With such an abundance of stellar San Antonio barbecue joints, it's easy to stick to go-to spots. We say it’s time to branch out. These six spots may not nab the national spotlight, but are worth a smokey adventure — because at the end of the day, supporting local is a win-win, no matter where you stop to eat.

Bucán Rodeo
Parked at the okayest bar on Grayson Street (Three Star Bar for the uninitiated), Bucán Rodeo's Puerto Rican barbecue fusion is anything but ordinary. You're not going here for your standard slice of brisket — chefs Roy Baker and Michael Barrera treat their menu like a Boricua love letter. Think classic barbecue meats dressed with a guava barbecue sauce, sides like mofongo (fried green plantain), plus hearty beans, sausage, incredibly juicy pork belly burnt end tacos, and slow-roasted pernil. This isn't Baker and Barrera's first food truck rodeo, and it certainly won't be the last.

Go'Shen Point BBQ
Go'Shen Point BBQ is self-dubbed as "fireman-owned and family operated." Naturally, that sense of service shines in the menu. Go'Shen opts for post-oak wood to smoke its meats (traditional options like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and sausage). The result? A light, crowd-pleasing flavor that's enhanced well with Go'Shen's scratch-made barbecue sauces. In a city that celebrates its veterans, it's important to show support for first responder-owned businesses. We salute a catering operation that brings the smoke to your backyard.

Zeke's BBQ Smokehouse
A Westside gem for 24 years and counting, Zeke's proudly proclaims itself as the Cheers of San Antonio barbecue restaurants. The family-owned eatery also has a slew of great barbecue plate deals — no mean feat with inflation. If you're craving a sense of down-home Q' with a side of sauce, try Zeke's hearty brisket sub. Zeke's also has plenty of comforting sides (mac ‘n' cheese, potato salad, green beans, coleslaw, and so on), sandwiches, and taco deals.

Rusty Bucket Jawsmacking BBQ
With an unforgettable name, Rusty Bucket Jawsmacking BBQ has been serving up serious meat sweats on the Southside since 2018. Besides the standard assortment of plates, Rusty Bucket has fun with its sandwich offerings. Ever try a Hogzilla sandwich? At Rusty Bucket, it comes with pulled pork, sausage, bacon, and coleslaw. For those arriving with a bit less of an appetite, the restaurant has lighter options like the Cowboy Bowl (chopped brisket and mac), chili bowls, and the option to get a single taco or sausage link a la carte.

BBQ Life by Chris
Essentially a second-generation family-owned and operated restaurant (BBQ Life by Chris used to be Ed's Smok-N-Q, operated by pitmaster Chris's father, Ed Ashford), BBQ Life by Chris continues a family legacy with damn good brisket. An Eastside stable, BBQ Life by Chris has a menu big enough to appease every appetite. There are sandwiches with a generous serving of mesquite-smoked meat (the Outlaw sandwich is a top choice), meat plates, lunch specials, home-cooked sides like Spanish rice and smoked mac ‘n’ cheese, and the classic desserts like peach cobbler and banana pudding.