Small Town Barbeque Showdown

 

Small Town Barbeque Showdown

Everyone knows barbecue is just one of those foods that people take seriously. Here in my hometown of Tri-Cities, Washington, two barbecue Restaurant stand out: Porter’s Real Barbecue and Baby J’s BBQ. They both landed themselves in the top 5, best barbeque on Yelp! At first glance you would think they’re the same. They both are family owned and specialize in 

Image from Baby J's official website.

smoked meat. To my surprise they go about it in different ways. Porter’s puts their energy into cooking low-and-slow, this method allows for deeper flavor. Baby J’s on the other hand mixes BBQ with burgers and even Mexican food. They say, “So you can have the best of both worlds.” Both are amazing at bringing their own flavors to the table. I’ll be looking at their food, menus, atmosphere, and prices to show how each one brings something unique to the Tri Cities barbecue scene.

Food Quality

Image from Porter's Real BBQ official website. 

Let’s talk about food quality, that’s one department that Porter’s takes seriously. Their team works day and night to prepare the menu. The USDA Prime Grade Brisket is smoked for up to 14 hours and the pork pulled up to 10 hours daily. You can definitely tell by how tender and juicy the meat comes out. Everything tastes fresh because it truly is. Down to the gouda mac and cheese are made from scratch. They get the wheels of gouda imported from Holland. They core out up to three hundred jalapenos a day just to keep up. Each one gets stuffed with their secret cheese blend, wrapped in bacon and smoked till perfection. It’s no surprise they’re one of the most popular items on the menu, with about 100 heading to each location.

Baby J’s, on the other hand, does BBQ a little differently. They also smoke their meats, but instead of keeping it super traditional, they mix them into burgers, hot sandwiches, and even Mexican dishes. You can order a smoked pork burrito, buenos dias burger or chicken and ribs plate. Ooh, wee and when it comes to the sides they take the cake. They have quite the variety from sweet potatoes, cornbread, potato salad and even kale. Their food has a bold, hearty flavor, and feels more like comfort food you’d eat with family. While Porter’s only have four sides he is all about sticking to the slow smoked classics, Baby J’s leans into variety and making sure there’s something for everyone.

Menu Variety

    

Image from Baby J's official website.

When it comes to variety, the two restaurants couldn’t be more different. Porter’s Real BBQ keeps things simple and focused, their menu is built around the classics like beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage. They also have ½ chickens, sliced turkey breast and don’t forget the full racks of ribs. They do have a few rotating specials like burnt end Tuesdays and Beef Rib weekends. It’s pretty clear they have mastered a smaller menu instead of doing too much at once. Baby J’s is all about variety, even though they don’t serve brisket, they make up for it with their smoked meat plates. They also have burgers, full size salads, and Mexican food like tacos and quesadillas. It truly feels like the best of both worlds kind of place. I did notice Baby J’s don’t serve any sweet treats. As for Porter’s, they serve his wife’s Kate recipe of house made banana pudding and his mother Linda recipe of molasses bars. The bars taste like a cold gingerbread brownie, rich and filling goodness.

Atmosphere and Story

The atmosphere and story behind each one of these restaurants make them stand out in different ways. Porter’s has a quick and casual setup. Kind of like a cafeteria, you walk in and get in line. Once you’re in front you are greeted by the member on the cutting board. You let the team member know what kind of meat you want and how much you want of it because it’s sold by weight. Next member asks what sides you would like and what size you’d like them in because they only come in 6oz, pint and quart. Pay and sit and enjoy. I think it’s perfect for those quick lunch breaks and those protein eating gym rats. Always family friendly, they can purchase a few pounds and a quart of mac and call it good. Behind that simple set up is a pretty inspiring story. Porter used to smoke briskets in his backyard and bring them to work to share with his coworkers. His passion turned into a business. He first started in a food truck in John Day Plaza in Richland. From there, the business grew fast, expanding into four but now three locations, two in Tri-Cities and one in Spokane WA, they’re so dedicated to freshness that they continue to cook at the central kitchen in Richland and drive it two hours to Spokane every single morning.

 Baby J’s gives you that feeling of walking into your favorite childhood restaurant. It is inviting and cozy. The red walls and large windows are nice because it’s letting in natural light. The booths give the restaurant a cozy laid back feeling. The wooden countertops and the chalkboard menu add a rustic look. There is also an outdoor patio area for customers to dine outside in the beautiful weather. They are not fancy but that’s the point. Baby J’s also has a strong story, but it’s much more personal. The restaurant is named after the owners son Josiah. In 2012 after only a few minutes of being born baby J had died twice and was brought back successful. A little over a year later in November 2013 they found their current location in Richland They said they named “The restaurant Baby J’s as a reminder that no matter how things may look, there’s always hope for things to live again.” The place is built around family and resilience. That story shows in the atmosphere. It’s very warm and welcoming and feels like a place where they want every customer to feel right at home.

Price and Value

It’s finally time to talk about the elephant in the room, the price difference. Porter’s is definitely on the higher end, and that’s because of the quality and time that goes into their food. You can easily make a brisket sandwich with one-third of a pound for $11.88. If you prefer a heftier sandwich for $18 you can stick a ½ pound on a bun. For the premium specials like the brisket burnt ends or the beef ribs well those can run you $36 a pound. Even their sides, like the gouda mac and cheese or the house made baked beans, come at a slightly higher price of $9 for a pint and $15 for a quart but freshness and quality shows in every bite.

Baby J’s on the other hand, is gentler on your wallets. Can really help a large family out. A pulled pork and chicken plate that also comes with two sides for just $14.50. If you would like Ribs instead or a sampler plate, nothing costs more than $18 dollars. The prices are very fair, especially for the amount of food you get. They offer a wide range of options if you aren’t feeling BBQ. The hot sandwiches range from $11 to $15 and those come with one side. You can definitely walk out of there feeling full without breaking the bank. Porter’s is the spot for those willing to pay more for top notch quality, while Baby J’s is a better choice for a more affordable and casual BBQ experience.

Image from Porter's Real BBQ official website.

   At the end of the day, it’s hard to crown one winner because both Porter’s real BBQ and Baby J’s BBQ bring their own thing to the table, literally. Porter’s is a place where you go when you want the real deal low and slow smoked to perfection meat, rich flavors and you don’t mind paying a little more for no wait time and top of the mine quality, Baby J’s is the spot when you’re craving something comforting, affordable, and a large variety. Especially for hose couples that can never decide where to eat BBQ, burgers, or tacos for dinner. Both are family owned, both cares deeply about their food, and both add something special to the Tri-Cities BBQ scene. So maybe the real answer isn’t choosing one over the other, maybe it’s knowing what kind of BBQ mood you’re in. you’re craving something comforting, affordable, and a large variety. Especially for hose couples that can never decide where to eat BBQ, burgers, or tacos for dinner. Both are family owned, both cares deeply about their food, and both add something special to the Tri-Cities BBQ scene. So maybe the real answer isn’t choosing one over the other, maybe it’s knowing what kind of BBQ mood you’re in.