Pork
Carnitas
Intermediate·1 hr 20 min
Luis Ramirez
Pitmaster and founder of BBQ Junkie. Based in Los Angeles, Luis has been smoking meat for over thirty years. When he's not tending a fire, he's building brands at Cast Iron LA.
Luis also publishes BBQ Tri Tip and his personal site at luisramirez.org.
44 articles published
Recipes
Grilled
BBQ Chicken Thighs
Beginner·1 hr 10 min
Smoked / Low & Slow
Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Pork Butt
Advanced·14 hrs
Smoked / Low & Slow
Smoking a Fatty
Beginner·2 hrs 5 min
Sauces & Rubs
Cola BBQ Sauce
Beginner·25 min
Smoked / Low & Slow
BBQ Pork Butt
Intermediate·9 hrs 30 min
Grilled
BBQ Turkey on a Weber Kettle Grill
Intermediate·3 hrs 40 min
Smoked / Low & Slow
Smoked Turkey on a WSM
Intermediate·9 hrs 30 min
Grilled
Beer Can Chicken
Intermediate·1 hr 35 min
Smoked / Low & Slow
Kalua Pork
Intermediate·16 hrs 20 min
Beverages
Kids Summer Drank
Beginner·10 min
Grilled
BBQ Ribs on a Charcoal Grill
Intermediate·5 hrs 30 min
Grilled
BBQ Pizza
Beginner·21 min
Sauces & Rubs
BBQ Rub
Beginner·10 min
Smoked / Low & Slow
Texas-Style Smoked Brisket
Intermediate·14 hrs 30 min
Grilled
No-Fuss Carne Asada
Beginner·20 min
Grilled
BBQ Tri Tip
Beginner·50 min
Sauces & Rubs
Big Lu's Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Beginner·10 min
Sides
Pico de Gallo
Beginner·15 min
Blog Posts
Guides·
How to Pick Your First Smoker (Or Build One)
The smokers worth buying for backyard BBQ — and the DIY plans worth building if you'd rather get your hands dirty. Twenty years of running the Weber Smokey Mountain, with honest notes on the alternatives.
Read articleGuides·
The Complete BBQ Charcoal Guide
Lump vs briquettes, the charcoal chimney starter, where to buy hardwood in LA, and why Kingsford changed with Sure Fire Grooves. Twenty years of charcoal grilling and smoking, condensed.
Read article
News·
The Cajun Injector
A first look at the Cajun Injector -- the perfect stocking stuffer for getting marinade deep into thick cuts of meat.
Read articleOpinion·
Gas or Charcoal?
The age-old debate: gas or charcoal? Convenience vs. flavor, tradition vs. practicality.
Read articleNews·
An American Barbecue Pilgrimage
A nod to David Plotz's barbecue pilgrimage article in Slate Magazine -- a must-read for any BBQ road-tripper.
Read articleLifestyle·
Grill Temperature
The hand count method for gauging grill temperature without a thermometer -- a classic BBQ technique every griller should know.
Read articleBBQ Joint Reviews
Big Mista's Barbecue & Sammich Shop
Long Beach, CA
Permanently closed
Competition-winning BBQ with bold flavors and genuine passion. Big Mista’s brings the heat and the heart.
Maple Block Meat Co.
Culver City, CA
A modern Culver City smokehouse blending Texas technique with California sensibility. Great brisket and a craft beer list to match.
Tasty Q Barbeque
Los Angeles, CA
Permanently closed
Authentic, no-frills Southern BBQ with deep smoky flavor and community roots. A hidden gem that deserved more recognition.
BBQ King
Los Angeles, CA
Permanently closed
A late-night Sunset Blvd. find where Korean and American BBQ traditions collide with delicious, unpretentious results.
Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Long Beach, CA
A polished Southern-themed chain with solid execution and great biscuits. Better than expected for a corporate BBQ concept.
Grandpa Fred's BBQ
Woodland Hills, CA
Permanently closed
A heartfelt family operation with real smoky flavor and generous portions. Woodland Hills’ hidden BBQ gem.
Barn Burner Texas Barbeque
Pasadena, CA
Permanently closed
Promising Texas-style BBQ in Pasadena with good brisket, but confusing per-pound pricing adds up fast.
Memphis Championship Barbecue
Las Vegas, NV
Permanently closed
Championship-caliber Memphis BBQ in Las Vegas with outstanding pulled pork and authentic smoky flavor.
JR's Barbeque
Culver City, CA
Permanently closed
A Culver City staple with flavorful brisket and solid sides. A go-to for no-fuss Southern BBQ in the Westside.
Jax Bar and Grill
Glendale, CA
Permanently closed
More sports bar than BBQ joint. Passable food in a lively Glendale setting, but not a BBQ destination.
Glencrest Bar-B-Que Restaurant
Venice, CA
Permanently closed
A gritty Abbott Kinney original with real-deal Southern BBQ flavor. Unpretentious and memorable.
My Brother's Bar-B-Q
Woodland Hills, CA
Permanently closed
A Woodland Hills institution since 1957 with tender, smoky ribs and old-school BBQ charm.
Outdoor Grill
Inglewood, CA
Permanently closed
A humble Inglewood spot with authentic Southern BBQ flavor and generous portions at hard-to-beat prices.
Santa Maria Barbecue Company
Culver City, CA
Permanently closed
A rare find in LA serving authentic Santa Maria-style tri-tip over red oak. Solid execution but limited in scope.
Mr. Cecil's California Ribs
Santa Monica, CA
Permanently closed
Respectable spare ribs served without sauce, a sign of confidence, but the overall experience was just okay.
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
Agoura Hills, CA
A polished SoCal chain with excellent tri-tip and quality sides, though calling it the ‘best BBQ in Southern California’ is a stretch.
Baby Blues BBQ
Venice, CA
Decent BBQ in Venice with pretty good ribs, but steep prices for lunch and slow service make it a mixed bag.
Rib Ranch Bar-B-Q
Woodland Hills, CA
Solid mesquite-grilled baby back ribs on a pleasant patio, but the tri-tip fell short and it's not worth a long drive.
Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ
Van Nuys, CA
A San Fernando Valley institution serving Tyler Texas-style BBQ with generous portions and charmingly unconventional service.