“A Bessemer pit family-run on the same spot since 1957.”
Order the big hickory-smoked ribs and chopped pork with the celebrated house sauce, then finish with onion rings and homemade pie or red velvet cake. It runs Monday through Saturday and is closed Sundays.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Hickory-Smoked Ribs, Chopped Pork Sandwich, and Onion Rings
What to Order
Why It Stands Out
Family-run since 1957, Bob Sykes is repeatedly voted the best barbecue sauce in Alabama and was featured on Roadfood. Second-generation owner Van Sykes is a founding member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and a 2024 American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame finalist.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 1724 9th Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020
- Phone
- (205) 426-1400
- Website
- bobsykes.com/
- Price Range
- $$
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q?
Regulars point to Hickory-Smoked Ribs, Chopped Pork Sandwich, Onion Rings, and Homemade Pie.
Is Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q expensive?
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q serve?
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q serves North Alabama barbecue — North Alabama barbecue is defined by hickory-pit-smoked meats and, above all, by Alabama white sauce — a tangy mayonnaise, vinegar, and black-pepper sauce invented by Bob Gibson in Decatur in 1925. The signature preparation is a whole chicken split, seasoned, smoked over hickory for about three hours, then dunked in the white sauce, whose mayonnaise fat keeps the lean meat succulent. Pork shoulder and ribs are the everyday staples, with beef brisket a later addition to the pits.