9 Best BBQ Joints In Washington, D.C. Slideshow

Mission BBQ is located 45 minutes north of the downtown Washington, D.C. area, but it's well worth the trip. Bill Newt and his team not only turn out some amazing barbecue (from Kansas City to St. Louis) but their main focus is to honor first responders and the men and women of our armed forces. The patriotic restaurant stops each day at noon to salute the flag and play the national anthem. See Rich's full review of Mission BBQ.

Urban Bar-B-Que Company is a great place to go if you are staying outside the city lines, or you can venture out to the suburbs since it is only a couple of blocks from the Red line metro. Friends David Calkins, who cooked at J. Paul's in Georgetown, and Lee Howard, who managing the nearby Old Glory, teamed up to open Urban Bar-B-Que Company, which now boasts five locations. Howard offers suggestions and takes the orders and Calkins prepares pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, and Frito pie from the open kitchen.

Want to get some great BBQ and follow in the footsteps of the man of the weekend? Head to Texas Ribs and BBQ for some great BBQ just like the commander-in-chief did on his way back to Washington, D.C. — you will not be disappointed with the pork ribs, which are smothered in a dry rub and smoked for hours until tender, or the brisket, which is smoked for 16 hours.

Hang with the Pork Barrel BBQ guys on a politically charged weekend and enjoy some BBQ. Former Senate staffers Brett Thompson and Heath Hall, who founded the restaurant after discussing the late-night Capitol Hill food options after a long day at the Senate debating pork barrel spending, really know how to smoke up some great ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, and brisket. We're sure the duo will be happy to talk politics the whole-hog of a time! See Rich's full review of Pork Barrel BBQ.

It's not your traditional barbecue joint, but this D.C. food truck is surely one of my favorite BBQ places in our Nation's Capital. Owners Che and Tadd Ruddell-Tabisola roam D.C.'s streets serving comfort food like smoky pulled pork, spiced chicken, and sliced brisket from the BBQ Bus. They sell by the pound and by the plate. They might even be right near all the action come Inauguration Day. See Rich's full review of BBQ Bus.

Chuck's BBQ Wagon serves soul food the time-honored way: low and slow over natural charcoal, apple, and pecan wood. The mayor of Washington and countless congressmen and women have dined here. See Rich's full review of Chuck's BBQ Wagon.

A real Washington, D.C. institution opened by John Snedden, Rocklands BBQ is located right in the heart of Georgetown (there are also locations in Virginia and Maryland), where they smoke the meat with red oak and hickory, yielding amazing flavor profiles. See Rich's full review of Rocklands BBQ.

Hitting the Leesburg, Va., shopping outlet stores while you are in town? Then take a break and grab some amazing BBQ at The Q Company. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu of traditional Texas BBQ favorites cooked by husband-and-wife team Mitchell and Sara Matzek. You better go to this no-frills BBQ joint before you shop, because just like any great BBQ joint, they only serve only what they smoke that day, which runs out fast.

Located in Penn Quarter, only minutes away from Pennsylvania Avenue, Hill Country BBQ not only serves up some amazing smoked beef ribs, sausages, and brisket, but they also serve equally noteworthy traditional sides like mac and cheese and baked beans with burnt ends. See Rich's full review of Hill Country BBQ.