7 Popular Chain Restaurants With The Best Brisket, According To Reviews

Brisket is a barbecue staple, one that cue-lovers really hold dear. For the uninitiated: Brisket is cut from the breast or lower chest of a cow, and is considered one of the best cuts of meat there is. A well-cooked brisket is a sacred thing, with the right crunch in the bark, tenderness in the meat, and juiciness in the cut. You can make it yourself, of course, but there are also lots of great options out there for restaurants that serve up a quality cut. 

If you're in the mood for some brisket and don't know where to go, you'll find that there are not only great local spots that offer up brisket, but also plenty of chain restaurants that do it well. We wanted to find the best chains for brisket, so we combed social media sites and found consensus around chains that have delicious brisket, based on taste, quality, and overall flavor. Keep reading if you're ready to find your next favorite brisket spot. 

Mission BBQ is a great choice for a chain that serves up quality barbecue. This restaurant launched in Maryland in 2011, ten years to the day from September 11th, 2001, and has since become known not just for its 'cue but also for its philanthropic efforts in honor of the tragic day. The company does a lot of work with veterans and gives back regularly to military families and communities. But it's the barbecue that really keeps customers coming back, and its brisket is no exception.

Mission's brisket is praised for its flavor and juiciness, as social media users can attest. One Facebook reviewer said it was "tender and moist," and on TikTok, another reviewer called it "tender and delicious." The next time you're looking for a good brisket option (they've got locations across the country), Mission should be on your list of places to try. And you'll feel good knowing that they're helping people, too. There's nothing better than good food and a good cause, after all. 

Whether you're experimenting with making your own brisket at home or getting it from a restaurant, the cut is always important. And you can buy good cuts to make at home at lots of different grocery stores. Or, if you live in the northeast, you can just get some reliably great brisket at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. This long-running chain started as a traveling barbecue company that would sell food to folks at motorcycle shows and fairs. It soon opened its first stationary location in Syracuse, New York, and quickly began expanding as word got out about the 'cue. 

Now with restaurants located across New York, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is known for the classics and consistently gets good reviews for its quality southern-style cue despite its regional bias. The brisket is central to its menu, and customers love it. One Instagram user called it some of the best brisket they've ever had, and a TikTok reviewer rated it ten out of ten.

If you've never been to a Buc-ee's, you're missing out on a truly great experience. This convenience store chain has everything you'd expect and even more, including Texas barbecue. It started out as a simple gas station, but has since become a gigantic, sprawling convenience experience with countless snack and food options that are high-quality. Buc-ee's even has a great story about the origins of its name. 

You might not expect Buc-ee's to have quality brisket...or maybe you do! They have a huge fan base, after all. But their brisket sandwiches consistently get great reviews. One YouTube reviewer called it the best brisket sandwich they'd ever had from a gas station chain. A Redditor said that the brisket sandwich was "no joke," and commenters emphatically agreed. Next time you spot a Buc-ee's on your travels, make sure to stop and grab some brisket. You won't regret it. 

These days, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que has a few locations in its namesake city. The original location, however, is in a gas station. If that seems weird, that's understandable. But it's really not—people genuinely love the place, and it's a beloved staple in the city. Celebrities and non-famous locals alike frequent Joe's. The late Anthony Bourdain was a fan, as is NFL star Travis Kelce.

The legendary Joe's is widely known for its brisket, which one Instagram reviewer said was "out of this world delicious." Another reviewer on Instagram called their Z-man brisket sandwich "one of the best bbq sandwiches I've ever had." So whether it's a classic brisket sandwich you're looking for, or if you're looking to buy some of the restaurant's brisket in bulk, Joe's has you covered. Next time you're in KC, stopping at Joe's for some brisket is an absolute must. 

Florida barbecue lovers rejoice: 4 Rivers Smokehouse is here to get you your fix. This long-running chain was started by a former healthcare executive with a passion for barbecue, who took that passion to the market when he retired. Since then, the restaurant has grown to numerous locations across Florida, and brisket is certainly at the center of its menu. 

4 Rivers knows how to do brisket well, offering it in "lean" and "moist" options. So when you get to 4 Rivers, you're not just getting one kind of brisket or one option for presentation. You can have it your way, no matter if you like a juicier cut or something leaner. Reviewers love it, and praise it for its consistency and flavor, particularly the moist cut. One Facebook reviewer said it "did not miss." 4 Rivers' brisket, according to a YouTube reviewer, is worth a trip to the location nearest you. 

We know that a good cut of meat is essential to a good brisket, but why exactly is it so important to find the right one? Brisket runs the risk of getting mushy if it's not a quality cut, rather than firm but tender as it is meant to be. One place that does tender brisket right is the national chain Mighty Joe's BBQ. With locations in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and other states across the country, Mighty Quinn's Barbecue is a chain that not only offers classics but also has a drive-thru option — great for folks who want their fix on the go. 

The brisket is a fixture on the menu, naturally. What do customers say about it? It consistently gets great reviews, with one TikTok user calling it the best brisket in her city of Tampa, Florida. A YouTube reviewer also raved about it, calling it "out of this world."

Texas barbecue is an experience unto itself. True Texas cue is like no other variation, and it's all about the smoker. Of course, there are so many places you can go across the state if you're looking for great barbecue, and if you're on the hunt, we'd recommend finding a true hole-in-the-wall joint for a real Texas experience. For good brisket, though, you can't go wrong with a few different options. And there's seemingly nothing like the cut at Terry Black's Barbecue. 

Terry Black's is renowned for its brisket, which is regularly praised online for the flavor and tenderness of the meat. YouTube reviewer Yes Chef praised its flavor, while a Facebook reviewer loved it, despite what they said was a higher price tag. On TikTok, a reviewer called it a "phenomenal" brisket. If you're traveling through Texas and experiencing barbecue across the state, make sure to save your brisket experience for a Terry Black's near you. 

Finding great brisket is like finding a pot of gold. Whether it's from a local spot or one of the chain restaurants we listed here, eating quality brisket is an experience like no other. To compile this list of the best chain restaurants for brisket, we combed social media sites like Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube — as well as review websites — to come to a consensus around which places are top-notch. We looked for comments on the taste, flavor, and quality of the meat to find the restaurants we included.