Philly Food And Brews

I was dying to try the “Better Than Jersey” Buffalo wings from Mike’s BBQ located on 11th Street near East Passyunk Avenue after reading rave reviews and seeing pictures of the gorgeous wings on social media, so I finally made my way down to Mike’s BBQ after all this time.

The Better Than Jersey wings are a nod to the food editor at Philadelphia Magazine who claimed there are no good wings outside of New Jersey. He better hop on the next bus back to Jersey because his opinion on Buffalo wings couldn’t be further from the truth. The wings at Mike’s BBQ were beyond delicious. Upon the first bite, it was in that moment I decided I would choose Mike’s BBQ as my last meal if I were somehow on death row. However, it wasn’t just the wings. The whole damn meal was fantastic.

The smoked wings gave the skin a subtle sweetness that perfectly complemented the spicy homemade Buffalo sauce. Pitmaster Mike Strauss created the perfect marriage of these contrasting flavors. The Smoked Brisket, served by the pound, was heavenly. The intense smoke flavor graced my palette as a precursor to the juiciest piece of meat I ever had. The half pound of brisket was served with insanely good homemade pickles that had just the right amount of acid to make the enjoyable without being overbearing.

The Cornbread is the best deal in the City of Philadelphia. It’s moist and not gritty, the issue with most cornbread. For just $3, you get one titanic slice of the best cornbread in the state, large enough to share, but once you take your first bite, you’ll want your own. Order pickup or delivery on their website here.