About Legends Barbecue
Great Tasting, Fall-Off-the-Bone BBQ
Doesn’t Just Happen
Great Tasting,
Fall-Off-the-Bone BBQ
Doesn’t Just Happen
Thirty Years of Good Times, and the Best is Yet to Come
Thirty Years of Good Times,
and the Best is Yet to Come
Legends has been a cornerstone of Portsmouth’s Hanover Street since 1994, when brothers James and Randy Perin opened their doors and set out to create something truly special for the Seacoast community. More than three decades later, Legends is still going strong — and now it’s bringing something new to the table: authentic, Slow-Smoked Southern Barbecue.
Before the smokers, there were the tables. Legends was built around billiards — a place where downtown Portsmouth could shoot pool, catch a game, and stay late with friends. That never changed. Today you’ll still find 12 professional-grade, 9-foot billiard tables and four dartboards under our roof, along with 36 beers on tap and the same laid-back atmosphere that’s kept people walking through our doors since the beginning.
Portsmouth has changed a lot since 1994. Restaurants have come and gone, and downtown has grown into one of New England’s favorite dining destinations. Through all of it, Legends has been right here on Hanover Street.
A Dream a Decade in the Making
Great barbecue doesn’t happen overnight — and ours is no exception. Owner James Perin and Chef Alex Mangos spent nearly ten years dreaming up what Legends BBQ could be, driven by a simple observation: Portsmouth deserved world-class barbecue. To make that dream a reality, Chef Mangos traveled to Houston, Texas, to train under renowned pitmaster Ritchey Robin, soaking up the techniques and traditions of true Southern BBQ culture. When he came back north, he came back ready.
To give Chef Mangos the space to do what he does best, Legends completed a full kitchen expansion — nearly tripling the size of the original kitchen. Since then, Mangos and his crew have been perfecting every recipe, every smoke time, and every sauce until they got it just right.
A Dream a Decade in the Making
Great barbecue doesn’t happen overnight — and ours is no exception. Owner James Perin and Chef Alex Mangos spent nearly ten years dreaming up what Legends BBQ could be, driven by a simple observation: Portsmouth deserved world-class barbecue. To make that dream a reality, Chef Mangos traveled to Houston, Texas, to train under renowned pitmaster Ritchey Robin, soaking up the techniques and traditions of true Southern BBQ culture. When he came back north, he came back ready.
To give Chef Mangos the space to do what he does best, Legends completed a full kitchen expansion — nearly tripling the size of the original kitchen. Since then, Mangos and his crew have been perfecting every recipe, every smoke time, and every sauce until they got it just right.
The Work You Never See
The Food
The result? A lineup of extraordinary barbecue dishes that you simply won’t find anywhere else on the Seacoast. We’re talking signature brisket with a perfect bark and smoke ring, fall-off-the-bone ribs, jalapeño hog shots, pulled pork macaroni and cheese, handmade empanadas, and a collection of in-house barbecue sauces crafted from scratch. Every dish is slow-smoked with care and served with the kind of flavor that keeps people coming back.
Texas Technique, Portsmouth Roots
More Than a Restaurant
What makes Legends truly unique is everything that surrounds the food. With 36 beer taps, a stunning front bar, a full billiards room, and dartboards, this is a place where everyone feels at home — whether you’re a die-hard BBQ fan, a pool enthusiast, or just someone looking for a great night out in Portsmouth. Order a round, rack up a game, and share a platter of brisket at the same table. That’s exactly what makes it special.
New to Legends barbecue? Start with Thursday Rib Night — ribs fresh off the smoker at a price that makes trying us easy. Come for the ribs, stay for a game of pool.
Come Taste the Legend
Come Taste the Legend