JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kings BBQ, a popular food trailer from Jacksonville, triumphed over top barbecue teams from around the globe to win the prestigious grand champion title at the 2025 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational.

Held in Lynchburg, Tennessee, this exclusive competition featured 91 elite teams from far-flung locales such as Germany, alongside local favorites like Jacksonville’s Kings BBQ.

Kings BBQ dominated the field by delivering outstanding performances across four key meat categories: chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket.

The judging panel assessed each entry based on three essential criteria: taste, tenderness, and appearance, ensuring only the finest barbecue was crowned champion.

Ryan King, the owner and pitmaster behind Kings BBQ, has been perfecting his craft since 2020.

For King, barbecue is more than just a business, he says it’s in his blood.

“Starting out in this business is humbling,” King shared. “You cook barbecue that no one likes at first, but they’re polite enough to eat it anyway. Through mistakes and hard work, you learn to make really good barbecue. To compete with the best in the world and come away a winner, that feeling is just overwhelming.”

Kings BBQ earning an outstanding overall score of 710.9 out of 720 possible points, including a perfect score for their ribs. King says every judge awarded top marks in that category.

The competition is recognized as one of the top five major barbecue world championships and attracts the best pitmasters worldwide. Kings comparing it to the Masters of golf for its prestige and high level of skill required.

Ryan King credits much of his success to sourcing quality ingredients locally, specifically his ribs from Sweet Meat butcher shop in High Springs, Florida. His team prepares their signature ribs in the Saint Louis style by trimming the rib tips and adding their own special glaze and sauce combination to create award-winning flavor.

For barbecue fans eager to taste the world champion flavors, Kings BBQ will be at the Baker County Fair in Jacksonville next week, giving the local community a chance to enjoy the pitmaster’s craft firsthand.