The Best NYC BBQ Bites of 2021
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In the most recent edition of The Smoke Sheet newsletter, BBQ Tourist and I wrote about some of the best BBQ bites we ate around the country in 2021. We tried bites from coast to coast and enjoyed dishes at restaurants and events, a far cry from 2020.
But as this is the last NYC BBQ Weekly of the year, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to shout out some of the best NYC-area BBQ bites I ate in 2021. This year was very different from years past, and not just because I got married at Pig Beach in Brooklyn. Restaurants and events continue to struggle in our weird world of COVID variants, worker shortages, rising inflation, and supply chain issues.
While there wasn’t a shortage of oddities, the bright side was the food is back and maybe better than ever. The pandemic created new opportunities for BBQ pop-ups, inventive new restaurants, and delicious outdoor events like Brisket King NYC and Rib King NYC.
Without further ado, here are my 7 top NYC-area BBQ bites of 2021.
Texas Brisket — SmoKING of Meats
When I went out to try the SmoKING of Meats pop-up this summer at Smorgasburg in Jersey City, I didn’t know a ton about the operation. But after trying the food, I walked away impressed and wanted to learn more, so I interviewed the “King” himself Joe Musngi. The item that stood out the most was the Central Texas Style Brisket, which was cooked so well that I could have been eating it in Texas. Joe’s flavorful Filipino Pork Belly Burnt Ends also turn heads for good reason.
Smoked Lamb Shoulder — Pig Beach Queens
I spent a lot of time at Pig Beach’s location in Brooklyn this year because it’s one of my closest BBQ joints, the food and drinks are always great, and, oh, did I mention my wedding? (I’m never not going to mention the wedding and the brisket ravioli.) But while the Brooklyn joint's food is incredible, the Pig Beach bite that stood out the most to me was the new Smoked Lamb Shoulder at the still-quite-new Pig Beach location in Astoria, Queens. The lamb is a nod to the neighborhood cuisine and has a perfect amount of smoke. Not enough places serve barbecue lamb, so I love that this is now an option.
Chicarron — Bark Barbecue
Nearly every item I’ve tried from Bark Barbecue has knocked my socks off, especially the Texas-style brisket. Bark Barbecue was one of the hottest new pop-ups of the year, and I would not be surprised to see a restaurant in its future. While I’ll always recommend the brisket, the item that caught me by surprise and I can’t wait to try again is the chicarron. For the uninitiated, this version of the dish features pork belly seasoned with Dominican spices, smoked for four hours, and then lightly fried to add crispiness. Make sure you get it while you’re ordering everything else.
Brisket Birria Taco — Carlito’s Barbecue Taqueria
The annual Brisket King NYC competition (tickets on sale for 2022 here) features a lot of incredible brisket, but what I love most is when I see brisket incorporated into a creative dish. The dish that stood out to me the most at Brisket King NYC 2021 was the Texas brisket birria taco from Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria in New Jersey. These tacos were served with a side of birria consome so you could dip your taco in it. All of the flavors came together perfectly. If you’re ever near Carlito’s, you must try it.
Competition Pork Spare Ribs — Juicy Lucy BBQ
Juicy Lucy BBQ on Staten Island has made a big name for itself in the barbecue scene and has grown in 2021 by adding a second location. In 2022, it will even add a third location when it acquires Corner House BBQ (which will close on Dec. 24th). While Juicy Lucy makes its own BBQ kingdom on Staten Island, the team there also serves up excellent food at competition events. The pork spare ribs from the Juicy Lucy crew won Rib King NYC 2021. They were a perfect bite with chew and the right balance of savory and sweet. Hands down, they were some of the best ribs I had this year.
Smoked Pastrami Sandwich — Hometown Bar-B-Que
In New York City, pastrami has long been a part of the city’s culinary culture. But the new king of pastrami in NYC is Hometown Bar-B-Que. This version of the meat is covered with a heavy salt-and-pepper bark, smoked to perfection, and served on rye bread. The pastrami sandwich is only served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will fill you up so much you don’t really need much else. Or order one to share among your friends.
Brisket Cheesesteak — Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue
Early in 2021, Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue in Prospect Heights was badly damaged in a fire. The restaurant has thankfully returned to the city with delivery and pickup services while the restaurant gets closer to reopening in early 2022. Morgan’s also has a location in King of Prussia, PA, and as such, it got some ideas from being close to Philadelphia. One idea was to make its own version of a brisket cheesesteak, and it works very well. The sandwich is crafted with smoked prime brisket, grilled onions, and smoked queso that is made with Velveeta and mozzarella cheeses and peppers. Order it and be prepared to be full for a day.
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This year was quite a whirlwind, and I’m looking forward to seeing what food I’ll get to discover in 2022. If you have any personal favorite BBQ bites of 2021, be sure to share yours on my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I hope you all have a great holiday season and happy new year!
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT
Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue will be closing its doors on December 23.
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue will be closing its doors for good on December 23 after being a staple of the barbecue scene since 2012. “It is with a bittersweet heart that I am announcing the upcoming closure of Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue,” owner Bill Fletcher wrote on the joint’s website. “Since signing our lease back in 2012, we have been so touched by this wonderfully welcoming community. And as we look toward 2022, ten years later having served countless slabs of ribs and chili macs, I thank you for your kindness and generosity. From day one, you have made us feel right at home smoking our barbecue in one of Brooklyn's most spirited neighborhoods.” READ HERE.
While the closing of Fletcher’s in Brooklyn is sad, its story is not done. Fletcher’s Barbecue Shop & Steakhouse, a new venture, will open in 2022 in Longmeadow, Mass. “The menu will evolve from my Brooklyn location, with a more substantial steak and chops presence, a larger small bites/bar menu, and will, of course, feature the barbecue we’ve been smoking for the past ten years in Brooklyn,” Fletcher told MassLive. READ HERE.
The highly-anticipated BBQ joint Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque has officially opened in Hoboken, NJ. The menu features a wide variety of items including brisket, pulled pork, house-made sausage, wings, ribs, whole chickens, baby back mac and cheese, Brunswick stew, peach BBQ baked beans, and more. READ MORE.
NYC’s Pig Beach was featured on the first episode of brand-new Food Network show Throwdown with Michael Symon this week, and they competed in a BBQ burger bash. READ MORE.
Ryan Loughlin writes in Atlantic City Weekly that “you are not likely to find a better BBQ sandwich in New Jersey” than the “Mac Daddy” at Smokelology in Richland, NJ. He says the sandwich “is over the top and decadent, but also makes good use of flavor and texture in a way that many sandwiches overlook. In other words, get in the car — it’s worth the drive.” READ MORE.
Gotham Magazine recently published two great recipes that are worth checking out — the “Outrageous” BBQ Nachos from Virgil’s Real BBQ and the BBQ Holiday Turkey from Rodney Scott’s BBQ.
If you want your barbecue-related news featured in this section, please shoot me a note.
IRL BBQ EVENTS
Not many public-facing events are scheduled this winter so it’s time to put a few 2022 events on your calendar, including Brisket King NYC.
Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:
March 8 - June 8, 2022: The Long Island Wing Hunt, a self-guided wing tour of the best chicken wings, is back this spring. You can buy a ticket and then go to many of the best LI wing spots and get free wings with your “wing pass” all season! BUY TICKETS HERE.
April 20, 2022: The 11th edition of Brisket King NYC will be held at Pig Beach in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 20. This all-inclusive event will feature 15+ chefs and pitmasters cooking up the juiciest brisket you can find plus craft beer, hard cider, and spirits. BUY TICKETS HERE.
If you would like your food event listed here, please get in touch.
SAY HELLO
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