I was just browsing this nice article on “Best Barbecue By State”
and wondered to what extent their findings matched up with yours and “authorities” (friends?) near you.
How would you improve their list of preferences, especially in the area nearest to you?
I have yet to try them but Texas Jack’s is supposed to be the best in Northern Virginia. The building was originally occupied by a greasy spoon called Whitey’s, whence the “EAT” sign.
The one listed for Illinois, Smoque, is a good choice for best all-around barbecue. Outside of Chicago, 17th Street Barbecue in Murphysboro is a good choice, as well.
For Chicago-style barbecue (aquarium smoker, typical dishes are rib tips & hot links and spare ribs; very little choice of sides; usually take-out only), I would have said Uncle John’s years ago, but the pitmaster there died a few years back. I haven’t been to any of the offshoots his family runs to see how they are, but Mack (the “Uncle John”) was an excellent pitmaster and I followed him from Barbara Ann’s to Uncle John’s. These days, I go to Lem’s.
I didn’t want to slog through that slide show.
1050 BBQ in Dallas is the best closest to me. They serve up “competition” style BBQ. They have pit masters that tend the fires 24hrs a day (even when the restaurant is closed). Really good stuff. The BBQ sauce is good, but I’ve tasted better. Wish they had a spicy option.
The restaurant was started by the same guy who founded Chili’s restaurant. (Chili’s used to be good before he sold it to Big Corp Inc[sup]tm[/sup])
The best barbecue near me is a roadside seller who only operates during warm weather months (April-September). The guy started out smoking meat as a hobby, catered some relatives’ events, then did phone orders (pick up at his house).
A few years ago he went all in, buying a truck and hiring a couple of employees. Last year they added a second truck that makes wood fired pizzas.
Route 66 BBQ
Eastern NC BBQ is best , made from pork. No need to read the list. Around 10 years ago a local place, Clyde Coopers, brought their BBQ to U2 but at the time they only took cash so they had to round up cash to pay the tab. They just recently started taking credit/debit cards , they opened in 1938.
I would have said “Dinosaur in Baltimore” but they closed, so I guess DCity Smokehouse; District BBQ maybe? I don’t know. There’s a high quantity of consistently mediocre-quality BBQ joints around the area. I’ve been to a few around the area that have opened in the last few years and nothing has really stood out to me as head and shoulders better than anyone else. When you’re here, just go to whichever one is closest to you, I guess.
In the DFW area I like Hard 8.
I’ve been in 1050 a couple times since it opened but they seemed to focus more on atmosphere and decor rather than the food itself. They also ripped off Hard 8 BBQ decor and style which is also a place you go for atmosphere, rather than for high-quality food (IMHO, of course.) I consider 1050 to be an Expense Account place, somewhere you go when you’re on travel or someone else in footing the bill.
For BBQ in my area, Cattleack BBQis the place to go. Wonderful beef and ribs and sauce to die for. It’s only open a couple days a week and you better be in line early as you could be out of luck if they run out of your favorite meat.
I live about a mile from Smoque and it is indeed a wonderful place to get BBQ. Their brisket is the best that I’ve had and if you go to the dentist next door, they’ll give you a gift card for the restaurant.
The other two places that I like are Gale Street Inn and Twin Anchors but I haven’t had either in quite a while. Earl’s BBQ on Austin is ridiculously good as well and I recommend them highly.
Big Ed’s BBQ in Oldbridge, NJ. Great all you can eat ribs and Sometimes all you can eat BBQ Brisket. We don’t go too often as I tend to overeat whenever I go.
Those have good ribs (and are Chicago classics), but they’re not really barbecue (i.e. smoked.) More like baked in the oven and then grilled and slathered in sauce. I’m not trying to split hairs here, I honestly don’t think those would qualify for the barbecue list that was linked to. (All those look like traditional barbecue with smoked meats.)
This. (Expletive Deleted) slideshows. I’ll have to try 1050. Pecan Lodge and Cattleack are the ones that have gotten all of the ink in the Dallas area. The Best Barbecue in Dallas - D Magazine
EDIT: If you really like ‘competition’ Texas BBQ, I recommend going to Jambo’s BBQ Shack in Renton. Renton is a southern suburb of Fort Worth. The food is very consistent, giant smoke rings galore, and delicious. Albeit a touch soulless. And now I see it’s been sold, as I tried to include the hyperlink to its menu. Caveat Emptor. https://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/restaurants/bbq/article216361160.html
For those not wanting to scroll through 40 different slides, here is the URL for the Texas offering. It links to Stanley’s in Tyler. LOL at them being better than Franklin. Or Snows. Or LA Barbecue. Or Kreuz’s sausage. You get the idea.
Trying to find CA’s slide, I went too far and hit Colorado’s. Where they think Rudy’s is the best in the state. Yes, the same Rudy’s as the Texas chain. Who knows, maybe it is? Not having too much faith in the quality of their reviews. Though if they picked Smoque in IL, it proves they can read other critics…
I would have recommended Full Custom Gospel for Texas BBQ reviews, but the guy who wrote there became Texas Monthly’s BBQ editor. Here’s his review of Stanley’s. It’s in his top 50 for Texas BBQ.
I don’t know of a great BBQ place in DC, but there is an excellent one in Edinburg, VA called Beans. They are only open Thursday through Sunday, but they are great. Just down the block is Sal’s a great Italian bistro, btw.
As for local BBQ in Houston, there are a few new ones I haven’t gotten to try. Plus, there’s always Chinese BBQ at places like the Hong Kong Food Market.
The Texas BBQ place in Houston I used to love, and rank up there with Lockhart—Pierson and Company—has closed. So it goes. Gatlin’s is the best I’ve tried in the area. LOL at Goode Company.
The Massachusetts entry is Blackstrap in Winthrop. I seem to remember going there once (probably saw it on a list like this) and not being blown away. There’s a chain here called Tennessee’s that I like, although it’s kinda middle-of-the-road in terms of style and execution. I’m not a huge fan of Blue Ribbon. Other good ones around Boston are Redbones, the Smoke Shop, Sweet Cheeks, and a place called The Porch that I’ve only been to once, so far.
Just outside of Boston I go to Blue Ribbon BBQ but there are a few others that have excellent product. Redbones in Davis Sq is quite good, and has an excellent beer selection so that’s more of an eat in vs the Blue Ribbon take out.
The link says Podnah’s is the best, but there is a food cart called Matt’s that is the current favorite in Portland.
17th St is very good. I stop there whenever I’m in the area. They opened a second restaurant in Marion, but it’s not quite as good.
In Cincinnati Eli’s BBQ is pretty fantastic, but I’ve become a fan of Buck’s. A little less smokey flavor in the BBQ sauce.
I live close to Earl’s and Gale Street’s also in the area but, as far as this board goes, we’re neighbors!
Smoque is my pick, really good and, critically, consistent. I haven’t been to Earl’s but it’s been on my list for a while. The smoked chicken wings sound particularly good. What time of day do you recommend going?
I agree with Puly, Gale and Anchor (never been to that one) are baked and sauced, not barbeque.
For Korean BBQ (really, tabletop grilling), San Soo Kab San. Chinese, Sun Wah.