Seattle-ish BBQ!

_{^{Always Human. No genAI!}}

It is shocking that I had to go to the pacific northwest to find bbq I actually like- especially when I came from FuckingOklahoma. To be fair, barbecue is one of my least favorite types of food BUT, I have learned that is mostly because of America. What I mean by that is American barbecue largely focuses on the sauces. 

Technically, barbecue is just a method of cooking or smoking meat with a live flame; a method that is used by cultures all over the world! In the US, particularly in the south, bbq is practically a way of life, but it has become all about the sauce and rubs. There are even sauce competitions to crown the best sweet, smokey, spicy sauce!

All about the sauce, but all those sauces are either vinegar-based, mustard-based, or occasionally tomato-based. And almost all of those sauces… I am not a fan of. Having read a single wikipedia article to help build my understanding to articulate my objections here, I am curious if I could determine which specific sauces I dislike most. Mere moments ago I did not know there were three main bases for barbecue sauces and I honestly have no idea if it’s a specific sauce base I have a problem with, or all of them!  Vinegar based sauces are a likely culprit, I am generally not a huge fan of vinegar; but is mustard-base worse to me? OR even the trusty tomato?? I usually like tomato based anything but when you turn it into a barbecue sauce is it ruined? A blog for a later time perhaps! 

This blog is about two places, a good and a bad, I have tried out in Seattle, well, one is in Kent technically. Two places I have tried in the Puget Sound!

We will start with the bad. And this is clearly an unpopular opinion because when I searched for “best barbecue in Seattle” this is one name that came up regularly across Reddit and Facebook.
Outsider BBQ and Beer Garden in Seattle.
For $32 you can get a whole FOUR ribs (or 1lb) and whatever the tart pickle thing is. That’s it. The bland mac and cheese is an extra charge starting at $7. First of all, I detest charging for meat by weight when it is primarily bone. Ribs, particularly spare ribs, are like 50% bone! Half of what you are being charged for is not edible. Yes, I know, all meat is by weight and I am someone who really likes chewing on bones, but charging for ribs by weight just seems so…unfair. Charge by slab like any real BBQ place. But that isn’t even really the problem. Well, yes the overall price for what you get is atrocious, but to add insult to injury, it’s not even good!

I don’t even know if they used a rub. Their website only says salt, pepper and smoked over oak wood… so not even a particularly flavorful smoke. Considering the ribs were very bland, that checks out. They did not come with sauce but there were a couple bottles of sauce available at the table. Neither of them were any good. One was very spicy and very chipotle tasting. One was practically liquid and very vinegary- so I assume a vinegar based sauce! There was also ketchup, which I am also not a fan of. 

Bland all around and not even good sauce- the thing american bbq is supposed to be best at. 

I suppose maybe their beer garden and the open air outdoor setting that gives them their name is maybe what people go for? Maybe it’s an environment thing? Would have to be a damn good environment to make up for the subpar food though.

So let’s look at something better! 

BBQ Pete’s in Kent (also Lakewood AND the WA State fair!)

I didn’t actually know until my most recent visit that this is the same BBQ place that has the massive grills at the State Fair that I was drooling over, so I was already a fan of them before I even knew it! 

I first tried this place with one of my partners who works in Kent and was pleasantly surprised to find bbq that was actually good to me! And it’s made even more palatable by the price!

For the same price as the mesely 4 ribs above, you can get a half rack (6 ribs) AND two full sides. I usually get the pictured ⅓ rack with quarter chicken meal, which also includes two sides, for $34.99. You can also get free ice cream on your way out but I never have room for dessert! 

Their website doesn’t mention a rub or any details on their sauce but they do sell jars of different sauces and rubs in store. Whatever their main sauce base is, it’s a good one to me! It is sweet and smokey and only barely spicy, which is what I tend to prefer. It isn’t overpowering and is equally delicious on both the pork ribs and the chicken meat. Because all their sides are carby, I don’t typically eat them (the aforementioned friend does) but I have tasted them and they are good. The baked beans in particular are a really nice smokey BBQ side. I constantly wish they had some nice country green beans cooked with bacon and onion, it would be the PERFECT side for their meals! 

Clearly, BBQ Pete’s is the superior barbecue place of the two I have tried! I am always willing to try new places but with barbecue not being a favorite of mine in general it is not often I give it a chance. If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to comment them and i’ll add them to my “to try” list!

For now though, I will probably enjoy BBQ Pete’s whenever i do get the rare craving for some good saucey ribs or chicken!

I only wish they did turkey legs at their restaurant location!