Three underrated BBQ joints you need to know (plus top BBQ news and events)
As I’ve traveled around the country the past few years trying the best barbecue joints, only a few have ever blown me away. Among the places I’ve been to that were amazing, most I had heard of beforehand or had received glowing reviews. For example, I was not surprised my meal a year ago at Franklin Barbecue in Austin was outstanding. Its reputation preceded it.
But there have been a few joints over the years that genuinely shocked me by being outstanding without me knowing much about them beforehand. These highly underrated joints are rare but exciting — it feels like stumbling upon a gemstone at the beach.
Here are three joints I’ve had the pleasure of eating at the past few years that not enough people know.
Jazzy B’s - Lee’s Summit, Missouri
To be honest, I’d never heard of Jazzy B’s Diner until my Smoke Sheet co-founder Ryan mentioned he loved the Kansas City-area BBQ joint. Owner and pitmaster Brandon Simpson opened this location in April 2016 after running a successful food truck for six years. He still has the truck for special occasions but spends most of his time making the restaurant and its menu tasty and diverse.
I stopped by this past December and was floored by the food, all of which was great. I tried the burnt ends, pork ribs, sausage, brisket tacos, slaw, cheesy corn, beans, and fries. I will happily return to try more items whenever I get a chance.
John Brown Smokehouse - Queens, New York
As I’ve been writing and photographing barbecue in New York and the Northeast for years, John Brown Smokehouse in the Long Island City neighborhood of New York City is not new or underrated to me. But as I’ve traveled around the country, I regularly mention John Brown as one of my top picks in all of NYC, but almost no one has ever heard of it.
Owner and pitmaster John Bowen’s focus for the past few years has been to simply make the food and experience at his restaurant the best it can be. He’s also working on opening a second barbecue restaurant in Queens. If you go, be sure to try the best-in-class burnt ends (see above), pulled pork, pork belly, cornbread, and wings.
Payne’s Bar-B-Q - Memphis, Tennessee
During our trip to Memphis last fall, Ryan and I tried more than 10 joints in the Memphis area. One of the best visits we had was to Payne’s Bar-B-Que, which is located in an old gas station and was not really on our radar before the trip. This may be because it’s a little off the beaten path for tourists or because it’s a no-frills establishment that’s focused purely on making good food. In fact, they run their 47-year-old pit 24 hours a day to ensure their meats are well smoked.
If you go, be sure to try the pulled pork sandwich (see above) and smoked sausage, which are both covered in mustard-based slaw that adds even more flavor and texture to already very good meat.
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These three joints barely scratch the surface of underrated joints around the U.S. Let us know which joints you are passionate about that most people don’t know, so we can be sure to stop by during our travels around the U.S.
Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Rick Schmidt, the former owner of Texas’ Kreuz Market, passed away last week.
Texas barbecue icon Rick Schmidt, the former owner of Kreuz Market, passed away last week at the age of 73. Schmidt made Kreuz famous on the strength of its beef sausage, pork chops and beef shoulder clod. “So long, Dad. We’ll keep the table reserved for you and Evelyn to watch music on Sundays,” his son Keith Schmidt posted on Facebook, referencing his stepmother, Evelyn Schmidt, who died last year.
The Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid writes about the history and evolution of burnt ends, of which you can find all over Kansas City but rarely see them as a stand-alone option on menus in Texas.
Lillie’s Q, a popular Chicago barbecue restaurant that opened nine years ago, has closed temporarily with plans to move in a “new direction,” according to Eater Chicago.
Chefs Andrew Elliott and Jimmy Ellis opened their new barbecue restaurant The Inked Pig in Gainesville, Georgia this past weekend. The duo is hoping to bring some new ideas to Southern barbecue, including with its staple menu items of barbacoa brisket and sweet tea smoked chicken.
Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn writes that Euless-based Green’s Texas Bar-B-Que serves up a unique “brisket biscuit,” a deep-fried roll filled with juicy, lean brisket that you likely won’t find anywhere else.
RC’s NYC Pizza in Houston is collaborating with Kingwood-based Texas Q on new barbecue pizzas, including a pizza topped with brisket slices smothered in Texas Q’s sauce. The collab will be officially be available in all three RC’s locations on March 14.
Chuck Blount of the San Antonio Express-News bought 10 store-bought sauces like ketchup and soy sauce and smoked them in a smoker, to see how smoke would transform. The results may surprise you.
Our State Magazine has profiled the 26 most essential North Carolina barbecue joints, covering Western, Central, and Eastern spots you should try.
Barbecue chains have faced a tough time going national. Despite that, City Barbeque (also called City BBQ) is growing with 42 locations nationally and its revenue in 2017 spiked 32%, according to Forbes.
Maxon’s Blue Country Barbecue food trailer is ready to settle down in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with a permanent takeout location following food truck success.
A new barbecue and music festival called the Bandito Food & Music Festival is scheduled for June 22 in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
StyleBlueprint Birmingham writes about three hot and new barbecue joints in Birmingham, Alabama, including Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, and Mark’s Joint Backyard BBQ.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Watch: Hugh Mangum - Kevin’s BBQ Joints
Kevin Kelly chats with Hugh Mangum from Mighty Quinn's BBQ in New York. They chat about Hugh’s early days in music, how he made the transition to the culinary world, the genesis of Mighty Quinn's, and more. He opens up about struggles, both financially and mentally, as well as the successes. Watch it here.
Listen: Evan LeRoy on why it’s better to be different than the best - Restaurant Unstoppable
In this episode of Restaurant Unstoppable, Evan LeRoy of Austin’s LeRoy and Lewis talks about why he transitioned from writing about food to cooking food and much more. LeRoy has traveled as far as Russia and Australia to train and teach his skills. In 2017, he and business partner, Sawyer Lewis, opened Leroy and Lewis and was quickly identified as one of the best BBQ options in Austin. Listen to it here.
Read: Sous Vide BBQ: Delicious Recipes and Precision Techniques that Guarantee Smoky, Fall-Off-The-Bone BBQ Every Time - by Greg Mrvich
Packed with professional tips, helpful photos and step-by-step tutorials, this book shows how to use your sous vide’s precision temperature control to cook moist, flavorful meats every time. Author Greg Mrvich reveals his proven techniques and secret tricks for juicy, tender meat. With options for finishing outside in your smoker or on the grill, the book’s 50 recipes cover everything from backyard classics to gourmet creations. Order it here.
February 21-23: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Bar-B-Que Contest - Houston, Texas
This weekend, more than 250 competition teams, led by barbecue aficionados, will compete in the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest at this even. While most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can enjoy several public venues, including The Garden, Rockin' Bar-B-Que Saloon, and the Chuck Wagon. Activities include live music, rides, games, and more and visitors will receive a complimentary sliced brisket plate with chips and beans. More info here.
February 23: Rock The Block - Charleston, South Carolina
The second annual Rock The Block BBQ party is hosted by Home Team BBQ and will raise money for Hogs for the Cause, a non-profit that helps alleviate the emotional and financial strain experienced by children and their families during the fight against pediatric cancer. Guests will enjoy a full day of barbecue, brews, live entertainment, and more, all for a good cause. Fox Bros. Bar & Bar-B-Q, Taqueria del Sol, and Sam Jones BBQ will be joining in the festivities. More info here.
March 6-10: Charleston Food and Wine Festival - Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Wine + Food infuses homegrown flavor with top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans, and food enthusiasts from around the globe for a five-day event that spans the first full weekend each March. More info here.
March 18-19: Business of Barbecue at 17th Street BBQ - Murphysboro, Illinois
Business of Barbecue is a two-day seminar that combines cooking barbecue for a restaurant or catering operation with classroom seminars discussing branding, marketing, PR, vending, and restaurant financials. Participants will prep and cook ribs, chicken, brisket, and pork with an emphasis on holding and re-therming techniques. This class is filled with information that will benefit anyone from a novice to an experienced operator. More info here.
March 29-30: Hogs for the Cause - New Orleans, Louisiana
Hogs for the Cause returns as the largest, tastiest BBQ festival in New Orleans. The city welcomes 85 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories: Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite, and Fundraising Champion. The barbecue festival is a two-day event full of music, local beer, and fundraising. More info here.
April 3-6: National Barbecue & Grilling Association Annual Conference - Kansas City, Missouri
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) Annual Conference will be held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Whether you are a product owner, run a restaurant, sell, buy or simply enjoy BBQ, there are boundless opportunities to network, learn, and grow at the conference. Events include bus tours, education sessions, and the BBQ bash, with presentations, demonstrations, and cookoffs. More info here.
April 14: Houston BBQ Festival - Humble, Texas
The 7th Annual Houston BBQ Festival will take place on Sunday, April 14th from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Humble Civic Center Arena Complex. The festival will feature Houston’s best barbecue joints all in one place, including Corkscrew BBQ, Feges BBQ, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Killen's Barbecue, Pinkerton's Barbecue, Roegels Barbecue Co., Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue, Victorian's Barbecue, and more. Tickets include entry into the event and unlimited sample portions from each participating barbecue joint. More info here.
April 26-28: Austin Food and Wine Festival - Austin, Texas
The Austin Food + Wine Festival returns in April to spoil your palate with a handful of global and nationally renowned talent. This 3-day weekend in the culinary capital is the epitome of high spirits, with a packed schedule of hands-on grilling demos, up-close tastings with top chefs and sommeliers, and more interactive demos and panels. More info here.
May 4: Red Dirt BBQ Festival - Tyler, Texas
For five years, the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival has been one of the most unique food and music experiences in Texas. The sixth annual event returns to the brick streets of downtown Tyler, Texas. Tickets are sold out at present. More info here.
Wagyu Tri Tip on the Weber Kettle
Rus Jones of the Smoky Ribs BBQ YouTube channel prepares some medium rare 21-day-dry-aged Wagyu Tri Tip on the Weber Kettle Grill. This is a great recipe you can prepare year-round, as long as you can find some high-quality Wagyu Tri Tip steak. View the video recipe here.
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