Epicurious.com’s food dictionary defines barbecue as a cooking method that slow cooks covered meat, fish, poultry, or other food in a pit or on a spit using hot coals or hardwood as a heat source and basting the food with a seasoned sauce to keep it moist. The best known regional types of barbecue come from Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, and the Carolinas. But barbecue restaurants are all over the United States--including Pennsylvania.
Visitors to the city of brotherly love will enjoy sinking their teeth into the food from this popular barbecue restaurant. The ribs here are done Kansas City style. Guests can also get Carolina-style pulled pork and Texas-style beef brisket. All meats are slow-smoked daily and the side dishes are homemade. Guests can eat in, take out, or have their food delivered. Catering is also available.
Tommy Gunn's American Barbecue
4901 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-508-1030
tommygunns.net
A meal here is like summer all year long. Diners will enjoy slow-cooked meats with homemade sides and appetizers like corn fritters, hush puppies and Texas-style baked beans. There are also daily all-you-can-eat specials. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Catering is available. Grills and smokers are also available for rent or sale.
Smoke’n Dudes BBQ
3400 Neshaminy Blvd.
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-752-5500
smokendudesbbq.com
Guests here will find a restaurant that respects the open flame. Meats are slow-smoked over hickory logs for 11 hours. This allows the meat to just fall off the bone. There are affordable meal combos for under $10. Visitors can dine-in or carry-out and catering is available. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Smokey Bones
1301 Kenneth Road
York, PA 17404
717-846-3760
smokeybones.com
This barbecue food chain restaurant is a treat for the entire family. Meat is slow-cooked and smothered in sauce (a secret family recipe). Diners will enjoy barbecue from different regions of the country. The award winning ribs are hand-rubbed with spices, pit-cooked for up to four hours, slathered in sauce, and then thrown on the grill. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Famous Dave’s
1936 South Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
215-339-0339
famousdaves.com
This family-style restaurant offers simple and delicious meals, most that can be eaten without utensils. There is a kids menu available. The meat, including ribs, is slow cooked over an apple wood fire. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. It is located within 10 minutes of Susquehanna and Bucknell universities.
Skeeter's Pit BBQ
P.O. Box 27
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876
570-743-2727
skeetersbbq.com
This restaurant has been serving southern-style barbecued ribs to the Pittsburgh community for over 15 years. Diners can enjoy pork or beef ribs, chicken, fish, and beef brisket. The sides are homemade. Big Sam’s is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and catering is also available. They do a pig roast for groups of 50 or more.
Big Sam’s Memphis BBQ
1204 Federal Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412-323-0333
bigsamsmemphisbbq.com
