Awards & Recognition
Judged · Voted · Inspected
Big Shanty Smokehouse by Willingham’s® has been recognized as one of Georgia’s top barbecue destinations — Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America from Barbecue News Magazine in 2025 and 2026, and Best of Cobb in 2025 and 2026.
2026
The current year’s honors.
Award Winner 2026
BusinessRate
2025
Ongoing
Recognition that isn’t tied to the current award year.
Perfect Health Inspections
Cobb & Douglas Public Health
18 in a row — and counting.
Featured on Georgia Traveler
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Voted Top 10
Atlanta Best BBQ
In the press
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Eat This, Not That!
#1 in “The 7 Best Ribs in the South”
Their roundup of the best ribs anywhere in the South — the Shanty took the top spot.
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Marietta Daily Journal · October 10, 2025
A step above: World champion pitmaster takes the reins at Big Shanty Smokehouse
Jack Lindner on how a world champion pitmaster ended up behind the pits in Kennesaw.
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Shoutout Atlanta · October 23, 2025
Meet Paul Holden — Owner & Pitmaster
A long-form interview on competition barbecue, the Willingham’s® method, and running a smokehouse.
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Marietta Daily Journal · April 22, 2026
Kennesaw restaurant earns back-to-back national recognition from Barbecue News Magazine
The 2026 Best of the Best listing, a second year running.
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Marietta Daily Journal · March 26, 2025
Big Shanty Smokehouse by Willingham’s earns spot on Best of the Best barbecue list
The first Best of the Best listing, announced in March 2025.
Why the awards keep coming back to Kennesaw
Big Shanty Smokehouse by Willingham’s® has been smoking barbecue on Cherokee Street in Kennesaw since February 2008. Everything is cooked over hickory on site — pulled pork, beef brisket, “Killer” Spare Ribs, smoked chicken, rib tips and Brunswick stew — and Cobb & Douglas Public Health has scored the kitchen perfect eighteen inspections running.
The method behind the badges did not start here. Championship pitmaster Paul Holden came up on Hall of Fame pitmaster John Willingham’s pit crew beginning in 1990, has run the Willingham’s® competition team since 2013, and took over Big Shanty in 2024. The W’ham® rubs and sauces that won Memphis in May and the American Royal are the ones that go on the meat here every day.
The full competition and product award record is on the Willingham’s® awards page.