Most barbecue restaurants serve the classics: barbecue ribs, chicken, and brisket. These foods are delicious and well worth trying. But if you've already had them a few times and are ready to branch out, there are some more unique barbecue dishes worth trying. Look for these on a menu.

Burnt Ends

People often avoid ordering burnt ends because their name is a bit ambiguous and doesn't exactly describe what they are. But once you know what burnt ends are, you're likely to be excited to try them. They're the ends of the brisket. As the brisket is barbecued, the fatty end of the meat tends to get more burned and charred than the rest of the brisket. The cooks then chop this piece of meat up into smaller bits. They're crispy, juicy, and delicious. There are only a few ounces of burnt ends on each brisket, so at most barbecue restaurants like Grumpy's Bar B Que Roadhouse, they're in short supply. Get there early if you plan on ordering these; they'll run out before long.

Smoked Salmon

Barbecue food is often thought of as being heavy and calorie-dense. If you want something lighter, then try some smoked salmon. It's usually lightly seasoned with a barbecue rub — whichever one the restaurant prefers — and then smoked for a few hours. The result is fish that's tender, flavorful, and moist. 

Smoked Turkey

Turkey is often thought of as dry and bland, but when barbecued, it is anything but! As long as the turkey is smoked at a low temperature, it stays nice and moist, and the meat picks up lots of nice, smoky flavor from the cooking process. You'll often see smoked turkey served on sandwiches, topped with barbecue sauce and coleslaw. Restaurants that offer three- or four-meat platters also often have sliced, smoked turkey as an option. It's a lighter but equally as delicious choice as ribs or brisket.

Sausages

Some barbecue restaurants make their own sausages. They tend to smoke their own sausages, which gives them a really unique flavor and texture. Some restaurants add unique ingredients, like apple and garlic, to their meat mixtures. If the barbecue restaurant you're at has house-made sausages on the menu, definitely give them a try. You'll never be as impressed by grocery store sausage again!

Barbecue classics are popular for a reason. However, if you see some more unique meats or dishes on a barbecue menu, they're often worth trying, too.