City Barbeque Menu Prices 2026: Full List, Platters & Best Value

City Barbeque is best known for its competition-style smoked meats — particularly beef brisket and St. Louis–style pork ribs — and its scratch-made sides. The corn pudding and banana pudding have developed near-cult followings among regulars. Every location smokes meats fresh daily over real hardwood, which sets it apart from chains that ship pre-cooked product.

A sandwich meal with one side runs roughly $12–$14. Platters with two meats and two sides start around $17. Individual sides cost $3.49–$3.99. Expect to spend $13–$22 per person for a full sit-down meal, or slightly less if you order just a sandwich.

Several of City Barbeque's smoked meats — including brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast, and pulled chicken — are naturally gluten-free when ordered without a bun. Many sides such as baked beans and coleslaw are also gluten-free. However, sauces and shared kitchen equipment may introduce cross-contact, so guests with celiac disease should ask staff for guidance.

City Barbeque keeps a lineup of house sauces at the sauce bar, typically including a sweet Kansas City–style sauce, a tangy Carolina vinegar sauce, a smoky chipotle sauce, and a spicy variety. Sauces are self-serve and free, so you can sample as many as you like.

Yes — catering is one of City Barbeque's most popular services. The chain offers drop-off catering packages for events ranging from office lunches to large outdoor weddings. You can order meats by the pound, full platters, and bulk sides. Catering quotes are available through the City Barbeque website or by calling your local restaurant.

Vegetarian options are limited but available. Several sides — mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, corn pudding, and cornbread — contain no meat. The baked beans are typically made with brisket ends, so they are not vegetarian. Desserts like banana pudding and cobblers are also meat-free. City Barbeque is first and foremost a BBQ restaurant, so plant-based protein options are not a menu focus.

As of 2025, City Barbeque operates 70+ locations concentrated in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The chain was founded in Columbus, OH and has expanded steadily through the Midwest and into the Southeast. Use the store locator at citybbq.com to find the nearest restaurant.

The brisket sandwich is consistently cited as the top seller. The 2-meat platter is popular for dine-in visits. Among sides, corn pudding and mac and cheese lead the pack. Banana pudding is the most ordered dessert. For those who want a big spread, the St. Louis rib racks are a crowd-pleaser, especially for weekend dine-in.

All three are sit-down or fast-casual BBQ chains with similar price points. City Barbeque tends to be slightly cheaper than Famous Dave's on platters and comparable to Mission BBQ. City Barbeque and Mission BBQ both emphasize fresh daily smoking, while Famous Dave's is known for its sauce variety and its national footprint. Mission BBQ leans into a patriotic military theme. City Barbeque's corn pudding and catering program are standout differentiators.