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EDITED BY
AMY ELISA KEITH

EBONY READERS FAVORITE CUE JOINTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

By AMY ELISA KEITH

Ribs, links, brisket and

sides, oh my! Check out
all the mouthwatering
options inside.
P h o t o g r a p h b y W YAT T M c S PA D D E N

JULY 2014

/ V I S I T E B O N Y. C O M

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HEN IT COMES TO FALL-OFF-THE-BONE BARBECUE,

there is no one way to do it. Dry rubs reign supreme in Memphis (and whole-smoked hogs are a Tennessee staple), while
thick, sweet sauce ensures that Kansas City ribs come with a
side of wet wipes. No matter what style you preferor what city
youre inthere is no question that barbecue is an art. After all,
anything marinated low and slow for hours on end is nothing
short of culinary artistry. We asked EBONY readers to vote on
their favorite holy grails of hog. Grab a bib, and bring a huge appetite; here are the top 12 barbecue restaurants in the United States.

HELENS BAR-B-Q

JUST QIN BARBECUE

PITMASTER:
HELEN TURNER

PITMASTER: .Matthew Cuff..

OPEN SINCE: 2011
MUST-EAT DISHES: Pulled pork sandwich, St.

Brownsville, Tenn.
The Southern
Pitmistress

OPEN SINCE:
1996
MUST-EAT DISHES:

Folks come for

everything: pulled
pork, ribs, barbecue
bologna. I sell a lot of
barbecue bologna,
says Turner. It's a
Tennessee specialty.

FULL MOON BAR-B-QUE

Birmingham, Ala.
The Ultimate Smokehouse

PITMASTERS: David and Joe

Maluff
OPEN SINCE: 1997
MUST-EAT DISHES: Hickory-

smoked ribs and chow-chow

CUE MOTTO: Best Little Pork

House in Alabama
STANDOUT : With nine locations
throughout the Yellowhammer
state, Full Moon specializes in
Boston butts, spareribs, chicken,

sausage and Black Angus brisket

cooked on a hickory wood-filled pit
and served with its award-winning
sauce. All meat is served with Full
Moons famous chow-chow, named
by the state's tourism board as one
of the 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die. The spicy,
sweet relish is a source of intense
competition at county fairs.
fullmoonbbq.com

CAPTAIN CURTS BARBEQUE SHAZZAM

Chicago, Ill.
The Saucy Spot

CUE MOTTO:

People just love it.

STANDOUT:

One of the few rib

joints in America run
solely by a woman,
Turner wakes up
early to get her slabs
on the grill. After her
husband starts the fire
at 6 a.m., he heads
to a separate job and
Turner helms all
cooking, serving and
selling until close at
7 p.m. From stacking
the hickory to
hoisting hog, I do
it all myself.
1016 N. Washington
Ave. Brownsville, Tenn.
731.779.3255

PITMASTERS: Curtis and Hilda Briggs, owners

OPEN SINCE: 1981
MUST-EAT DISHES: Rib tips and wings
CUE MOTTO: The Boss of Sauce!
STANDOUT : For 33 years, Captain Curt's has served up barbecue to

salivate over, thanks a multitude of innovative, flavorful sauces, says Curtis

Briggs. Meats are prepared with a secret blend of seasonings, then rotated
on two grills and slathered with one of his signature sauces. The irresistible
barbecue and weekly live music will keep you coming back.
8206 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, Ill.; captaincurtsbbqchicago.com

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V I S I T E B O N Y. C O M / J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Inside
Smoque's nofrills, all-flavor
restaurant.

Newtown, Ohio
The Heavenly Hog

Louis-style ribs and vinegar-based slaw

CUE MOTTO: We glorify and honor God by
providing authentic, well-prepared food.
STANDOUT: This Christian business started
as a cue competition team, then became a food
truck in 2010. Now the brick-and-mortar restaurant boasts dishes named for biblical characters
and Southern-style smoked meats that are the
answer to every foodies prayers. If you love char,
the burnt end sandwiches cant be beat.
6901 Valley Ave., Newtown, Ohio
justqin.com

SMOQUE BBQ
Chicago, Ill.
The Meat Master
PITMASTER: Barry Sorkin
OPEN SINCE: 2006
MUST-EAT DISHES: Texas-style brisket
CUE MOTTO: Use high-quality ingredients,

and don't take any shortcuts.

STANDOUT: Baby backs rule at this Chi-town
neighborhood spot where spicy rub, wood smoke
and a sweet sauce are the holy trinity. Bring your
own beer to go along with the Boston butts or
brisket, smoked over apple and oak for up to 14
hours, and a to-die-for macaroni and cheese.
Got a sweet tooth? Grab a fork for a slice of
homemade peach cobbler; la mode is a must!
3800 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, Ill.
smoquebbq.com

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B SIDE BBQ

Oakland, Calif.
The West Coast Pioneer
PITMASTER: Tanya Holland
OPEN SINCE: 2011
MUST-EAT DISHES: Dark and stormy St.

Louis ribs; smoked, brown sugar-rubbed brisket;

and baked beans with bacon and ham hocks
CUE MOTTO: This isnt your dads, granddads or brothers barbecue. This isnt Texas,
Kansas City or North Carolina barbecue. This is
Oakland barbecue.
STANDOUT : Chef Tanya dishes up some of
the best barbecue west of Memphis in this small
smokehouse positioned in the center of the gritty
side of Oakland. Inspired by the dark and stormy
cocktail, Holland tweaked the recipe by adding a
mixture of stout, brown sugar and real ginger to
slather on her famous sticky slabs. Cooked for five
hours over hickory, the final product will ensure
that meat stays on your mind for days to come.
3303 San Pablo Ave., Oakland, Calif.
bsidebbq.com

PONDEROSA BBQ
Des Moines, Iowa
The Baron of BBQ
PITMASTER: Big Moe Cason
OPEN SINCE: 2006
MUST-EAT DISHES: Pork shoulder, turkey

legs and brisket

CUE MOTTO: Where the sauce meats your

soul
STANDOUT : As one of the judges on the

Destination America channels BBQ Pitmasters,

.Big Moe Cason. knows a thing or two about
mouthwatering meat. When he is not on television or competing on the barbecue circuit, the
Navy vet can be found in his signature overalls
helming the grill of Ponderosa Barbecue, his traveling team that hits festivals and fairs across the
country. Fans stand in line for hours at his food
truck to taste his secret-ingredient sauces and
rubs and experience his Southern charm. Im
down-to-earth and love to please folks with my
cue, he says.
Ponderosabbq.com

FAMOUS DAVES
Nationwide
The Champion
Chain
PITMASTER:
CHARLIE
TORGERSON
OPEN SINCE:
1994
MUST-EAT DISHES:

Burnt ends of beef

brisket, Georgia
chopped pork and
Sweetwater catfish
CUE MOTTO:

May you always

be surrounded by
good friends and
great BBQ! Dave
Anderson, founder of
Famous Daves
STANDOUT:

At its 53 U.S.
locations and 140
franchises, Famous
Daves ribs smoke
over hickory logs
and are finished on
the grill to give them
a smoky flavor with
char-grilled sweetness.
Chicken is finished
off with Rich and
Sassy sauce.
famousdaves.com

PITMASTER: Kevin Bludso

OPEN SINCE: 2008
MUST-EAT DISHES: Beef and

pork ribs, homemade chicken links

and greens
CUE MOTTO: A lil taste of
Texas.
STANDOUT: Kevin Bludso has
brought the best of Texas barbecue
to Compton, where craving crowds
are willing to battle traffic for a party
tray of rib tips, links, beans, ribs

and chicken that the entire family

will enjoy. Although he has a trendy
Los Angeles eatery where hipsters
flock, real diehards head to Dr. Dre
and Kendrick Lamars hometown
for the authentic cue and collards.
Plus, during the holidays, lines are
around the block to get fried and
smoked turkeys.
811 S. Long Beach Blvd., Compton,
Calif.
bludsosbbq.com

CHARLIE VERGOS RENDEZVOUS

Memphis, Tenn.
The Underground Gem

PITMASTERS:
WES HANSEN AND
JUSTIN ERICKSON

PITMASTER: Nick Vergos

OPEN SINCE: 1948
MUST-EAT DISHES: Baby-back ribs
CUE MOTTO: Not since Adam has a rib been this famous.
STANDOUT: Head down an alley, then descend a flight of stairs to sample

Phoenix, Ariz.
The Perfect
Plate

OPEN SINCE:
2009
MUST-EAT DISHES:

Baby back ribs and

pulled pork
CUE MOTTO:

STANDOUT:

Erickson and Hansen

went from selling pork
shoulders at farmers
markets to a five-table
restaurant to this
large warehouse, the
ultimate pork palace.
Monthly smoked
prime rib nights are
not to be missed.
1515 W. Deer Valley
Rd., Phoenix, Ariz.
porkonafork.com
V I S I T E B O N Y. C O M / J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Compton, Calif.
SoCals Finest

PORK ON A FORK

We make competition-style BBQ

real fast.

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BLUDSOS BBQ

some of the best Memphis barbecue broiled over a bed of charcoal. Tender,
juicy and falling off the bone, the dry-rubbed ribs are offered with sauce. Skip
it if youre looking for an authentic experience. Tons of tourists flock to this
time-honored restaurant filled with the irresistible smell of pork and boasting
a bevy of treasured knickknacks on its walls.
52 S. 2nd St., Memphis, Tenn; hogsfly.com

GATLINS BBQ

Houston, Texas
The Family-Owned Favorite
PITMASTER: Greg Gatlin
OPEN SINCE: 2010
MUST-EAT DISHES: Beef bris-

ket, dirty rice, homemade spicy

sausages and peach cobbler
CUE MOTTO: We crank out oldschool Texas barbecue.
STANDOUT: Having racked up
some of Houstons top cue accolades, Gatlins prides itself on de-

livering the highest-quality dishes.

Those with big appetites can order
a gallon of lemonade to wash down
moist, lean brisket and baked potatoes loaded with smoky meats. If
you order ribs, be sure to ask for the
special raspberry-chipotle sauce
for a sweet and spicy delight.
1221 W. 19th St., Houston, Texas
gatlinsbbq.com