Here are some of the best BBQ bites I ate in the New York City area in 2023, including from Kimchi Smoke, Hometown BBQ, Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ, Blue Smoke, and more.
I'm not sure about any of you, but at the end of 2023, I'm exhausted but looking forward to 2024. This year was full of top-notch BBQ events and too many good dishes to count. Still, I've done my best to put together a list of some of my favorites that I ate this past year.
Let's dig in!
Pastrami from Kimchi Smoke at Brisket King
Robert Austin Cho of NJ-based Kimchi Smoke won the award for Best Pastrami at the annual Brisket King event and for good reason — it was an incredible flavor bomb. Cho has been known for a long time for his brisket, but perhaps he'll be even better known for his pastrami in the future.
Barbacoa Tostones Tacos from the Palmira BBQ X Bark Barbecue Pop-Up
One of the best BBQ pop-ups I attended this year was from Brooklyn-based Bark Barbecue and Charleston-based Palmira BBQ, held at Bark's home base in the Time Out Market. There were a slew of great bites there, but one that still sticks out is the barbacoa tostones tacos. These featured slow-smoked beef, cilantro salsa, and pickled onions in a plantain shell.
Brisket Tacos from Carlitos Tacos at Smorgasbar
The operation at NJ-based Carlitos Tacos has always impressed me, with great barbecue married to stellar tacos. This year, I stopped by their stand at Smorgasbar in Jersey City and absolutely loved the brisket tacos. Great smoked meat tacos and drinks with a waterfront view of Manhattan? What's not to love?
House-Cured Bacon Ribs from Morgan’s at Celebrate Big Apple BBQ
I've had the good fortune to try the house-cured bacon ribs from Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue at several events, including the Celebrate Big Apple BBQ event. They are some of the most delicious non-traditional ribs I've ever had. These were served with mango BBQ sauce and jicama slaw, adding even more flavor.
Brisket from Hometown BBQ at Celebrate Big Apple BBQ
At the Celebrate Big Apple BBQ event, it took a lot to stand out. The storied Hometown Bar-B-Q in Brooklyn brought the best brisket of the day, doubling down on one of the items they are best known for.
Chef Bret’s Fried Arancini from Blue Smoke at Pig Island NYC
Chef and pitmaster Bret Lunsford left Blue Smoke NYC earlier this year for the pizza world, so it was only appropriate he served a barbecue dish that incorporated Italian flair at the annual Pig Island event (his last barbecue appearance). These arancini balls included roasted pork risotto, pork bolognese, smoked mozzarella, and bacon breadcrumbs. I hope I can see what he's cooking up Sally's Apizza in CT sometime.
Cheeto Pie from Smoke Sweats at Pig Island NYC
One dish that didn’t receive an award at Pig Island NYC but should have was the inventive “Cheeto Pie” from Brooklyn-based Smoke Sweats. This small-but-mighty dish featured careful layers of 10-hour-smoked pork shoulder, flamin' hot Cheetos, cowboy beans, hatch chili queso, pork fat onions, BBQ sauce, and sweet dill jalapeno.
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These are just a few top bites I ate in 2023, and I'm certain I missed some. If you want to see more from a national level, be sure to see The Smoke Sheet's roundup of best BBQ bites of 2023.
Have a happy new year, and I hope to see you all in 2024!
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT (NEWS)
Juicy Lucy BBQ on Staten Island announced it has closed its doors for good. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about:
During the past few months, we've sadly seen multiple BBQ restaurants in the area close down. These include:
Juicy Lucy BBQ on Staten Island, NY — Juicy Lucy once had a reputation as one of the top BBQ joints in NYC, and had won Brisket King NYC twice. Facing financial challenges, the joint closed two out of three of its locations at the end of 2022, and the one location it had left closed at the end of November.
Daddy Matty's BBQ in Madison, NJ — Daddy Matty's BBQ was one of New Jersey's most unique barbecue destinations. It closed its doors in mid-November. Notably, the owner said he is excited about "new opportunities in 2024," so keep an eye on that.
TST BBQ Country Bar and Grill in Hazlet, NJ — This restaurant shut down operations in November after a challenging year, with high costs and a deteriorating relationship with its hotel landlord.
Eater NY recently spotlighted Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue in Prospect Heights and King of Prussia for its delicious pastrami beef short rib. It notes: "Pastrami reinvents itself, this time in the form of a dinosaur-size beef short rib, at Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue. This hefty chunk of meat, falling off the bone and nicely fatty, is newly available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until it runs out."
IRL BBQ EVENTS
Mark your calendars for Brisket King NYC in April 2024. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming in 2024 to the New York metro area:
Wednesday, April 17, 2024: Get ready for the 13th smoking hot Brisket King NYC on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Pig Beach BBQ in Queens. Witness greatness in the making as pitmasters from New York and beyond go head-to-head for the Brisket King NYC crown. BUY BRISKET KING TICKETS HERE.
Saturday, September 7, 2024: On Saturday, September 7, 2024, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden will transform into Pig Island NYC, a culinary utopia where pork reigns supreme. Using heritage breed pigs and produce sourced from local farms like Heritage Farm, chefs and pitmasters will flex their (pork) chops with unbridled creativity. BUY PIG ISLAND NYC TICKETS HERE.
SAY HELLO
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