Top Spots For Barbecue
Spicy, salty, sweet. It's the combination of flavors that makes barbecue so amazingly good. And whether you like yours coated in dry-rub or slathered in sauce, Philadelphia has a number of restaurants that make a mean version of the all-American summer staple. – Chelsea Karnash
Tommy Gunns American Barbeque
4901 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.tommygunns.net
The location—sandwiched onto a miniature lot on Ridge Ave. near the edge of Manayunk—isn't ideal, but the BBQ (particularly the sauce!) is deee-lish. Order the brisket and the fried mac and cheese from this tiny take-out spot, and don't even think about the resulting spike in your cholesterol!
Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse
7500 State Rd.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.sweetlucys.com
Sweet Lucy's serves up their 'cue on Styrofoam trays, which is probably doing a disservice to the food. But the brisket and dry-rubbed meats get rave reviews, even from those who like their BBQ dripping in sauce. Oh, and the cornbread. Just try it—you won't be disappointed!
Phoebe's Bar-B-Q
2214 South St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
5002 Umbria St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
This South Street BBQ eatery has been serving up oversized platters since 1994, and recently, they opened up a second location in Manayunk. It's a true meat lover's dream, but Phoebe's also serves a number of Southern sides, including skillet cornbread and collards. A while some complain about the service, Phoebe's ribs get many sauce-covered thumbs up from Philly taste-testers.
Percy Street Barbecue
900 South St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.percystreet.com
Fans rank this the place to get BBQ in Philadelphia, and with their dry-rubbed and expertly smoked meat (sauces are on the side) it's not hard to see why. Mouth-watering mac 'n cheese, flavorful meat falling off the bone and scrumptious pecan pie make Percy's a must-try for any Philadelphian. But buyer, beware: you will pay a higher price for quality.
Pig Daddy's Barbecue
693 Burmont Rd.
Drexel Hill, Pa.
www.pigdaddysbarbecue.com
From the outside, Pig Daddy's is nothing special, and the name is…well, interesting. Inside, however, you'll find a massive menu of take-out items that even includes BBQ-style cheesesteaks and burritos (!!!). Frequenters of the place recommend the pulled pork and brisket, and one swears you'll never eat another plain old Philly cheesesteak after trying PD's chipotle BBQ-style sandwich. We'll just see about that.
Le Cochon Noir
5070 Parkside Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.lecochonnoir.com
Southern transplants to Philly swear by this spot and it's amazing, fall-off-the-bone, meaty goodness. Though the place attracts larger parties and often has live music acts that can make for some noise, the food makes up for any cons. Plus, there's parking, as well as some healthy options for those that want to eat light.
Rosey's BBQ
505 Old York Rd.
Jenkintown, Pa.
9 N. Main St.
Ambler, Pa.
Complimentary pickles and pickled jalapenos. Refreshing sweet tea. Spicy coleslaw. And the "Spicy Crunchy" Turkey Sandwich! Rosey's truly is "Southern Taste, Up North": The meats are tender and juicy, with homemade BBQ sauces served on the side, and the signature dry-rub is great.
