Welcome to BBQ heaven! Come on in and enjoy!

You know how much I love BBQ! From San Diego's Phil's to San Mateo's Willy's, whenever i travel, I'm on the look out for BBQ. But what abut at home? Don't I have it covered. And when I'm in downtown LA, there's always one spot I love to check out: Sprint Street Smokehouse BBQ.

The food is great, the locale is low key, and the beer is a perfect selection of local and far out brews that compliment the BBQ.

Welcome to BBQ heaven! Come on in and enjoy!
Welcome to BBQ heaven! Come on in and enjoy! Don't mind the Raiders posters!

What makes Spring At unique, other than a BBQ spot in LA, is that its in actually Chinatown. At one point, downtown LA actually technically four BBQ spots. Besides Spring St, and sorry if I don't remember the names, but there was Lee's(?) on the corner of Figueroa and Sunset. The owner actually had a second satellite location on 7th street, and then there was a spot in Grand Central Market which closed years ago, but now a redesigned front space at GCM has been re-purposed as Horse Thief, a store front of sorts BBQ spot.

Clean and simple decor meets meat and beer!
Clean and simple decor meets meat and beer!

So that leaves Spring St. as the only place you can grab some 'Bones and Brisket' in a neat sit down spot with TV's and music. Interestingly, they actually used to host a comedy night here, but no more.

Brews brews brews!
Brews brews brews!

What catches your eye as you enter is the selection of beers available. Of course they feature Angel City, the localest of breweries, but they also feature San Fernando Valley and Ventura County in addition to San Diego and San Marcos brews. But don't worry, it you feel only foreigners make the good stuff, England, Belgium, Canada and New York are represented. Hey, they might as well be from another country - no one can understand that accent!

Ribs. Brisket. Sides. Done!
Ribs. Brisket. Sides. Done!

Although there are plenty of BBQ spots surrounding Spring St., I'm sorry, but Korean BBQ does not compare. Pork Ribs, Beef Ribs, Brisket and Burnt Ends are what we mean when we say Barbeque!

BBQ Brisket at Spring Street BBQ
BBQ Burnt Ends at Spring Street BBQ

And in no BBQ spot is worth its Salt Lick if they don't have their own BBQ sauces to compliment the meat. I normally wait until about half way through the meat before I start adding extra sauce. That way I get to enjoy the flavor of the meat, and then BAM! I kick it up a notch!

When in doubt, apply a little saucy-sauce!
When you're ready, apply a little saucy-sauce!

And fear not, it's not all meat. There are plenty of healthy dining options to join the meat elite. Their sides are just awesome! Slaw, mash, the mac and cheese is killer! And yes, the roasted veggies hold their own as a star with the chili being some of the best you'll taste anywhere. Honestly, I'd order the chili over most menu items in other restaurants. But here, BBQ is king!

Spring Street Smokehouse

640 N. SPRING ST. 
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
213.626.0535
Written by Chris
I love to go places, see things, eat food and drive cars. I also love racing, drinking, not at the same time officer, and sharing stories with people. I love seeing other cultures and lands through the lens of real people.