The Top BBQ Joints In Auckland

With 6 locations all across Auckland you can get the same food with a different view every time! Juke Joint thrives on bringing southern-style barbecue cuisine to New Zealand. All the meat and veggies are lathered in a spice rub before being slow-cooked over a selection of smouldering wood (Manuka and Pohutukawa) to create the delicious signature flavours. This technique of cooking makes the meat incredibly tender and simply falling off the bone. The beef brisket is slow-cooked for 14 hours to ensure the flavour profile hits the spot each time. And don’t even get us started on the sides – if you’re craving slaw, mac & cheese, cornbread, tater tots, or green beans, Juke Joint is your spot.

Blue Ox Babe is a great restaurant for the whole family to enjoy; with alcoholic slushies, meat upon meat and a kid’s fun zone with a beautiful vintage red Morris minor to play with.  It’s best to get in early at this spot, with the low ‘n’ slow style of cooking it takes 24 hours for the next batch of succulent meats to be ready and trust me you won’t want to miss out. Following the traditional American-style of barbecue, you have all the classic meat options available but it’s the triple stack cheese burger that steals the show. Pick between point end brisket or pork belly with flame melted cheese and be ready to get your hands dirty as you’re drenched in Bob’s famous barbecue sauce.The sides come filled to the brim and the meat arrives succulent and juicy, what more could you want?

Morepork BBQ takes strides to stay at the forefront in New Zealand barbecues. The authentic Texan-style of barbecue captures its intense flavours in a custom-built smoker. Grab the sampler platter and choose four types of meats to try, this is a great option if you want to try everything on the menu! Low ‘n’ Slow is the motto at Morepork, cooking the meat until it’s perfectly tender. You won’t be able to move after you’ve dined here, especially if you take on the whole rack of pork ribs – definitely worth the impending meat sweats. If you just can’t get enough of the flavourful rubs then buy some to take home and show off at the next family BBQ. 

Smokin Cole nails the atmosphere of backyard barbies, it combines everything we love about BBQ’s; delicious meat, cold beers and good company. This southern-style BBQ specialises in charred flavours and personalised platter boards. With servings of meat weighing in at 100g per portion, the menu encourages you to try a little bit of everything. You won’t have to choose between the pork belly and beef short rib – you can have both. If you’re a true carnivore, a meat lover through and through, you won’t leave Smokin Cole without trying the meat candy; the pork jowl with pickled kamo kamo is heavenly.