Fire, smoke, meat, repeat.
For years, Londoners had to rely on Bodean’s for a taste of proper American BBQ; but when Smokestak first appeared at Street Feast and then opened its permanent spot in 2016, it changed the game. The past few years have seen a new wave of proper BBQ spots open across the capital, from straight up Texan joints to those like Cue Point and Hons who are mixing it up with Afghan and Chinese flavours respectively.
So save yourself the stress of the British summer BBQ and head out to one of our favourite spots for some authentic American BBQ cooked low and slow over smoke and fire.
Cue Point
Cue Point‘s Afghan-Texan fusion takes barbecuing to a new level. Founders Mursal Saiq and Joshua Moroney have built the concept around low-and-slow BBQ, Afghan flavours and a genuinely inclusive approach, with halal, vegan and gluten-free options all built into the offering.
41 Bramley Rd, London W10 6SZ
cue-point.co.uk
Hon’s BBQ
This Chinese Texan BBQ spot is doing some of the best smoked meat in London right now. Think big plates of smoked duck breast with pancakes, Taiwanese pork cubes with proper crackling, and lap cheong mac ‘n’ cheese alongside masterstock tofu, and tomato and melon salad.
Unit 7 Queen’s Yard, London E9 5EN
@honsbbq
Billy’s Smokehouse
At West London Halal smokehouse, Billy’s, all the brisket and ribs are slow-smoked for at least 16 hours. The result? Juicy meat which truly melts in the mouth. Put your gloves on and get stuck into one of the giant BBQ platters.
100 Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd’s Bush W12 8HD
@billyssmokehouse
Bodean’s
London’s OG smokehouse, Bodean’s, brings Kansas City BBQ to London. The menu is built around a philosophy of ‘Barbecue, Bourbon & Beer’ and filled with favourites like the Carolina pulled pork sandwich and smoked Jacob’s Ladder beef ribs.
10 Poland St, London W1F 8PZ
bodeansbbq.com
From The Ashes
Starting from a humble hatch in Hackney Wick, From The Ashes has grown into one of London’s favourite BBQ joints. You can now catch them at Five Points Courtyard for one of THOSE Del Piero Doughnuts stuffed with smoked pork, ‘Nduja, chilli jam and crackling.
61 Mare Street, London, United Kingdom E8 4RG
@fromtheashesbbq
Holy Smokes BBQ
Tucked away under a railway arch near Bow Road station, Holy Smokes is a no frills Texas BBQ down a suspect looking alley (we ate ours by the bins). What it lacks in comfort it makes up for in flavour with epic slow smoked brisket, and beef short rib being standouts on the menu.
Unit 26, Eleanor Street E3 4UR
theholysmokes.co.uk
Black Cactus
Black Cactus takes a bit more of a refined approach to BBQ, but maintains classic Texan techniques at its core. Set in the unlikely location of a Walthamstow brandy distillery, meats are cooked over live fire with offset smokers for that good ol’ American flavour.
57 Sutherland Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 6BH
blackcactusbbq.com
Smokestak
These guys started out at Street Feast Dalston serving brisket that’s spent the better part of a day over wood smoke, and ribs worth the mess. Now a perm spot in Shoreditch, the restaurant serves a massive menu of meat including a whole beef brisket for the table, their signature brisket buns and much, much more.
35 Sclater St, London E1 6LB
smokestak.co.uk
