9. Smoke Shack BBQ + Southern Kitchen
3714 Broadway, (210) 957-1430, smokeshacksa.com
You'll likely smell Midtown's newest barbecue joint before you see it, and once you do, it will be nearly impossible to ignore those 'cue cravings. Broadway's Smoke Shack, owned by Chris and Kate Conger, opened last April for lunch and added dinner hours in May.
After serving food truck fans for four years at the corner of Loop 410 and Nacogdoches, the couple garnered some serious street cred and a fierce following. Now, the brick-and-mortar location, housed in an A-frame building across from the Witte Museum, allows them to serve up double the brisket, BBQ ribs and Smoke Shack Mac.
The long lines—especially around lunch—give you time to weigh the options. The sliders (one slider and two sides for $8, two sliders and two sides for $9) are delicious. Mix it up with brisket, turkey, pulled pork or sausage varieties. A barbecue plate, piled high with your choice of meat, two sides and a roll, will run you anywhere from $10 to $14. You can also try one of their sandwich options, a Frito pie or the Big Dog—a sausage link in a hoagie, topped with brisket, pulled pork, two sauces and vinegar slaw. Conger plans to revamp the menu periodically and we're hoping for an appearance by the crazy-popular off-menu brisket grilled cheese (fingers crossed).
