So yeah, it's safe to say we ate a lot of great barbecue this year. To put a bow on this year, we've put together some of our favorite barbecue bites as 2021 comes to a close.
Pork Belly Hush Puppies at Sugarfire Smokehouse
Sugarfire is a growing barbecue chain that landed in Dallas' Five Points neighborhood. We were curious to see how this St. Louis native stands up in a land of Texas barbecue, and by and large, we're glad they're here to share another take on barbecue. Their pork belly hush puppies were a deep-fried hidden gem from our visit; savory and smoky flecks of pork belly sparkled in each bite. Generally, hush puppies are a cornbread-fried path to feel-good vibes, and the addition of smoky pork belly takes this comfort food to the next level.
Brisket Queso at Burnt BBQ & Tacos
There are a few life rules that will never steer you wrong. First, everything is better with queso, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Two, every queso is better if there's brisket in it. Such is the case with Plano's Burnt BBQ & Tacos. We dined to go, and when we got home, dove right into this cheesy smoky sensation. Bring a couple of forks, shred the chunks of brisket, then mix to your satisfaction. Angie Quebedeaux also sang the praises of Burnt BBQ's brisket fry bread, perhaps proving that the adage should be "everything's better with brisket."
We had been remiss in visiting Harris Bar-B-Que for some time. Harris Bar-B-Que has been regarded as one of the state's best for years, and Kelvin Harris moved his namesake joint north from Waxahachie to Cedar Hill just before the pandemic started. The new location has been a blessing for business and for Dallasites who enjoy the stellar meats with less of a commute (and it's a shorter drive for Harris himself.) Everything was great on our visit, but the lightly glazed pork ribs were remarkable in their simple execution and flavor.
Mexicue Tacos from Hayter's Lounge
Wagyu Breakfast Biscuit (and a fresh-squeezed orange juice) from Derek Allan's Barbecue.
Barbecue for breakfast solves two of our biggest problems with barbecue: long lines and sell-outs. So we woke up early (not pitmaster early, but still, early enough) to bring you a list of the best barbecue joints serving breakfast. One of the best finds was the stellar wagyu brisket on a biscuit from Derek Allan's in Fort Worth, and the fresh-squeezed orange juice was an extra bonus.
Damn near anything that's smoked at Loro Asian Smokehouse
We've spilled a lot of virtual ink about Loro's new spot in east Dallas. It's for good reason. We've been impressed by so much of it. There's the fantastic smash burger topped with bacon jam, or the brisket with an Asian influence or cold-smoked salmon nestled gently in a bowl of fresh vegetables and a cucumber-yuzu broth. And this smoking brilliance is handled by a 5-foot-1-inch-tall woman who is smoking half a ton of meat a week. We can't wait for the second area location of Loro to open in Addison next year.