Blue Belly BBQ

Went here with a group of four and EVERYONE left happy =) Two of our group ordered a meat which came with THREE sides, and the other two of us ordered just sides.
The loaded tater tots are almost a spiritual experience, though not for the weak of lactose tolerance.
Mac and cheese was super creamy, brussel sprouts were crunchy and fresh.
This place is BYOB but they also sell ginger beer. Get here early because there are very few places to sit. We were lucky and arrived before the crowd. The only reason I’m not rating this place 5 stars is because it was really cold inside despite the seats being basically in the kitchen.

Friday night, and we decided that it would be a perfect evening for takeout BBQ. My husband was working out at his gym in NOLibs, so decided he’d pick something up from one of our favorites, Fette Sau. Fortunately for us, Fette Sau didn’t open until 5:00 PM and we wanted to head out of the city before traffic got too cray. Chris turned to Unilocal and found solid reviews for Blue Belly, so after picking me up from work we headed in the opposite direction to SoPhilly.
The owner /​master BBQ guy was super friendly and chatted it up w/​us as he finished up our platters… We ordered the St. Louis style ribs, short ribs & pork shoulders and basically tried every side except for the fries. DELISH! The BBQ sauce was also really yummy — although the owner made me PROMISE that I would actually try the meat first before submerging it in the sauce… He probably took one look at me and could tell that I’m all about the BBQ sauce!
The meal came at a great price and we will certainly be back soon! Also — I’m looking forward to trying the smoked liverwurst sandwich special as well as the fried oysters next go ’round…

Now I’m not one of those nerds who knows about «smoke rings» and cooking for eleventy billion hours and all that jazz but for my money this was the best BBQ I’ve had in this city.
Prices are high here, for sure, but don’t let that dissuade you. These are big, sleep inducing sandwiches best regarded as proper meals rather than a quick grab & go. Sit down, relax, enjoy.
I went with the Korean Beef. Overflowing, salty, sweet, savory… sexy. Yeah it was. Pleasured me straight to my Seoul.
My very healthy, very in shape girlfriend devoured her beef brisket platter and agreed this was the best meat between bread in the city.
Sat and ate inside and everyone we encountered was casually nice and the walls are decorated with a ton of those signs pointing out what parts of what animal certain meats come from. Love those things.

I have literally been carrying around a slip of brown paper that contains my reactions to each item I ate here, for four months.
Blue Belly. Holy BBQ, Batman. This place. Nothing in DC can even compare to this place. Fortunately for me, my bestie just moved around the corner from Blue Belly, so I have an excuse to go to Philly and eat here more often.
It’s cash only, so be prepared. It’s also pretty small and intimate, and the staff can come off as curt. But that really didn’t matter to me because the food WAS INCREDIBLE.
Started with the loaded tots. Tater tots, plus cheese, plus meat, plus scallions, plus red peppers and sauce. «Each bite is better than the last,» I wrote, as I consumed this take on comfort food. Are tater tots a comfort food? For me, yes. Yes they are.
I had the fried bologna sandwich, which was tasty, but I would get something else next time. The meat was perfectly cooked, but the sauces really stole the show. Hot sauce, sweet bbq, classic vinegar base, mustard-​based, and siracha bbq. Five different sauces to pick from, or mix, or do literally whatever.
The purple cabbage slaw was tangy and refreshing, and the fries were perfectly cooked– crispy and well-​seasoned.
I will be back. I may honestly make a trip just for Blue Belly. So. Amazingly. Good.

I wanted to like this place after a chef friend of mine said it was worthwhile. I really didn’t care for it though. The brisket I got was dry and way too thick cut, almost tasted like it was a few days old. The seasoning was spot on though. The Ribs were terrible, just terrible. They needed 3 – 4 hours more cooking time. Fat was barely rendered, had almost no smoke flavor and falling off the bone wasn’t even an option. Honestly the worst ribs I’ve ever paid for.
The Sides: Big ding in score for not having the Brussels. You have a handful of items on your menu, you should have all of them. You could have walked to the Market and bought them if you were out. The mac and cheese was great, something real different in flavor about it that had me guessing. Whatever it was I loved it. Collard greens were spot on as well, cooked through with just a little bite and good flavor, little bit of heat too. The corn cakes I didn’t understand. Taste like plain masa, very flat on the palate. They would be good with pulled pork over top of them but alone as a side they needed salt and seasoning.
Dessert: The have none. Booooo.
I should qualify this with the fact that I did get it for take out. But for what they charge it should be great when I get it home.

Listen people, my mama didn’t name me Big Texas for nothing. I know my way around some damn Bee Bee Que. And no I’m not talking about the embarrassing crap weenies that half of you serve to invited guest and pass off the event as a quote unquote ‘barbecue.’ I’m talking getting the whole damn shoulder of pork from my butcher and cooking that thing with 11 hours of slow rubbed love, Capital B, Capital B, Capital damn Q, barbecue.
I’ve lived in the the «City of Brotherly Excuses for Commercial BBQ» for nearly a decade and have the emotional BBQ scars to show for it. You won’t see any of those places in my Unilocal files because really, they are an embarrassment to themselves and to the craft. i won’t name names, but you’re all officially on notice: It’s step your game up time!
If I’m ever in a position to pick my last meal, this is the hands down winner… no second place. If Blue Belly’s is closed, then go find Gene at his home and tell him that a dying man has requested his food as the last thing that he will ever consume and the first thing to emerge as he takes his last breath and evacuates. Too much? Perhaps, but you get my point.
I’m not of the «Best. Meal. Ever.» generation. Mainly because I abhor one word sentences. I find them to be lazy. Lazy like those frozen Costco beef patties at your cut rate cookouts. Lazy like Will and Kate picking George as the name for for their royal spawn. Lazy like the canned baked beans and tasteless slaw at the average Philly BBQ joint. So while I won’t be as hyperbolic as I feel, I will be honest and say that this meal reminded me that not everything has to be complicated.
We walked in to a simple place where one cool brother served as chef, waiter, cashier, sommelier and comic relief. We were made to feel comfortable. Our beer was refrigerated, even though we had a cooler. Wine glasses were retrieved for the ladies (but if you are classier than us and don’t have a twist off, I’d recommend a nice California Cab and a wine key, because Blue Belly isn’t interested in being anything other than the place to get perfectly cooked BBQ meats).
The food was perfect. We had about half the menu at your table and everything was incredible. The ribs might be the best that I’ve had that didn’t come off my dad’s grill (a man who knows the meaning of the sacred art of grilling and raised his son to know quality when it’s right in his face).
Go to Blue Belly’s. Ignore these «smartest guy in the internet» Unilocalers who thrive off of negativity. This place is the real deal. Enjoy yourselves. and oh yeah, tell ‘em Big Texas sent you!

To Whom It May Concern,
Because of a recent visit to Blue Belly, I am presently in a state of BBQ induced euphoria. Could it be the tastiest smoked chicken wings that I ever ate in my life, all perfectly seasoned and devoid of any grease, or is it the mouthwatering brisket that is altering my cognition? Maybe it was the drumstick-​like pork shanks that were one of the specials of the day, all fat free and juicy that are lubricating my neuronal synapses? Or could it be the nicely browned brussell sprouts, fried up to order, or the baked beans with bacon and carrot pieces here and there that have surreptitiously increased the Dopamine levels in my brain? It could be the tangy potato salad or the creamy mac and cheese, the latter of which was so surreptitiously placed in front of us, compliments of the chef, a friendly guy who entertained us throughout the meal as we watched his culinary skill at work. Yes, BBQ afficionado, Blue Belly is the place to go to get your fix. Your belly, and your brain, will thank you!

Craving BBQ one night, I hopped on Dining In and saw that they offered delivery from Blue Belly BBQ, located in South Philly. I’ve often lamented the fact that Center City lacks decent southern BBQ, with Fette Sau holding its own beyond the north borders and Blue Belly BBQ down south. So disregarding last year’s Twitter drama over a bad Unilocal review (especially because Chef Gene Giuffi has since apologized), I was excited to finally get a taste of Blue Belly BBQ for myself.
Painted Hills Beef Brisket ($ 15)
Mac n Cheese, Corn Cakes, Red Cole Slaw
At first, the glutton in me was a bit disappointed in the quantity of brisket in the platter. But considering that quality trumps quantity and in fact, the platter was filling in its own right, I stand corrected. Chef Giuffi of Cohon BYOB fame smokes his meats for up to 12 hours, and on the brisket, the smoke ring clearly shows. The brisket is tender, toothsome, and juicy, with a salty bark. Nice. Would totally love to eat the burnt ends off of these.
Berkshire Pork Shoulder ($ 15)
Brussels Sprouts, Mac n Cheese, Fingerling Potato Salad
The oft-​lauded Berkshire was up to caliber here. The marbling of the pork was on point — the pork was perfectly cooked, moist, and succulent. There was a hint of smokiness which I enjoyed.
But for me, when considering good BBQ, the sides are almost as important as the meats. Luckily, the platters came with the choice of three sides each!
Fingerling Potato Salad
The potato salad was a nice iteration — creamy, eggy potatoes with hints of chives and onions.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can’t get much better than this — a perfect char on the greens, with sauteed red peppers and onions. The crisp nuggets of extremely thick-​cut bacon added heft to this side. I could eat these as a main.
Corn Cakes
The thick corn cakes had whole kernels of corn interspersed throughout. A product of delivery, these were slightly soggy, but still hefty and delicious. The accompanying white sauce added a tart, bright element to this side.
Red Cole Slaw
The vinegary red slaw provided an appreciated countervailing balance to the heft of the meats.
Mac n Cheese
Every decent BBQ joint has great mac n cheese and Blue Belly BBQ didn’t disappoint. The perfectly al dente macaroni noodles were coated with an extremely creamy cheese sauce — a mix of cheddar and American perhaps.
I’m happy to say that Philly can hold its own in the BBQ arena, thanks in part to Blue Belly BBQ. I wish there were more options in the heart of Center City, but it’s nice to know that there are reasons to venture beyond outside those borders. But perhaps it’s a good thing. Because the belly of this pig would definitely be a lot bigger.

Good sandwiches, tasty sides, nice presentation, and it’s all made to order. No one is spooning sloppy Joes out of a warming tray and passing it off as bar-​b-​q, this is the real deal.
I had the Korean style beef sandwich, and it was delicious. The little corn-​fritter do-​dads are terrific too, and are served with just a dab of bacon aoli.
The place is not much for ambiance, but hey, what do I know, I was born in a barn. Besides, I would be wary of a BBQ joint with fancy tablecloths and flowers on the table.
I’ll be going back again to try something different. Maybe the jerked chicken sandwich.
They’re cash only, because the banks are the devil, and every time you split a check between 5 credit cards, you make baby me cry.

I like Blue Belly BBQ. It’s in a great neighborhood, it looks fine (inside & outside), the staff are friendly. Ok, now for the food. I think it’s really good but a bit on the pricey side. The Korean Beef Sandwich was fine (although to be honest I expected a little more Kim Chee flavor) but $ 13 is a little steep for the size of it. Yes, you do get sides — a small ordinary cole slaw and some french fries that were tasty enough but you have no option to get the sandwhich at a lower price without the sides. And when you add in something to drink, you have a fairly pricey take-​out. But at least the food is good!
p. s. I also like their Mexican Lamb-​type sandwich.

It’s all about the S’s at this place — the sides, service and smell. The main dish I ordered was good — but the sides were amazing! I would eat a buffet of the sides as my dinner and be beyond content. The Brussels sprouts and collards couldn’t have been better. The mac-​and-​cheese is off the hook (the chef shared his secret with me… ask and ye shall receive!).
The service on a Sunday night couldn’t be better. The waitress was happy as can be, and cook was delighted when I asked if the great flavor of the brisket was thyme.
And finally the smell… once you walk into this place, the smell is so delightful you are instantly hungry.
Get it to go, get it to stay — and if you are staying, BYO!

Blue Belly’s ribs are what ribs should be: tender and meaty. At first I was confused by the pinkish color since they didn’t seem the least bit undercooked, but then Google told me that ribs turn pink when they are properly smoked. The more you know! Try them with the various sauces all you want, but I will take mine straight up because they are that good.
On my last visit I opted to try the chicken. It’s a half (small sized, and apparently from Lancaster) chicken, and the breast is boneless. Not a dry bite anywhere, and a little bit of the sweet BBQ sauce was the perfect complement.
For sides, I stick with my three choices. The mac and cheese does not make me weak in the knees but it’s pretty damn good. The collards are a solid choice; they’re not fancy or overly salty. Corn cakes? YES PLEASE.
I have not yet tried any of the sandwiches but that’s next.
Eat-​in service is just fine but I do wish the place had a little more ambiance. There’s no place to hang a coat. The bathroom is… interesting. But this is clearly more of a take-​out joint so I can always just take this delicious food home with me.
Cash only, and they are open past 7 on the weekends now.

Finally was able to get here to see what all the hub bub is about. Had the Jerk Chicken sandwich — and it was amazing! Whatever they’re doing in the kitchen is right on. The flavors were amazing. This is unlike any other jerk chicken I’ve ever tasted. The roll was decent and warmed to the perfect temp. The slaw was good but could have had a little more kick. The fries were near perfect and plentiful — well seasoned and cooked to a nice crispy consistency. Liked the little pickles they give you too.
The reason for 3 stars instead of 5 is a problem I had with the cleanliness of my table — specifically the seat. When I got up to leave, my ass stuck to the seat, because they never bothered to wipe it down from a previous customer. When I looked down, I saw several sticky stains that were obviously there before I arrived. Wiping tables down is not enough — you need to wipe the seats, walls, side of tables, etc.

Came to this amazing sandwich shop a while back and am just now getting around to writing my review. Let me say, YUMMY! The quality of this food is spectacular and the presentation is just as good.
My friend and I split two sandwiches.
I had the Slow Roasted Pig. Definitely a name fit for me since, much like Anthony Bourdain, I think that the Pig is a noble animal. Let me also say, as a Jew, I think my people got this one wrong. If God didn’t want us to eat pig, why did he make it taste so damn good? Anyway, I digress. The sandwich was delectable and juicy as all pork should be. The mustard sauce was just the thing to cut through the fatty richness of this perfectly cooked pork delicacy. Well worth the chunk of change I shelled out for this scrumptious nibble.
My friend ordered the Korean Beef sammy with that great, not-​too-​spicy Kimchi. The beef was delicious. With juices flowing, this Asian inspired snack hit the spot. Just enough kick to let you know that the sweet spice of the kimchi was there, with the sweet vinaigrette balancing it out nicely. I never thought that I would like the combo of pear and ginger so much! Served on such a perfect Kaiser roll, this sandwich is going on the «must revisit» list.
Did I mention how absolutely splendid the red cabbage slaw was? HOLY COW! I could eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if they’d allow me. I really can’t express how perfect of a side dish this stuff is.
Both sandwiches were served with fries which were great in their own accord, but really, how can you worry about fries when you have such delicious sandwiches?
I don’t know what everyone is talking about, because the owners of this place were super friendly. They gave us free tastes of the pork shoulder, braised greens, and mac ‘n’ cheese. WOW! Had I tasted these before getting our sandwiches, I might have just stuck with them. The pork shoulder was perfectly tender, filled with flavor, and just the right amount of smoke. The greens were some of the best I’ve ever had with just the right amount of kick. Reminded me of all the greens I had in the South that were home-​cooked. Just awesome.
Now, the mac ‘n’ cheese… this was special. With a combination of Swiss and white cheddar cheeses and the perfect amount of fresh cracked black pepper, this was a truly decadent treat. Glad the owners gave me something to target for next time I’m up that way. Special thanks to the owners for making this meal both special, and WAAAAAY above our expectations. Worth EVERY penny.
Gotta be honest though, the place isn’t huge and only takes cash, so if you’re going to come with friends, make sure they’re your closest otherwise it could get a little tight in here.
Can’t wait until I’m back up this way so I can pull up a stool and stuff my face for hours!

I tried writing a review before but the owners made Unilocal delete it… and it wasn’t even bad.
Anyhow, here it goes again. I went there 3 times and they were closed. I think they are closed two days a week and the other days close at like 7. I think thats way too early, especially for this type of neighborhood where’there’s not a lot of foot traffic and everyone gets home from work at 7.
I ate there twice and the food was O K. For some of the sandwiches it just seems like they try to make it to fancy for just a BBQ joint.
it’d be nice if they had something healthier on the menu but completely understand this is not a «healthy place.» A breakfast sandwich served all day would be pretty awesome too.
If it wasn’t for them deleting my fist review, never being open and me hearing them tell a customer that they could not substitue a side dish (salad for fries) then I’d probably go back again.

The best service ever!
Will be back again soon.

I am curious to see how the genius behind the shop’s twitter account burns his parvenu brand to respond to this not-​glowing review. In addition, of course I am sharing my valuable experience.
My visit on ⁸⁄₃ with a friend out of town was ok. Nothing really stood out as excellent. $ 10 was a bit much for a sandwich I can barely remember. I recall some pulled pork, and bread, maybe flavor. I have made much better in my slow cooker at home with my internet recipe.
There was a lot of fussing over the clogged sauce containers. They are also cash only, which I don’t understand these days.

I’m going to be perfectly honest: I did not enjoy my meal here. However, the service was attentive and Zack devoured his pulled pork sandwich– I have no doubts that other people will love this place.
The pulled jerk chicken sandwich didn’t taste like jerk chicken. It was mushy and unappetizing and served on a long roll. Looked kinda like stuffing at a Thanksgiving table spread and I could only eat a few bites. The «coleslaw» was really just pickled cabbage and the fries are sprinkled with bay seasoning. Maybe you’re into that. I’m just letting you know, okay?
FYI: the only side offered that doesn’t include a pork product is the mac and cheese.
Zack’s going to reheat the other ¾ of my sandwich for lunch tomorrow. He’ll probably like it better than I did.
Note– @BlueBellyBBQ did not like this review. They tweeted this about me (later deleted from their account). Thanks guys.
Zack’s going to have to go without lunch tomorrow. I’m throwing away the rest of that sandwich.

I hit up Blue Belly BBQ on a whim with some peeps yesterday afternoon. The menu is small but interesting. This isn’t your typical order a quarter pound of smoked meat and a side type of place. Sure, you can do that, but you can also order a sandwich made with really unique ingredients. Sammies that aren’t your standard pulled pork on a potato roll.
I opted for the jerk chicken sandwich, which came with pickled onions, some sort of aioli and fried okra. I personally hate okra, but I was willing to just pull those bits off. When I realized after ordering that the sandwiches come with cole slaw and fries, I asked if I could sub out the fries with collard greens. After a brief hesitation, my request was granted. But it seems like this may be something they are still unsure about. I’m hopeful that they’ll change «served with cole slaw and fries» to «served with cole slaw and your choice of side.» I’m sure I won’t be the only one who asks for another option.
My sandwich was awesome. The chicken was well seasoned and tender. I did come across a bone at one point, which was obviously unpleasant since I was nomming down a sandwich and didn’t expect it. The collards were very tasty and the slaw had just the right crunch and vinegar-​y taste.
BBBBQ is cash-​only, and they aren’t open on Monday and Tuesday (at the time of this review).

I read on foobooz that this was opening today so I grabbed some friends and walked the few blocks to the restaurant. The space is small, with only three tables and five stools at a bar but the small space makes it feel familiar and inviting. The wall décor is framed prints showing the different cuts of meats on different animals. I love the pig one and want to steal it.
The menu is small but hearty. I ordered the sausage trio with sides of macaroni and cheese, sautéed greens, and baked beans. The sausages came out and there were essentially two links, two half links (one house made sweet and one house made hot) and one full link of their bacon cheese sausage. They were all amazing and I’d eat a hundred links of any of them. The sides were just so-​so, unfortunately. The Mac and cheese was good, but nothing spectacular. The baked beans were really good, with white beans and pulled pork they were my favorite of the three. My last appetizer was the greens, which had a pleasant texture and a mild garlicky flavor. I had originally wanted the corn cakes as a side but they were out by the time we got there.
The restaurant filled up while we sat but I didn’t feel rushed at all, which was nice. My friend used the bathroom and said the space was ridiculously small. All in all, decent food and a cute space. Check it out if you’re in the area.