Arizona knows how to cook ribs over mesquite wood, and the results are worth chasing across the state. Some of these spots sit in old rail towns, others hide inside Western-themed steakhouses or busy city smokehouses.
Each one leans on that smoky mesquite flavor to turn a plate of ribs into a reason to gas up the car. Here are seven Arizona restaurants where the ribs pull people in from every direction, along with what makes each stop stand out.
1. Big Tex BBQ, Willcox, AZ
Eating dinner inside an actual rail car is part of the fun at this Willcox barbecue spot, where the railroad theme fits the town’s history as a farming and rail hub in southeastern Arizona.
The kitchen turns out ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, with baby back ribs smoked over mesquite and served alongside coleslaw. The menu stretches beyond the classics too, with a combo plate, a stuffed baked potato, a pastrami sandwich, chicken fried steak, and even corn nuggets for anyone skipping meat…