Celebrate America with BBQ this July!

by Matt Dye

With summer in full swing and America’s 250^th birthday in the air, there’s nothing more American than sitting down and enjoying some smokey BBQ and fall-off-the-bone ribs. Luckily, in SWLA, there are options aplenty wherever you reside on the I-10 line. 

If you were to throw a dart at a map, you’d be fortunate to be as lucky as Ms. Jeanne and Mr. Ken Rose, who did this very thing before driving their BBQ trailer to Westlake, and we are all better off for it. Still serving out of that trailer, Jeanne’s Bourbon St. BBQ is part restaurant, part Winchester Rifle Museum. Come in after 5:00 p.m. and try their stuffed pork chop, chargrilled, thick and full of flavor. 

Right next door in Sulphur resides The Hut, which is just as it sounds. There are no bells or whistles to the place, beside the one that goes off when you use the drive-thru, as that’s the only way to get this fantastic BBQ. This is the perfect grab-and-go option if you’re looking to bring dinner home to the family. Slide in, order up and be on your way, though you may want to call in your order as they’ve been known to run out of things the later it gets into the day, which is what happens when you’re doing it fresh. 

The hidden gem on this list is The Kitchen, located on the fringes of downtown Lake Charles. Don’t let the in-repair-from-the-hurricanes façade fool you. There’s amazing food behind those glass doors. Better known for their daily meat and sides menu, Thursday at The Kitchen is BBQ day, and the perfect excuse to give a try to what might become your new go-to lunch spot. From the ribs to the pork steak to the brisket, you’ll have a hard time picking a favorite among the choices. 

Speaking of favorites to choose from, Famous Foods is another Lake Charles location that has you covered when it comes to BBQ. Drive-thru or walk in, Famous Foods always looks busy, but like a well-oiled machine. The wait’s never that bad, even when the line is long. From plate lunches and sandwiches to buying sustenance by the pound and taking it home, Famous Foods has it. Do yourself a favor and be sure to pick up some of their spicy “wet” cracklins while you’re there and enjoy heaven in a new form. 

A little further down, off Exit 43 in Iowa, is where Cajun meets BBQ at In-Laws. While the menu does feature staples such as brisket and chicken in bulk, the actual lunch menu is more limited, to its advantage. Offering a daily BBQ pork steak special that isn’t to be missed, the smooth move is to pick up some of their fried ribs, which are thick and full of flavor and a nice change-up to the traditional smoked variety. And grabbing a pepper-jack boudin ball on the way out never hurt anyone.