Competition is heating up amongst a new breed of barbecue restaurants. Once a novelty in barbecue-challenged Toronto, slow and low smoking has recently been embraced by reverential restaurateurs and ever discerning diners looking for an authentic taste of the South. Expect the trend to continue with new contenders like Greenwood Smokehouse and 420 Smokehouse entering the pit soon.

Here's a round-up, in no particular order, of newly opened barbecue restaurants in Toronto.

See also: The Best BBQ Restaurants in Toronto

Electric Mud BBQ
This Parkdale spot from cult restaurateurs Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan (both of Grand Electric) puts a contemporary spin on Southern staples. Open since March, the menu boasts fried chicken alongside smoky selections like juicy sausage links and locally famous peanut dusted ribs.

Big Crow
This backyard BBQ joint from Anthony Rose opened this summer to much acclaim. Here the atmosphere radiates a casual cook-out vibe and the menu brings a taste of Southern gluttony straight to the picnic table. Now winterized, the plan is to keep serving slabs of baby back ribs, smoked cornish hens and rabbit all year round.

Aft
Opened this past spring, this Riverside kitchen and bar isn't exclusively a smokehouse though the weekday menu is heavily smoke infused. On weekends BBQ is the main event featuring platters of smoked country sausage, side ribs, Texas style brisket, pulled pork and chicken with all the traditional fixin's.

Holy Smokez
Opened just over a year ago, this no frills Mississauga takeaway shop does brisk business in slow and low smoked essentials. The menu boasts excellent value for a super satisfying roster of sandwiches piled high with brisket, pulled pork or sausage.

Hogtown Smoke
Now open in The Beaches, this food truck offshoot champions the time-honoured cooking traditions of the Southern U.S. barbecue belt. The menu excels at slow-smoked fare like brisket, chicken and pulled pork, served in all its natural glory, sauce on the side.

Hoosier Daddy's
This food court BBQ vendor relocated in June to the Village by the Grange from Yorkville's Cumberland Terrace. The menu is a pan-American rendition of slow-cooking turned fast food showcasing a line-up of smoked chicken, pork and beef sandwiches that are cooked off-site and then smothered in sauce to order.

Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse
Hobbyist turned pro pitmaster Marcus De Simone and butcher, Frank DiGenova (Butcher By Nature) opened this Junction smokehouse in May. The restaurant prides itself on offering choice cuts of meat expertly slow cooked over hickory and applewood in a Southern Pride smoker.

Smoke Bourbon Bar-B-Q
Situated on Harbord, this smokehouse opened early this year and was quickly embraced by the neighbourhood for its Southern hospitality (read: enormous portions). The menu features a tasty array of brisket, pulled pork, corned beef and ribs but, what really seals the deal are solid side-dishes like bacon-studded collard greens, mac 'n' cheese, cornbread and waffle fries.

Sandoozles Smokehouse & Pub
The menu at this newly opened smokehouse and sandwich shop does a little bit of deli along with liberally Southern-style pork and brisket, all prepped in an electric Cuisinart smoker. The meaty results are amiable but arguably not in the same league as some of these other big boys.

Big Bone BBQ & Wicked Wings
A fixture on the competitive BBQ circuit, these guys have won 20+ titles for superbly smoky fare. The family of restaurants boasts multiple locations across Southern Ontario but this Markham offshoot just opened at the end of April and has already become a local favourite for saucy sandwiches, wings and rib dinners.

What's your favourite new barbecue joint in Toronto? Give it props in the comments below.