Chefs share the best and worst things to order from a barbecue restaurant

Craig Hartman, chef and owner of BBQ Exchange in Virginia, told Insider that any regional specialties are a must-try at most barbecue restaurants.

"You have to try whatever the region is famous for. That means minced pork in the Carolinas, burnt ends in the Midwest, brisket in Texas, and so on," said Hartman.

A few more famous regional specialties that Hartman recommended include Texas brisket, Alaskan smoked salmon, and cochinita pibil in Yucatán.

Burnt ends are pieces of meat that are cut from the "point" or fattier end of a brisket.

Matt Moore, a Nashville-based professional chef and cookbook writer who specializes in meat and grilling, told Insider that burnt ends are one of his favorite barbecue orders.

"Good brisket outside of Texas is hard to find," said Moore. "If a place is offering up burnt ends, that's a clue that they know what they're doing with the main cut of brisket and the ends."

Baked beans are a simple side that can really sing with flavor when prepared right.

"Baked beans are something that most people could make at home, but this dish turns into an all-star at the right barbecue joint," said Moore. "One tip is to make sure the restaurant cooks the beans on the same smoke as the other meats."

Moore added that the best barbecue spots actually use the baked beans as the smoker's drip pan to give them that sought-after flavor.

Christa Lynch, owner of Brooklyn Braised and chef at Google, told Insider that perfectly smoked turkey is a delicacy that you should always order at a barbecue restaurant.

"Smoked turkey [is] so juicy when done right," said Lynch. "Plus whatever you don't finish at the restaurant, you can throw on a salad or sandwich the next day for work."

To make the most of leftover turkey, consider adding a drizzle of smoky or sweet barbecue sauce to make up for any moisture it may have lost in the fridge.

Moore said ordering pork butt, the cut of meat from the upper part of a pig's front leg, is usually a good way to judge a restaurant's overall quality, as it's a tricky dish to get just right.

"You can always assess a restaurant based on their pork butt," Moore told Insider. "The meat should be juicy and permeated with plenty of smoke."

Pork butt is often served on a platter, but you can also find it offered in a sandwich with pickles and onions.

It may seem counterintuitive, Moore told Insider, but a good barbecue joint shouldn't slather its meat with sauce.

"You don't need sauce on good barbecue. If you must order sauce, please order it on the side," said Moore.

Expertly prepared barbecue should already be spiced and flavorful. If a piece of barbecued meat needs sauce to be palatable, the restaurant may not be doing a great job.

Barbecue restaurants are known for offering a glut of decadent sides, but Lynch said she doesn't appreciate the texture or flavor of macaroni and cheese made with queso.

"I'm not a huge fan of the Texas-style queso mac and cheese that's often served at barbecue restaurants," said Lynch. "I just think it's gross."

Diners with large appetites might be tempted to order a barbecue "slop" bucket, but Hartman cautioned against this.

"Many restaurants offer 'slop' buckets where the kitchen gives you a layered dish with all the foods they have stacked on top of each other," he added. "I would definitely not order this."

Unfortunately, these buckets or platters of food often feature menu items that aren't selling well, and you may be stuck with a subpar meal.

Vegetables can be hard to come by in barbecue joints, but opting for a side of green beans may not be the best use of your money.

"This isn't a side that you should pay for. In most places, it's likely similar to what you could get in a school cafeteria," said Hartman.

Unless the menu indicates that the green beans are prepared fresh, you may end up with a plate of the same canned beans available in the local grocery store.

Even though barbecue restaurants are known for their mouthwatering meats, one chef said that ordering a hamburger is typically a missed opportunity.

"Why would anyone order a hamburger from a barbecue restaurant? This is an item that a restaurant only puts on the menu to appease the occasional barbecue hater," Hartman told Insider. "Stay away from half-hearted dishes like this."

If you're craving something between two buns, try ordering a pulled pork sandwich instead.

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