The BBQ Nerd’s Guide to BBQ Strategy

So you find yourself in an unfamiliar setting. Perhaps it’s a town you’ve never visited. Maybe you are on a road trip. Regardless, you are in the mood for some BBQ. In this day and age, it’s pretty easy to simply Google “bbq near me” and maybe check out the reviews. This might lead you to some pretty sweet joints, but it’s nowhere near the optimal way to plan your BBQ journey.

Personally, I always research the route I’m taking when I plan a road trip. Always keep a few “Top BBQ Lists” in your bookmarked pages. Passing through Atlanta? Perhaps try Fox Bros or B’s Cracklin BBQ depending on your favored style. A little research will go along way in avoiding BBQ regrets. It will also ensure that you have cash if needed, as many local joints don’t take cards.

Once you’ve selected your joint, try and find a menu, and use the reviews from those lists to guide you to their best meats and even their standout sides. You might very well ignore chicken on most menus, but if you are in Alabama, you want to try their very unique smoked chicken with white sauce. Perhaps you love brisket and find yourself in a town that values pork. There may be few joints that even serve beef, and even fewer that serve good brisket.

That’s not to say that every joint you have visit has to be on some crazy list. You might have found a new restaurant with a lot of buzz. Again, the choice is yours, but put a little legwork into your decision, and you won’t regret it. Things to consider- outside of the main BBQ regions, you will often find joints that emulate a specific style. Most of the time, they are easy to identify, and many have their history on their sites. You might want to try stepping out of your usual region here.

One thing even I struggle with is that I’m a fan of Central Texas style, which means I’m into meat and sides, and I’m not massively into sandwiches. However, if you are going to, say,  Joe’s KC BBQ, you would be crazy NOT to try their Z-Man Sandwich.   Some places just have legendary items outside the usual meat plates, and it’s worth trying them. If you find yourself at a joint that has famous brisket tacos, it might do you some good to order one. It’s very likely you’ll only visit once, so you don’t want to miss anything.

It’s best to go with friends and split a whole bunch of food. You can sample more stuff, and spread the cost around. Perhaps find joints with multi-meat pleats and order a few for your group. If possible, try as much of their selection as you can. You might be sorely disappointed in a joint if you only try their brisket, but their ribs could be the best you’ve ever eaten. Also, if you find yourself in a BBQ region, you want to prioritize their specialties. If you are in the Carolinas, for example, try to find a joint with whole hog BBQ. You will certainly regret leaving Kansas City without trying their burnt ends. Traveling to Memphis? You have to some ribs (wet or dry). And of course you are downright sinning if you don’t try some brisket in Texas. If you have the money, I highly recommend trying at least ONE beef rib from an acclaimed joint. Also, if you really want to plan the trip, make sure to consider their specialties. Some joints serve prime rib or other specialty items on a one or two day basis during the week.

I personally have a list of prioritized meats that changes with the region. My current one for Texas is-

1. Brisket 2. Burnt Ends (rarely available in Texas joints. When they are GRAB EM) 3. Beef Rib 4. Pork Steak (also uncommon) 5. Pork Ribs 6. Pulled Pork 7. Chicken 8. Turkey 9. Sausage

So when I plan to go into joint, these are the ones I look for. Sometimes there will be a special item like goat or barbacoa, but I’m usually visiting those placed FOR those items, so they become number 1. For many Texans, my placement of sausage is heresy. It’s part of the Texas Trinity, after all. For me Sausage is usually too heavy to eat too much of. I actually prefer to eat sausage on my BBQ sandwiches. Keeping a flexible list like this can ensure you focused when you go in. It’s always worth adjusting if you hear that a joint simply has THE BEST pulled pork, let’s say. But this a good general guideline to keep. You can also make one for sides if you would like, but again I would simply look to see if they have one or two stand-out sides and just get them.

If you are deadset, however, on the improv method of just Googling a joint, make sure you are looking out for a few things. It’s always best to avoid chains. Some joints have multiple locations, but if you have a Dickey’s in the same town as a local joint, it’s a good bet the latter will provide you with better cue. Make sure the place is also in your budget, as there are some pretty fancy restaurants out there.

Bottom line, if you want to really dig into BBQ, the culture, the food, and the joints, you should put a little thought and effort in. Or at least have friend do it for you. 😉