Wright's Barbecue
On Wednesday, Southern Living released its annual list of “The South’s Best Barbecue Joint in Every State 2024,” and it should come as no surprise to brisket fans that Wright’s Barbecue has taken the number one spot in for the second year running.
Wright’s Barbecue owner Jordan Wright said he was honored, and proud of his team’s fervor, “never wavering on the pursuit to serve our guests the best barbecue we can possibly smoke,” he said.
Robert F. Moss, Southern Living’s barbecue editor, wrote:
“The first Wright’s Barbecue location opened in Fayetteville in 2017, and owner/pitmaster Jordan Wright has been moving fast. He has since added locations in Bentonville, Rogers, and most recently in the capital city of Little Rock. The offering is pure — Texas style, with platters of thick-sliced brisket, spareribs, and sausage plus hearty sides like gooey shells-and-cheese and pit-smoked beans.”
Wright’s Barbecue has some esteemed company on this year’s Southern Living list, joining the likes of legendary institutions like Big Bob Gibson’s of Decatur, Alabama; Fox Bros. of Atlanta; Lexington Barbecue of Lexington, North Carolina; Oklahoma Joe’s Bar-B-Cue of Oklahoma and Franklin’s Barbecue of Austin, Texas.
In January 2023, Moss released a list of “8 Restaurants That Prove Arkansas Barbecue is Here to Stay,” which featured Wright’s Barbecue in Johnson, as well as McClard’s Bar-B-Q in Hot Springs, Dixie Pig in Blytheville, Craig’s Bar-B-Q in DeValls Bluff, Count Porkula in Little Rock, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna, Kibb’s Bar-B-Que in Stuttgart and Sims Bar-B-Que in Little Rock.
Wright said the accolades are “just a bonus.” The real prize, he said: “smiling faces of our guests and the community of barbecue fans in the great state of Arkansas.”
Wright’s Barbecue is again included on this year’s Arkansas Times Barbecue Trail and Passport as one of five barbecue joints representing the Ozark Mountains.
