Got a hankering for barbecue?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top barbecue spots in Baltimore, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings.
1. Chaps Pit Beef
Topping the list is local favorite Chaps Pit Beef, which has appeared on "No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri. Located at 5801 Pulaski Highway on the east side of town, it is the most popular barbecue spot in Baltimore, boasting four stars out of 1,011 reviews on Yelp.
The signature experience would be the pit beef sandwich: roast beef on a bun topped with onions and "tiger sauce" made from horseradish and mayonnaise. Corned beef, turkey, ham and sausage are some of the other smoked meats here. Mix and match them for a sandwich, which can be topped off with pickles, horseradish or one of the barbecue sauces, from sweet to hickory.
2. Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar
Next up is Hampden's Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar, situated at 1601 Union Ave. Meat options include slow-cooked pulled pork, coffee-rubbed brisket, bourbon-glazed ribs, bratwurst and barbecue chicken. Order a pile of meat straight or served as a sandwich, and pair it with sides like mac and cheese, collard greens, and vinegar- or mayonnaise-based coleslaw. Vegans might enjoy the jackfruit sandwich, with a side of jackfruit coleslaw.
Pair your barbecue with beer or one of the many whiskeys on offer. With four stars out of 241 reviews on Yelp, the eatery has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Jong Kak
Jong Kak, located at 18 W. 20th St. near Station North, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving it four stars out of 225 reviews. This is Korean barbecue where the meat is cooked at your table, not overnight in a smoker.
Meat options, ordered alone or in combination, include fresh or marinated prime rib, brisket, pork belly and more. It also has soups, hot pots and casseroles, and a variety of shared banchan side dishes, like kimchi, cold vegetables and rice.
4. Mission BBQ
Mission BBQ in Canton is another go-to, with four stars out of 191 Yelp reviews. This chain is known for its celebration of the U.S. military, police and first responders.
The menu is representative of barbecue's geographical diversity, including Texas-style brisket, St. Louis-style spare ribs and a North Carolina-inspired pulled pork. Sauces are similarly diverse, from Tupelo Honey Heat to KC Classic and Georgia Mustard. Head over to 3701 Boston St. to see for yourself.
5. Big Bad Wolf's House of Barbecue
Finally, over in Hamilton, check out Big Bad Wolf's House of Barbecue, which has earned four stars out of 159 reviews on Yelp. It's located at 5713 Harford Road.
Inside the little yellow brick house, staff are serving plates of pork and beef ribs, hickory-smoked bacon, brisket, pulled pork and barbecue chicken. Slather the meat with one or more barbecue sauces, from sweet to spicy, and round things out with a slice of watermelon or a piece of pecan pie.
