Masters of Meat

Defending World Series champions the Kansas City Royals are in Miami towards the end of the month. We only mention it because, as an interleague opponent, they don’t get to town often – and because it gives us an excuse to talk about that other great Kansas City export, barbecue. Because you don’t need to board a plane to KC to get it done right.

Tom Jenkins Barbecue

1236 S Federal Hwy
On a good day you can smell the barbecue from Federal. Step inside for some old-fashioned Southern hospitality and sauce-slathered meat.

Ernie’s BBQ & Lounge

1843 S Federal Hwy
This south-of-the-river institution does barbecue the Fort Lauderdale way – because really, the only thing better than a barbecue pork dinner platter is a barbecue pork dinner platter along with two different kinds of conch.

Smoke BBQ

3351 NE 32nd St
Most barbecue you’ll find in Fort Lauderdale tends to be of the Southern/Carolina variety – and there’s nothing wrong with that. For an authentically Kansas Citian taste, head to Smoke. The place’s pitmaster (that’s head chef in barbecue-speak) even worked at one of Kansas City’s top barbecue joints.

The Georgia Pig

1285 S State Road 7
They’ve been doing real Southern open-pit barbecue at this State Road 84 landmark since the Eisenhower administration. And if you stop by in the morning, they’ll also cook up a proper Southern breakfast.

Father & Sons Smoke Til U Choke

2941 W Sunrise Blvd
It’s all about the food at this tiny place where you eat out on the patio. If you’re really feeling hungry, a chicken-and-ribs combo with a couple sides should do the trick.