Trips to Cherry Beach aren’t the same without indulging in half pounds white-oak-smoked brisket, pulled pork or baby back ribs from this Port Lands staple. For the full experience, order platters of their pit-smoked meats and sides of slaw, beans and corn bread.

Grab a Sunday smoked chicken dinner from this Roncesvalles restaurant, or opt for Angus beef, rubbed and smoked for 12 hours. Not only is this decade-old spot known for its meats, it also has a selection of relatively healthy sides and desserts to go alongside.

Beach Hill owners Darrien List and Terrence Hill brought their Texan BBQ to the Upper Beaches in 2018 and they haven’t looked back. They now have a second location on the Danforth for massive beef ribs and handcrafted sausages. Peach cobbler and BBQ sauce galore are also on the menu.

West Queen West’s only spot for southern BBQ has been smoking up ribs and andouille sausages since 2014. It’s just a stone’s throw from Trinity Bellwoods Park, so consider this your cue for a feast in the park.

A menu of locally sourced and sustainable meats is the focal point of this smokehouse in Greektown. The wood-smoked beef brisket sandwiches with Memphis-style BBQ sauce are a handheld go-to. The rest of the menu offers smoked meats and platters.

Helming this Corso Italia restaurant is Toronto’s Pork Ninja, a.k.a. pitmaster Jason Rees. Here briskets get a hickory wood-smoking for that flavourful, fatty experience. You can also get any of these delicious meats Loaded & Cheezy with melty cheese.

Cliffside’s lowkey home of Southern-style barbecue is actually a one-man show. Pitmaster Trevor David is assembling his popular pork butt sandwiches himself, and smoking his brisket in front of the shop, marinated with some secret ingredients that set Art of BBQ apart.

It’s a medley of BBQ styles at this Scarborough joint on Old Kingston Road. This halal menu ranges from coast to coast, making everything from Texas-style briskets to Montreal smoked beef, spicy jerk chicken, and California-style tri-tip beef roast.