LexGo Eat

Which Lexington barbecue spot offers the best smoked meat? Tell us your favorite

Owner Paul Morin works serving food and cutting brisket at Straight from Texas Bar-B-Que in Richmond, Ky., Thursday, May 6, 2021. We’re polling readers on their favorite Lexington barbecue spots.
Owner Paul Morin works serving food and cutting brisket at Straight from Texas Bar-B-Que in Richmond, Ky., Thursday, May 6, 2021. We’re polling readers on their favorite Lexington barbecue spots. swalker@herald-leader.com

When it comes to the best barbecue the Bluegrass State has to offer, several Western Kentucky spots often come up again and again, Moonlite or Old Hickory, for instance.

While we’re sure all the hubbub is well-deserved, that often leaves out mouth-watering smoked meats closer to home here in Lexington.

In 2023, we polled readers for their favorite local barbecue joints; Blue Door Smokehouse ultimately came out on top. In the years since, there have been some new entrants into Lexington’s barbecue scene, including LX BBQ, which opened in February in Blue Door’s old location on Walton Avenue. The hidden gem Double H BBQ, which has been open since 2012, also doesn’t get enough credit.

Now, we’re inviting readers to nominate their favorites for a second chance to snatch the crown.

To be clear, we want to spotlight local barbecue spots in Fayette and surrounding counties that smoke their own meats. No chains will be considered for nomination. Additionally, it’s worth noting this poll is not scientific and is only intended as some light-hearted fun.

Submit your nomination using the Google form below and tell us what you like about it. Note you may need to disable your ad blocker to view the form. Alternatively, send the required information via email to ask@herald-leader.com.

Nominations will close at noon Monday, June 9.

Any reader can nominate their favorite local barbecue spot for the contest, and voting opens next week.

The nominees will go head-to-head in multiple rounds of voting, with the top vote-getter advancing to the next round. Voters will gradually winnow the field until a winner emerges.

The winner of our contest will appear in a news story on Kentucky.com and be declared the reigning champion of Lexington’s barbecue scene.

Aaron Mudd
Lexington Herald-Leader
Aaron Mudd was a service journalism reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Centre Daily Times and Belleville News-Democrat. He was based at the Herald-Leader in Lexington, and left the paper in February 2026. Support my work with a digital subscription
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