Readers' Choice 2026
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Best BBQ: Outsider BBQ & Beer Garden
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Outsider BBQ got its start as a food truck before opening its Fremont restaurant in early 2025. Owner Onur Gulbay learned Texas barbecue while living in Austin, and his Turkish background shows up in sides such as potato salad with yogurt and sumac and Turkish-style rice with cinnamon and raisins. Brisket, ribs, beef cheeks, and jalapeño-cheddar sausage are smoked over oak, while lemon-poppy slaw and corn casserole round out the sides. There’s always something sweet and comforting to finish the meal, too, as any good barbecue spread should have. The name is fitting for a place willing to stray from the usual barbecue playbook. The indoor-outdoor beer garden serves local brews and hosts live music, pop-ups, and other events.
Runner Up: Jack’s BBQ
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
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