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Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings Wins Best BBQ Chicken Sandwich in Alabama!
Best BBQ Chicken Sandwich in Alabama (2017)
While you can find just about any style of 'cue you could imagine in Alabama, the Heart of Dixie is perhaps most famous for its smoked chicken, often served with a tangy white barbecue sauce made from mayonnaise, cider vinegar and spices – the brain child of one of our nominees, Big Bob Gibson.
So which barbecue joint makes the best chicken sandwich in the state? 10Best editors and Sandwich America joined forces with a panel of local Alabama food writers and The Food Channel to nominate 20 worthy barbecue joints across the state. For the past four weeks, we asked our readers to vote daily for their favorites, and the results are in.
The top 10 winners in the category Best BBQ Chicken Sandwich in Alabama are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Dan / Flickr
No. 10: Saw's BBQ - Homewood
At Saw's BBQ in Homewood, diners rave about the smoked chicken sandwich, served with white BBQ sauce and pickles for an extra zing.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 9: Miss Myra's Pit Bar B-Q - Birmingham
A legend in Alabama, Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Q makes their famous white sauce from just four ingredients, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper. The chicken is perfectly smoky, with crispy, crunchy skin and juicy meat.
Photo courtesy of Hog Wild BBQ
No. 8: Hog Wild BBQ - Gulf Shores
'Cue enthusiasts in Gulf Shores can find an excellent chicken sandwich at Hog Wild BBQ. Pulled, slow-smoked chicken comes topped with white BBQ sauce, served on its own or with a side.
Photo courtesy of 306 Barbecue / Facebook
No. 7: 306 BBQ - Athens
At 306 BBQ in Athens, hungry diners get their chicken sandwich regular or jumbo-sized and topped with cole slaw, pickles and sauce. Sandwiches come a la carte or with a pair of sides.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Nelson Studios
No. 6: Moe's Original BBQ - Various Locations
The smoked chicken sandwich at Moe's Original BBQ, founded in Tuscaloosa, comes solo or as a meal with the choice of two sides and a drink. The chicken is smoked over hard wood and comes with a choice of two sauces.
Photo courtesy of New Market BBQ
No. 5: New Market BBQ - New Market
New Market BBQ serves their hickory-smoked pulled chicken sandwich on a warm bun with a vinegar slaw and sauce (there are several to choose from, including Alabama white) for a tangy, tasty meal. Pickles and mayo are optional.
Photo courtesy of L.A. Barbeque
No. 4: L.A. Barbeque - Summerdale
At L.A. Barbeque in Summerdale, chickens are hand-rubbed with a secret blend of seasoning before getting slow-smoked with pecan. The chicken sandwich comes chopped rather than pulled. Want sauce? There are three to choose from.
Photo courtesy of Rusty's Bar-B-Q
No. 3: Rusty's Bar-B-Q - Leeds
The pulled chicken sandwich at Rusty's Bar-B-Q in Leeds comes in two sizes, regular or large, and diners can choose to top it with bacon, cheese, slaw or jalapeños for an small charge. Top it off with one of four sauces.
Photo courtesy of Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurant
No. 2: Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurant - Various
The chicken sandwich at Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurant features pulled smoked chicken smothered in a traditional Morgan County white sauce. Diners can choose to have their chicken on a traditional bun, wheat bun or sourdough bread.
Photo courtesy of Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings
No. 1: Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings - Decatur
The sandwich from Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings comes piled with sliced smoked boneless chicken breast and an award-winning spicy white sauce. It comes in two sizes and is best washed down with a big glass of sweet tea.
Congratulations to all our winning Alabama barbecue restaurants!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Annette Thompson
Annette Thompson is a freelance journalist working... Read More
Annette Thompson is a freelance journalist working out of Birmingham, Alabama. She focuses on destinations around the US and the world after completing a couple of decades as an award-winning journalist for Southern Living magazine and books, including Alabama Barbecue. Her latest project is an online magazine and bi-weekly newsletter called Second Chance Travels. It's aimed at women who have postponed following their own travel dreams while helping their families achieve theirs.
Annette Thompson
Annette Thompson is a freelance journalist working out of Birmingham, Alabama. She focuses on destinations around the US and the world after completing a couple of decades as an award-winning journalist for Southern Living magazine and books, including Alabama Barbecue. Her latest project is an online magazine and bi-weekly newsletter called Second Chance Travels. It's aimed at women who have postponed following their own travel dreams while helping their families achieve theirs.
Comedienne Joy
Comedienne Joy has a background in TV news with a... Read More
Comedienne Joy has a background in TV news with a broadcast journalism degree from AUM. She is also a 12-year professional clean comedienne and radio co-host on WYDE. She lives in Alabama with her husband. She’s passionate about trying new foods, traveling and kids. Joy left the corporate world in 2014 to pursue her dream as a full time comedienne. After food v-blogging, she found a new career as a TV food host. She also appears monthly on ABC 33/40’s Talk of Alabama “In the Kitchen” segment and is the host of the TV food show Dining Out With Comedienne Joy which highlights Alabama restaurants.
Comedienne Joy
Comedienne Joy has a background in TV news with a broadcast journalism degree from AUM. She is also a 12-year professional clean comedienne and radio co-host on WYDE. She lives in Alabama with her husband. She’s passionate about trying new foods, traveling and kids. Joy left the corporate world in 2014 to pursue her dream as a full time comedienne. After food v-blogging, she found a new career as a TV food host. She also appears monthly on ABC 33/40’s Talk of Alabama “In the Kitchen” segment and is the host of the TV food show Dining Out With Comedienne Joy which highlights Alabama restaurants.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships,... Read More
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Kay Logsdon
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel,... Read More
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel, developing food-related stories, videos, recipes and more for the website and its distribution network. She speaks and consults on food trends, working with some of the biggest food brands in America. Her favorite thing to do is work with chefs across the country as they do menu development, since she gets to taste and critique the dishes.
Kay Logsdon
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel, developing food-related stories, videos, recipes and more for the website and its distribution network. She speaks and consults on food trends, working with some of the biggest food brands in America. Her favorite thing to do is work with chefs across the country as they do menu development, since she gets to taste and critique the dishes.
Steve Arnold
Steve Arnold is a digital analyst and web editor... Read More
Steve Arnold is a digital analyst and web editor at the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama. He holds a Mass Communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson and Wales University. He has served as food editor at several newspapers and has worked in the food-service industry. His hobbies include barbecue and meat smoking, hot pepper cultivation and the study of fine craft beers. You can find him on most weekends surrounded by these things.
Steve Arnold
Steve Arnold is a digital analyst and web editor at the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama. He holds a Mass Communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson and Wales University. He has served as food editor at several newspapers and has worked in the food-service industry. His hobbies include barbecue and meat smoking, hot pepper cultivation and the study of fine craft beers. You can find him on most weekends surrounded by these things.