7 BBQ joints in Bucks County to feed your fix for smoked Southern comfort food
You can smell it in the air.
The warm afternoon shifts into evening, and one of your neighbors is grilling. That's when the craving hits you — it's a barbecue dinner kind of night.
Luckily, there are some tasty barbecue joints in Bucks County to satisfy your fix for slow-cooked meats, filling sides, refreshing sweet tea and satisfying desserts.
Here's where you can find them:
Big Bob’s BBQ Pit, Hilltown
You can find Big Bob’s BBQ Pit set up outside Blooming Glen Pork & Catering in Hilltown every Saturday from April through October, where they offer Southern-style barbecue cooked slow and low. The smoked brisket tends to go quickly, so show up early.
Customer favorite: Smoked BBQ pig wings, made from a pork shank of tender meat, finished with their old-fashioned barbecue sauce.
Standout sides: Their mac and cheese is a must-have, along with their slowed-cooked beans made with smoked bacon.
Take-out or dine-in? They are mainly take-out, but offer limited outdoor picnic seating or what they call, "BYOB seating,” as in bring your own blanket. Walk-ups are always welcome, but phone ahead orders are also accepted. Be sure to call ahead for large catering orders.
Hours: Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seasonally from April through October.
Go: 1248 Route 113 in Hilltown; 215-257-2710; bloomingglencatering.com/bbq-pit
Holy Que Smokehouse, Lahaska
Looking for a taste of the Lone Star State? This traditional Texas-style barbecue joint cooks all its meats slow and low, seasoned with just little salt and pepper. They typically sell out, sometimes within a couple hours of opening, with their brisket normally being the first to go, and the ribs and pulled pork shortly after. So, be sure to get there early for the best selection.
Customer favorite: The Texas Trinity platter, made up of 1/3 pound of brisket, spare ribs and brats and served with sliced bread, pickled onions and a choice of one side.
Standout sides: Honey cornbread is a favorite, followed by their chopped street corn and banana pudding.
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Take-out or dine-in? They offer dine-in, take-out and event catering. Walk-ups are always welcome, but customers can also order ahead. For larger orders, they recommend emailing a couple days in advance.
Hours: Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to sell out or 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to sell out or 4 p.m.
Go: 5788 Lower York Road in Lahaska; 267-544-5762; holyque.com
Jesse’s Barbecue, Souderton
Jesse’s Barbecue combines a mix of Southern styles — Kansas City, Georgia, Carolina and Texas — to offer a variety of country-style comfort foods.
Customer favorite: Burnt ends, cut from the brisket, they are both crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. These are very limited, aren’t available until later in the day and sell out within the hour. To increase your chance of trying these tasty bits, they suggest coming around 3:30 p.m.
Standout side: With a rotating menu of homemade sides, it could be hard to choose, but their dill pickle macaroni salad is a must-try when it’s available.
Take-out or dine-in? They offer both indoor and outdoor seating for a family-friendly experience. Dine-in and take-out orders are by walk-up only. However, bulk orders should be called in ahead a couple days in advance or a week or two in advance for extra-large bulk orders.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Go: 98 N. County Line Road in Souderton; 215-723-4600; jessesbarbecue.com
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Meat Wagon BBQ, Hatfield and Quakertown
Offering traditional Southern barbecue, Meat Wagon BBQ uses housemade sauces and rubs developed while making their rounds in the competition circuit. Visit one of their two locations or keep an eye on their Facebook page to learn the upcoming whereabouts of one of their three food trucks.
Customer favorite: Brisket, which is also a big hit in their pork and brisket eggrolls.
Standout sides: Mac and cheese is their biggest seller, as well as the scratch made molasses baked beans.
Take-out or dine-in? At their Quakertown location at the Trolley Barn Public Market, they have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with firepits and live music on the weekend. The Hatfield store is primarily for catering and store pickups, but they have a few tables both inside and out. Walk-ups and online ordering are accepted.
Hours: The Hatfield store is open Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday is for catering only. The Quakertown store is open Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Go: 1697 Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield and 116 E. Broad St. in Quakertown; 215-808-9100; themeatwagonbbq.com
Tim’s Barbecue, Trevose
Tim’s can be found at the Phoenix Sports Club, where he specializes in craft barbecue with Texas-style influences. Currently, they operate solely out of their barbecue trailer, but by late June, they hope to open their new kitchen with a take-out window.
Customer favorite: Prime brisket, made using prime-grade meat and served alone or in a sandwich.
Standout sides: Their house-made mac and cheese is a hit with customers.
Take-out or dine-in? They offer take-out and outdoor seating under the pavilion. Walk-ups are welcome and orders can be placed online or through their mobile app found at orders.timsbarbecue.com. Catering packages are also available.
Hours: Currently, they are open Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, they plan to expand their hours once their new kitchen is open.
Go: Phoenix Sports Club at 301 W Bristol Road Trevose; 267-549-8150; timsbarbecue.com
Vault Smoke House, Yardley
Located at The Tannery, Vault Smoke House offers traditional Texas-style barbecue, ranging from pulled pork to smoked salmon, alongside Vault’s craft beers and cocktails made from its own line of Delavue spirits.
Customer favorite: The pastrami is a must-try, served a la carte, in a sandwich or as a platter with a choice of two side.
Stand-out sides: Their spicy collard greens come highly recommended. If you come during happy hour Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., be sure to try the kielbasa burnt ends.
Take-out or dine-in? They offer takeout, plus indoor dining as well as bar seating. Walk-ups are welcome and reservations can be made for parties of six or more.
Hours: Wednesday through Friday 4 p.m. to close, Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to close.
Go: 19 West College Ave. in Yardley, 267-907-8550; vaultsmokehouse.com
More barbecue spots to check out in Bucks County:
Wild Bill’s Texas BBQ Outside JC Woodworking at 255 Route 313 in Perkasie; 215-617-3606; Follow them on Facebook for dates and hours of operation.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County BBQ joints have all the slow-cooked fixins, sauces
