Rudy's Smokehouse, Springfield

In the 40 years they’ve been manning the shop’s old hickory pits, the pitmasters of Rudy’s Smokehouse have discovered there are four things needed for quality barbecue: high-quality meat, low temperatures, flavorful wood smoking, and a lotta patience. The chefs have perfected this mix to create a menu of take-home dinners and boxed lunches that showcase their pulled pork, smoked turkey, and beef brisket. Most dishes come with a choice of two sides such as scalloped corn, green beans, and potato salad, all of which can be washed down with a slice of southern pie and a glass of sweet tea more refreshing than a morning jog through a field of orange-juice filled sprinklers.