The BBQ Sauce was ranked as one of the best by Southern Living in 2012; however, save room for a slice of warm apple pie! Owned and operated by the King family since 1946, they offer slow-cooked, pit-smoked BBQ pork, beef and chicken. Eat in or takeout.

“My grandfather John King and his brothers started the restaurant in 1946,” says Alicia Keeler, one of the owners of King’s Barbecue in Petersburg, Virginia. “I’m the third generation of my family to work here.”  Just as family traditions are strong in the restaurant, the restaurant is an indispensable tradition in Petersburg – and for good reason!

Every day, the restaurant is thronged with customers – many of whose families have been coming there for generations. Their barbecue, made with fresh Smithfield pork, is smoked over white oak logs and cooked to mouth-watering perfection. In addition to their pork barbecue, guests can also try the delicious beef or chicken barbecue. Their sauce is known the world over (they’ve gotten orders from as far away as Australia and Scotland) and was listed in the Top Ten Sauces of the South by Southern Living magazine.

“Our family believes in tradition,” Alicia says. “The tradition of quality food and good service. The tradition of enjoying the simpler things in life. We’re not fancy, but we make up for it in comfort. And we hope you come and experience our restaurant and make our family tradition your family tradition.”