Tracy J. Chappelle 
May is National BBQ Month, which means summer arrives hot with backyard grilling, tasty sides and ice cold drinks. Hoboken and Jersey City are full of great places to taste the quintessence of summer, even if you don’t have a smoker in your backyard. Plan your outing with this list of the best places to barbecue in Hoboken and Jersey City.
Hoboken
Farside Tavern | 531 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @farsidetavern)
If Hoboken’s best-kept secret is hours of tender, smoky chicken and breast, ask at Farside Tavern. The menu includes 12 o’clock smoked brisket, 4 o’clock smoked pulled chicken and 10 o’clock smoked pulled pork. The Monday special is a half-price signature BBQ on the patio for sides, sauces and that signature smoky taste.
House of ‘Que | 340 Sinatra Drive
(Photo credit: @houseofque)
House of ‘Que in Hoboken smokes over 4,000 pounds of chicken, pork, beef and sausages every week. Pitmaster Michael Rodriguez has dinners covered in 48 Hour Smoked Wings – the Pitmaster’s Choice – and Sloppy Texan Sandwich slathered in gravy.
Read more: Wattle Café opens in Jersey City at 351 Marin
Pitmaster Grill by Myron Mixon | 618 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @myronmixonbbqhoboken)
Pitmaster Myron Mixon is “the most earning man in barbecue” and his latest venture is an outpost of his namesake barbecue restaurants on Washington Street. Truly, the man has won over 200 major barbecue championships since the mid-1990s, so it’s clear he’s onto something. The pork shoulder is one of the legends, but if that doesn’t speak to you, the ribs, pulled pork and smoked whole chicken are sure to bring some heat. While plates and entrees are available, meats are also available by the pound, making it a fun choice for accommodating a crowd.
Pilsner House + Beer Garden | 1422 Grand Street
(Photo credit: @pilsnerhausbiergarten)
Pilsner Haus is one of the few beer gardens in Hoboken, which also serves delicious barbecues. In addition to German-inspired dishes like hot Bavarian pretzels, sausages, and schnitzels, some of the barbecue-style dishes served here include barbecued ribs, barbecued pulled pork, and Haus wings. On the side, diners can enjoy coleslaw, mac and cheese and more.
The Shepherd and the Knucklehead | 1313 willow avenue
(Photo credit: @theshep_hoboken)
While it may not be the main attraction of this sports bar, The Shepherd & the Knucklehead still has killer barbecue on the menu. This family-friendly spot offers a BBQ Chicken Wrap, a BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (slow-cooked and topped with sharp cheddar), and BBQ Pork Sliders, to name a few. It also offers a variety of vegetarian options, just in case you are dining with plant-based friends. In case you were wondering, there’s also a serious steak selection in a section of the menu called “The Butcher’s Block.”
The Cooked Cow | 400 Adams Street
(Photo credit: @thestewedcow)
There’s a reason this laid-back spot has so many fans. Stewed Cow’s infamous brunch offers two cocktails and a main course with homemade muffins for $26. Take “The Roadkill Platter” for a great barbecue. Smoked brisket, bacon, scrambled eggs and Texas toast served with a spicy sausage sauce for the ultimate weekend treat.
City of Jersey
Ahri’s Kitchen | 227 7th street
(Photo credit: @ahriskitchen)
Diners will find Korean BBQ at Ahri’s Kitchen in Jersey City. The menu includes dishes like Spicy Pork Shoulder, Spicy Chicken Stir Fry and Marinated Bulgogi Dupbap with a selection of sauces for a different take on backyard classics.
Barbecue Carvao | 686 Bergen Avenue
(Photo credit: @carvaobbq)
Carvao BBQ customers are ready for the full backyard barbecue experience with no lawn maintenance or cleaning required. This place has an open air barbecue with a seating area on the back terrace. The menu features Portuguese-style barbecue including chicken, pork, ribs, sausages, and sides like fries. The bar’s creative cocktails will make for the perfect evening outdoors.
Ghost Truck Kitchen | 356 Varick Street
(Photo credit: @hellogtk)
Ghost Truck Kitchen is the place for wings of all flavors. Founder Andrew Martino brings the heat with Wing of the Month featuring May’s recipe, Daytona Wings, with a blend of homemade buffalo and barbecue sauce. Other menu items include sticky wings, honey mustard wings, jerk wings, and more.
See more: Where to find gluten-free sandwiches in Hoboken + Jersey City
Hamilton Pork | 247 10th street
(Photo credit: @hamiltonpork)
Hamilton Pork in Jersey City offers classic grilled meats with a Tex-Mex twist. The brunch menu includes dishes like brisket enchiladas, huevos benedictos, and migas, all with house-smoked meats. For a different kind of tour, try a bit of everything with the $28 meat sampler with a choice of three meats from brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, lamb brisket, pulled chicken, pork belly and sausage. Guests can dine on the back patio for an authentic garden ambiance.
Harry’s Daughter | 4072 339 Communipaw Avenue
(Photo credit: @harrysdaughterjc)
Caribbean flavors can be found in almost every dish on the menu at Ria Ramkissoon and Alasdair Cotter’s gastro pub, Harry’s Daughter. Powerful jerk spice packs a punch in wings and spring rolls, jerk chicken and Guinness-braised short ribs will have diners swimming in spice. Even the sides get the savory treatment with items like jerk mac and cheese. There’s often live music on the weekends and always something tasty mixed up at the bar.
Hudson Hall | 364 Marin Blvd.
(Photo credit: @hudsonhalljc)
Hudson Hall Smokehouse and Biergarten is a local Jersey City haunt straight from Eastern Europe. Bar selections are frequently updated with seasonal draft beers, and smoky grill smells are year-round. With a long list of smoked meats ranging from St. Louis ribs to pastrami and brat, Hudson Hall’s menu features dishes not found elsewhere.
Zeppelin Room | 88 Liberty View Drive
(Photo credit: @zeppelinhall)
This place is an authentic European-style Biergarten with a wide variety of beers, wines, and fortified seltzers. Barbecue choices here include a Black Angus burger topped with pulled pork or brisket and an entire section of Smoke Haus barbecue with items like smoked wings, pork ribs, and a three-meat platter. Diners can also try The Bavarian Butcher – a chewy giant pretzel served with a choice of three types of meat and pickled onions, or one of the family-style barbecue meals for the table.
