'Low and slow': Best BBQ restaurants in the Daytona, Flagler area

While Florida might not always come to mind as quickly as Texas or the Carolinas for exceptional barbecue, we’ve certainly got our fair share of outstanding local spots for sizzling, smoked meats and top-quality ‘que in the Daytona Beach area.

After weeks of sampling everything from pulled-pork sandwiches to “low and slow” smoked St. Louis ribs, brisket plates and homemade sides, I’ve rounded up a handful of the most memorable lunch and dinner spots — with the added help of locals’ recommendations — from New Smyrna Beach up to Palm Coast.

Whether grabbing a bite for the Fourth of July or simply enjoying a good ole’ barbecue feast with friends and family this summer, here are my favorite spots for delicious BBQ in the Volusia-Flagler area.

Captain’s BBQ

5862 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Palm Coast; 386-597-2888, captainsbbq.com

It wouldn’t be a best barbecue story without mentioning Captain’s BBQ — the Hammock’s “true southern BBQ” staple whose revolving door of loyal customers, myself included, serve as a testament to the restaurant’s unparalleled flavors. The waterfront favorite , located along the Matanzas River, was recently named among the best BBQ spots in the U.S. according to Yelp , and has been producing award-winning meats and sides for over a decade now, slow-cooked in Captain’s famous wood-burning smoker.

The Palm Coast eatery seems to outdo itself with every visit, serving everything from smoked sausage, brisket burgers and smoked St. Louis ribs to, my recent favorites, the perfectly charred, burnt ends "meat candy" plate and the combo sampler, layering a hefty helping of classic pulled pork and tender, sliced beef brisket whose deep, smoky notes make it a consistently recommended favorite among regulars. Captain BBQ also offers a plethora of homemade desserts, most notably its addicting cheesecake.

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Pumphouse BBQ

124 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-492-7559, thepumphousebbq.com

Pumphouse BBQ and Smokehouse is a longtime favorite among Ormond Beach residents, and for good reason. The retro BBQ restaurant is neighbor to several Granada Boulevard favorites, like Hull’s Seafood, Neighborhood Scoop and 63 Sovereign. It recently expanded with a full-service dining room and bar, featuring 24 beers on tap, according to its Facebook page , live music, and a plethora of slow-smoked options to indulge in. Pumphouse’s menu features handhelds and bowls, like the “Ruebenator” with house-made smoked pastrami and the beefymac bowl, as well as by-the-pound meats and savory sides.

The restaurant’s main plates, available as a sandwich or entrée with 2 sides or as a dinner with three sides, range from Texas brisket and Tennessee pulled pork to St. Louis spareribs and pumphouse pulled chicken. I recently enjoyed the ultra-tender burnt ends dinner — a rich, smoky selection with a sweeter, caramelized outer crust and good char — alongside a helping of mac and cheese and sweet potato casserole, as well as The Peppered Pig — a Pumphouse signature handheld, layering slow-smoked pulled pork, crispy fried jalapenos and onion strings, house-made blackberry habanero BBQ sauce and pepper jack on a brioche bun.

Lottie Bell’s BBQ

1452 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond-by-the-Sea; 386-301-5333, facebook.com/BrandBBQ

Lottie Bell’s BBQ, a popular food truck-turned-sit-down-restaurant, sits within the Ocean Shore Plaza in Ormond-by-the-Sea, and since its December opening has become a local staple for Texas-style barbecue. Decked out in vibrant reds, whites, and blues, the rustic spot offers a scratch-made selection of classic comfort foods, serving everything from a third-, half-, and full-rack of baby back ribs, to favorites — like the tender smoked chicken plate or brisket sandwich; collard green and coleslaw sides; and pecan or peach cobbler for dessert.

My recent favorites include the mesquite-smoked brisket plate whose robust but slightly sweet, smoky flavor paired perfectly with a side of homemade baked beans and mac and cheese — of which I could’ve ordered two more bowls to-go; and the pulled pork baked potato — a hefty helping to say the least, generously coated with melted cheese, sour cream, butter and tender, mesquite-smoked pulled pork. Lottie Bell’s also offers draft and bottled beer, seltzers and wine.

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4 Rivers Smokehouse

1866 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach; 844-474-8377, 4rsmokehouse.com

This beloved BBQ chain opened its first location in Winter Park in 2009 and, for the last four years, has been keeping Daytona area residents happy with its sole Volusia restaurant, located within the One Daytona complex, across from the speedway. 4 Rivers Smokehouse has been previously featured in Southern Living’s nationwide best BBQ roundups, USA Today writeups and Food & Beverage magazine, among other publications, according to its website, and is known for its 12-hour smoked pulled pork, signature burnt ends and “30-day wet-aged,” 18-hour smoked brisket — a true melt-in-your-mouth selection with a crispy, flavorful bark, cut right in front of guests at the restaurant and served with (my choice of) bread pudding and mac and cheese.

The restaurant’s menu features everything from classic sandwiches — like the Angus brisket or pulled chicken; to BBQ platters; baby back ribs, “homestyle” sides, and 4 Rivers bakery selections. The family-owned chain also offers nationwide shipping through its e-commerce platform, "4 Rivers Smokehouse on the Road," which launched earlier this year and allows BBQ lovers across the country to purchase the smokehouse’s meats, house rubs, sauces and gift bundles.

Uncle Chicken's

440 Mary Ave., New Smyrna Beach; 386-402-7439, unclechickens.com

Uncle Chicken’s, an underrated favorite on this list, is a true testament to the saying ‘good things take time,’ boasting a “low and slow” approach to its smoked menu staples . Whether indulging in a rack of five-hour smoked St. Louis pork ribs — or a hefty plate of 12- to 14-hour-smoked pulled pork, the roadside restaurant consistently delivers on tender, flavor-packed meats with a robust smokiness that permeates each bite.

While Uncle Chicken’s smoked mac ‘n’ cheese — easily elevated with the addition of barbacoa beef, brisket, pulled pork or chicken — is a community-wide favorite that recently won first place at New Smyrna Beach's 2024 “Mac and Cheese Challenge,” the eatery's menu is layered with a plethora of other homemade standouts, like the boneless pork rib sandwich, smoked BBQ pulled pork and chicken plate, served with hand-cut fries, or cheesy smoked chicken bacon ranch melt.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'Low and slow': Best BBQ restaurants in the Daytona, Flagler area