Archibald's Ranked Among 'South's Most Legendary Barbecue Joints'

NORTHPORT, AL — It will likely come as little surprise to locals that Archibald's BBQ in Northport was recently recognized by a major publication as being among the best in its class.

Southern Living included the popular eatery on its list of "The South's Most Legendary Barbecue Joints 2021," which was published earlier this week.

The story reads: "Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Northport is a small white building with an enormous soot-stained brick chimney attached to the front. That’s the home of Archibald’s BBQ, an Alabama legend that serves sliced pork and hickory-cooked ribs atop slices of white bread, which soak up the peppery orange-hued sauce. Meaty and smoky with the perfect slightly firm bite, those ribs are as good as any you can find in the whole country."

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The original location, according to the Archibald's website, was first opened in 1962 by George and Betty Archibald.

Owner Woodrow Washington III, who also represents District 2 on the Northport City Council, has been involved with the family-owned BBQ joint his entire life, going on to open his own restaurant in Tuscaloosa under the Archibald and Woodrow's name in 2002 and taking over the operations for the family's locations on both sides of the river.

Archibald's is no stranger to recognition and positive publicity, either. In 2013, Archibald's received the distinction of being named among the "Tastiest Ribs in America" by USA Today.

"Legend even has it that in the early days famed football coach Bear Bryant frequented the eatery, no doubt leaving with the occasional hot wing tucked under his iconic houndstooth hat," the Archibald's website says. "Though they started small, half a century and three generations worth of experience have seen the Archibald family spread their recipes far and wide, gaining acclaim from The New York Times, Good Morning America, and Southern Living Magazine."

Archibald's is located at 1211 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in Northport and is open Tuesday– Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Click here to view the full menu for the Northport location.

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