Showdown: Determining Best Regional Dropshipped BBQ from Austin, Kansas City, and Memphis
Thanksgiving isn't my holiday. My holiday is the day after Thanksgiving; it's a day to share my love of BBQ with friends and chosen family.
While at Michigan State, one of our MBA professors invited those of us staying on campus for Thanksgiving to their house for an orphan's gathering. We were asked to bring a dish representative of our culture. Having family that came to the US over six generations ago and more recent ancestors wanting to blend in America's melting pot. I didn't really have cuisine that was mine. So, I dropshipped barbecue from Texas to Michigan.
This turned into an annual tradition. Since 2003, I've been dropshipping BBQ from one region in the US elsewhere. Up until last year, my BBQ Showdown only included Texas Barbecue. For the second year in a row, we're tasting Texas Barbecue alongside barbecue from Missouri's Kansas City. Unlike last year, we'll also be tasting Tennessee's Memphis barbecue.
We're sampling barbecue from the following BBQ joints this year:
- Central BBQ
- Charlie Vergos Rendezvous
- The Iron Works Barbecue
- Jack Stack Barbecue
- Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
- Kreuz Market
- Rudy's Real Texas Bar-B-Q
NOTE: Unlike past BBQ Showdowns, where we didn't have food for vegans or vegetarians, this year we'll be serving a vegan Mushroom Raman.
Credits: All layouts designed by and images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.
DISCLOSURE: The Road to The Good Life isn't affiliated with any of the BBQ joints selected for the 2025 BBQ Showdown. We claimed Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que's Thanksgiving promotion for a free pound of sliced turkey. We took advantage of Jack Stack Barbecue's first time visitor's 10% off promotion as well as bundle pricing. Everything else was purchased at full price.
