Whether you are spending your Fourth of July weekend experiencing the thrills of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort or simply relaxing in The City Beautiful, there’s one thing your Independence Day getaway can’t do without: Orlando’s finest barbeque. Great barbecue exists everywhere, though it can be hard to find smoked meats that rival the legendary institutions of Carolina-, St. Louis-, and Texas-style barbecue if you don’t happen to actually be in those states. Luckily, Orlando is a bustling hub of few culinary limits, and several options for very good barbecue can be found here. Here’s a list of a few great Orlando barbecue joints to visit this holiday.
The Polite Pig
The Polite Pig is barely a year old and has already made a delicious splash in Disney Springs. It’s an important installation, to boot. The latest extension of the Petrakis family’s growing collection of restaurants, The Polite Pig carries the traditions that have made its sister gastropub, The Ravenous Pig, the center of attention in Florida cuisine. Every attempt is made to ensure that the food is fresh, thoughtful and locally sourced. Even the live oak, the choice of wood here, is sourced from Ocala, only an hour’s drive away. The focus on modern culinary trends does not rattle the backbone of this establishment, though. The brisket has a visually appealing smoke ring and a stellar char. Their chicken is dressed up in a divine citrus rub and is flavored with enough smoke to put any grocery store rotisserie to shame. Even the sides have a personality of their own here, taking a cue from the restaurant’s progressive ambitions, though certain delicious options like barbeque cauliflower and whiskey-caramel Brussel sprouts refuse to shed their Southern charm.
4 Rivers Smokehouse
This barbecue joint is a topic of local obsession. While not located on the property of any of Orlando’s various theme parks and resorts, 4 Rivers Smokehouse has a few locations that are only a short distance from your vacation destination, making it an easy (and wise) pit stop. It’s not just the Orlando public that reveres this smokehouse, either. 4 Rivers has been featured in numerous magazines, nominated for several awards, and its owner and conceptual lead, John Rivers, has been invited to cook at the legendary James Beard House on multiple occasions. Once you eat their barbecue, you’ll understand why. The burnt ends are an immediate stand-out. Shredded from the pork shoulder, dunked in sauce, then re-smoked, it is an umami rocket with a hefty amount of smoke flavor left behind. The sides are also worthy of discussion, with choices like fried pickles and fried okra filling out your classic smokehouse staples, while smoked jalapeños are also in attendance to take your taste buds on a journey to rarely explored territory. Just about everything on the menu is a home run.
Harry & Larry’s Bar-B-Que
This is another selection that isn’t located within one of Orlando’s premier destinations, though you may want to consider it for a lovely, relaxing day out. Harry & Larry’s is a small outpost along Plant Street in Winter Garden’s historic district. Devoid of chain restaurants and congested traffic patterns, this entire strip is an unapologetically romantic escape from the fast-paced nature of Orlando. The barbecue here is noble in its approach and simple in its delivery. The pulled pork is not overly sauced, allowing the meat to shine. The sides menu offers classics such as baked beans, corn bread and coleslaw, all prepared just as they should be. The appeal of Harry & Larry’s lies not in its superior smoking of meats, but in its location. With their ice-cold sweet tea and outdoor seating right on Plant Street, they serve up a moment of reflection alongside the food.
Morimoto Asia
Morimoto Asia does barbecue? Yes, in fact, they do. Barbecue, as a method, is nothing more than slowly cooking food at low heat over wood or charcoal. Of course, American barbecue is an institution, one with tightly held opinions and principles, but there are other practices around the world (many, actually) that earn the right to be called barbecue. One such instance is Morimoto Asia’s Peking Duck. Even simply walking past the Iron Chef’s establishment in Disney Springs, it’s hard to ignore the sights and smells of Morimoto Street Food, the quick-service location that brandishes the just-roasted Peking Duck on hooks behind a grease and creosote-smudged glass wall. This, of course, simply previews the main attraction. The presentation of Morimoto Asia’s Peking Duck puts all other barbecue offerings to shame. Rooted in tradition, the plating finds thin cuts of duck breast placed in rotary fashion around an axis of thinly sliced strips of crispy duck skin. Just like any great barbecue, it is a dish that is near impossible to recreate at home. It must be experienced in a dining location that respects the art, such as Morimoto Asia.
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