9.0
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q
$$Bessemer, AL, Bessemer
A Bessemer pit family-run on the same spot since 1957.
HickoryRibsHistoric
White SauceSmoked ChickenIconicAward-WinningNorth Alabama
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
9.5/ 10
0 reviews“The Decatur pit where Alabama white sauce was born in 1925.”
Order the hickory-smoked whole chicken dunked in white sauce, the championship pulled pork, and a slice of the towering chocolate or lemon pie. The Decatur original is open seven days a week and sits about an hour north of Birmingham.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Smoked Chicken with White Sauce, Championship Pulled Pork, and Pork Ribs
What to Order
1
Smoked Chicken with White Sauce2
Championship Pulled Pork3
Pork Ribs4
Chocolate PieWhy It Stands Out
Founder Bob Gibson invented Alabama white sauce here in 1925, and the restaurant has since become a multiple-time Memphis in May World Championship winner. It is the single most nationally famous barbecue name in Alabama and the definitional home of the North Alabama style.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Phone
- (256) 350-6969
- Website
- bigbobgibson.com
- Price Range
- $$
Back to
Good to Know
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q?
Regulars point to Smoked Chicken with White Sauce, Championship Pulled Pork, Pork Ribs, and Chocolate Pie.
Is Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q expensive?
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q serve?
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q serves North Alabama barbecue — North Alabama barbecue is defined by hickory-pit-smoked meats and, above all, by Alabama white sauce — a tangy mayonnaise, vinegar, and black-pepper sauce invented by Bob Gibson in Decatur in 1925. The signature preparation is a whole chicken split, seasoned, smoked over hickory for about three hours, then dunked in the white sauce, whose mayonnaise fat keeps the lean meat succulent. Pork shoulder and ribs are the everyday staples, with beef brisket a later addition to the pits.
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