Kansas City, Here’s Your ‘Cue

Published on Tuesday, August 14, 2007, by Cicely Wedgeworth / Edit Post

After tasting a lot of barbecue in the San Fernando Valley over a period of several months, Steve2 in LA has determined that the ’cue from Kansas City BBQ Company is superior to just about everything else sold by that name in the valley.

Beef and pork ribs are juicy, smoky, and extremely flavorful without the sauce. This ain’t no meat-baked-in-sauce masquerading as barbecue. The flavor comes from a dry rub of paprika, sugar, garlic, black pepper, and spices, plus, of course, smoke. There is a really nice hot-and-sweet sauce, too.

Barbecue beans are amazing: sweet, smoky, and packed with chunks of smoked beef. Sweet potato fries are fab, especially with that barbecue sauce. But potato salad and slaw are nothing special.

Two meat combos with Wonder-type bread and two extra sides run just under $40.

It’s not a destination restaurant, but Joey’s Smokin’ B-B-Q opened recently in Manhattan Beach and Tustin, and it’s surprisingly good, says Nicole, citing the pulled pork and brisket as particularly tasty. Ribs aren’t Joey’s strong suit, and the barbecue sauce is awfully sweet. Avoid the sides, which Xericx describes as “proportioned junk filler instead of being real sides.” OK, it’s not the most authentic ’cue joint ever, but it’s a good option if you’re in the ’hood, and it’s pretty cheap. Burgers are supposed to be worthwhile, too.

Uncle Flip’s is a pretty good option in the area also, with some of the best beef sausage around—juicy and spicy, with a snap in each bite, says Steve2. Try it on a sandwich with some of the tasty sauce and some slaw.

The beans are terrific, too. Sweet, smoky, and meaty, they’re a close second to Kansas City BBQ Company’s. And the chow-chow relish is different and really great. Meatless greens and dirty rice are also good.

Baby back ribs are good, if not spectacular—juicy and flavorful. The pulled pork (that’s Niman Ranch, mind you) is moist and pleasant.

Look out for the Kobe beef sandwich and ribs—they go fast. Lunch here is a steal: A pulled pork sandwich with two sides and a drink is $5 even.

Kansas City BBQ Company [San Fernando Valley]
4141 Lankershim Boulevard, Studio City
818-754-0030
Location

Joey’s Smokin’ B-B-Q [South Bay]
3200 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, Manhattan Beach
310-563-9072
Location

Joey’s Smokin’ B-B-Q [Orange County]
Tustin Marketplace
2915 El Camino Real, Tustin
714-544-4106
Location

Uncle Flip’s Smoke Pit [San Fernando Valley]
4715 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood
818-980-7427
Location

Board Links: BBQ in the Valley
is barbeque in the Valley a contradiction in terms?
Uncle Flip’s Smoke Pit in North Hollywood
Joey’s smokin’ bbq in Irvine

ALLLos Angeles Digest
POST A COMMENT |2 Comments

COMMENT

  • I grew up near St. Louis, and then in Arkansas, and spent several years in Kansas City, where my parents live and I visit regularly to get my fix of BBQ. So, I went to this place this weekend as a BBQ snob. And, I was ecstatic to find that it's the REAL deal.

    I thought the sliced pork was great, that is until I bit into the ribs, and then into the burnt ends. I've been trying to explain burnt...+READ

    I grew up near St. Louis, and then in Arkansas, and spent several years in Kansas City, where my parents live and I visit regularly to get my fix of BBQ. So, I went to this place this weekend as a BBQ snob. And, I was ecstatic to find that it's the REAL deal.

    I thought the sliced pork was great, that is until I bit into the ribs, and then into the burnt ends. I've been trying to explain burnt ends to my LA friends for years, and these are amazing. Oh yeah, and the beans and sweet potatoe fries kicked ass, too. Tonight I had my leftovers, and just like good fried chicken and bbq should, it just got spicier and even better cold.

    Far and away better than any BBQ I've had since I moved to the west coast. And, honestly, every bit as good, if not better, than most of my favorite haunts in KC.

    I do have to say, though, I'm very disappointed in one thing. Mainly the fact that I've been on a diet and am going to weigh about six hundred pounds \with this so close to my office.-COLLAPSE

  • just an update--kansas city ribs has since moved to magnolia like three blocks east of lankersham across the street from ralphs store. i really love their beef ribs. i only eat beef ribs and only eat them dry with the dryrub on them. to me it makes it that much better to taste the smokieness. i also just love the crisp fat layer of spice coated fat. the beans are probably the best i have tasted...+READ

    just an update--kansas city ribs has since moved to magnolia like three blocks east of lankersham across the street from ralphs store. i really love their beef ribs. i only eat beef ribs and only eat them dry with the dryrub on them. to me it makes it that much better to taste the smokieness. i also just love the crisp fat layer of spice coated fat. the beans are probably the best i have tasted in l.a. lots of chunks of beef/pork in it. i also like the tater salad though its not great. i've traveled thru out l.a. and to me this is the tops for beef ribs. ribs usa, hoggly, big bear don't even come close. woodys on chrenshas and slasoun and the red barn on the corner of adams and chrenshaw are also good.-COLLAPSE