Alabama

Cinderblock shack outside Tuscaloosa. Ribs, sauce, white bread. That's it.

White sauce was invented here in 1925. Chris Lilly is one of America's great pitmasters.

Bessemer institution since '57. Pork-shoulder sandwiches, pies that win contests, AL hot sauce on the table.

Homewood institution since '78. Greek-Birmingham hybrid — gyro on Sunday, pulled pork the rest of the week.

Big Daddy Bishop's cinderblock shrine since 1958. Ribs, white bread, sauce. Nothing else, on purpose.

Selma family pit since 1942. Pulled pork on white bread, hot sauce, ice-cold RC Cola — Alabama, distilled.

Birmingham's suburb white-sauce shrine. Banana pudding is famous in its own right.

Birmingham's modern AL BBQ benchmark. Pork & greens plate is canon.

Saw's Avondale sister concept. Pork & greens plate plus a sneaky-great smoked chicken with white sauce.

Shoals-area new wave. White-sauce chicken alongside Texas-style brisket.

Roadside-stop on US-31 north of Birmingham. Pork sandwich + sweet tea + screen-door spring noise. Real-deal AL.

A whole AL chain born from one Athens pit. Quick lunch staple.