Bites Nearby: Smokin' Choices for July Fourth

This post was written by Phyllis Armstrong.

Some connoisseurs of American barbecue insist that there is a lot more to the cooking method than throwing some meat on a charcoal or gas grill and slapping some sauce on it. In fact, a February article in The Washington Post lays out the reasons some urban barbecue joints use nothing but wood to smoke ribs, brisket, chicken and more for long hours.

Where did the term barbecue and the method of slowly cooking meat over wood originate? A 2009 Time Magazine article suggests the Spanish used the word barbacoa when they saw natives use wood to cook meats in the Caribbean. Barbecuing was popular in the American south by the 19th century. Today, different regions are known for their barbecue specialties, with the four best known being Texas, North Carolina, Memphis and Kansas City.

Sitting down to a big plate of barbecue and sides is as much a part of the July Fourth holiday as fireworks for many of us. If you want to partake without the hours of work, you can get your barbecue fix at a variety of restaurants and barbecue joints in the Washington, DC, area. Some of them come with the bragging rights they've earned with the trophies or rave reviews.

In Washington City Paper's 2013 Reader's Poll, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company nabbed first place. Hill Country Barbecue Market and Urban BBQ Company were the runners-up. The DCist names the nine best barbecue joints in the District, including Mr. P's Ribs & Fish on Rhode Island Avenue NE and Kenny's Smokehouse on Maryland Avenue NE.

Almost any reputable barbecue place sells southern sides that usually include potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese and collard greens. The best of the bunch also offer a variety of homemade sauces. Here are some of the barbecue spots open on July Fourth:

SILVER SPRING

Urban BBQ - Hillandale Shopping Center
10163 New Hampshire Blvd.
301-434-7427

http://www.urbanbbqco.com/

Call in orders starting at 11 a.m. for July Fourth pick up. Call at least two hours ahead to put in orders for 50 people or more.

BETHESDA

Smoke BBQ
4858 Cordell Ave.
301-656-2011

http://www.smokebbqbethesda.com/

Come in or call ahead for dry seasoned and slow smoked meats with sides. Please give 24 hours notice for orders of 5 pounds or more.

ROCKVILLE

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company (Next to Food Lion)
891A Rockville Pike
240-268-1120

http://www.rocklands.com/

Rocklands gets frequent mentions as one of the best in the area. Call two days ahead (when possible) if ordering for 15 people or more.

ELLICOTT CITY

Honey Pig (Korean)
10045 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD
410-696-2426

http://www.eathoneypig.com/

This Korean-style BBQ restaurant is open 24 hours. It has received high marks even though it is not your typical American barbecue.

EMMITSBURG, MD

Chubby's Southern Style Barbeque 
16430 Old Frederick Rd.
Emmitsburg, MD
301-447-3322

http://chubbysbbq.net/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/03/27/hey-isnt-that-chris-santos-again-w...

The Chubby's website says this restaurant serves the only Michelin four-star rated barbecue in the country. It is a local favorite of Chris Santos, a celebrity chef.

IJAMSVILLE & FREDERICK, MD

Black Hog BBQ & Bar
118 South Market St.
Frederick, MD
301-662-9090

Black Hog BBQ & Bar
Urban Village Center on Worthington Boulevard
240-699-0070

http://blackhogbbq.com/

Black Hog sells everything from barbecue chicken, ribs, brisket and sausage sandwiches to meat by the pound as well as southern sides.

FORT WASHINGTON, MD

Smoke Shack Ribs & BBQ
9119 Livingston Rd.
Fort Washington, MD
301-248-8200

http://www.smokeshackribs.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/smokeshack-ribs-restaurant-fort-washington

The Smoke Shack's website claims to offer the best barbecue ribs in Maryland. Four-star rating from Yelp.

DISTRICT

Old Glory All-American Bar-b-que
3139 M St. NW
202-337-3406

http://oldglorybbq.com/

Old Glory has representations of each style of American "Q" and trophies to prove the authenticity.

Hill Country Barbecue
410 7th St. NW
Washington, DC
202-556-2050

http://www.hillcountrywdc.com/

Hill Country makes fresh barbecue daily, smoked low and slow over Texas post oak. The restaurant features live music and the barbecue traditions of Texas.

When the July Fourth celebration has ended, satisfy your barbecue cravings with a stop at one of the area's food trucks.

CURLEY'S Q FOOD TRUCK

http://www.curleysq.com/

DCist included Curley's Q in its list of nine best places to get barbecue. David Cornblatt smokes his ribs, chicken and brisket low and slow over hardwood. Curley's got the first place award for beef brisket at this year's DC Meat Week barbecue competition.

http://dcist.com/2013/06/best_barbecue_restaurants_in_dc.php

CARNIVORE BBQ FOOD TRUCKS & CATERING

Historic Hollins Market
26 S. Arlington Ave.
Baltimore, MD
240-401-9964 (for catering)

http://carnbbq.com/

A carnivore sandwich graced the front of Baltimore City Paper's Cheap Eats edition in March. Steve Adelson now has three food trucks selling smoked meats and sides as well as a walk-in place at Historic Hollins Market in Baltimore.

http://citypaper.com/news/issue-10-cheap-eats-1.1454116

Go to Food Truck Fiesta online to find the locations for Curley's and Carnivore, or to check out other barbecue food trucks.

http://foodtruckfiesta.com/