Big D's BBQ, Branson

November 2023
BigDBBQ
Known for brisket and baby back ribs, Big D’s BBQ has been voted five years running the people’s choice Gold Award for Best of Branson BBQ by thousands across the nation who submit their vote after dining in Branson. Throughout the years, Big D’s has won Best Dessert, Best Burger and Best Caterer—eight Gold Awards in all.

My husband and I visited to find out if Big D’s lived up to all the accolades.

As we dug into a sampler platter heaped with generous half-pounds of smoked brisket, pork, chicken and sausage, a half-rack of Memphis-style ribs and various sides, owner Dana Peterson sat down to chat. I begin to understand what all the buzz was about and why the restaurant was packed to capacity. His wife Linda, known as Mama D, partners with him to make it all happen.

The 28-day aged, certified angus beef, which makes it very tender.

“Our meats are smoked low and slow over pecan wood up to 14 hours,” says Dana.

During Dana’s previous career in finance—he retired in 2017—hunting and smoking meats for backyard barbecues eventually led to hosting 150 guests. Along the way, Dana discovered his passion for cooking. The next step led to a food truck in a dirt lot on Highway 76, and in 2018, Dana and Linda opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant. When Covid hit, they closed the restaurant and continued to develop a following through take-out before reopening in their current location.

“Linda and I have traveled all over the nation, and we like many different styles of barbecue,” says Dana. “We’re the only ones in the area that smoke whole hogs and gators. We serve Memphis-style ribs, Texas-style brisket, a Carolina-style sandwich with slaw and a vinegar-mustard sauce and burnt ends with a sweet Kansas City-style sauce.”

Although hard to choose a favorite, we gravitated to the burnt ends and tender brisket. Sides included a satisfyingly smoked mac n’ cheese, southern-style green beans, coleslaw made daily and Dana’s mom’s potato salad. Creative specials, announced frequently on Facebook, bring in the locals for burnt end gumbo, brisket grilled cheese or smoked gator offered several times a year.

Linda’s desserts include bourbon and bacon pecan pie, salted caramel banana pudding and giant turtle caramel fudge brownies. Recently, she designed the catchy labels for Big D’s sauces and seasonings, now bottled for retail and online sale.

For more information, visit BigDsBBQBranson.com.