NYC's 5 Best Barbecue Lunch Spots

We've already brought you our picks for the 8 Best Barbecue Restaurants In New York City. Like a lot of New Yorkers, we can't get enough of the stuff. We hit the streets in search of five more finger-licking BBQ joints in the Big Apple - perfect for your midweek lunch break. Stop into any of these spots to seriously satisfy your southern appetite. By Charli James

Virgil's Real Barbecue

152 W. 44th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 921-9494
Hours: Sun to Mon 11am-11pm; Tues to Fri 11:30am-12am; Sat 11am-12am
Website & Reviews

Related: NYC's 5 Best Healthy Lunches

Virgil's Real Barbecue has all your genuine southern staples: Pulled pork, hush puppies and maple butter. A fun, rowdy place for families, big groups and anyone who wants to taste some authentic barbeque in the city. They're sliced Texas beef brisket will run you just under $12, while the Virgil's Burger is just under $13. Dinner entrees (with generous portions) run $18-$30.  Really hungry? Dig in to the Virgil's Pig Out plate that includes ribs, chicken, brisket, pork, and Texas link. Virgil's definitely lives up to its "real" name.

Hill Country

30 W. 26th St
New York, NY 10010
(212) 255-4544
Hours: Sun to Wed 12pm-10pm; Thurs to Sat 12pm-11pm
Website & Reviews

Related: NYC's 6 Best Southern Style Bars

Hill Country serves up Texas style barbeque and ties in Austin's music legacy with live southern music performances. Get the brisket, green bean casserole, and top it off with some Texas Blue Bell ice cream. Hill Country has dry rub and sauced BBQ and specially imports several menu items directly from Texas. For dessert, try one of their peanut butter & jelly cupcakes - one of our favorite peanut butter treats in New York City.

Rub BBQ

208 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 524-4300
Hours: Daily 11:30am-11pm
Website & Reviews

Rub BBQ is a Kansas City style smokehouse with a laid-back, picnic style atmosphere. Chef Paul Kirk is a Barbecue Hall of Fame member with seven World Barbecue Championships under his belt, so you know you're getting some world-class pulled pork. For a cheap lunchtime deal, try their class RUB burger.

John Brown Smokehouse

25-08 37th Ave
Astoria, NY 11101
(718) 361-0085
Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm

John Brown Smokehouse brings real barbecue to Astoria and serves up pork belly and lamb sausage in addition to all the classics. Pit master Josh Bowen from Kansas City also worked at Hill Country BBQ before heading up the grill at this recently opened spot. Try the 'burnt ends"  - the tips of brisket that used to be discarded by pit masters, but turns out they're the most delicious part.

Rack & Soul

258 W 109th St
New York, NY 10025
(212) 222-4800
Hours: Sun 11am-9pm; Mon to Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri to Sat 11am-11pm
Website & Reviews

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World champion BBQ pit master John Wheeler and legendary soul food chef Charles Gabriel are the barbecue pros behind this uptown joint. The fried chicken (which was featured on the Food Network), pulled pork and mac and cheese are perfection. Come in and you're sure to leave with a full stomach and the lingering smell of BBQ smoke.