17 smoking hot BBQ restaurants in London

It’s a shame that one of life’s great food experiences is so ill-suited to the British weather. Here in the UK, lighting up the barbecue is a tradition that’s famously confined to the summer months, and even then, the chances of a rain-free barbie are hit-and-miss at best. Luckily, London has cottoned on to this seasonal travesty and said – no more! You can now find a huge range of incredible barbecue restaurants in London that light up their charcoal and wood-fired ovens every day, so that lovers of food cooked over open flames may never be without. 

For die-hard traditionalists who believe that barbecues are purely for meat, you can find a host of American BBQ restaurants in London where ribs, brisket, wings and pork belly abound. It takes a certain degree of skill and dedication to achieve slow-smoked depth of flavour and a fall-apart texture, but there are many American-style smokehouses in the capital that are committed to the job. 

That being said, London’s best BBQ restaurants are changing the game in more ways than one, and that includes doing away with the idea that barbecues are made for meat. Dalston joint Acme Fire Cult, for example, is paving the way for a new generation of barbecue restaurants by putting the focus on vegetables and doing things more sustainably. Kiln, on the other hand, specialises in Thai fish and seafood dishes cooked over open flames, a far cry from the over-cooked burgers and charcoal-crisp chipolatas we’ve come to associate with barbecues at home. 

London’s BBQ restaurant scene is eclectic and pioneering, so that whether you’re after the finger-licking stickiness of Texas-style short ribs or proper tandoori chicken cooked by Indian barbecue experts, there’s a place in the capital to cater for all your smoky food cravings. Discover the best BBQ restaurants London has to offer in this smoking hot round-up.  

Acme Fire Cult, Dalston

What: Acme Fire Cult is a live fire concept located in 40FT Brewery in Dalston. Keen to move away from the classic ‘dude food’ BBQ, the menu here is based primarily around vegetables and incorporates low-waste cooking techniques such as fermenting and preserving in keeping with its sustainable ethos. Its dishes are whacky, wonderful and totally unique, such as flatbreads with homemade marmite butter, fermented squash with hummus and macadamia and grilled leeks with pistachio romesco. This is barbecuing like you’ve never seen it before.  
Where: Abbot Street, Dalston, E8 3DP 
Book now: Acme Fire Cult 

Temper, Soho

What: There’s no getting away from the fact that Temper LOVES to barbecue. Central to all its restaurants are open kitchens where diners can watch the chefs prepare, butcher and cook cuts of meat over roaring fire pits. The attention to quality is second to none as well, sourcing all its beef from rare-breed, grass-fed animals and prioritising small farms wherever it can. As a result, the difference in quality and flavour is palpable. Tuck into its famous tacos, including cheeseburger, cochinita pibil and crab variations, as well as dishes such as wood-roasted sea bass with tortillas, green sauce gochujang butter and fennel-mint salad.  
Where: 25 Broadwick Street, W1F 0DF 
Book now: Temper 

Firebird London, Soho

What: Food cooked over fire, low intervention wines and an industrial-chic dining room… Firebird’s offering might not be breaking boundaries any time soon, but these guys are absolutely nailing a concept that’s become fashionable in recent years. Of course, we’re most interested in its charcoal and wood-fire oven, where slow-smoking and charring are integral to its grill-based dishes. Examples might include chicken skewers with piquillo peppers and almond yoghurt, or duck breast with apricot mostarda and granola.   
Where: 29 Poland Street, W1F 8Q
Book now: Firebird

Moo Cantina, Pimlico

What: This Argentinian restaurant is inspired by ‘quincho’ culture, the act of friends gathering around a charcoal grill to eat and drink together. Naturally, steak is a huge part of its offering, which are all sourced from grass-fed Black Angus rare breed beef from the Argentinean Pampas. Choose your cut (the team recommend rib eye for its rich flavour) and pair with your choice of sauces and sides.  
Where: 43 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 2TA 
Book now: Moo Cantina 

Parrillan, Borough Yards

What: There are two Parrillans in London – one in Coal Drops Yard and this newer outlet in Borough Yards – with both based around the concept of cooking over a parrilla (Spanish grill). A great option for those who prefer to be behind the barbie, diners are invited to grill their own dishes on personal parrillas – although this part isn’t mandatory if you’d rather leave it to the pros. Familiar tapas dishes such as padron peppers and Andalusian olives kick things off before the grilling begins. Don’t miss its signature dish: an enormous wood-roast veal shank with olive oil mash. It’s meant for two to share but could easily feed three or four people.
Where: 4 Dirty Lane, SE1 9PA  
Book now: Parrillan 

Brigadiers, City

What: Indian barbeque restaurant Brigadiers doubles as a sports bar and is inspired by the army mess bars in India where military regiments would go to eat, drink and socialise. In modern day terms, that amounts to a pool room with a self-service whisky dispenser and TVs locked to sky sports. The food, though, is in a world of its own entirely (and with backing from the JKS group we’d expect nothing less). The focus is on different methods of Indian barbecue, using tandoors, charcoal grills, rotisseries, wood ovens and classic Indian smokers to achieve flame-kissed flavour across all its dishes. Look out for tandoori poussin butter masala, guinea fowl reshmi kebabs and wood roasted sea bream pollichathu.
Where: 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR 
Book now: Brigadiers 

Berber & Q, Hackney

What: Haggerston hangout Berber & Q explains that it chooses to cook over fire for the simple reason that ‘it makes taste food better’. And it’s hard to disagree when dishes such as coffee-rubbed pork belly with BBQ sauce and pickled fennel, and wood-roasted prawn pil pil are elevated beyond belief by the jiggery pokery of live flames. The menu is largely influenced by Middle Eastern and North African cuisine, and favours vegetables as much as it does meat and fish. We think any barbecue enthusiast could learn a thing or two from these guys.  
Where: Acton Mews, E8 4EA 
Book now: Berber & Q 

Prairie Fire, White City

What: Kansas is king when it comes to where to find the best barbecued meat in America, or at least, such is the belief at American BBQ joint Prairie Fire. Nestled under the arches on Wood Lane, these guys specialise in saucy-heavy, Kansas-style comfort food delivered by none other than chef and pit master Michael Gratz. Look out for The Cow Town BBQ sandwich topped with molten cheese, pickled jalapenos and an onion ring, smoked buttermilk fried chicken with homemade chipotle ranch and a chilli cheese burger loaded with homemade BBQ aioli, American cheese, chilli con carne and cheese sauce. 
Where: Wood Lane Arches, W12 7LH 
Book now: Prairie Fire 

Hot Stone, Angel

What: Proof that barbecues come in all shapes and sizes, Hot Stone offers up a sizzling new experience by way of Ishiyaki (the art of cooking on hot volcanic stones). This isn’t your typical wood-fired cooking, but there is meat and there is most definitely heat! The Japanese restaurant specialises in top-quality wagyu which is then cooked at the table over hot stones in front of you. These guys are technically a steak and a sushi bar, so look out for lots of signature sashimi and sushi dishes, too.   
Where: 9 Chapel Market, N1 9EZ 
Book now: Hot Stone 

Bodean’s, Covent Garden

What: Bodean’s is committed to bringing Kansas City-style BBQ to London, with its meat-loaded platters, homemade rubs and secret sauces. Easily recognisable by its distinctive pink neon sign out front, you can find this epic BBQ restaurant at five locations across London where it serves an epic range of combos, burgers, sandwiches, hotdogs, mains and more. 
Where: 25 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JS
Book now: Bodean’s

Big Easy, Chelsea

What:  This mini-chain of the deep south started out life at this original branch in Chelsea, where its wildly popular concoction of bargain-price lobster and BBQ pit-cooked ribs saw it dig its heels firmly into London’s barbecue dining scene. The vibe is as much a part of the fun at this laid-back American joint, inspired largely by happy hour menus, boozy brunches and a slushy bar serving cocktails by the jug.  
Where: 12 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA 
Book now: Big Easy 

Smokehouse, Islington

What: This North London gastropub has kept its formula simple: offer the best smoked and grilled food in London washed down with an excellent beer list and wine sourced from local vineyards. These guys also butcher their meat on site to offer quality cuts with the best flavour, while sourcing everything as locally as it can. So, what does that amount to menu-wise? BBQ pork belly with apple BBQ glaze, half smoked beer-brined chicken with wild garlic pesto and lemon dressing, and smoked rare breed ribeye with bone marrow, crushed Jersey Royals and salsa verse, to name a few.  
Where: 63-69 Canonbury Road, N1 2DG 
Book now: Smokehouse 

Smoking Goat, Shoreditch

What: Smoking Goat has been a smash hit from the minute it opened its doors back in 2014, serving Thai barbecue small plates cooked in large clay pots. Dishes are made for sharing and include curried crab, lardo rice, barbecue beef nahm d’tok and sambal gurnard. 
Where: 64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ 
Book now: Smoking Goat 

Smokestak, Shoreditch

What: Smokestak started out life as a street food shack after founder David Carter was inspired by his travels around the deep south of America. He eventually went on to open this bricks and mortar site in 2016, an industrial sort of place with a large open kitchen where chefs wield their barbecue prowess. The menu is meat-heavy and separated into small and large sharing plates, starting with nibble dishes such as pigtails with soy molasses and working up to charred pork belly ribs, beef brisket with mustard sauce and 20-day dry aged beef rib.  
Where: 35 Sclater Street, E1 6LB 
Book now: Smokestak 

Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats, Bermondsey

What: Another solid option for American BBQ lovers is Texas Joe’s, a canteen-like joint next to London Bridge station where slow-smoked meats in various guises are the order of the day. It’s spearheaded by Joe Walters, aka Texas Joe, who launched the restaurant in 2013 after a desire to bring proper Hill Country BBQ to London. All its meat is carefully sourced from local farms and slow-smoked over English oak to create its unrivalled flavour. Discover beef brisket, short ribs, pork shoulder and chicken thighs all served with slaw, pickles and sauce.
Where: 8-9 Snowsfields, SE1 3SU 
Book now: Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats 

The Blues Kitchen, Camden

What: A good time is guaranteed to be had whichever branch of The Blues Kitchen you end up at. It serves food from American’s deep south, live music every evening and various liquid enticements in the form of draught beers, signature cocktails and a bumper crop bourbon list.  
Where: 111-113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN 
Book now: The Blues Kitchen 

Kiln, Soho

What: From the brains behind ever-popular Smoking Goat comes Kiln, which has gained a similar, if not greater, cult following in London for its Thai barbecue plates and casual set-up. Counter dining is for walk-ins only, but you can book the dining room ahead if you want to avoid the queues. We recommend visiting Kiln with an open mind, where the likes of pork offal laap, fried curried monkfish with its liver and herbal broth of clams don’t necessary roll of the tongue, but taste divine.  
Where: 58 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL 
Book now: Kiln 

Hungry for more meat? Dig your teeth into this list of the best steakhouses in London.