Fortunately, it is still summer time, so we should not experience a shortage of awesome barbecue options, thanks to numerous restaurants and social gatherings where grills are being fired up.
Time after time I’ve been told by satisfied patrons that Hank’s Smoked Brisket has the best barbecue in town. As someone who has enjoyed other well-known establishments such as King Ribs, Barbecue Heaven and Andre’s, my response was always, “Best barbecue? Yeah, right. Then I guess the Minnesota Timberwolves are the best team in the NBA.”
However, I finally decided to check out Hank’s recently and like the Apostle Paul walking on the road to Damascus, I saw “the light.”
Hank’s sits just south of the intersection of 38th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, right across the street from the historic Crown Hill Cemetery, and next door to a Dairy Queen.
You know you’re in for a treat once you enter the small but neat building and encounter the nearly intoxicating aroma of soul food.
Hank’s is not a sit-down restaurant; all orders are prepared for the road. Patrons hang out in a waiting area that is similar to the lobby of a barbershop or beauty salon, with comfortable chairs and a television. You don’t get your order right away, but considering that everything is made fresh to order, the wait isn’t bad.
More importantly, the selections are amazing and satisfying to the fullest degree. My order was the brisket sandwich combo, which included the brisket and two sides. As far as the sandwich was concerned, the brisket had a bold smoked flavor, and was painstakingly cooked to delicious tenderness.
The briskets are so good you don’t really need a lot of sauce, but Hank’s gives you an extra cup of it. I’m glad because no two barbecue sauces are the same, and part of the fun of visiting different places is enjoying a different recipe. Hank’s sauce is rich with a tangy flavor.
The two sides, macaroni and cheese and potato salad, tasted like they were homemade, and also were satisfying.
Viewing the menu, some of the other options available at Hank’s include ribs and rib tips, baked potatoes topped with briskets (along with any other meats and sour cream), barbecue chicken entrees and sliced (not pulled) pork tenderloin sandwiches.
An awesome array of desserts is available, such as peach cobbler, cheesecake, apple pie and very fresh carrot cake.
Prices are also reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the size of the portions. The brisket sandwich combo, for example, is $8.50. Whether or not that seems like a good deal, it will be the only meal you will need for the next several hours. A full pound of brisket can be purchased for $9.
As a non-partisan journalist, I won’t jump into the debate of whether Hank’s has the best barbecue in town; I’ll conveniently leave that decision up to you.
However, whether you decide Hank’s Smoked Brisket is the best, or simply one of the best, you won’t be disappointed.
