IDK Barbecue in Tropic: The Best BBQ in Utah

I wrote a while ago about the best bbq in North Carolina at Randy’s Bar B Que in Troutman. On our recent trip to Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon in southern Utah, we found another great little BBQ joint. IDK Barbecue in Tropic, Utah may have the best bbq in Utah.

IDK Barbecue is a tiny restaurant in a tiny town, located at the bottom of the Bryce Canyon National Park plateau. The town of Tropic is about six miles from Bryce Canyon and stays alive mainly by catering to the tourist trade passing through. There aren’t a lot of frills in this restaurant, but the best bbq comes from places without frills.

Tom and I were pretty hungry by the time we got to Tropic. We hiked in Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon before we made it to Tropic. It was mid-afternoon, so well after our lunch hour. Tropic has a choice of three restaurants. After driving by all of them, we picked IDK Barbecue.

I asked the woman who took our order what IDK stands for and she said “I don’t know.” I was a little confused by her answer but Tom got it right away. I Don’t Know. The owners couldn’t decide on a name, so they called it IDK.

I think the name is a little misleading because the owners certainly do know barbecue. The barbecue we had was delicious. I got the meat platter with pulled pork, corn bread, and coleslaw. Everything was delicious and I ate every bite. The pulled pork didn’t have any fat on it and the corn bread was moist. They said it was “dutch oven” corn break and I highly recommend it. Tom had a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. He tried the sauce and said it was very good – just the right combination of spicy and sweet.

We also shared a large apple cobbler for dessert which came to us fresh out of the dutch oven: warm and delicious. I would have gotten ice cream on it but Tom didn’t want any, so I did without. Ice cream would have made it perfect! While we ate we read the chalk board where people write messages and where they are from.