Barbecue

Branson sits in the Missouri barbecue corridor without belonging to either the Kansas City or the St Louis school, and the result is a smaller scene than either city’s but a good one.

Gettin’ Basted is the competition-pedigree name and the one to try first. Oscar’s Famous Ribs and Big D’s BBQ Branson are the local independents, and Danna’s Bar-B-Que and Burger Shop runs two locations – one in town and one out in Branson West – both doing barbecue alongside burgers. Pop’s Smoke Shack covers the Table Rock Lake side from Kimberling City, and Ma’s Place the same area. Famous Dave’s is the chain option.

Two notes. Smokehouses run out of meat rather than closing on a schedule, so go earlier than you would for a normal dinner – particularly at the independents on a weekend. And several of the American restaurants and steakhouses smoke ribs without calling themselves barbecue, so this list is narrower than what is actually available.