or on the patio to sit and chow down. Three sauce options grace each table and add a sweet, spicy tang to the meat. The aromatic flavor of black pepper permeates the brisket and turkey, both of which sport thick crusts of the stuff. Outside the restaurant, giant black smokers with names such as Mr. Big and Little Boy keep the aromas coming and the kitchen stocked. Meats are served sauce-free at NakedQ. Tirion Morris the daily menu scribbled on brown paper taped to the walls. The ’cue is excellent, and sides of cheesy elote, craveable beans, and spirals of mac and cheese complete the meal. For dessert, the classic banana pudding brims with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Chow down at a picnic table inside, or sprawl out on the patio as music bumps over the space. NakedQ Multiple Locations 480-912-2102 nakedq.com Lucky for Valley residents, NakedQ has restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale, meaning this modern counter- service joint and its aroma of smoking meat are never too far away. The “naked” in the name refers to barbecue served without sauce and only minimal spices. The sauces can be added later, and they are nothing to miss. Order a butcher paper-lined tray of chopped or sliced brisket, moist, smoky pulled pork, or tender St. Louis-style ribs, and douse it all in the house, spicy, or mustard-based sauces. Peppery mac and cheese and a block of cornbread round out the meal. Danky’s Bar-B-Q 4727 East Bell Road, #31 602-996-2016 dankysbbq.com If you only get one thing at Danky’s Bar-B-Q in north Phoenix, let it be the ribs. When cut into, an almost-candied bark crackles before tender meat gives way, falling off the bone. But trust us, you won’t want to get just one dish. This little spot, wedged into a narrow strip mall space, serves major flavor. Local beer flows on tap, chunks of pork stud the barbecue beans, and sandwiches rock names such as the pulled pork Danky Dank, the beef brisket Curly Wolf, and the combo Hot Southern Mess. Caldwell County BBQ 18324 East Nunneley Road, Gilbert 480-892-0512 caldwellcountybbq.com Caldwell County BBQ is to the far East Valley what Eric’s is to the West. Line up at the counter and order links, turkey, and thick slices of brisket by the pound before picking your sides and finding a spot inside Hap’s Pit Barbecue 4801 East Washington Street 602-267-0181 hapsbbq.com Hap’s Pit Barbecue is the perfect spot for a midweek lunch. The little counter-service restaurant is located on Washington Street not too far from downtown Phoenix. As you wait in line, take a look at the murals of pigs going about their business that decorate the walls and a large collage of all the times Hap’s has made the news. A few faded copies of New Times display Best of Phoenix awards from the mid-1990s, giving customers a hint about the history of the place. While the sides, such as a cheddar quesadilla and mashed potatoes, stray from a typical barbecue menu, the meats hit all the classics. Moist chopped brisket is a highlight, along with the more unusual pulled lamb. JL Smokehouse 2010 East Broadway Road 602-620-5132 jlsmokehouse.com JL Smokehouse fits the definition of a classic no-frills barbecue joint. Park on the street in South Phoenix and make your way to a bright red painted building. Inside, there’s no counter but rather a pass- through window into the kitchen. With the catchphrase “Put some South in your mouth,” this spot draws inspiration from Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Carolina-style barbecue to create a blend all its own. Blackened chicken drumsticks and spiced, red-hued baked beans, all served in Styrofoam lunch trays, are must-try dishes on the menu. Homemade lemonade washes it all down. BobbyQ Multiple Locations 602-995-5982 bobbyqbbq.com The reason BobbyQ makes it onto this list is because the place is just so fun. The barbecue is solid. But the original location of the restaurant on 27th Avenue is like a Wild West theme park, complete with saguaro ribs, rodeo paintings, and a truck adorned with a massive set of bull horns. The meal starts with a few disks of golden cornbread bathed in butter. Mammoth baby back or St. Louis-style ribs and piles of pulled pork arrive next, and finally, when the check comes, so does a paper bag filled with fresh mini doughnuts hot out of the fryer. The lively atmosphere, where families gather to celebrate birthdays and couples cheers with impossibly large frozen cocktails served in pineapples, bolsters the food at this essential Phoenix experience. 29 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES SEPT 8TH–SEPT 14TH, 2022
