Texas / K.C. / Memphis / N. Car....Best BBQ?

[Bevo-Stevo]

Watching American Eats on History Channel. All about BBQ and the 4 major regions it's associated most strongly with: Texas, K. City, N. Carolina, and Memphis

Now, I've been to Memphis, Carolina, and obviously Texas. I must say, I am a bit partial to Texas BBQ because of my familiarity with it. But, I'm curious to know from folks who've sampled BBQ from all 4 places.....what's the best? Not your favorite, but the best overall. Here are the categories:

1) Brisket
2) Sausage
3) Spare Ribs
4) Baby Backs
5) Beef Ribs

Thanks.

 

[GakFoo]

is this some sort of a joke

 

[jimmyjazz]

My thoughts: the best brisket clearly comes from Texas. It's not even close. I'd probably give Texas the nod for sausage, too, mostly because it tends to be pretty spicy. I'll also go with Texas for beef ribs.

Now, I'll go to my grave saying KC makes the best pork ribs, either spare or baby back style. Some would say St. Louis for spare ribs, but that's a cut, not so much a style.

One other category: pork shoulder & the like. The Carolinas rule for pork, as long as we're not talking ribs.

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

You'll only find people focusing on the beef ribs here in Texas; don't know but would assume in the other regions the availability of beef ribs in the average grocery store is slim to nil.

& Even in some of these cities / regions you describe, there are differences. Went to Memphis this past July & had 'cue @ two of the more famous places in town - The Rondezvous & Blues City. Night & day between them; the R does it hot 'n fast over charcoal. The ribs exterior gets a crispy thing going on. Had it MUCH better this time as compared to the last, which was about 9 years ago.

Music City was OK but nothing to rave about to anyone. Had better @ Chili's... IMO.

 

[AUinAustin]

Well you left our pork which is a Carolina specialty. I love carolina pork with a vinegar sauce...
1,2,5 are Texas
I really like Memphis baby backs..

 

[LazyEngineer]

I defy anyone to go to Arthur Bryants in Kansas City and tell me those aren't the best pork ribs you've ever eaten. The fries cooked in lard ain't bad either.

 

[campwillben]

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[Beamwalker]

1)Texas
2)Texas (only place you find a lot of jalepenos)
3&4) KC dry rub - crispy on the outside and tender as hell
5) Texas is the only place that really has them.

I love beef ribs, its just savage, like a caveman eating a mammoth or something.

 

[45th St.]

I am not an expert on this topic, so feel free to correct me, but from what I understand BBQ refers to a way to cook meat (slow cooking meat with heat and smoke), not an actual food, although BBQ refers to a specific food in the regions you discuss. The reason I know this is because if you go to the Carolinas and go to a BBQ place, they will serve pulled pork and it will have very different sauces than what we are used to in Texas, and sausage and brisket will not be on the menu. I would guess that most people outside of Texas associate pork with BBQ and would not think about brisket. Now outside of Texas the best brisket is in NYC (pastrami at Katz's) or Montreal (smoked meat), although it might not be classified as BBQ. The best smoked sausage outside of Texas would be in Louisiana (andouille). Now after brisket and sausage from Texas, my favorite BBQ is cabrito (slow cooked goat) from Monterrey, Mexico.

 

[NEwherebutA&M]

I'm sure we're all partial to Texas BBQ.

My mom is from NC, and I love going back to visit. First thing we always to is go to this old restraunt from back in her days as a kid and get a pulled pork sandwich. Now, they like to put cole slaw on their sandwich, which I will have none of that. But pork from NC is one of my favorites.

I'm so f'n hungry now.

 

[UpRight]

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[Jellydonuts]

"I defy anyone to go to Arthur Bryants in Kansas City and tell me those aren't the best pork ribs you've ever eaten. The fries cooked in lard ain't bad either."

Sorry, but I am going to have to defy you. It is average meat covered in ketchup. I will take City Market's ribs over them any day and that isn't even their best item. I am obviously partial to Texas bbq, but I do enjoy Carolina and Memphis style also. KC bbq sucks.

 

[DalTexHornFan]

I think the Rendezvous in Memphis has the best baby-back ribs anywhere. A rack of dry and a rack of wet for me please. I also can appreciate a good carolina pulled-porked sammich. Otherwise, Texas rules.

 

[Ankf00]

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[GakFoo]

i'll agree with jellydonut, arthur bryants is very good (as are the other kc joints i have tried), and i'll eat there when i have the chance, but both city market in luling and artz rib house in austin have much better pork ribs. by far. texas rules in every other category except pulled pork. i just don't even see it much in texas. i like to make it at home as a change of pace and can replicate it (and the mustard based sauce) pretty well. damn this is making me hungry for some que.