In many parts of the country, lines get drawn when people talk about barbecue. There are many reasons why this doesn’t happen in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Fort Wayne doesn’t have a BBQ tradition of its own, so residents don’t feel the need to fiercely defend one. Unlike places that are famous for BBQ, Fort Wayne hasn’t come close to achieving its BBQ peak. BBQ joints will continue to proliferate.
The Best BBQ in Fort Wayne
Ziffles Rib Bar
6340 E. State Boulevard, 260.493.1222
Ziffles Rib Bar is one of Fort Wayne’s oldest rib joints. It opened in Georgetown Square in 1987 and is known for serving some of the largest rib portions that a person can find outside of a Flintstones cartoon.
The Hog Trough, which is like BBQ’s answer to poutine, features French fries covered with cheese, pulled pork and house-made slaw. And then there’s The Barnyard: a giant platter filled with ribs, rib tips, pulled pork, chicken wings, French fries, garlic bread and slaw.
Shigs in Pit
2008 Fairfield Avenue, 260.387.5903; 6250 Maplecrest Road, 260.222.8802
Not all BBQ is created equal. Anyone opening a new BBQ joint in Fort Wayne has to contend with the sterling reputation and accomplishments of Shigs in Pit. It started in 2005 as a competitive pit crew affiliated with Mad Anthony Brewery. It has since grown into two popular brick-and-mortar restaurants. Shigs in Pit is where Fort Wayne’s smoked meat cognoscenti hang out.
Lucille's
9011 Lima Road, 260.203.3937
Even in the context of Fort Wayne’s growing smoked-meat landscape, Lucille’s has distinguished itself. It does brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken and ham to perfection. It offers a variety of ways to sample many different BBQ traditions; you can try South Carolina’s mustard-based sauce, Texas-style sauce (designed to be paired with brisket) and St. Louis-style ribs.
There are a few items on the menu that you won’t find anywhere else including the Chopped Brisket Caesar Salad, Smoked Onion & Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Brunswick Stew, which is Georgia’s and Virginia’s answer to chili.
Smokehaus BBQ
717 Broadway Street, New Haven, IN, 260.444.8281
Recommended by blog readers, this New Haven location is your source for everything from BBQ nachos to full slabs of ribs. Their menu features great desserts and more than 10 different sauces. View the website.
Neighborhood Smokehouse BBQ
1403 Winter Street, 260.739.7041
People who walk out of Neighborhood Smokehouse BBQ tend to say things like “That was the best ribs, rib tips, turkey tips, smoked wings, pulled pork or fried catfish I have ever had.” And you can order a sampler featuring many of these “bests.” The side dishes are all inventive and well-made, but special recognition must be reserved for the fried green beans.
Rack & Helen's
525 Broadway Street, New Haven, 260.749.5396; 4935 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, 260.203.3154
Rack & Helen’s in New Haven has never marketed itself as a barbecue joint, per se. But it has offered superlative BBQ and smoked meats for years.
Try the hickory-smoked chicken wings, the St. Louis-style ribs and/or a diabolically delicious innovation known as the Big Pig grinder (pulled pork, ham, Ossian bacon, pepper jack cheese, fried onion straws, fried jalapeno straws, coleslaw and barbecue sauce on a crusty roll). At the new Rack & Helen’s Social Club in Fort Wayne, executive chef Maria Wunderlin is offering a different spin — Memphis-style ribs with sweet Ancho barbecue sauce.
This post is provided by Fort Wayne Magazine. Subscribe to get the monthly magazine delivered to your home.
Article by Steve Penhollow, Phototography by Theresa Thompson except cover photo.
Updated May 25, 2022.
