There are the tomato-based sauces — sweet, thick and tangy like the Kansas City style. Vinegar-based sauces, like the spicy, acidic style from North Carolina. Mustard-based sauces, common in South Carolina, that are thin and spicy. And creamy mayonnaise-based sauces found in Alabama.

The Carolina sauces tend to go well with pork, while the Kansas City style goes with just about any kind of barbecue meat.

And whether you like your barbecue wet (saucy) or dry, there are a lot of delicious options across the Capital Region.

For the last 10 years, we’ve asked readers to nominate and vote for the best barbecue in our annual Best of the Capital Region poll. This year, we narrowed the scope to a single location (versus a chain). But overall, the winner was still Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. 

Here’s a rundown of the best barbecue restaurant winners, starting with the 2022 finalists. Prefer your own special recipe? Check out the best butchers of the Capital Region.

More: See all of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region winners. | Sign up for the Best of the Capital Region newsletter. 

Best barbecue restaurant: First place in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Best chain restaurant: Runner-up in 2021

Best Southern restaurant: Third place in 2019; runner-up in 2018

Best restaurant for outdoor dining: Second place in 2013; runner-up in 2018 and 2017

Best new restaurant: First place in 2011

Best barbecue restaurant: Second place in 2022, 2021, 2018 and 2017

Best barbecue restaurant: Third place in 2022; runner-up in 2021

Address: 222 Guideboard Road, Clifton Park

Best barbecue restaurant: Third place in 2020; runner-up in 2022, 2021 and 2015

Address: 1 Kaydeross Ave. W., Saratoga Springs

Phone: 518-583-2445 or 518-583-7427

Best barbecue restaurant: Runner-up in 2022 and 2020

Address: 1902 Van Vranken Ave., Schenectady

Best late-night spot: First place in 2022

Best Southern restaurant: First place in 2020

Best bar for beer: Second place in 2019; runner-up in 2018 and 2017

Best bar for a drink: Third place in 2020

Best hamburger: Third place in 2019

Best barbecue restaurant: Runner-up in 2021

Best spot for a working lunch: Runner-up in 2019

Best barbecue restaurant: Second place in 2020, 2019, 2016 and 2015; third place in 2018 and 2017

Best Southern restaurant: Third place in 2019

Best barbecue restaurant: Third place in 2016 and 2015; runner-up in 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017

Best Southern restaurant: Third place in 2017

Best barbecue restaurant: Third place in 2019

Warehouse Grill & BBQ in Colonie.

Best barbecue restaurant: Runner-up in 2019

Full slab of ribs at Texas Roadhouse restaurant on Wolf Road.

Best family restaurant: Third place in 2020 and 2018 (Colonie location)

Best chain restaurant: Runner up in 2022; second place in 2019; runner-up in 2021

Best Southern restaurant: Third place in 2019 and 2018; runner-up in 2017

Best barbecue restaurant: Third place in 2018 and 2017

Best steakhouse: Third place in 2016; runner-up in 2018 and 2017

Best restaurant to open in the past year: First place in 2014; runner-up in 2015

Addresses: 105 Wolf Road, Colonie; 820 State Route 9, Queensbury

Phone: 518-453-3444, Colonie; 518-761-9300, Queensbury

Best barbecue restaurant: Second place in 2014; third place in 2013; runner-up in 2016 and 2015

Best new restaurant: First place in 2001

Best barbecue restaurant: Second place in 2013; third place in 2014

Erica Smith is the managing editor for digital at the Times Union. She has worked in local news media for more than 20 years, and joined the Times Union in March 2020 (just as COVID-19 shutdowns began) after working in print and digital media in Virginia, Missouri, Indiana and Washington. Erica's also vice chair of the Local Media Foundation and collects typewriters.