# Favorite BBQ joints, any style, any place **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258 "2008-10-23T21:49:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/21 "2008-10-24T03:37:43Z")
> [@](#): > > When I lived in Houston, it was this place: [The Original Location | Kirby Drive | Goode Co. Barbeque](http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurantBBQKirby.aspx) > > Nothing that I’ve found in NY quite lives up to that one. I’ll second both parts of this. (But with a fixed link) ---
**Author:** ![Zelski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c67d28/32.png) [@Zelski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zelski)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/22 "2008-10-24T04:11:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Any Seattle dopers should know about Dixie’s in Bellevue. It was an automotive garage and the guy converted the front room into a barbecue counter, and it took over. The line would be twenty feet out the door on a good day. The dining room was the mechanics’ break room; trucking posters on the walls and John Lee Hooker playing on the boombox. Go there, tell 'em Root sent you, and you want to meet The Man. I lived in the Seattle area for some time and I’ve been to Dixie’s and even tried The Man. I wouldn’t say I’ve met him, though, I’ve just tried a small amount on one bite. The Man is too much about heat. I always thought that the [Cedar River Smokehouse](http://cedarriversmokehouse.com/) in Renton was the best BBQ I’ve had anywhere and I’ve been to BBQ holy lands such as Texas and Georgia. Cedar River has lots of good selection in smoked meats including at least chicken, turkey, brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs. Three levels of heat in the sauce are available and they don’t slather on extra just before serving, they serve the sauce on the side and let you use as much or as little as you like. I recently moved to Chicago and I am looking for BBQ joints… ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/23 "2008-10-24T04:31:55Z")
Since the sacred food of the gods, Eastern North Carolina 'que has already been ably covered, I will add a west coast spot, the Central Texan Barbecue in Castroville CA. The place is a shrine to Texas, run by a short guy in a cowboy hat who slices up the brisket with a razor sharp knife. I noticed on my first visit that he had short fingers. On my second visit I notice that he continues to have nails, crushing my first hypothesis that he routinely cuts off the tips of his fingers by mistake. Now I theorize that he cuts his fingers off in the middle and casually flips them in a cup of icewater for later reattachment, causing them thereby to shrink from the middle. A friend once asked him for barbecue sauce. He replied- “Barbecue sauce is a desecration of my meat!”. Then he said “Over there on the table”. If you gotta have western 'que, it is very very very good. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/24 "2008-10-24T04:57:50Z")
> **[Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Restaurant & Catering in New York](https://dinosaurbarbque.com/)** > > Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Fresh, homemade, and high-quality aren't just catchwords, they are our foundation. Our menus are rooted in the traditions of southern barbecue and influenced by flavors that give our dishes their own distinctive character. Order... ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/25 "2008-10-24T06:01:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m not a huge fan of either of those. I like spicy foods, but not for barbecue; those are too vinegary for my taste, I guess. I like Tennessee’s out in Natick. > > Any Seattle dopers should know about Dixie’s in Bellevue. It was an automotive garage and the guy converted the front room into a barbecue counter, and it took over. The line would be twenty feet out the door on a good day. The dining room was the mechanics’ break room; trucking posters on the walls and John Lee Hooker playing on the boombox. Go there, tell 'em Root sent you, and you want to meet The Man. > > I’m kidding about the “Root sent me” part, but the rest is true. Of course, I moved away 12 years ago; I hope the place is even still there. Been there and I met the man. I have to tell this story. I was in Atlanta for a 2 week seminar. Every couple of evenings the out of towners would get together for dinner or drinks. Well we decided to do 'que, so we asked on the locals where to go, he said, [The Rib Shack](http://www.fatmattsribshack.com/) So since I was going to be one of the drivers, I said I would look up the address and get directions. So off to the telephone book I go. I look under “The Rib Shack”\* and don’t see a listing, but I do see a listing for “The Chicken Shack” on the correct street. So I write down the address on a piece of paper. No name, mind you just the address. The only thing written on the piece of paper was the address, no name, no anything else. I stop at the concierge desk, and ask for directions to the address on the piece of paper ::: Hands paper to concierge::: The concierge (an elderly African American gentleman) takes one look at just the address and says: “That is the Chicken Shack, you want the Rib Shack it is next door.” :eek: It turns out that Fat Matt owns both. The Chicken Shack does fried chicken and fish, and the Rib shack does smoked meat. Both were excellent. There used to be a couple of restaurants (one by LAX the other over by the Harbor freeway) called Meat and Taters. When I was still a technician I had to drive past the one store to get home. When I was scheduled for class I would invite friends over for BBQ and stop there on the way home. I would go into order and the conversation went something like this: “I have X number of people coming over for some of your BBQ tonight.” “OK, you want ribs?” Sure, you tell me what to get" “You got beer?” “yeah, I got lots of beer.” “OK I will give you hot links because you have beer, if you didn’t have beer I would not give you any hot links.” You gotta love a guy like that. his sauce was without a doubt the best sauce I have ever had. The food smelled so good, I had to put it in the trunk, or I would have gone of a feeding frenzy before I got home. Other than that, my own backyard. Seriously my wife won’t go to any 'Q restaurant because she says mine is so much better. - I found out later it is listed as Fat Matt’s Rib Shack :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/26 "2008-10-24T12:51:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > This was my vote. I love the t-shirts “No Slaw, No Beans, No Potato Salad. Don’t Ask!” That used to be the case, but when the founder died back in the mid-90s (IIRC), his kids quickly added sides to the menu. I was living in Birmingham at the time and it caused a bit of a scandal. The BBQ’s still great (especially the ribs), but the atmosphere’s a bit more upscale. My hometown favorite is [Interstate BBQ](http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/) in Memphis. Fall-off-the-bone ribs. I now live in Northern Virginia and was pleased to see [Willard’s](http://dcbbq.com/) get a mention above. It’s my local favorite by far - I recommend the Burnt Ends sandwich platter. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/27 "2008-10-24T13:46:59Z")
Here in Evansville IN there is a little place called The Hickory Pit Stop. It has been family owned and run since 1950, and they have their own smokehouse on the back of the building. I have NO idea what their secret ingredient in the rub is, but oh my god… they are to DIE for. Served dry with ‘hot and heavy’ sauce on the side (also their own recipe), you can get a pound of ribs LOADED with meat for under $8. In fact, I think I know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow… ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/28 "2008-10-24T14:18:27Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > Arthur Bryant’s in Kansas City. In the ghetto, but worth the drive. > > Calvin Trillin agrees with me. Bryant’s is legendary in KC, and [Gates BBQ](http://www.gatesbbq.com/) is a close second, but my personal favorite is [Oklahoma Joe’s](http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/), which is tucked away in a gas station. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/29 "2008-10-24T14:26:26Z")
I realize it’s commercial BBQ and that the decor is a little hokey, but I just thought I’d share that if you really need a BBQ fix, [Rudy’s](http://rudys.com/) doesn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/30 "2008-10-24T14:30:46Z")
[Sticky Fingers.](http://www.stickyfingersonline.com/) They started out in South Carolina, and have since expanded into other states, including Florida. Ivylad is going to take me up to Atlantic Beach for dinner. Sticky Fingers is the only thing I miss from SC (well, that and the she-crab soup. But mostly it’s Sticky Fingers.) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/31 "2008-10-24T14:46:56Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > [Allen & Sons](http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/jnt7.htm) in Chapel Hill, NC. But first, you have to understand my tastes. It’s for Eastern North Carolina Q. That’s my standard. I can appreciate everything else. Seconded. I have a couple of jars of their sauce in my fridge. My wife found a biker bar here in Charlotte with has pretty good barbecue. [Mac’s Speedshop](http://www.macspeedshop.com/) In Marietta, there’s [Old South BBQ](http://www.oldsouthbbq.com/). Which has dry Georgia Barbecue[sup]\*[/sup] with a good sauce. The Brunswick stew, however is worth driving several miles out of your way. - Georgia, Western NC, and SC barbecue is cooked dry, and the sauce is added later. Eastern NC (Or proper) barbecue the sauce is much thinner and is added to the pig during the cooking process resulting in a moister, more flavorful meat. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/32 "2008-10-24T14:57:46Z")
If you find yourself passing through Texarkana, [Big Jakes](http://www.bigjakesbbq.net/). Empty website, but it does have addresses and phone numbers. “Nobody beats our meat!” I go to other places that advertise the awards they’ve won when I travel. I throw rocks at them as I leave. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/33 "2008-10-24T15:35:40Z")
There was one place in Metairie, LA, while I was in high school. Looked like a barn, something akin to Bob’s Country Bunker in _The Blues Brothers_. Don’t recall the name, though; might’ve been a Damon’s? > [@samclem](#): > > In Northern VA, the closest I can find to what I like is [Willard’s](http://www.dcbbq.com/) near Dulles. Good sides too. I like[King Street Blues](http://www.kingstreetblues.com/); their Crystal City location is near work. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/34 "2008-10-24T15:41:43Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Bryant’s is legendary in KC, and [Gates BBQ](http://www.gatesbbq.com/) is a close second, but my personal favorite is [Oklahoma Joe’s](http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/), which is tucked away in a gas station. I grew up on Bryant’s and Gates (and am sadly running out of my supplies). Oklahomas is really good, but only their pulled pork (which doesn’t really compare to Carolina pulled pork). Bryants wins the sandwich contest, Gates has excellent ribs. But given drothers, I’d choose Jack’s Stack and Zarda’s ribs first. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/35 "2008-10-24T15:47:26Z")
In Washington DC, [Rockland’s](http://www.rocklands.com/menus.asp) is the best. ---
**Author:** ![deball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@deball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deball)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/36 "2008-10-24T15:58:54Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > There was one place in Metairie, LA, while I was in high school. Looked like a barn, something akin to Bob’s Country Bunker in _The Blues Brothers_. Was it Corky’s? That’s a pretty good joint in Metairie. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/37 "2008-10-24T16:15:52Z")
North Main BBQ, Euless, Texas. It’s only open on weekends. You pay the lady at the end of the bar $12 and grab a plate and help yourself. Their brisket is about the same as mine. But, their ribs are the reason to be there. They dry cook full-sized beef and/or pork ribs until the the meat is pulling away from the bone. The dry rub they use has just the right amount of kick to it. The tea is in the 30-gallon trash can with a spigot next to the ice machine. Help yourself. I don’t eat there very often out of consideration for my arteries. I’m sure there are better places, but North Main is a special treat. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/38 "2008-10-24T16:28:11Z")
> [@deball](#): > > Was it Corky’s? Don’t know. Were they in a barnlike structure in the late '80s? ---
**Author:** ![deball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@deball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deball)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/39 "2008-10-24T16:35:31Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Don’t know. Were they in a barnlike structure in the late '80s? Nope, don’t know why I even thought that. I must have been thinking of a different NO place, but not a BBQ one. However, [corky’s](http://www.corkysbarbq.com/) has a pretty great menu and really decent food. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258/40 "2008-10-24T16:45:13Z")
Funny how I can remember exactly where [our favoirte seafood place was](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=521+central+ave,+jefferson,+la&sll=29.960891,-90.171932&sspn=0.00178,0.002604&layer=c&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17&g=521+central+ave,+jefferson,+la&iwloc=addr&cbll=29.960544,-90.171977&panoid=4PZd0My7wITMv6A1jG6XIQ) but not the BBQ. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bbq-joints-any-style-any-place/469258.md?page=3)