Make no bones about it: Philadelphia has the sauciest, smokiest ribs and the crispiest, juiciest wings around. Whether it’s a box of baby backs from a takeout spot, an authentic Texas-style brisket on a picnic table or a high-end restaurant’s take on Korean fried chicken, these down-home eats are sure to appease any and all comfort-food cravings. Here are just a few places to pick up the delectable dishes all over the Philadelphia region:
Right On ’Cue:
- The Blind Pig is a Northern Liberties, Philadelphia,Cozy gastropub features a wide selection of canned beers, creative sandwiches, darts & pool tables. www.BlindPigPhilly.com
- a Great South Philly BBQ joint The Bomb Bomb Bar B Que Grill & Italian restaurant, Old-school neighborhood joint offering classic Italian dishes & slow-smoked Southern-style barbecue, 1026 Wolf St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, bombbombphilly.com
- At Jimmy’s BBQ, a diminutive chow-stop in Malvern, the tasty fare includes pulled chicken with a lemon pepper/brown sugar rub, hickory-smoked pulled pork, ribs and brisket, dirty corn, whipped sweets and Phillies party combos of the tasty treats. 309 W. Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, (610) 879-8805, jimmysbbq.com
- Erin O’Shea studied the art of barbecue in Texas before opening Percy Street Barbecue on South Street. Her authentic burnt ends, pinto beans and banana pudding showcase those traditions, while the pork belly, vegan chili and specialty cocktails flaunt her chef skills. South Street between 9th & 10th Streets, (215) 625-8510, percystreet.com
- The specialty at Phoebe’s Bar-B-Q, which has been smoking on South Street since 1994, is Oklahoma barbecue, and the succulent brisket, ribs and pit meats by the pound are now available at a newer Roxborough location too. 2214 South Street, (215) 546-4811; 5002 Umbria Street, Roxborough, (215) 483-1330, phoebesbbq.com
- As judges on the pitmaster circuit, Pig Daddy’s BBQ founders Linda, Jerry and Chris Mullane soaked up quite a bit of BBQ know-how, evident in the ribs, sausage, Carolina pulled pork and “BBQ Sundaes” offered at their Drexel Hill takeout eatery and catering business. 693 Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, (610) 622-6441, pigdaddysbarbecue.com
- A Germantown institution, The Rib Crib is a takeout-only counter where the ribs are smoked to impossible tenderness, slathered with either hot or mild sauce and boxed up with fluffy slices of white bread for sopping. 6333 Germantown Avenue, (215) 438-6793
- At Center City’s eclectic comfort food eatery Smokin’ Betty’s, the ribs are St. Louis-style, the ’slaw is Carolina-inspired and the smoked brisket is served with potato latkes. 116 S. 11th Street, (215) 922-6500, smokinbettys.com
- The hickory-smoked ribs and chicken at Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse have won this Northeast Philly BBQ hotspot countless accolades, and the turkey breast, pulled pork and sides such as collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes and creamed spinach are equally luscious. 7500 State Road, (215) 333-9663, sweetlucys.com
- A Manayunk neighborhood favorite operating from a tiny bus stop shack, Tommy Gunns American Barbecue and Catering dishes out pan-regional favorites such as Kansas City baby backs, Carolina pork, Texas brisket and baked beans and a uniquely Philadelphian deep-fried macaroni and cheese. 4901 Ridge Avenue, (215) 508-1030, tommygunns.net
Out Of The Frying Pan:
- Korean fried chicken—salty, sweet, spicy and double-fried to joyful crispness—is in a category of its own, and unassuming hangout Café Soho serves a winning basket of these addictive wings, to be washed down with pickled daikon and icy glasses of soju. 468 W. Cheltenham Avenue, (215) 224-6800
- The retro, rec-room vibe at Jones complements the kitchen’s comfort eats—and the fried chicken served over waffles with gravy is the stuff that homey dreams are made of. 700 Chestnut Street, (215) 223-5663, jones-restaurant.com
- At the upscale soul-foodery Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar Lounge on South Street, mac and cheese, tropical sweet tea and sweet potato cheesecake serve as the perfect accompaniments to the crispy, perfectly seasoned fried chicken. 1312-14 South Street, (215) 985-9001, kevenparker.net
- The signature “broasted” birds at Speck’s Drive-In remain a Collegeville legend. Shatteringly crunchy pressure-fried breasts are embellished by homemade potato salad, fries and/or coleslaw—not to mention thick black and white milkshakes. 3969 Ridge Pike, Collegeville, (610) 489-2110
Smoky Days & Nights:
- It’s a sweet-and-smoky deal at Pub & Kitchen on Wednesdays, when $17 buys a half-rack of ribs, Anson Mils grits, coleslaw and an optional pint of Tröegs Sunshine Pils. 1946 Lombard Street, thepubandkitchen.com
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