Best Barbecue

The second you open the door to Memphis Minnie's, you're hit with sensory overload. The screaming yellow walls and red trim nearly make you squint, while the overwhelming smell of barbecue is enough to give you, well, let's just call them convulsions. Don't be alarmed. This is some damn fine barbecue: beef brisket smoked for 18 hours till it's nearly falling apart, and pork ribs so tempting they practically require detox. Along with the real meat, Minnie's offers chicken, andouille sausage, and, for some reason, turkey. And don't forget the sides. The beans are a melt-in-your-mouth, smoky sensation, the greens are kind of bitter but still oddly good, and the potato salad is a must with 'cue. Better yet, Minnie's makes mac and cheese with a crunchy top. A crunchy top! The banana creation offered for dessert is a throwback to the old banana custard with Nilla wafers from yesteryear's PTA potluck. Who knew? It's so good you'll want to climb inside the bowl and root around. In the last few years, Memphis Minnie's has bounced from location to location (it was previously at 20th and York streets). It has now come to rest on Haight Street, to the everlasting gratitude of carnivores chasing this delicious, smoky magic.