ON AND OFF THE STRIP

Where There’s Smoke

Las Vegas’ barbecue joints will keep you coming back

For many of us, summertime is barbecue season—not just the time for grilling burgers and dogs in our backyards, but the best time to visit our favorite out-of-the-way smokehouses and enjoy some meats and sides with slow-cooked flavors. As a desert oasis, Las Vegas is certainly far from the great barbecue capitals across the country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t satisfy this craving in Sin City.

On the Strip, the Texas-style Gilley’s (702.894.7111) at Treasure Island has long been the primary destination for baby back ribs, beef brisket, and a pulled pork sandwich piled high with smoked onion barbecue sauce and coleslaw that can feed at least two people. Just across the way at The Linq Promenade, Virgil’s Real Barbecue (702.389.7400) also offers cozy outdoor seating so you can get the full experience (and great people-watching) as you feast on house specialties smoked over hickory and fruit woods. Virgil’s Pig Out! platter offers Memphis-style spareribs, sliced Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork and a smoked half chicken, plus sides.

For some different takes on traditional ’cue, head over to MGM Grand and check out International Smoke (702.891.3922), where

Mabel’s BBQ

Virgil’s Real Barbecue

the rib options range from St. Louis-style to smoked Korean short ribs, with plenty of global influences creating a very special menu. And you can experience celebrity chef Michael Symon’s Cleveland-style cuisine at Mabel’s BBQ (702.944.5931) at the Palms, including pork belly burnt ends and salt-and-pepper brisket.

A whole host of regional transplants await outside of Las Vegas casinos—pitmasters and chefs from other parts of the country bringing their flair and flavors to different neighborhoods. Rollin Smoke Barbeque (702.836.3621) is beloved by locals for its Arkansas-style dishes and has five locations around town, including concessions at T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium. Whether you love baby backs, beef ribs, smoked bird or hot links, this place keeps it rollin’ and keeps the big flavors coming.

And speaking of local favorites, Jessie Rae’s BBQ (702.541.5546), found in the shadow of Allegiant just off the Strip, has graduated from hidden-gem status, thanks to the widespread popularity of what its cooks call Las Vegas-style barbecue. Try their slow-smoked ribs and brisket, and don’t forget the mac and cheese, tater tots and barbecue mashed potatoes to go with it.

In the Downtown Vegas Arts District along Main Street, two joints are causing a stir with vastly different barbecue styles. Chef Bruce Kalman’s Soulbelly BBQ (702.483.4404) is perfectly positioned between two breweries and serves up live music and craft cocktails along with creative regional dishes like pork and cheddar hot links, a smoked beef burger, and a brisket sandwich with pickled onions, cheese sauce and a fried egg. You can go traditional or experimental at Soulbelly, but down the street at Braeswood Tex-Mex-BBQ (725.242.2097), you’re going the Tex-Mex route. Try a combo plate with smoked brisket taco and meaty pork ribs, or go all in with the posole ramen, a spicy noodle soup with a mighty slab of beef riding shotgun. This is only-in-Vegas food. –Brock Radke

Soulbelly BBQ Gilley’s