It had been way too long since I’d been to KBQ, a nondescript little barbecue outlet in a strip mall off of Route 450 in Bowie.
Having been here now about six times, my experiences with the ribs have ranged from very good to mind-blowing, usually falling somewhere in between. They are smoked off-premises (I’m pretty sure), and brought in for reheating and sale.
My young dining companion and I got there at 12:05 on a Sunday, and had ticket #2. We wanted ribs and nothing else, ordering a Half Slab ($9.99) with sauce on the side (the dry rub on these contains more than enough flavor; the sauce provides some additional sweetness and moisture). A fountain soda was $1.49.
I’m so glad I resisted the temptation of a full rack because this was exactly the right amount for a light lunch for two people. Meat, meat, and more meat – probably about 8-10 medium-sized ribs. And on this day they were very good, bordering on being great – the best ribs I’ve had in months and months. The smoke ring was there, but it would have been nice to have a bit more crispy outer and moist inner.
It wasn’t the best day for KBQ, but even when KBQ is off, it’s still on, at least for the ribs.
“Worth the trip?” I asked Matt.
“Definitely.”