Best BBQ in Okc metro.

[Rover]

The 8 Best Barbecue Spots In NYC: Gothamist

the photos have made me hungry

Looks like these are all in Brooklyn. It's the new trendy area, but I am mostly always in Manhattan. I will have to try to make it over and try one or two.

[soonerguru]

That link has got my meat tooth aching. That third restaurant pic of the brisket looks great with it's bark and smoke ring.

That's awesome that NYC has stepped up its BBQ game. When I lived there in the early 90s, BBQ and Mexican were a joke. They now have some of the best Mexican restaurants anywhere and I'm not surprised they also have great BBQ. It's truly the best food city in the world.

[soonerguru]

Pictures like this do not help me lose weight or get my cholesterol down. I had to stop watching the Food (porn) Channel to help me lose weight. Guy Fieri is hard to watch or listen too but he does visit some killer food joints. The BBQ joints he has visited! Oh my heart.

The worst think for weight loss it to click on the Food Channel late at night.

[Mel]

Yes it is. Everything looks better and tastes better the later it gets. Being an insomniac does not help one bit.

[ljbab728]

Does anyone have an opinion on Ray's Smokehouse in Norman? My brother is visiting from out of state next month and we will be in Norman for a reunion. He wants to have BBQ and suggested Ray's after doing some on line research. I'm not familiar with it at all.

[Achilleslastand]

Does anyone have an opinion on Ray's Smokehouse in Norman? My brother is visiting from out of state next month and we will be in Norman for a reunion. He wants to have BBQ and suggested Ray's after doing some on line research. I'm not familiar with it at all.

Been there several times and each time it was very good and well worth the drive.

[Jersey Boss]

Does anyone have an opinion on Ray's Smokehouse in Norman? My brother is visiting from out of state next month and we will be in Norman for a reunion. He wants to have BBQ and suggested Ray's after doing some on line research. I'm not familiar with it at all.

Yeah, I'll vouch for it. It is our office choice when eating "Q". Check out the picture of Billy Sims eating some Q at Ray's that is on the wall by the drinks.

[kevinpate]

Ray's is tied as my second favorite Q in Norman. I've gotten where I really don't have a specific preference between Ray's and Vans. I am happy when I leave either. I still prefer the Q at Sooner Legends at SW24th and Lindsey to either of the others. My lovely, who cares for Q less than I, speaks well of Sooner Legends tex-mex food in case your group needs an option for some folk. I've had a bite and it was good, but if I am in there, my order will be Q based.

It's been quite a while since I have other Q in Norman, as any one of these three definitely makes me happy and there is (my opinion) a huge gap between these three and the rest of the Norman Places. In fact, my #4 these days in Big Daddy's Smokehouse in Noble and not one of the other Norman stops.

[ctchandler]

In fact, my #4 these days in Big Daddy's Smokehouse in Noble and not one of the other Norman stops.

Kevin,
Good choice, Big Daddy's is pretty good. Tough to choose between the CFS down the street and Q at Big Daddy's though.
C. T.

[kevinpate]

Yes sir, a difficult choice indeed. If only all tough choices could be so win-win.

[ctchandler]

Yes sir, a difficult choice indeed. If only all tough choices could be so win-win.

Kevin,
Actually, I don't make a choice, I rotate when I am in the neighborhood (not often enough I'm afraid), but my preference is Q, so that's what makes it difficult.
C. T.

[Roger S]

Does anyone have an opinion on Ray's Smokehouse in Norman? My brother is visiting from out of state next month and we will be in Norman for a reunion. He wants to have BBQ and suggested Ray's after doing some on line research. I'm not familiar with it at all.

Ray's is a fairly solid option for Q in my opinion.

Oklahoma BBQ Eaters Anonymous: IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT SLOBBERKNOCKER AT RAY'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ

[ctchandler]

Ray's is a fairly solid option for Q in my opinion.

Oklahoma BBQ Eaters Anonymous: IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT SLOBBERKNOCKER AT RAY'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ

OKBBQEA,
I just went to your link and learned that Ray's is Darrol Ray. I ate several times at his place on Sooner and I-40, where the Waffle House is now. I think it was a Kettle restaurant before it was taken over by Darrol Ray and I believe his brother. It was really good Q and was always fairly crowded so I wondered why they closed down. Now I know and I'm looking forward to a trip to Norman to give it a try.
C. T.

[Roger S]

I just went to your link and learned that Ray's is Darrol Ray. I ate several times at his place on Sooner and I-40,

I don't remember there being a Q-raunt there but back when the Kettle was there I ate a few drunken breakfasts there... So that could be why I don't remember it ever being a Q-raunt. ;+)

Darrol makes pretty good Q. I have had some there that was better than other times but I would put his place in my Top 5 favorites in Central Oklahoma.

[jccouger]

I know this has probably been asked a million times, but why don't you open your own restaurant BBQ eater Anonymous?

[Roger S]

I know this has probably been asked a million times, but why don't you open your own restaurant BBQ eater Anonymous?

While I have kicked around the idea of doing a weekend pop-up type small batch, artisan style, BBQ stand. I just have too much invested in my current career to walk away from it. I also won't take on partners, or loans, to fund it either and I just don't want to put that kind of money into such a risky venture.

I've eaten a lot of what I think is really great Q and I've been able to duplicate most of it in my backyard. But what I think is great and what others think is great might be two different things and I say this because Oklahoma Q-raunts are able to stay in business serving, what I derogatorily refer to as, Okie Brisket..... If that's what Oklahoma diners want then what I think is great might not fly around here... Then again it might be hugely popular... But I can't justify that risk.

I would love to experiment with it by doing the pop-up, which would be less risky, but time constraints make it almost impossible for me to do the leg work to find out what hoops the city and health department would want me to jump through to do that because I won't use the set it and forget it commercial type smokers, that so many Oklahoma Q-raunts use, to make my Q.

[ctchandler]

I don't remember there being a Q-raunt there but back when the Kettle was there I ate a few drunken breakfasts there... So that could be why I don't remember it ever being a Q-raunt. ;+)

Darrol makes pretty good Q. I have had some there that was better than other times but I would put his place in my Top 5 favorites in Central Oklahoma.

OKBBQEA,
I did a little searching and found some information on his place on Sooner Road. I had forgotten that the name was "T.D. Ray's". I do remember breakfast because my late wife and I would stop there for breakfast on the way to an OU football game. Here's a copy/paste plus the link to the source if you are interested in the rest of it. It never mentioned the location, but trust me on this one, when he left is when they tore down the old Kettle's building and built the Waffle House.
C. T.

Ray was inspired by his former teammate, Phil Tabor, who had turned down a contract with the New York Giants a year before to open a restaurant in Ardmore to open his own restaurant in 1987.

#“But when our lease was up, we decided we’d try something different,” Ray said.

#So Ray opened T.D. Rays, though he admits it may not have been a good business plan. Ray said the restaurant was too ambitious and grandiose.

#“We had breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also had pizza. We did a little barbecue on the side. We opened at 6 and closed at 10.”

#Ray said within a few years, the operation was streamlined to focus more on barbecue and efficient service. Ray said the business improved, but he still wanted to open a different place.

Sooner goes from pro ball to pro brisket | Ellington

[Roger S]

OKBBQEA,
I did a little searching and found some information on his place on Sooner Road. I had forgotten that the name was "T.D. Ray's".

DING! DING! DING! ...... Ahhh yeah.... I do remember it being T.D. Ray's for awhile... That was before my BBQ addiction began and I never tried it.

[Roger S]

Ray was inspired by his former teammate, Phil Tabor, who had turned down a contract with the New York Giants a year before to open a restaurant in Ardmore to open his own restaurant in 1987.

Do you know if Tabor was the one who opened Prarie Kitchen in Ardmore?

[jccouger]

While I have kicked around the idea of doing a weekend pop-up type small batch, artisan style, BBQ stand. I just have too much invested in my current career to walk away from it. I also won't take on partners, or loans, to fund it either and I just don't want to put that kind of money into such a risky venture.

I've eaten a lot of what I think is really great Q and I've been able to duplicate most of it in my backyard. But what I think is great and what others think is great might be two different things and I say this because Oklahoma Q-raunts are able to stay in business serving, what I derogatorily refer to as, Okie Brisket..... If that's what Oklahoma diners want then what I think is great might not fly around here... Then again it might be hugely popular... But I can't justify that risk.

I would love to experiment with it by doing the pop-up, which would be less risky, but time constraints make it almost impossible for me to do the leg work to find out what hoops the city and health department would want me to jump through to do that because I won't use the set it and forget it commercial type smokers, that so many Oklahoma Q-raunts use, to make my Q.

I understand, all business ventures are risky especially if you'd be targeting a market you aren't sure exists. I think you'd have nothing to worry about though, you are a BBQ expert and if your food is good than people will come. You can always hire people that specialize in marketing or other parts of a business you don't feel as comfortable been.

Selfishly I wish you'd take the chance, and I think OKC & Oklahoma would be extremely appreciative of your risk.

[Roger S]

Selfishly I wish you'd take the chance, and I think OKC & Oklahoma would be extremely appreciative of your risk.

I do have one poker in the fire at the moment. There is a pitmaster out in the panhandle that wants to open up a place here in OKC and we have talked several times about it. He originally asked me if I was interested in managing it but I'm really not the managerial type..... We have more recently discussed the weekend thing so while it's still very much in the early discussion phase. It could happen.

Not that it would help your BBQ cravings any but I also have a lead on a place on Hwy 70 in Lone Grove. The owner of the property is considering putting in a concession trailer and I may go down there and cook BBQ on Saturdays.... I like this plan because I don't have to do the legwork for licenses and dealing with the local government..... I just have to show up early in the morning to start cooking.

[ctchandler]

Do you know if Tabor was the one who opened Prarie Kitchen in Ardmore?

OKBBQEA,
I don't know, but both of the Tabor boys had Kettle's franchises (I think their family started the company) for a while and when they went under, I wouldn't be surprised. I will do some searching and see what I can find. By the way, several former OU players started Kettle's around the state, and we had one in my neighborhood, 122nd and I-35. Barry Switzer stopped to eat there occasionally.
C. T.

[ctchandler]

Do you know if Tabor was the one who opened Prarie Kitchen in Ardmore?

OKBBQEA,
That was quick, looks like it was Phil Tabor that owned the Prairie Kitchen. Prairie Kitchen - ionOKLAHOMA Online MagazineionOKLAHOMA Online Magazine
C. T.

[moose]

You should try. Wouldn't be hard to beat our current selection.

[Roger S]

You should try. Wouldn't be hard to beat our current selection.

If you can catch them. Try The Flying Pig BBQ trailer. I have been really enjoying the Q they are making.

They park at Bleu Garten quite a bit and are going to be a regular at The Patriarch.... Today they will be at Dunlop-Codding from 11:30 to 1:00.