5 Best BBQ Bites to Try When Visiting NYC

5 Essential New York BBQ Bites

As a lover of barbecue who lives in the New York City metro area, I routinely get asked where to find “the best BBQ in NYC.” Since the pandemic began in 2020, the landscape has changed because restaurants have had to adapt to survive and not all joints made it through to the other side. At the same time, more flexible pop-up operations have thrived and attracted more attention.

While there has been some fluctuation over the years, there are still some essential dishes you need to try if you’re visiting New York City or if you live nearby. Here are five bites you should order in the NYC BBQ scene.

Prepare for greatness if you order the pastrami at Hometown Bar-B-Que. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Hometown Brisket Pastrami
In New York City, pastrami has long been a part of the city’s culinary culture, especially at Jewish delis. But the new king of pastrami in NYC is Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn. This version of the meat is covered with a heavy salt-and-pepper bark, smoked to perfection, and served on rye bread. The pastrami sandwich is only served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so plan ahead. It will fill you up so much that you don’t really need much else. Or order one to share among your friends.

Make sure you order a burger (along with everything else) at Pig Beach NYC. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Pig Beach Double Burger
As Pig Beach in Brooklyn was where I got married, it will always have a special place in my heart. It also has a special place in my stomach because it serves one of the best burgers in NYC, an ultra-competitive burger landscape. The classic double burger is made with brisket short rib patties, white American cheese, secret sauce, and house-made pickles on a Martin’s potato bun. I dare you to eat two. 

Stop by Bark Barbecue's many pop-ups around NYC and order the chicharron. (Photo by Bark Barbecue)

Bark Barbecue Chicharrón
Nearly every item I’ve tried from the stellar pop-up operation Bark Barbecue has knocked my socks off, especially the Central Texas-style brisket. Bark Barbecue was one of the top new pop-ups in NYC in 2021, and I would not be surprised to see a popular restaurant in its future. While I’ll always recommend the brisket and ribs, the item you need to add to your platter is the chicharrón. For the uninitiated, this version of the dish features pork belly seasoned with Dominican spices, smoked for four hours, and then lightly fried to add crispiness.

The BBQ tacos from Carlito’s are some of the best you’ll find in NYC. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Carlito’s BBQ Tacos
Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, with locations and pop-ups in New York and New Jersey, has always impressed me for both its high-quality smoked meats and base ingredients. The tacos are out of this world, made with fresh corn tortillas and all the fixings a good taco needs. All of the flavors come together perfectly. If you’re ever near Carlito’s in either state, you must try it.

These smoked and fried wings from Blue Smoke are so dang delicious. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Blue Smoke Alabama White Wings
While NYC BBQ institution Blue Smoke closed its flagship location in late 2020, it has reinvented itself at its newer Battery Park City location. One item that has lived on its menu for some time is the restaurant’s Alabama White Wings. These wings are smoked, lightly fried, and then tossed in tangy Alabama White Sauce. What more can you ask for?

Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet

—Sauce King NYC, a virtual event from Food Karma Projects, is back for its third year. Using judges, Sauce King NYC determines the best barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades, and more from around the country. The competition is now accepting shelf-stable sauce and condiment submissions through August 20th for the 2022 competition. Enter your best sauce in the competition today!—

—The sisters behind Jones BBQ announced they’ll be selling their namesake restaurant soon.—

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Mary and Deborah Jones of Jones BBQ in Kansas City have announced they are putting their restaurant up for sale. The sisters, who recently catapulted to fame with appearances on Netflix’s Queer Eye and the Steve Harvey Show, are not including their famous sauce (which is sold nationally) in the sale. According to their post on Instagram, the restaurant “will not close as they explore the sale and all of the team members remain employed with the opportunity to transition under new ownership at whatever date that happens.” READ MORE.

Last week, Chris Magallanes, Mark Montemayor, and Ernie Morales of Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth broke the Guinness World Record for "Longest Barbecue Marathon (Team)." The trio cooked for 40 hours, 49 minutes, and 17 seconds in an event organized by Texas Monthly and Travel Texas, the official Texas tourism association. During the marathon, 450 pounds of burger, 300 pounds of taplitas and fajitas, and 100 pounds of onions and peppers were cooked and donated to charity. READ MORE.

Junior Urias opened Up In Smoke BBQ in Midland, Texas, in 2018, but COVID-19 and issues in the oil and gas industry shuttered the restaurant in 2020. This year, Urias has re-opened the restaurant in Early, Texas. Daniel Vaughn had the chance to visit both incarnations of Up In Smoke and wrote a comparison in Texas Monthly. READ MORE.

'He is Southern Illinois': Friends remember Murphysboro barbecue legend Mike Mills of 17th St Barbecue in The Southern. READ MORE.

ADDITIONAL READS

Our friends at Barbecue Bros shared the unfortunate news of the closure of Richard's Bar-B-Q and Lexington Style Trimmings, two classic Piedmont barbecue restaurants.

Thanks to inflation, you’ll be seeing a lot more burgers on barbecue menus in the Houston area, according to the Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid.

Axios Austin’s Asher Price declared highly touted barbecue trailer Distant Relatives is Austin’s prettiest barbecue.

Los Angeles barbecue hotspot Slab Barbecue has announced an endorsement deal with up-and-coming USC football commit Malachi Nelson.

If you want to keep sustainability in mind, Thrillist offers tips for hosting an eco-conscious BBQ.

—Jeremy Yoder and Bradley Robinson find out whether steak is better seared or reverse seared.—

WATCH

Sear vs. Reverse Sear with Bradley Robinson of Chuds BBQ — Mad Scientist BBQ

In this video, Jeremy Yoder of Mad Scientist BBQ is in Utah with Camp Chef and is joined by Bradley Robinson of Chuds BBQ. They use some of Camp Chef’s newest equipment on the market to cook some incredibly juicy steaks, putting the traditional sear technique up against reverse sear. Check out this video to find out which one turns out better. WATCH HERE.
 

LISTEN

Brisket Tips from Brad Colter and Brie Via of Black Magic BBQ — BBQ Radio Network

Brad Colter and Brie Via finally found their sweet spot to win their first-ever BBQ Grand Championship. This time the stakes were the highest they’ve ever been, with a $25,000 first place purse and a one-year licensing contract with royalties for a BBQ restaurant at the new Kansas City International Airport currently under construction. The 8,000-square-foot competition BBQ-themed restaurant is set to open with the new airport in March of 2023. Brad and Brie’s recipes will be the feature on the menu. Brad tells what went down, and Brie shares her path to making great brisket. Dave and Andy also share their approach to making barbecue sauce. LISTEN HERE.

READ

Grill Seeker: Fire, Smoke, and Flavor Paperback — Matthew Eads

Grillseeker Matthew Eads makes gourmet grilling look easy on TV cooking segments across the country, and with his latest book, he shows you how to do it in your own backyard―complete with the eye-popping photos that made this Marine a grilling legend. These recipes have been tested to provide the biggest “WOW'' payoffs for grilling meats, veggies, and even desserts. See how easy it is to make your own rubs and sauces. Most importantly, learn the pros and cons of grilling techniques: direct, indirect, and raised direct cooking; smoking; reverse sear; sear and slide; two-zone cooking; and more. Plus, you’ll get the Grillseeker’s unbiased recommendations for essential grilling equipment and how to use it. ORDER HERE.

—These tender and juicy beef ribs served over noodles are an easy way to incorporate Asian flavors into your barbecue. (Photo via Melissa Cookston)—

Sticky Smoked Dinosaur Ribs with Udon

By Melissa Cookston

This recipe for Sticky Smoked Dinosaur Ribs from Melissa Cookston is not your typical barbecue recipe. She makes a curry-based rub for the beef chuck ribs then smokes them over cherry wood. Wrapping the ribs in foil with an Asian marinade will help the meat become tender and juicy. The last step includes adding a sticky glaze to the ribs and serving over udon noodles. You’ll definitely want to give this recipe a try.

Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.

lot of big barbecue events are happening in 2022. Eat up!—

August 4-7, 2022: Windy City Smokeout — Chicago, Illinois
Get ready for beer, BBQ, and country, because the Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival is returning to Chicago soon. The Windy City Smokeout is one of the largest barbecue festivals in the U.S., with this year’s edition bringing a stunningly good lineup together of veterans and newcomers. Read our 2019 Windy City Smokeout recap to learn about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.

September 2-4, 2022: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort, US Foods and The Pilot, is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters from across North Carolina in one of the most picturesque settings in the entire state. The three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst, offers a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. MORE INFO HERE.

September 10, 2022: Pig Island NYC — Staten Island, New York
Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 13th year on September 10, 2022, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink, from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes and event-goers reap the benefits. Expect a ton of amazing eats and a great place to picnic with friends and family for the day. BUY TICKETS HERE.

September 10, 2022: Troubadour Festival — Tyler, Texas
Troubadour Festival is a multi-location Texas BBQ & Music experiential festival that pays homage to the traveling songwriter and the worldwide popularity of the Texas barbecue scene. The September 10 edition of the fest takes place in Downtown Tyler, Texas, for the first Troubadour Festival happening in East Texas. Tyler's inaugural Troubadour Festival will bring together more than 40 of the most celebrated barbecue joints from across Texas, and you’ll be able to scarf all that down while listening to some of the premier names in country music. MORE INFO HERE.

Sept 28 - Oct 2, 2022: American Royal World Series of Barbecue — Kansas City, Kansas
The American Royal World Series of barbecue is the largest BBQ competition in the country. On top of a massive KCBS competition with roughly 500 teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full lineup of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our 2021 recap of the event to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.

October 14-15, 2022 — The Jack — Lynchburg, Tennessee
It's rare that whiskey-making takes a backseat to much of anything in Lynchburg, Tennessee. But “The Jack,” one of the top KCBS competitions annually, is an exception. For one weekend in October, barbecue competitors from around the world converge to wield their grilling and smoking expertise. On top of the competition, other events are held to provide a lively and fun atmosphere for families and friends. MORE INFO HERE.

November 11-13, 2022: KCBS World Invitational — Gadsden, Alabama
The Kansas City Barbeque Society’s biggest event for the rest of the year is the fourth annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition. The event will bring together top champion pitmasters to compete for the title of “KCBS World Champion.” This event will feature three full days of contests and events. There will be both an open contest and a Master Series contest. Plus, backyard teams will be eligible to compete in the open against Master Series teams without impacting their Backyard status. MORE INFO HERE.

November 18-20, 2022: Jacksonville BBQ Fest — Jacksonville, Florida
During the past few years, Florida has become an even bigger attraction for barbecue restaurants and events. The Jacksonville BBQ Fest, held at TIAA Bank Field (where the Jaguars play), is one event that brings barbecue fans together to get a taste of great local and national barbecue bites. On top of the top-notch food, there’s also live music and great drinks to enjoy. To get a taste of this event, be sure to read Ed Reilly’s recap of the Denver BBQ Festival, which is hosted by the same organizers. MORE INFO HERE.

November 19, 2022: Holy Smokes BBQ Festival — Charleston, South Carolina
Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan of Home Team BBQ, Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine, and Robert Moss, the Contributing BBQ Editor for Southern Living, have invited the leaders of the barbecue community from around the country to come together in Charleston on November 19th, 2022 at Riverfront Park. With live music playing on stage against the backdrop of the Cooper River, guests will have a unique opportunity to sample a range of barbecue styles from the group of renowned pitmasters. Expect to taste slow-smoked whole hog, pork and beef ribs, Texas-style brisket, smoked sausage, BBQ tacos, and much, much more. MORE INFO HERE.

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