Tuesday, May 28, is National Brisket Day. If you’ve had corned beef or pastrami before, you’ve had brisket. This large piece of flavor-packed beef is often cured or smoked, but it’s also one of the best cuts for braising and slow cooking. Plan to celebrate National Brisket Day with one of your favorites or try something new.
DTLA
Freeway Sammies at LA Brisket
Looking at LA Brisket’s menu, you know you are in for a terrific brisket experience. LA Brisket uses all-natural beef with no added hormones. It is cooked “low and slow” for 15 hours. The brisket is exceptionally tender and is used to make “freeway” sandwiches, rice bowls, and loaded fries.
LA Brisket, 736 N Broadway, Los Angeles; 213.537.0513
or 18189 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia; 562.356.8277; labrisket.com
Prime Brisket at Magal BBQ
Magal BBQ is a K-town BBQ featuring 2-3-person combos around beef or pork. The house specialty is the Mapo Galmaegi or pork skirt meat. The brisket is paper-thin and cooks quickly.
Magal BBQ, 3460 W. 8th St., Koreatown; 213.383.1909
Central Texas-Style at Moo’s Craft Barbecue
Owners Andrew and Michelle Muñoz of Moo’s Craft Barbecue started in their Boyle Heights backyard, became famous in Smorgasburg LA, and now run a successful brick-and-mortar. The meat is styled after Central Texas BBQ and is sliced to order. Houston-based photographer Ben Sassani Instagrammed a photo with the caption: “If @mooscraftbarbecue were in Texas, it’d be top 10.”
Moo’s Craft Barbecue, 2118 N Broadway, LA; mooscraftbarbecue.com
Tex-Mex at HomeState
HomeState draws a crowd for its Tex-Mex specialties, such as breakfast tacos, queso, and migas. The Lonestar Migas is made with organic eggs scrambled with crispy corn strips, onions, cheese, shredded brisket, and fresh pico de gallo. HomeState now has quite a few locations across LA.
HomeState 12105 W Waterfront Drive, Suite B, Playa Vista; 213.296.2383
10000 Washington Blvd Unit 104, Culver City; 310.953.4486
4624 Hollywood Blvd, East Hollywood; 323.906.1122
5611 N Figueroa St Unit #1, Highland Park; 323.204.9397
13424 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks; 818.658.3643
1992 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena; 323.982.8600; myhomestate.com
Mesquite smoked at Smoke City Char Bar
Chef Omari Williams may look familiar because you remember watching him compete on Food Network’s “Cut Throat Kitchen” and “Chopped”. His mesquite brisket is served as burnt ends on top of deviled eggs, a Mexican fusion salad with napa cabbage, a Vietnamese-style banh mi, or simply a la carte by pound.
Smoke City Char Bar; 899 Traction Ave, LA; 213.935.8194; smokecitycharbar.com
Mid City
Texas-style at Bludso’s Bar & Que
I was surprised when Bludso’s Bar & Que closed their Compton restaurant and joined forces with gastropub Golden State. Together, they opened a brick-and-mortar on La Brea in Santa Monica and the Valley. If you ever wondered what it was like to have an authentic Texas barbecue with craft beer, Bludso’s Bar & Que is your place to visit. Pair your meal with Junior’s Paloma with sea salt and chili powder on the rim.
Bludso’s Bar & Que, 609 N La Brea Ave, LA; 323.931.2583
1329 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica; 310.310.2775
13631 Saticoy St Van Nuys; 818.849.5237; barandque.com
Soul of LA at Woody’s Bar-B-Que
Woody’s Bar-B-Que is a family-owned business with some of the same employees for over 30 years. They prepare and sell beef and pork ribs, rib tips, and chicken. Their beef brisket is smoked for hours with a special marinade that gives it a tasty outer crust.
Woody’s Bar-B-Que, 475 S. Market St. Inglewood; 310.672.4200
1958 W. Florence Ave. LA; 323.758.8303; woodysbarbquela.com
Westside
Peachwood Smoked at Maple Block Meat Co.
Maple Block Meat Co. smokes its meat in locally available peach wood, which results in a pleasant, sweet flavor without being inundated with smoke. Their brisket is tender and juicy, but best of all, it has a delicious bark. Their brisket sandwich has red cabbage slaw, pickled shallots, and chimichurri sauce.
Maple Block Meat, 3973 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City, 310.313.6328; mapleblockmeatco.com
South Bay and Long Beach
Brisket with Craft Beer at HopSaint Brewery
HopSaint Brewery is located in Torrance and jointly runs a restaurant. The kitchen is first-rate and produces better food than most LA area gastropubs. Their Brisket Po Boy includes roasted red pepper chipotle sauce, house slaw, and house fries.
HopSaint Brewery, 5160 W 190th St, Torrance; hopsaint.com
Memphis-style at Willingham’s World Champion BBQ
John Willingham is a member of the Barbecue Hall of Fame, and his name is synonymous with Memphis barbecue. Owner Phil Bae has been smoking barbecue since 2001 and trained in Memphis to learn Willingham’s method. Their brisket is moist and flavorful. Bae slices it in front of you so you can specify whether you like your cut lean or with some marbling.
Willingham’s World Champion BBQ, 443 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach; willinghambbq.com
Texas-style Brisket at Robert Earl’s BBQ
One of Long Beach’s best-kept secrets is Robert Earl’s BBQ. Earl began his backyard, quickly gained attention, and started a food truck and a brick-and-mortar restaurant in North Long Beach. His brisket is smoked for 20 hours low and slow.
Robert Earl’s BBQ, 703 E Artesia Blvd, Long Beach, 562.726.1116; robertearlsbbq.com
Louisana Family Recipes at Twin’s Smokehouse BBQ
Their Louisana family recipe is the base for the seasoning of their delicious brisket. It’s available as a sandwich, sliced with two sides, or a la carte. Arrive early since it sells out every day.
Twin’s Smokehouse BBQ, 1555 W Willow St, Long Beach; twinssmokehousebbq.com
Orange County
Burnt Ends at Smoqued California BBQ
At Smoqued California Barbeque, all meats are low and slow-cooked over hickory, red oak, and fruitwood. The brisket is smoked between 10 and 12 hours. If you’re into burnt ends, check out their double-smoked brisket cubes caramelized in their housemade BBQ sauce
Smoqued California BBQ, 128 N Glassell St, Orange, 714.633.7427; smoquedcaliforniabbq.com
Oak Wood Smoked at Jav’s Bar-B-Q
Jav’s Bar-B-Q is smoked in an all-wood pit with oak wood for at least 12 hours to create a rich and sweet smoke flavor. The result is juicy and flavorful Central Texas BBQ. Enjoy their brisket, available as a plate meal or as a sandwich with optional sides.
Jav’s Bar-B-Q, 500 S. Anaheim Blvd. #D, Anaheim, 714.844.2680; javsbbq.co