3 Alabama-based BBQ joints awarded “America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains” title by Newsweek

Alabama-based Full Moon Bar-B-Que, Dreamland BBQ and Jim ‘N Nicks were awarded the title of America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains 2023 by Newsweek. 

This is the second year Newsweek has teamed up with Statista, a global data firm, to announce the award.

According to Newsweek, the awards are based on the results of a survey of more than 4,000 customers and employees of restaurant chains in the U.S. This year there are 220 winners in 16 categories.

Alabama Winners

For Alabamians, the three restaurants honored come as no surprise. 

Full Moon Bar-B-Que, which received 5 stars from the publication, has been in operation since 1986, with David and Joe Maluff in charge since 1997. Today, there are 17 Full Moon locations in Alabama and Mississippi. If you have ever been to Full Moon, every location has that special family atmosphere—and the BBQ seals the deal.

Dreamland BBQ also received 5 stars. Established in Tuscaloosa 64 years ago, before it became a restaurant chain, it was one of those places every student and tourist had to visit to mark off their bucket list.  Today there are 11 locations, including restaurants in Georgia and Florida.

Jim ‘N Nicks was founded in 1985 when Jim Pihakis and his son Nick turned an old pizza parlor on Clairmont Avenue into a bar-b-que joint. At last count, there are now 40 Jim ‘N Nicks across the south in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The restaurant received four stars from Newsweek.

List of 220 Winners

Eyeballing the Newsweek list, about half of the restaurants chains honored have locations in Alabama. Check them out.

While you are out and about this holiday season, drop by the three Alabama originals — Full Moon, Dreamland and Jim ‘n Nick’s to congratulate them and eat their delicious food.
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