I have hesitated to post this for the small fact that it is not complete. But a recent BBQ post, and the fact that my 'Q partner left twon for a few months, here goes. This is an ongoing search for that certain group of top notched BBQ in the LA area. The basic criteria is simple. BBQ joint¹s that just serve BBQ, not some place that tries to be hip by calling itself a BBQ house like RJ¹s or Royce¹s only to find Caesar salad on the menu, just BBQ. (I have made a couple of slight exceptions) The comments are for the good and bad Please read over the comments and if you would like to add your own, or help me discover other benchmark BBQ in the basin, send your email to me at: [email removed] The below reviews are in alphabetical order. 4J¹s 444 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, CA 310-396-7675 Eat-in It is a bit inauspicious that 4J¹s comes first. I tried this place once when it opened about three years ago, and I tried it again while preparing this list. They just don¹t make the grade. The corner shop location in the heart of hellville, Lincoln blvd is a nice enough throw back to a real southern BBQ joint. Small, hot with a b&w TV going in the back tuned to some unknown station. And the people are very friendly but as you can tell I am trying my best not to deliver the bad news. The meats just do not taste smokey at all and everything from the beans to the corn bread lacks pizzaz. The sauce is of the thin-vinegary Memphis style which I do say is much preferred over the thick-sweet gooey stuff, but even the sauce has no real distinct flavor. If you are in the Venice area and MUST have BBQ, you will get a more authentic feeling from 4J¹s, but I hate to say that you will get better food at Benny¹s. Benny's BBQ 4077 Lincoln Bl Marina Del Rey, CA 310-821-6939 Open 7 days Eat-in Benny¹s is considered by many to be top Westseide BBQ, but I must say I felt it was kind of ³out of favour². There is a bit of a tired feeling over at Benny¹s, not a tired Souterhn, but a tired like nobody goes there. Some of the zing is gone. The chow is pretty good, the meat is that kind of ³cooked until way done² category of BBQ. Dry and stringy, yet somehow still moist and chewy at the core. THis may be the most distinct aspect of Benny¹s. The sauce is what I would refer to as ³crowd pleasing BBQ,² little sweet, little hot, little vinegary and not a lot of bottom end. Sides are very bland--but that is not all that unusual. The links are quite interesting. So dark and mealy that I swear there have wood shavings in them. A grindy fiercesome black death of a sausage, your either gonna love it or hate it. I was not surprised to find Benny¹s as one of the four BBQ joints listed in LA¹s Zagat guide. It is pretty safe fair. Bones Bar-B-Q Shack 1447 S. La Cienaga Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90035 310-822-6026 M-Sa 11-11 Su 12-10 Fr and Sa til 3am! Eat-in Formerly partners with the now forgotten "Dem Bones" in West LA, Bones Bar-B-Q Shack on La Cienaga has been around for a only short while. As a matter of fact the only reason I even noticed this place tucked away in a very non-descript pod mall south of Pico, was a huge banner declaring "Grand Opening.² Bones slightly bends the rules on BBQ joints by also being a "UBWF" fish house. But I honestly think they do this for sport, cause the Q rocks at Bones! (You do know what "UBWF" means, right?) Top notices almost across the board. Meats are smoky and lean, though not falling from the bone as I prefer, nonetheless tasty. The Chicken links are quite enticing. Stiff and chorizio-like, they contain flavors that defy description. The sauce, which is declared on the menu as "The Boss" is most excellent. Sweet, spicy, smoky and vinegary all at the same moment. Traces of garlic and fresh hot peppers make for thorough sense of hot sweet calmness. I dare say that this is very good sauce. And one of the best parts is that the sides put out! Spicy beans still holding onto a smidgen of firmness, the potato's in the potato salad still have skins on them and the corn bread is doused with a spoonful of molten butter. Even the drink hold a surprise. The soda is served on an "all you can drink basis" out of the largest styrofoam cup on earth. But here is the best part. Upon stepping outside to have a post BBQ smoke and guzzle more Barq's Root beer from my big gulp I noticed that along the side on the parking lot was a planter box filled with basil, peppers, tomatoes, etc. I walked back in asked "Do you guys use that stuff out there?" The reply was, "Oh, that stuff Joe planted? Sure we use it, what else are we gonna do with it?" Made my day. Dr Hogly-Wogly Tyler Texas BBQ 8136 N Sepulveda Bl Van Nuys, CA 818-780-6701 Open 7 days Eat-in Dr Wogly¹s is undoubtably one of the best BBQ¹s in the LA area, and I say LA area lightly, cause this place is way out there! The atmosphere is a full sit down restaurant with naughahide booths and an arid, hot, cement world outside your window. The BBQ is large and tasty. Big ol¹ pieces of meat come on plastic plates with plenty of sauce pouring off. Thin vinagery ³texas² Q¹ sauce, but pretty distinct here--it has some heart. One of the best parts of DHWTT is the trip out there and the scene in there. Greece's 901 South La Brea #2 Los Angeles, CA Eat-in Well, Greece¹s is somewhat of a hidden surprise. First off, I had driven by it a dozen times even a thought nor a whiff of ŒQ. If you travel surface streets between the 10 FWY and Hollywood on La Brea, Greece¹s is tucked right into a pod mall on the west side of the street. Secondly, Greece¹s is quite pleasant inside. A few red vinyl booths make eat-in a must and the pit sits directly behind the order counter with the two iron-clad hatchways dripping with smoky creosote, Yum! It amazed me that the place was not filled with smoke--not that I would really mind if it were. And lastly, the Q is right up there! The sauce is not the most distinctive, but heralds a decent knock on the hotness meter. Vinegary and not too sweet. The meats were very lean and perfectly cooked, why I have rarely seen pork ribs this meaty. The accompanying beans still had some spring in them and though the links were very sausage-like, not the texture logs of say ³Leo¹s², but full flavored, dense and very well cooked. For location and overall experience I will make Greece¹s a regular stopover on my way to Hollyweird. Kenny¹s ³Q² 3622 Jefferson Blvd West Addams, CA (just West of Crenshaw Blvd) 7 days 213-766-7977 Eat-in (if you dare) Kenny¹s is pretty cool. Nestled in a nondescript part of the neighborhood that houses such luminaries as Leo¹s and Carl¹s, Kenny succeeds in holding his own. The approach may scare off some. You pass through a deserted teeny dining area in front, then down a long industrial hallway until you reach the ³Q² zone. A small room with a order hole in the wall from which waft the luscious odors of Kenny¹s hard work. The meats at Kenny¹s lack the smokier-than-thou doness of LA¹s finest, but there is much pleasure particularly in the chicken and chicken links. The sauce is extremely well balanced. Not too sweet, spicy, fairly hot and rich with vinegar. I only wish that it had more of everything. More spices, more heat. Possibly I only deal in excess, but great ³Q² seems to demand such regard for over-abundance. One of the mini-treats of Kenny¹s are the sides. Almost always a dissapointment, here the beans are rich and flavorful as if a special BBQ sauce was made just for them, and the potato salad is a perfect blandness to balance the intensity of Q¹ heaven. It is hard to recommend Kenny¹s over some of the near hits in this part of LA, but it is always fun to try a new and truly worthy BBQ stop. Leo's Bar-B-Cue "Take Out" 2619 South Crenshaw Bl. Los Angeles, CA (two blocks s. of 10) 213-733-1186 Take-out only Leo's is take-out only, not for the casual weekend BBQ-er It's been there for an eternity A huge sign over looks Crenshaw Bl, so you cannot miss it. The only place to even consider eating is a flimsy formica counter along the side by the parking lot, underneath the billowing "smoke" stack. The Q' at Leo's is a model of consistency and this is why: the sauce, a swirling mix of coffee, chili, molasses, charcoal, chocolate, garlic and anise flavors, a description which I just realized might turn some stomachs. But don't let my inadequate attempt dissuade you, this is the ground zero of 'Q sauce. The meat is good, smoked deeply, and moist. The pork wins over the beef, but I think that all the time. The links don't inspire Woody's -level hysteria, but they are serious, house-made with a nice grain. The real surprise is the chicken, which costs less than your last hour of Internet time. The flavor is an intense wave of wood and smoke. I have mine without the sauce, just because it's fine on its own. The sides do their job and the pies are worth taking home. For my vote, you can't go wrong with Leo's. Get a slab, watch them sop on the sauce with the mop, then ask for more. Then pay with your ATM card, because they take it. Special commendation for freeway proximity and pie quality. O.N.O Ohio New Orleans Barbecue 2187 N. Lake Altadena, CA 818-398-6680 Friday 4pm until sold out Saturday and Sunday 11am until sold out Take out only Well it is almost impossible to believe but two of the best BBQ joints in the LA area are both located in Altadena, CA. A mere 35 miles from my home town of Santa Monica. ONO (along with Shack Pappy¹s) are two late comer¹s to this list, but together create a powerful argument for moving back to the Eastside. ONO almost lacks the necessary requirements to be considered a true Q haven by the mere fact that it only serves the bomb on weekends, the rest of the time masquerading as a candy store! (Methinks they must need at least these four days to create such delicious meats). Everything about the ONO experience is real. The place is a three quarters empty dime candy store with a couple of video games in the corner. The owners are all extremely friendly who love to chat while they prepare your order. The meats come form the back where the smoker is kept well hidden, then grabbed with a tong and dunked into a crock pot of sauce sitting on the counter. While dunking the hot links on my visit the chef jumped back on release knowing full well there is no way to gracefully dunk a link, and sure enough sauce splattered up onto the wall. (Immediately wiped clean). Allright, what is so great? I would have to say that the meats were unanimously perfect in texture, doneness and smoky flavours. The Links were the only disappointing item on the combo menu. They are short and stout and very spicy, which a great, but the stuffing lacked any real distinction and the casings were only marginally crackly. The chicken and ribs were both outstanding. The sauce is in that ³really good, but could use a little more depth² category. Not too sweet and of the more vinegary style that I do prefer while the thickness is just right to coat your foods stuff without any lumpy weird coagulations. It is medium in hot factor. The sides are actually avoidable, Both the beans and potato salad were much sweeter than the Q sauce lacking any grace. Do I sound a bit wishy-washy about ONO?, Let me just say that this is one satisfying experience. It is a happy place serving happy food. PS. Did I mention the free 6-pack of generic soda with orders of $14 or more? Also, check out the mini sweet potato pies, a nice finisher. Outdoor Grill 12630 1/2 Washington Pl. at the Handy J Car Wash Mar Vista, CA (what could be more convenient?) 310-636-GRIL Eat-in OG serves up fairly tame grub, but ya gotta love a few things about it. FIrst off, I think it may be the best cheap date in LA. Take your cool car down to the Handy ³J² for an A+ washing, and meanwhile get your Q¹ and head up to the balcony seats for a breeze and the perfect observation point of your car progress. patio seating, open pit is in the entranceway-pretty darn good. Phillip's 4307 Leimert Leimert Park, CA 213-292-7613 Monday-Saturday Take-out only 1517 Centinela Ave. Inglewood, CA 310-412-7135 Tuesday-Saturday Take-out only Leimert and Centinela locations reviews mixed The consensus favorite among the congnoscenti. Great meat, smoked since the Truman administration, falling off the bone and deeply flavored. This meat is why people go crazy for 'Q. Pork, pork., pork. The pig reigns supreme here, and each bite screams out like some operatic justification of the carnivore life. The beef works too - sliced or in the rib version. The chicken is moist, from the skin down to the bone (no skinless boneless here). The chicken links are unique and bursting with goodness. The casings are crackly and chewy while the extra spicy filling that is redolent with veins rosemary. Which leads us to the sauce. I find the musty mole-esque sauce to almost everything I would ever want from BBQ. Rich, burnt, chocolate, coffee and hot hot hot. I was greeted by a very friendly woman at the Centinela location who steered me right onto those chicken links and when I asked for a to go menu, she painstakenly went through and corrected recent price changes (amounting to 25 cents) No tables, skinny ass front room in both locations it is the no frills encounter that one expects from a true BBQ shrine. You pass the money through a slot in the bullet-proof plastic. No credit cards or roller blades. Shack Pappy¹s Smoke House Barbeque 2211 North Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001 818-797-8750 Open Monday-Saturday Take-out only I don¹t really know if this place calls itself ³Shack Pappy¹s² but it does say so on the discolored sign hidden behind a tree. The more likely name is ³Smoke House Barbeque² and that is more to the point anyway. Far far away in a land called Altadena (kind of North of Pasadena) lies a BBQ joiont that ain¹t kiddin. Nothing to look at, Shack Pappy¹s serves up some of the best ŒQ your money can buy. Ordered through a whole in the wall by two very friendly matrons this place is well above average. The pork ribs are smoked to perfect thorough doneness, falling from the bone and finished with a slightly too sweet, very thick sauce. The links are bursting with juice and have texture and a simple, yet wholesome finish. The Chicken is very well smoked as well, retaining a flovor which can be difficult to imbue in that finicky bird. One of the best surprises at Pappy¹s are the sides. The potato salad is much better than average and they have greens, which many places in LA seem to avoid, but I find a welcome way to cut through some of the richness of BBQ sauce. Western Smoke House 10640 Woodbine Street @ Overland Los Angeles, CA 90034 310-837-3544 M-Th 11:30-3:30, 4:30-9p F 11:30-10p Sa 2p-10p Su closed Eat-in I always have high expectations when entering a new BBQ joint and Western was no exception. Based solely on an errant internet message reading ³finally true Texas BBQ comes to the Westside² I ventured forth. The first attempt was befuddled by awkward business hours, but looking through the window made me even more enticed. Stuck in an extremely vapid pod mall, Western has some flair. Mini-country farmhouse setting, fake wood and farm utensils on the wall. A popcorn machine in the corner. When I finally got in my enjoyment was heightened more upon viewing the beautiful casarole sized fresh baked cobbler¹s sitting in the display case. Our lunch arrived on cowboy plates (those blue tin-enamel ones) with sides in mini frying pans and as you may have guessed by now it was all a vaneer. Not terrible by any means, just transparent, which is a word that should stray far from a BBQ lexicon. I do not think that many folks will be traveling West for this smokehouse. Woody's Bar-B-Que 3446 W. Slauson Ave Los Angeles, CA 213-294-9443 Not sure 475 S. Market St Inglewood, CA 310-672-4200 Eat-in South Market location reviewed Woody¹s gets very high ranking on many levels. First off it is take-out quality, with plenty of indoor and patio seating available. What I mean by take-out quality is this; the best BBQ tends to be from take-out joints for one simple erason, they don¹t have the money or the time to be wrrying about tables and waiters and bathrooms and such, too busy perfecting their sauce and watching over the perfectly cooked meats. Woodys strikes a great balance beween looking and acting like a take out, but there ARE places to sit and thus keep all that sauce from ruining your cars interior. Woody's is for ribs and chicken. Their sauce is good, I¹d say strikes a near perfect balance between sweet and too much bottom end. The sublte flavoprs are there. But when it comes to links, Woody's has no competitors. A coarse, grainy mix of pork and spices, shot through with chili, stuffed loosely in a snappy casing then smoked until the thing becomes a vessel of 'Q perfection. Get a full order, some potato salad for a side, and see if you can make it home before busting into the bag. Special note for the West Slauson location. Check out the cash register, some robo thing that swallows the money down into a safe, then spits out your appropriate change and nothing else. There is no seating whatsoever at this location. The perfect BBQ meal: Ribs from Shack Pappys Links from Phillips (chicken) Chicken from Leo¹s Sauce from Leo¹s Sides from Bones Still to try: Gadberry¹s 5833 S. Broadway Tues-Sun Mom¹s 1050 W. Imperial Hwy 7 days 213-756-8405
Barbecue