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    Riot BBQ

    4.7 (107 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Riot BBQ Takeout or Delivery

    Riot BBQ Photos

    RIOT BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Riot BBQ

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    Donya T.

    Came across Riot BBQ on Yelp and we decided to give it a try for a late lunch. It was a great choice. Located in what appears to be somewhat of a transitioning industrial area, you turn the corner and there it sits with stacks of wood around the front entrance. You walk in and it feels like a historic home with antique furnishings, lighting, as you enter the main dining area, the order and pickup counters to your left. Staff we encountered were all friendly and we were acknowledged immediately upon approaching the order counter. The young lady who took our order, did a great job explaining menu items. We decided on ribs, brisket, cornbread, macha slaw and beans. I also ordered a Hibiscus Aqua Fresca. A couple of our ribs were a bit dry but otherwise everything was delicious!! Good flavor, nice bark on ribs and brisket. They have great bbq sauces. We enjoyed our sides as well. Riot felt like being at a backyard bbq.

    Demitria M.

    I loved everything about my experience here. Even waiting in the long line! We had the Friday daily special with a few sides and some pork belly. Everything was fantastic! The place was poppin'. The only thing I'd change is coming early, so I could try some other meats before they sell out.

    Erin S.

    The best BBQ I've had in Denver. I may have said that before about other BBQ places, but after having Riot BBQ, nope, this wins, hands down. The flavoring, the tenderness of the meat, the sides, the staff, the decor it was all excellent. I split, with my bestie, the pulled pork, brisket, the esquites cornbread, and Mac and Cheese. They have a few different types of sauce you can select from. Each sauce does fit well with one meat- you just have to try them all out and see what sauces tastes best with what meat. They are closed on Tuesdays and are open at 11am on all other days as long as they still have food to feed you for that day! Burnt ends run out fast on the weekends. Divine! Highly, highly recommend!

    Natalia S.

    My new BBQ obsession: the fiery fusion of Texas-style smokiness and Northern Mexico's asado traditions from Top Chef alum Manny Barella and longtime AJ's pitmaster PatrickKlaiber. They've revived and reimagined the former AJ's Pit BBQ space in the cozy space hidden on a residential street. (Don't miss the patio with the mural paying homage to all the famous barbecue classics). Already a neighborhood favorite, they're selling out nearly every day ever since launch -- so get here early! Here's what's stealing the show: - 14-hour smoked prime brisket -- melt-in-your-mouth perfection (also available as an entire rib) - Wagyu pastrami -- rich, smoky, and indulgent - Pork ribs al pastor -- smoky with a tangy kick (my favorite) - Smoked turkey -- the delicious sleeper hit you didn't see coming - Esquites cornbread -- the fan-favorite bite everyone's talking about - Salsa-macha slaw -- spicy, nutty, and fresh (I'm now always adding macha salsa to my slaw) - Chicken tacos -- zesty citrus-marinated smoked chicken on a pueblo green chile tortilla, topped with salsa fresca & avocado crema (another surprise favorite of mine)   Wash it down with: - A killer margarita or bourbon peach smash cocktail - Plus a lineup of local draft beers that pairs perfectly with the smoke

    Ribs, brisket, pulled pork Mac n cheese and burnt ends
    Lindsay W.

    Being from Kansas City, I don't hand out BBQ praise lightly -- we're spoiled with some of the best in the country. That said, Riot BBQ is the real deal. The meats were perfectly smoked, tender, and packed with flavor, and the sauces complemented everything without overpowering it. You can tell they take pride in doing BBQ the right way. Portions were generous, sides were on point, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for legit BBQ that would absolutely hold its own back in KC, this is the spot. We'll definitely be back.

    Inside/menu
    Jennie A.

    First time here. I wanted some tender, flavorful BBQ. I was pleasantly surprised. What a hidden gem. I had a hard time deciding on what to get because everyone's plate looked so delicious. So I got the pork ribs pastor, Texas sausage, brisket, and pork belly with a side of pit beans & black cherry cola. Everything was so tender that all I needed was a fork. My timing was good because there was a minimal line to order however when I left people were lining up; this was on a Sunday at 2:30 pm. So you may have to be a little patient. Cool little rooms to hang out and eat in or just eat in the main area. Friendly staff. Check it out! I'll be back. I wanted to try one of their deserts next time.

    Deborah M.

    Being that I was just at Franklin's in Austin this summer, I can honestly say I know a thing or two about good bbq! The brisket was super tender and I can't wait to come back and compare the beef rib. I also really wanted to try the burnt ends but alas, they were already sold out. Great smoke on everything g and I loved the beans and potato salad! Very cool ambiance and friendly service- they even gave me the rest of the pork belly for no charge since it was it for the day! I'll be back for sure!

    Clockwise starting top corner: Pork Belly, Smoked Turkey, Brisket, Chicken Loco, Sausage, Pulled Pork, Ribs Al Pastor
    Asher W.

    Top notch bbq, cool spot, great staff. We stopped in to scratch our meat itch and it was well scratched. We tried a smattering of everything and were over the moon about just about everything. Starting with the meats, we had the brisket, pulled pork, chicken loco, ribs, pork belly, sausage, and smoked turkey. Also not pictured is wagyu pastrami. It was all good but we thought the smoked turkey, pork belly, and pastrami were especially fantastic. As it relates to sides, we had the mac, esquites corn bread, tater salad, beans, pickled veg, and macha coleslaw not pictured. It was all good but the tater salad and coleslaw were our favs. All in all, some damn good Q. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

    Audra M.

    When visiting Denver on a Friday, just as Riot BBQ opened for the day, we got our order fast as heck. The place was a spot picked for a quick lunch by my husband, and I could not be happier about how outstanding everything was. Given it was lunch, we did not order a lot. Everyone cares about fast service (check) and amazing ambiance (check), but it's the taste of food that matters most, right? I have never had a better brisket in my life, and that is no lie. Mac n Cheese, awesome as well. This was such a great lunch. It was too early in the day for a drink, but their drink menu was so enticing! Once we were seated to eat, the place became very busy, but hungry patrons were served with efficiency, so I could see this being a great spot to meet friends for lunch. Pay at the counter...it lessens that awkward splitting the bill convo! There are different little areas to eat, which are so well-appointed and cozy. We ate in the main area, but it was just the best vibe. If I find myself in Denver again, I will certainly be seeking Riot BBQ out for another great meal.

    Brisket Chili, Smoked Mac and Cheese, Brisket Quesadillas
    Ashli F.

    Riot was on point! I enjoyed our visit here! I walked in just to checkout the layout and ended up staying! When I headed back outside to get my family the cashier made eye contact and asked where I was going! That was very warming to know they wanted us to stay. Best choice for food in our visit to Denver! We ordered brisket chili, brisket quesadillas Mac-n-Cheese, and beans! Everything was delicious and had the right flavors! That Mac was absolutely a hit too... that Smokey flavor was a nice compliment. We had the chance to enjoy their live band and sit in their dining room to eat. It was a peaceful yet satisfying time.

    Cindy S.

    Omg, decided we wanted bbq on a whim. It and was a great choice. The brisket was tender and pulled pork delicious. The service was great you order 1st before seating. Super fast and easy. Great ambience very chill small place we beat the lunch rush a bit of music playing and 1 Tv. Great deals throughout the week and good choice of beers and cocktails Will definitely come again

    Beef ribs, Mac and Cheese, say, aqua fresca
    Jude A.

    Food was off the chain; the beef rib was incredibly tasty. The sausage and macaroni and cheese were flavorful. The aqua fresca was perfectly sweetened. The barbecue at this place was delightfully delicious.

    Erick D.

    I was visiting Denver and had been impressed with AJ's BBQ on a previous trip. I later found out that the owner of AJ's ran into some serious issues with taxes and unpaid wages, but this story has a silver lining. The former pitmaster teamed up with a talented Mexican chef with an incredible résumé, and together they created Riot BBQ. The food is outstanding, a thoughtful and flavorful fusion of BBQ and Mexican cuisine. A perfect example of this blend is the pastor pork ribs, which were phenomenal. Everything we tried was excellent, though we were a little bummed to miss out on the daily special (burnt ends) even though we arrived early for dinner service. A friend described the Mexican Key Lime Pie as a mix between tres leches and Key Lime pie, a spot-on observation. The place itself is a no-frills, cozy BBQ joint with communal tables and a great patio. Service is counter-style, friendly, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend if you want something familiar yet refreshingly original in the BBQ scene.

    Street view

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    29 days ago

    I am so glad someone took over this location, that pit has magical properties, and now with awesome Mexican flavors

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    Ask the Community - Riot BBQ

    Liquor license? If so, any special Margaritas?

    Yes they serve. They even walk up the line to serve you when you are waiting. Don't know of anything special.

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    Pit Fiend Barbecue

    Pit Fiend Barbecue

    4.6(109 reviews)
    5.8 miFive Points, Northwest
    $$

    Have I rated this place before? Well, even if I have, it's time that I renewed my rating for Pit…read moreFiend. This place has been my go-to for bbq meal for several years now. It's not close from my southeast Denver house at all but I make the trip to go here when I crave for good/quality bbq. Service is (in my frankest sense) solid and this restaurant has never failed in that regard. I always see the same lady manning the front. Her demeanor and speech are always consistent where her professionalism is her strong attribute. Quality is of utmost importance at any restaurant and this place is consistent in that regard as well. Today, I had pulled pork (about 6oz; by the way, you get to pick how much you want as you pay by the weight.) To accompany my meat, I got the Elote Salad and the Jalapeno Corn Bread. These created the perfect combination of balanced breakfast (yup, it was past 11am but it was my first meal of the day!!) It truly filled me up. The ambiance is of a typical bbq place. It's small and yet with the symbiotic relationship with the brewery right next door, the current space size justifies. The customers from said brewery come and get food as "eat-in" to take their plates back to the brewery to eat while brewing themselves up (lol!) Businesses co-exist/co-mingle/co-operate. We all help each other. I am giving my solid high five to Pit Fiend today. This place has my heart.

    Today was definitely a bbq day and we came across this establishment…read more The employees were friendly and there was a great variety of meats. Unfortunately like every bbq pit you need to get there early to get burnt ends but there were other meats to choose from. The only unfortunate thing was they are part of the up and coming group of merchants that charge 2% if using a credit card on top of that city fee and tax.

    Photos
    Pit Fiend Barbecue - Overview of the dining area

    Overview of the dining area

    Pit Fiend Barbecue - Pork Belly (Half Pound/$18)- 5/5 stars. A MUST ORDER!

    Pork Belly (Half Pound/$18)- 5/5 stars. A MUST ORDER!

    Pit Fiend Barbecue

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    Saucy’s Southern Barbecue & Cuisine

    Saucy’s Southern Barbecue & Cuisine

    4.2(146 reviews)
    1.8 miUniversity Park, Southeast
    $$

    Delicious food, easy ambiance, and friendly staff/owner. We had a great time!…read more Tried the catfish, Cajun sausage, ribs, green beans, Mac n cheese, fried okra, baked beans, and corn. So good!

    A family owned and operated bbq business that has good vibes and good food. I found them after a…read moreday of retail therapy and decided to dine in to take in the scenery. The guys working that evening were super accommodating and had good energy. There was a small wait for my food but I didn't mind at all. There is plenty of seating if you want to stay and dine or you can call ahead and do a to go order. This would be a good place for groups and watching sporting events or enjoying the music. I went with the smoked sausage, ribs, green chili mac and cheese with baked beans. The sides were all good, the smoked sausage was the stand out and the ribs could be better. I do understand the difference between a little char and burnt pieces, however mine were more burnt and it was a detractor from the ribs. I ended up trying to pull that part off and eat the softer parts. In the game of bbq, you're gonna have a few pieces that are in direct heat and have more flame exposure, just don't give those pieces to me. Capable of cash, card and contactless payments with no hidden surcharges like many places seem to be doing. The portions were plenty and enough to share or to make two meals if you're watching your intake. Parking is along the street and pay attention to the signs. Some areas have time limits and there's a garage nearby if you choose. I drove by because on the main street, it seems unassuming until you're looking for their signage. Around the corner are other businesses and some residences so it threw me off a bit. If in the area, I would dine here again to explore more of the menu. Of course, if you go later in the day, the chance that they'll run out of an item is higher.

    Photos
    Saucy’s Southern Barbecue & Cuisine - I forgot to take photo of my food, but this mural of the barbecue master's history is pretty cool.

    I forgot to take photo of my food, but this mural of the barbecue master's history is pretty cool.

    Saucy’s Southern Barbecue & Cuisine - Wing Plate

    Wing Plate

    Saucy’s Southern Barbecue & Cuisine - Ordering counter

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    Ordering counter

    Riot BBQ - bbq - Updated May 2026

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