There's something quintessentially British about a barbeque spread, with blackened sausages, over cooked burgers and a salad that no one eats. We love it. But given our damp squib of a British summer, what are we to do if we want to eat some decent grub but not stand outside in the rain by a wet barbeque all day?
A decade ago, American food wasn’t really eaten over in the UK, but now we can't get enough of pulled pork, chicken wings and slow-cooked brisket.
We love all of that here at Hawkins.
Here are our top five BBQ places to eat in London. Vegetarians look away now. Apologies in advance for any meat innuendos:
Bodeans
This is London's first barbeque joint. Owner Andre Blais, originally from Kansas - the barbeque capital of the world, bought the flavour and style of his hometown back to London. It’s all about the pulled pork, ribs and burnt ends (pieces of meat from a smoked brisket, if you didn’t know). Give yourself the meat sweats with half a chicken, pulled pork and smoked sausage combo. Try the chunky beef ribs, heck try the pork spare ribs too and wash it all down with a slick whiskey cocktail.
Texas Joe’s
They love all things Texas here. Dallas born Joe Walters fulfilled his dream with this authentic Texan BBQ joint. Expect western style posters on the walls, juke box music and perhaps the odd cowboy of two. And be ready to feel a bit dirty as you sample short ribs, brisket, pork belly with sides of bone marrow and bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers. This is where to go if you want a cheesy interior and a filthy menu.
Porky's
For a proper, Memphis style feast then check out Porky's. Owners Joy and Simon Brigg were inspired to bring a taste of Memphis back to the UK, after their travels to America. The Memphis way is to slow cook in pits, with ribs either being dry rubbed or brushed with sauce. Porky's keeps it simple with homemade barbecue sauce, pulled pork and whole roasted chicken. Drooling yet? Dine here and you could be eating such deliciousness as 18 hours smoked pulled pork, dry rub king ribs or Memphis bbq chicken. And in the Shoreditch branch you can join in with their Beer Pong competitions. Beer, beer pong and meat. Win.
Hotbox
If you like your meat and you're happy with a loud venue and sharing seats with other diners then this is for you. With a menu inspired by the Deep South, eat scotch bonnet pork ribs, Smokey bandit beef patty (the humble burger to you and I) and dry rubbed Iberico pork steak. Throw in a side of charred green salad if you need to make yourself feel better.
Pitt Cue
Originally starting out as a food van, serving boxes of barbequed meat, this restaurant is where to come if you want some proper meat but with an adventurous twist. This is real Cowboy food, apparently but without the ribs. Come here for smoked jowl, grilled lamb heart, blood cake (black pudding) and caramel soaked ribs. Await the food induced coma.
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