jackpot. Side note: Mary Ellen’s has the best spaghetti in the state.
That’s a little out of our lane, but maybe the Nebraska Pasta Council can confirm. 6105 Havelock Ave. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Soulful Cocina now occupies a restaurant space in Havelock that has been a revolving door, but we hope it remains Soulful Cocina for a long time. Even at No. 4 overall, it is legitimately in the discussion for best ribs in Lincoln.
The smoked tri-tip is its signature dish; it’s deliciously seasoned, smoky, juicy and lovable. Portion size for the price seems to be kind of small. 8341 O St.
Previous ranking: 4. You can get some very good ribs and very good brisket at Parker’s. You can also get some average food.
The rib tips are a little overseasoned and sometimes overcooked. The brisket has good texture but has a tendency to be a little dry. The Ashland location seems to be more consistent than the Lincoln location.
1422 O St. Previous ranking: 7. C.
Berry’s has stepped up its game; it's now known more for good barbecue than for being a late-night food haven for inebriated college kids. You’ll find tender brisket and burnt ends, featuring Certified Piedmontese Beef and wonderful flavor. 3210 Cornhusker Highway.
Previous ranking: 5. This regional chain is a decent option all around. While it isn’t going to wow you with anything, it does a pretty good job at everything.
Burnt ends, ribs and brisket chili are the highlights here. 2750 Pine Lake Road. Previous ranking: 6.
Lincoln’s Famous Dave’s is surprisingly good for a national chain, and you wouldn’t be out of line to put Famous Dave’s a little bit higher on the list. The ribs have really good texture: not tough but not falling apart either. The chicken is impressive — for chicken — and the sauce lineup is excellent.
1601 P St. Previous ranking: 8. Why visit the No.
9 barbecue restaurant on the list? Smoked wings and the Big Hog sandwich are two really good reasons why. Southwest Pit smokes some of the best wings in town. 123 S.
Fourth St., Seward. Previous ranking: 10.
Sparetime Lounge may be a sports bar and bowling alley by trade, but it serves a quality chopped brisket sandwich. The restaurant smokes ribs on Fridays and prime rib on Saturdays. A glorious 15-year run as the king of Lincoln barbecue came to an end July 17 when Phat Jack’s closed its doors.
Burnt ends from Phat Jack’s were legendary, and possibly the best in the world — seriously — if you got a good batch. (Best in the world? Nebraska produces the best beef in the world, and Phat Jack’s used some of the best Nebraska beef brisket for its burnt ends. Kansas City is world renowned for barbecue, and Phat Jack’s would go down there and mop the floor with those guys in a burnt ends competition.
) Thank you to Matt and Jackie Burt and all the people who worked at Phat Jack’s for 15 years of incredible food. You paved the way and set the bar for the next wave of great barbecue joints in Lincoln. From fish tacos in California to bratwurst in Wisconsin and barbecue in Missouri, here's a look at the food that represents each state, according to Flavored Nation With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.
Night Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items..
