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Best Barbecue In Los Angeles

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(credit: istockphoto)

Barbecuing is a form of art for most chefs and takes technique, creativity and patience. This slow-cooking method is often used to prepare smoky meats, and is a popular way of cooking food in the southern states in the U.S. Like Kevin Spacey's character Frank Underwood on "House of Cards," having a local go-to barbecue joint in your repertoire is a must and luckily for Los Angeles, there are a handful of incredible barbecue restaurants in the area where you will be licking your plate clean.

Hogly wogly
(credit: Cesar R./Yelp)

Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ
8136 Sepulveda Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91402
(818) 780-6701
www.hoglywogly.com

Hogly Wogly has been a valley institution since 1969. Nothing else is offered on the menu but the best BBQ dishes, partly because Hogly Wogly slowly smokes all of the meats in-house in a brick pit oven using real firewood. Seasoned with a unique blend of spices and a secret sauce, Hogly Wogly's briskets, ribs, ham and chicken are trimmed of fat, which provides the leanest meat possible. Entrees and barbecue sandwiches come with freshly baked bread, baked beans, macaroni salad, potato salad or coleslaw. If hosting a large group at home or looking to dine at an authentic BBQ joint, Hogly Wogly is a number one choice.

Bludso's 300
(credit: Bludso's BBQ)

Bludso's Bar & Que
609 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 931-2583
www.barandque.com

Owner Kevin Bludso brings his Texan roots to the Bludso's Bar & Que kitchen. From the planation days of his great great grandfather, Kevin created a successful restaurant and menu featuring Bludso family BBQ techniques and secret recipes. For the larger group, The Tray feeds six to eight people and includes a taste of Bludso's best brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, half chicken, full rack of pork ribs, two hot links, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, collard greens, coleslaw, potato salad, pickles and cornbread. A la carte is also available. Bludso's first location is in Compton.

M Cafe Melrose
(credit: M Cafe)

M Café
11678 San Vicente Blvd.
Brentwood, CA 90049
(310) 207-1122
www.mcafedechaya.com

For the vegetarians, there aren't many barbecue restaurant options out there. M Cafe, which is LA's hip macrobiotic eatery with a Hollywood following (Anne Hathaway, Olivia Wilde and Demi Moore, to name a few), brings an alternative option to the table. The restaurant's unique barbecue sloppy joe is prepared with seitan (wheat gluten) in place of meat. The Carolina-style BBQ sandwich created by Chef Lee Gross is a thinly sliced grilled seitan fired up in M Café's zesty BBQ sauce on a toasted whole wheat bun. Piled high with grilled onions, pickles and an old fashioned creamy coleslaw, this sandwich has absolutely no dairy, poultry, meat or refined processed ingredients.

Related: Best Vegetarian Burgers In Los Angeles

10/27 - how to be a gentleman - bbq - baby blues
(Credit: Baby Blues BBQ)

Baby Blues BBQ
444 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 741-8527
www.babybluesvenice.com

Baby Blues BBQ has a distinct taste combining Memphis-style cooking with the western regional flavors of North Carolina. St. Louis cut ribs, dry-rubbed baby back, brisket cuts and pork are slow-cooked in Guinness beer and smothered in a house-made smoky sauce. Any of the Baby Blues platters (Memphis ribs and pulled pork or brisket, Marion County slow-smoked chicken, Texas-style beef ribs or smoked tri tip) are excellent choices. All of them are served with two fixins (choose from creamed spinach, pork and beans, chicken smoked rice, coleslaw, baked beans, mac n' cheese and more) and cornbread. Baby Blues will deliver and cater, too.

10/27 - how to be a gentleman - bbq - spring street smokehouse
Photo Credit: Spring Street Smokehouse

Spring Street Smoke House
640 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-0535
www.sssmokehouse.com

For all-American barbecue classics, Spring Street Smoke House prepares and serves all of the favorites including barbecue meats that are hickory-smoked up to 18 hours. This downtown smokehouse delivers on taste and provides an authentic BBQ experience with beef and pork ribs, Texas hot links, brisket and deep fried turkey. Spring Street leads the way by adding flavorful twists to some of the barbecue classics - its hickory smoked beef sandwich is topped with a rich gorgonzola cheese sauce; the Cajun stuffed chicken is not only filled with jalapenos, onion and jack cheese, but it is rolled and wrapped with bacon and then fired off in the pit; and the restaurant's “burnt ends” dish features all of the crispy trimmings from a smoky beef brisket.

Related: Best Bacon Dishes In The Los Angeles Area

Sheryl Craig is a writer with a passion for interesting finds and treasures in Los Angeles. She has a background in journalism and public relations. A mother of two daughters, Sheryl integrates her healthy lifestyle into raising her children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


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