BBQ chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Mission BBQ was the most searched BBQ chain in the United States, accounting for 36.9% of all searches among the seven chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Mission BBQ, City Barbeque, Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Mission BBQ was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three responses that gave a list.
Mission BBQShare of searches 36.9%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
City BarbequeShare of searches 33%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Sonny's BBQShare of searches 13.5%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
Dickey's Barbecue PitShare of searches 8.1%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-QShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
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Top BBQ chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Mission BBQ, City Barbeque, Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Mission BBQ was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three answers that gave a list. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q was second, and City Barbeque was third.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Mission BBQ3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- City Barbeque3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Dickey's Barbecue Pit3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Pappas Bar-B-Q2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Famous Dave's2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Sonny's BBQ1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about BBQ chains
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best BBQ chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which barbecue restaurant chain in the US has the best brisket?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular BBQ chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bbq restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bbq near me”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Which BBQ chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each BBQ chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven BBQ chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Mission BBQ, City Barbeque, Sonny's BBQ, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q, Pappas Bar-B-Q. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Mission BBQ | City Barbeque | Sonny's BBQ | Dickey's Barbecue Pit | Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q | Pappas Bar-B-Q | Famous Dave's |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 38.1% | 27.8% | 13.9% | 12.4% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 0.11% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.7% | 28.3% | 11.6% | 12.7% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 0.09% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.3% | 30.7% | 15.3% | 11.2% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 0.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.3% | 28.7% | 14.3% | 10.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.3% | 28.7% | 14.3% | 10.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
| Mar 2026 | 39% | 28.5% | 14.2% | 10.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.2% | 31.5% | 15.8% | 9.5% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 0.1% |
| May 2026 | 36.9% | 33% | 13.5% | 8.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 0.11% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.3% | 28.8% | 14.4% | 8.6% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.4% | 35.4% | 14.5% | 8.7% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.2% | 31.5% | 15.8% | 9.5% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 0.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.9% | 33% | 13.5% | 8.1% | 5% | 3.3% | 0.1% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 36.9% | 673K | 0% | +1.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 33% | 602K | 0% | +1.5 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 13.5% | 246K | -18.3% | -2.3 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 8.1% | 148K | -18.2% | -1.4 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 5% | 90.5K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 3.3% | 60.5K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.1% | 1.9K | 0% | 0 points |
36.9%
Held 1st. 673K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
33%
Held 2nd. 602K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.
13.5%
Held 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
8.1%
Held 4th. 148K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.
Held 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
3.3%
Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
0.1%
Held 7th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among BBQ chains in the United States?
7 brands
In September 2026, Mission BBQ was the most searched among BBQ chains in the United States, with an estimated 673K branded searches, 36.9% of all searches for the seven we track. City Barbeque is in 2nd place, 3.9 percentage points behind at 33%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission BBQ | 38.1% → 36.9% | 39.3%Jun 2026 | 32.4%Jul 2026 | 1st |
| City Barbeque | 27.8% → 33% | 35.4%Jul 2026 | 27.8%Oct 2025 | 2nd |
| Sonny's BBQ | 13.9% → 13.5% | 15.8%Apr 2026 | 11.6%Nov 2025 | 3rd |
| Dickey's Barbecue Pit | 12.4% → 8.1% | 12.7%Nov 2025 | 8.1%Sep 2026 | 4th |
| Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q | 4.2% → 5% | 5.3%Jul 2026 | 3.5%Jan 2026 | 5th |
| Pappas Bar-B-Q | 3.4% → 3.3% | 4.3%Nov 2025 | 3.2%Apr 2026 | 6th |
| Famous Dave's | 0.11% → 0.1% | 0.12%Jul 2026 | 0.09%Nov 2025 | 7th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mission BBQ’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States decreased from 38.1% to 36.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, City Barbeque’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States increased from 27.8% to 33%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dickey's Barbecue Pit’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States decreased from 12.4% to 8.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States increased from 4.2% to 5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mission BBQ’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 39.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 32.4% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, City Barbeque’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 35.4% in July 2026 and was lowest at 27.8% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sonny's BBQ’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 15.8% in April 2026 and was lowest at 11.6% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dickey's Barbecue Pit’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 12.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 8.1% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 5.3% in July 2026 and was lowest at 3.5% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pappas Bar-B-Q’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 4.3% in November 2025 and was lowest at 3.2% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sonny's BBQ, Pappas Bar-B-Q and Famous Dave's held steady: their share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States BBQ chains in September 2026?
5 changes
In September 2026, Mission BBQ gained share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 35.2% to 36.9%.
In September 2026, City Barbeque gained share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 31.5% to 33%.
In September 2026, Sonny's BBQ lost share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 15.8% to 13.5%.
In September 2026, Dickey's Barbecue Pit lost share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 9.5% to 8.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 90.5K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Mission BBQ vs City Barbeque: compare popularity
- Mission BBQ vs Sonny's BBQ: compare popularity
- Mission BBQ vs Dickey's Barbecue Pit: compare popularity
- Mission BBQ vs Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q: compare popularity
- City Barbeque vs Sonny's BBQ: compare popularity
- City Barbeque vs Dickey's Barbecue Pit: compare popularity
- City Barbeque vs Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q: compare popularity
- Sonny's BBQ vs Dickey's Barbecue Pit: compare popularity
- Sonny's BBQ vs Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q: compare popularity
- Dickey's Barbecue Pit vs Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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