The heat is on, but not just the summer weather! The tantalizing sizzle and smoke of BBQ is igniting Downtown LA with hot grilled goodness. Whether you like your chow Texas-style, classic American, or served with a twist, we’ve smoked out some of DTLA’s best BBQ joints, including your old favorites and some exciting new options. Vegetarians take note – many menus offer salads and other meatless sides, so don’t be shy about joining your carnivorous friends for some BBQ action.
Feel like playing grill master at home? Circa offers exceptional outdoor amenities including deluxe barbecue grills, open air fireplaces, and congenial spots to gather and entertain.
Smoke City Char Bar 899 Traction Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013
There’s an exciting new spot for smoked meats and cocktails in the DTLA Arts District. Smoke City Char Bar was founded with an adventurous spirit and a driven culinary objective to bring the unique experience of locally-sourced and naturally smoked meats to their guests. Smoke City Char Bar celebrates the legacy of smokehouse culture with every chef-driven creation and regional-inspired recipe, that delivers an explosion of succulent awesomeness to your mouth with each and every bite.
Moo’s Craft Barbecue 2118 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031
Recognized by Food & Wine’s Best Barbecue 2020 and acclaimed by LA Times and Eater LA for creating the best underground barbecue cooking in Los Angeles, Moo’s Craft Barbecue started as an underground BBQ pop up in a small East Los Angeles backyard in 2017. Inspired by Texas Barbecue, Moo’s uses old school techniques to produce delicious, melt in your mouth smoked meats with a Cali Mex twist.
Horse Thief BBQ Grand Central Market 324 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Named named one of the best BBQ restaurants in Los Angeles by Eater LA, Horse Thief BBQ was founded by two native Texans, Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi, to showcase the classic smoked meats of Central Texas, along with smoked meats and gourmet sides. Signature dishes include pork spare ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and turkey breast butter brined, as well as ingredient-driven sides and desserts such as fennel-apple slaw, vegan heirloom beans, and banana pudding.
Spring Street Smokehouse BBQ 640 N Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Spring Street Smokehouse is an American Bar-B-Que joint offering all the classic barbecue meats, hickory-smoked from four to 12 hours. The meat is wonderfully dense and smoky and includes all the favorites you’d expect: Beef and Pork ribs, Texas hot links, Brisket and Pulled Pork. The down-home sides of mac & cheese, beans and cornbread round out a truly authentic BBQ experience. Spring Street also features some surprises, such as chicken stuffed with peppers, onions, and cheese, then wrapped with bacon and pit-smoked. Fresh made desserts include Bourbon bread pudding and peach cobbler.
Smoke Queen BBQ at Smorgasburg 777 S Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90021
In the midst of the pandemic, chef and restaurateur Winnie Yee-Lakhani was looking for a distraction away from her business closures. She stumbled upon a brisket and started a lovely affair with live fire cooking. Mixing the spices and flavors of her Chinese & Malaysian heritage with the traditional American style of smoking, she creates a unique style of barbecue in a class of its own. From backyard pits to multiple 1000 gallon smokers, she now offers California Prime Beef Brisket & Heritage Pork slow smoked with white oak and infused with the flavors of her childhood.
Bo Daddy’s BBQ 1415 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90015
Bo Daddy’s BBQ specializes in a tantalizing selection of smoked meats including ribs, pulled pork, chicken, beef tri tip, brisket, and links. All meats are smoked with wood. Choose from sides such as mac & cheese, mango coleslaw, collard greens, baked beans, potato salad, and mac & tuna salad. Top off your meal with peach cobbler, key lime pie or a decadent banana pudding. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
L.A. Brisket 736 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012
A popular destination originating in Artesia, L.A. Brisket specializes in hand crafted sandwiches loaded with all-natural meat sold by the pound, with house BBQ sauce and bread. The menu offers brisket, chicken, pulled pork, pork ribs, and BBQ Bowls served with LA slaw, salsa verde, garlic, and jasmine rice. Sides include elote (grilled Mexican corn), French fries, truffle fries, and sweet potato fries.
H&H Brazilian Steakhouse 518 W 7th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014
H&H Brazilian Steakhouse is a new take on Brazilian food, brimming with healthful recipes. The restaurant was founded by Henrique Huyer with the mission of bringing authentic, traditional Brazilian barbecue from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil to the American market. H&H is committed to working with only the best suppliers, serving top-quality organic, grass-fed meat and local produce that you can enjoy with a unique wine from South America. The menu caters to nearly every food preference with a variety of beef, lamb, pork and chicken dishes. The extensive salad bar presents gluten-free, naturally organic, vegetarian and vegan offerings as well.
Photo Credits:
Photo #1: Moo’s Craft Barbecue
Photo #2: Circa
Photo #3: Smoke City Char Bar
Photo #4: Moo’s Craft Barbecue
Photo #5: Horse Thief BBQ
Photo #6: Spring Street Smokehouse
Photo #7: Smoke Queen BBQ
Photo #8: Bo Daddy’s BBQ
Photo #9: L.A. Brisket
Photo #10: H&H Brazilian Steakhouse
