At Rusty Can up on the North Shore, the ribs and brisket get top billing. Try them in plate form, fully loaded with white bread, cornbread and honey butter, pickles and onions, and a choice of two sides. Or do the North Shore thing and get a three-way brisket sandwich in the style of the region’s classic three-way roast beef, topped with barbecue sauce, mayo, and cheese.

This local favorite serves an eclectic menu of barbecue and beyond; Taco Tuesdays, for example, are a big hit, as are loaded burgers and other sandwiches. One might even find the owner’s mother’s stuffed cabbage recipe on the menu as a special. But fans love the barbecue, too, including brisket and pulled pork. Be sure to keep an eye on Instagram for updates on fundraising efforts for Ukraine, the owner’s homeland.

The beloved counter-service barbecue restaurant and catering operation Blue Ribbon, around for over 25 years, has locations in Arlington, West Newton, and Dedham, serving up pit-smoked favorites in the style of a variety of regions: Kansas City burnt ends, Texas brisket, North Carolina pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, etc. No-frills sides (coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and the like) round out meals, but save room for a slice of pecan or key lime pie. Note: no booze.

35 years old, Redbones has cemented its popularity in Somerville's Davis Square. In non-pandemic times, it's perpetually crowded, and the ambiance is fun, particularly at the downstairs bar, Underbones. Redbones's strength lies in its lively vibe and solid beer list. The restaurant doesn't really specialize in any one aspect of barbecue; there's a giant menu that has a little bit of something for everyone, so it's an easy choice if there's a big group to feed. Try the banana pudding for dessert.

A cheese-focused shop with great barbecue? Yep. From late March into October, the Huron Village location of Formaggio Kitchen hosts a popular Saturday and Sunday sidewalk barbecue lunch. House-smoked meats (brisket, chicken, and more) get finished on the grill as you wait. It starts at 11 a.m. (but the line starts earlier) and goes until 2 p.m. (or sell-out). Side dishes include baked beans, candied yams, and more. Some items can be pre-ordered earlier in the week.

Smoke Shop opened in Cambridge in 2016 thanks to Andy Husbands (who owned the now-defunct Tremont 647), a longtime barbecue devotee and fixture on the competitive circuit. His Kendall Square restaurant and its newer counterparts in Boston’s Fort Point, Somerville’s Assembly Row, and Cambridge’s Harvard Square feature big platters of meats, from burnt ends to ribs, piled high with sides. Don't miss the wings, coated in sticky-sweet agave and spices. On the beverage side, there's so much whiskey. (Find a mini counter-service version of Smoke Shop at West End food hall Hub Hall, too.)

This Watertown newcomer is the self-declared “godfather of brisket,” so start there — try it with sides like andouille sausage and rice or black bean and corn salad, or get it in a Reuben. Ribs, pulled pork, and smoked chicken round out the menu, as well as a few sweet treats like bread pudding and pralines.

This self-described "bodacious" barbecue joint has quite a following in Marlborough, where it serves up slow-smoked St. Louis ribs; dry-rubbed, smoked baby back ribs; brisket; and more. There’s live music, too, and Firefly’s also hosts private events and caters.

Tiffani Faison's lively, loud Fenway barbecue restaurant, Sweet Cheeks, serves everything from pork ribs to pulled chicken to brisket, and diners can't go wrong with any of the sides, especially the farm salad or the mac and cheese. Sweet Cheeks also offers a couple of fun desserts, like the giant Nutter Butter. Plus, everything about the restaurant's biscuits is true. Save room — one biscuit is roughly the size of a human face. Sweet Cheeks has a full bar, and the beer selection is strong.

Formerly known as M&M Ribs, M&M BBQ began as a food truck and catering operation before finding a home inside Dorchester Brewing Company in early 2020. Get the pork ribs, of course, but also try one of the sandwiches, which feature pulled pork, shredded beef brisket, fried chicken, or bratwurst. M&M offers ample gluten-free and/or vegetarian options, too.

With locations in Framingham, Braintree, and Peabody, this fast-casual group smokes meats over hickory, apple, and cherry wood, and the house barbecue sauce has a tomato base with a hint of chocolate. Lots of combos and bulk meats and sides are available.

This South Shore newcomer has been quickly building up a fanbase since opening in early 2019. It’s known for its sauce choices — there are about a dozen — and over-the-top dishes like a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with pulled brisket, mac and cheese, and honey barbecue sauce. The cornbread, which comes with a choice of butters (whipped, cinnamon, or bacon), is a must.

Plan a little road trip 60 miles southwest of Boston to Sturbridge: B.T.'s Smokehouse is a worthy destination, featuring meats slow-smoked over apple and hickory, available in sandwiches, platters with sides and cornbread, and more. Watch for dishes like andouille dog bites and sticky rib tips, too. (Near Worcester? Check out the restaurant’s younger sibling, B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ, which also features fried chicken, as the name suggests.)

With food truck roots, Kinfolks now has two storefronts — one in Taunton and one in Easton. Start with the pulled pork, but don’t miss the fan-favorite brisket or fried chicken.

Down in Fall River, Ed’s Famous BBQ is particularly loved for its ribs; try the baby back or St. Louis spares — or try a little bit of everything with one of the one- or two-person combinations, which accompany ribs with brisket, pulled pork, sides, and cornbread.