By Haley Laurence/hlaurence@al.com

Say what you want about Alabama, but we serve some pretty incredible barbecue. And you know what we do even better? Pulled pork sandwiches. The only problem? With so many delicious barbecue joints, it is hard to decide where to pick up a 'cue sandwich.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

But luckily, you don't have to choose: We have the perfect weekend adventure for you: an Alabama barbecue sandwich trail that'll take you across central and south Alabama. Check it out.

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Photo by Ben Flanagan/bflanagan@al.com

1. Jim's Highway 82 BBQ

3657 Highway 82 W., Billingsley

Jim's Highway 82 BBQ is the trifecta of what good Alabama BBQ joints should be: Great service, lots of locals and super delicious pork.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

The pulled pork sandwich is a thing of beauty.

Jim's barbecue sandwich is piled high with lots of pork and slathered with a vinegar-based sauce. Make sure you order a sweet tea with it, because duh.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

There's some pretty solid sides, too.

Don't forget a side. Jim's puts a lot of thought into their sides and there are plenty to choose from, from fried okra to potato salad to corn nuggets.

Read more about Jim's here and here.

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Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

2. Archibald's Bar. B. Q.

1211 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Northport

Archibald's is one of the Alabama barbecue meccas, and for good reason: the unfussy establishment has been serving seriously legit 'cue since 1962.

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Photo by Ben Flanagan/bflanagan@al.com

I mean, look at this.

With their spicy, tangy orange sauce and hickory-smoked pork, Archibald's sandwich is truly unique. One warning, though: You may need a fork.

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Ben Flanagan/bflanagan@al.com

And don't forget ..

... to try Archibald's world-famous ribs. They're seriously delicious.

Read more about Archibald's here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

3. Saw's BBQ

Location: 1008 Oxmoor Road, Homewood (You can also visit Saw's Juke Joint in Crestline or Saw's Soul Kitchen in Avondale.)

There's a reason there's always a line at Saw's -- the food is out-of-this-world tasty.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

The pulled pork sandwich is a beaut.

Oh man. Saw's pulled pork is smoky and tender and oh-so-good. The sandwich is topped with pickles and the restaurant's thin sauce, and is just one of the restaurant's must-try items.

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Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com

And you can close your eyes and pick a side.

From the macaroni and cheese to the greens to the banana pudding, it's all good stuff. Trust us.

Read more about Saw's here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

4. Leo & Susie's Famous Green Top Bar-B-Que

7530 Highway 78, Dora

The exterior of Green Top may not look like much, but it's been an Alabama barbecue institution since the '50s. Plop down at the restaurant's counter to get some seriously tasty food.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

The barbecue sandwich is greasy goodness.

The pulled pork, topped with a tomato-vinegar sauce, is acidic and unique and just plain ole good. Check it out. (And don't forget to check out the ranch fries.)

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

And on Sundays, there's a meat-and-three treat.

If you make it to the restaurant on Sunday, they'll serve up meat-and-three lunches -- so if you're tired of BBQ, you can feast on other Southern foods.

Read more about Green Top here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

5. Whitt's Barbecue

918 6th Ave. S.E., Decatur

Whitt's is the best of the best -- it's so good that we at AL.com named it Alabama's Best BBQ Sandwich last year.

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The sandwich is pretty perfect.

Oh, this barbecue sandwich, y'all. The tender, moist pulled pork is topped with a sweet slaw and pickles, and it is so, so delicious. Words cannot do it justice.

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And don't forget the Brunswick stew.

One must-try side: Whitt's Brunswick stew, which is served year-round. Yep, I said year-round, so you won't have to wait for the winter months to try the stew.

Read more about Whitt's here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

6. Ole Hickory BBQ

5061 Maysville Road, New Market

Blink and you'll miss Ole Hickory BBQ, located in the tiny town of New Market. But seriously, don't blink -- you'll miss out on some really amazing food.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

And their BBQ sandwiches are customizable.

Opt for their sweet slaw, or any of their sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet to tangy their white sauce.

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Don't fill up on barbecue, though.

The banana pudding is pure heaven, and don't forget their pies.

Read more about Ole Hickory here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

7. Smoke-N-Hot BBQ

2363 Al Highway 202, Anniston

One of the state's most creative barbecue joints can be found in Anniston. Owners Greg Stay, from Alabama, and wife Mary Anne Stay, from Ireland, have melded Southern and Irish culture to create a unique barbecue restaurant.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

How perfect does this look?

The hand-pulled pork is topped with sauce, pickles and placed on a toasted bun. This sandwich is seriously on the next level.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

And if you go in on Friday ...

These burgers are legit. The hand-pattied and hand-seasoned meat is piled with sliced cheese and slaw -- it's easy to see why its one of Friday's most popular menu items.

Read more about Smoke-N-Hot here.

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Amber Sutton/asutton@al.com

8. August's Barbeque

35571 U.S. Highway 280, Sylacauga.

You can't finish your great Alabama barbecue adventure without trying August's on Highway 280. With a large menu and a fun patio, it's a must-stop on your 'cue journey.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

How about the sandwich?

August's pulled pork sandwiches are topped with the most delicious sauce -- part sweet and part heat, it definitely should be on your radar.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

And make sure you get there early for the sides.

At many barbecue joints, sides are an afterthought. But not at August's. There's the side of the day, and don't miss out on the mac and cheese -- it's so popular that they sell out early.

Read more about August's here.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

More Alabama food stories

Alabama's pizza trail

The tastiest fries in Alabama

17 places in Alabama to get delicious fried chicken

50 must-try Alabama foods under $10

24 Alabama restaurants that serve amazing mac and cheese

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

Want more about Alabama BBQ?

Alabama's Best BBQ Sandwich is ...

15 under-the-radar BBQ joints you need to try

Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame: Revisiting the class of 2015

Zagat says Alabama barbecue 'might be America's best-kept secret'

Here's where celebrities eat BBQ when they're in Alabama