The servers and bartenders were super welcoming and provided the type of welcome that makes you…read moresmile. As an American I had to see what a Texas BBQ joint was like in the UK. The brisket was very delicious and juicy, but like all beef in the UK, very expensive and very small portions. Not very Texas, but I get it. The ribs were just as good and it felt like more value. The biggest difference was in the sides. Vinegar in London is not like in Texas. The potato salad was not what I expected, and the pickle packed a lot more punch. But the Fries were superb, as was the chili. We enjoyed the cornbread, but it was nothing extraordinary. All in all, this is a great place, awesome vibe, and I most likely will not revisit this place the next time I'm in London but I would recommend it to others.

We went to Texas Joes for our works Christmas Party and the whole experience was wonderful. Jenn…read morewas fantastic, very helpful and accommodating to our ever changing needs. The food was beyond amazing ( I will be dreaming of the brisket for a long time to come) and the cocktails were delicious! We were given the back room which was great, the tables were a little slopy but that added to the charm in the end. We will definitely be back!

Lucky Saint Unfiltered NA - £5.50 Crispy Ox Cheek w/Anchovy…read moreMayo - £9.50 Beef Brisket w/Mustard Barbecue - £18.50 Charred Greens, Tahini, Pomegranate, Peanut - £7.50 Absolute aces recommendation from my stick & poke tattoo artist. Even though I was tattooed near Hackney/London Fields, the artist had lived in London before (although they were visiting from Singapore) and she was able to tell me about Smokestak because I was staying in Shoreditch. I was seated without a reservation (rare in London, so I'm told) in this beautiful dimly lit dinner atmosphere. My server was no slouch and promptly let me know I had to try the brisket and recommended the crispy ox cheek, as well. I should have drawn the line there, but I continued on and got an Alcohol-Free/Non-Alcoholic drink and a plate of greens. I was stuffed. I thought I detected an American accent (specifically Californian) from the server, but it turns out she was Canadian. Vancouver, though, so maybe there's something to the West Coast and our dialect. The beef brisket is the best in London, and their mustard barbecue sauce is unmatched. I need to find a comparable sauce in California. The crispy ox cheek and anchovy mayo rearranged some of my taste molecules. Maybe it was how it was so perfectly crisp and salted so well? I felt like I was in Flavor Town, London, for sure. I'll never forget how confusing it was to find the washroom. It felt like I was a double agent, pushing open a secret door. It was such a non-descript door. I swear it wasn't a door at all. It was just another wall panel. I had to ask a stranger where the loo was before I wandered into the kitchen.

knocked my socks off…read more barbecue was the last place i thought london would prevail but they proved me dead wrong. i would lay my life on the line for this sticky toffee pudding

This was my second brunch since moving to London and it didn't disappoint. The pictures of this…read moreplace did it justice. From the neon light sign and minimalist decor to the crunch of the chicken, everything was on point. A friend and I popped into hotbox for Sunday brunch. There weren't any tables available but they have high tables along the windows which are perfect for people watching while brunching. Who doesn't want a boozy brunch right? Unfortunately, the 'liquid brunch' here is 25 pounds just for unlimited mimosas or other brunch-y drinks. Typically, I've been to places that usually include food and drink in their bottomless brunch. If you're not going to drink more than two mimosas, it's not worth it. We ended up ordering two mimosas each (saved a few bucks) and "waffle chicken". For a bit of an appetizer, we got fried pork belly. My diet definitely went out the window on this day lol The chicken was golden and crunchy and the waffle was done just right. It was quite fluffy and thick ( we ordered extra syrup) just like a waffle should be. HotBox is definitely a winner! I'll be bringing people here as my go-to brunch when they're visiting London! Keep up with my food & travel adventures - https://www.instagram.com/briyoumetravel/ youmelunch.com

Very good American BBQ restaurant. I had Mutton Tacos which meat was really good but toppings could…read morehave been better (there was pretty much no Feta) and also some Pork Ribs as main which I loved, with a good smoky flavor and spicy kick. Ribs were good value considering the quantity. Service is really good and attentive, we got some Guac and Chips on the house after being told many of our of choices on the Menu weren't available anymore. I would give it 4.5*.

I haven't had American bbq before but we found this place near our hotel which had great reviews…read more We ordered the truffled macaroni and cheese with chicken, beef burnt ends, pornstar martini and ginger beer. I had the mac and cheese which was a gigantic portion! I was so full and I had only made it through halfway my dish. The only thing is I felt it was lacking the truffle flavour.. but there were slices of chicken throughout the dish which wasn't skimped out on. I didn't try the beef burnt ends myself but my dinner partner said they were yummy! The waiter recommended the pornstar martini to us which was also a great cocktail. Best part of the meal had to be the ginger beer though. It had hints of lemon which was sooo delicious. Wish I could bring bottles of these with me back home!

I really wanted to like it. Beer was good, service was good. Burnt ends and sauce were just not to…read moremy liking. No smoke flavor and texture was way off.

Smokin' Aces - is literally ACE in terms of taste. Wow. I can't believe how good these guys are…read more They are located in Chapel Market and only do lunch time service although apparently might open a full time restaurant somewhere. The chicken is just sublime, and the sauce selection they recommend - is brilliant with it. I go for the salad box - which includes, chicken, salad and mac and cheese. And they give lots of it. All for £5 - I repeat 5£!!! You must go at half 12 otherwise the queue can be quite lengthy. Many go because the portion sizes are incredible but the quality of the food is up there. Sometimes I can't finish it and have to take it back for dinner. what more can I say - mind blown.

If you are a BBQ lover, go there! If you are a hungry BBQ…read morelover, definitely go there! The portions are Huge! Normally when I have BBQ I would finish a platter for 2 people by my own. But the £6 BBQ box here.....I couldn't finish Meats are good, sauces are good, pork cheeks highly recommended! My only concern would be that the meat may need a lil more smoke.

Bottom-line: while maybe average to its American traditional bbq counterpart , Boudean's is…read moreprobably as good as it gets for London. Ordered the half baby back ribs, fries and slaw. Baby back ribs: not necessarily fall of the bone type of ribs, but if you give it a good tug , some of the meats will slide off its axis. I enjoyed it for what it's worth. Obviously, the smoker is limited in scope , so I'm not expecting Texas style quality. Was a little chewy in some places, but also tender in others. Had a preference for the chiptole bbq sauce rather than the hickory. Fries were mostly good (minus the tiny bits). So close to the meats, the fries absorbed some of the smokiness flavor. Slaw: low-point of the bbq. They used way, way, too much dressing. Like it was flooded. Also the cabbage wasn't cut finely, but presented as whole chunk slices. Would definitely not recommend this one. Overall minus the slaw, I enjoyed Bodean's

Good taste of the US with some smoked bbq. Variety if choices from pulled pork Mac and cheese to…read moremy recommendation of the boss hog dog. Sticky fingers were not my favorite so may avoid that appetizer choice. Dined with a group of 35 and they were able to accommodate us in their basement dining area with a call ahead. Wait staff was pleasant although took a minute to get that much food out and had to ask for drink refills, but overall would surely return.

Good food, good service. If you are in the mood for BBQ and happen to be in the downtown area then…read moreI recommend

During a pretty long visit to England, my husband and I had had enough fish and chips, which we…read morelove, and looked for something different one night. We decided to try Smokeworks. It was excellent. I had the baby back ribs and fries which were both great. I can't remember what my husband had, but I remember that he liked it.

Cleaver. The name says it all. Get in here and get your burger, ribs, hearty salad, or chicken and…read moreadd a margarita for fun! This is a great spot for groups or just to hang out with a buddy or two. The location is right smack in the downtown area and the ambiance is cool and inviting! We had a full-on burger along with a 'skinny' burger for me. And, we enjoyed a tasty margarita with it - and fries of course. It's a relatively newer spot and seems to be taking off very nicely! Check out the light instalation (very cool) and abundance of seating (very comfy) when you enter as well as the tasty menu of meats (very clever Cleaver!) Great lunch spot!

Ate here last night with my husband - great service. We turned up at peak time on a Saturday…read morewithout a booking and, while they didn't have a seat for us straight away, we had time to kill so took a seat at the bar and had a drink while we waited - which was, maybe 15 minutes - before being taken to our table. The staff were polite, our order was taken promptly and the food arrived surprisingly fast but was hot, fresh (ribs and wings for me, burger for hubby) and filling - you get plenty for your money. The whole place was also clean, including the toilets. Will definitely be eating here again - look forward to trying out one of their milkshakes!

Some excellent classic American BBQ. Go for the platter and experience the best of it all:…read morehalf-rack of ribs, pulled pork, and buffalo wings (usually they do brisket, but they were out of that that night). Sauce on the ribs was particularly good and meat was fall-off-the-bone. Service was very friendly as compared to most places and their list of beers on tap is pretty sizeable. It also shows live sporting events, so it's basically guy heaven. be prepared to pay "city prices" and probably not the best place to meet a new lady friend though, so keep this one handy for a night out with your mates!

Why I'll go back: it's a fun vibe with great cocktails You…read moreHAVE to order: can only speak to the drinks, but getting something with "smoke" always adds a little more excitement Tony's Tip: absolutely make a reservation. While we were waiting to "meet the Mayor" we saw three groups try to walk up and be told it would be at least two hours. Even if it's becoming more mainstream, I still love the idea of speakeasies, and the little song and dance to get in to "see" The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town was a fun twist. It's an interesting spot because the primary bar is nothing to look at really, though for us Americans who grew up in the 80's the name ("The Breakfast Club") obviously sucks you in. But to get into Scaredy Cat Town, you definitely should make an online reservation. They're not hard to lock down, but we tried to get something on Thursday for Saturday and they only had bar seats left. Totally fine for just the two of us. When you walk in, you just tell them you're there to see the Mayor and within a few minutes, you are whisked through the door of an oddly placed refrigerator (yes, I've blown the surprise, but the "scaredy" cat is out of the bag by now anyway). The place is pretty much a dive, with an overabundance of random knick-knacks, signs, and what-not. Funky, funny, eclectic - you get it. But don't let that mislead your impression - it's a serious cocktail bar. They've got a wide range of original concoctions to choose from, and both the presentation and tastiness of our selections were excellent. The bartenders are friendly, and the music that night was essentially a playlist of one- and two-hit wonders from the 80's (again, right in our wheelhouse!). Totally fun, and a great way to start off our night! I wholeheartedly recommend that you schedule a meeting with the Mayor soon!

A speakeasy so secret, even the people working across the street didn't know it was there. I won't…read morespoil any secrets on how to get in... but it was definitely one of the main highlights of our week-long stay in London! The staff were incredibly friendly, the drinks were AMAZING and so creative (one of my drinks came in a tiny coffee pot), and the atmosphere was very fun.