10 Brilliant Barbecue Joints in Newcastle
In the mood for some BBQ? Check out our round-up of Newcastle's best BBQ joints.
Whether you want it smoked or seared, Texan or Korean, chicken or pork, BBQ is a firm favourite and Newcastle has some great BBQ joints to choose from.
There aren’t many styles of cooking that are as controversial and varied as barbecue. All anyone can agree on is that the name comes from the Spanish, barbacoa, although that probably comes from a Native American word anyway! People have been cooking meat with fire and smoke forever, although the first reference to barbacoa dates to the early sixteenth century.
Everything else about barbecue is debatable, especially in the US – dry rub vs wet rub? mustard based vs vinegar based? - and the debate goes on and on. The one thing we can probably all agree on is that it tastes GREAT. Here’s a selection of places to get excellent BBQ (and grilled meats) in the city, from a variety of cuisines.
Soju & Goji, Dean Street
Soju & Goji is a frankly delicious BBQ destination with a difference. Korean BBQs do things differently: each table has a built-in gas stove, you select your protein and veg and cook things yourself right there. It’s fun and tasty and everybody gets to eat exactly what they want. There are regular dishes that can be prepared for you too (a lot of which will probably be excitingly unfamiliar) but it really is worth getting into the spirit of things and taking the DIY approach!
COOP Chicken House, Collingwood Street
COOP is all about chicken - chicken burgers, chicken boxes, chicken wings, half birds, whole birds, bits of birds. Lots and lots of chicken, much of it in a variety of very tasty BBQ sauces (which are available to buy by the bottle too!). There’s lot of sides and extras from slaw and corn to drinks and desserts. They even offer shot glasses of chili sauce and you can eat in or get COOP's food delivered direct to your door. Did we mention the chicken?
Red Mezze, Leazes Park Road
This Turkish restaurant near St James Park is something of an institution and its grill is always on, turning out all the barbecued meats you’d expect – ribs, wings, lamb and chicken – flavoured in that delicious Turkish style we know and love. There’s also a full selection of cold and hot mezze, wraps, main courses (again from the grill, with dishes like Chicken Iskender and Ali Nazik Lamb), and plenty of fish and vegetarian options too. Red Mezze is a lively place serving great Mediterranean food that’s definitely worth a visit.
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse, Quayside
Found in the downstairs of renowned steakhouse Tomahawk, Rio Brazilian Steakhouse is the second Newcastle outlet of this largely North Eastern chain – the first being in Jesmond – and offers a distinctly Brazilian ‘churrasco’ take on BBQ. Basically, the gaucho chefs keep the cuts of meat coming (carving at your table) until you tell them to stop (using a handy sign). There are some specialist cuts of beef like fraldinha and maminha plus pork, lamb and chicken. There are veggie, vegan and fish options available but of course it's really all about the meat.
Nando’s, Eldon Square / The Gate / Westgate Road
Nando’s has built its reputation on peri-peri chicken, a real fusion food blending flavours and techniques from Mozambique (the bird’s eye chillies), Portugal (the citrus, garlic and spatchcocked chicken) and Johannesburg (the founders). Three-and-a-half decades later, Nando’s has over 1,000 branches (almost half in the UK) and its simple menu of tasty grilled chicken has made it a high street staple. They keep it simple at Nando’s – chicken in various ways, plus a variety of wraps, sides, salads and platters – but that’s what the fans want! Plus, with three outlets in Newcastle city centre - Eldon Square, The Gate and Westgate Road - you've got the perfect excuse to indulge in a cheeky Nando's.
Mannaza Korean Grill House, Monk Street
Mannaza is another Korean BBQ place tucked away on Monk Street and it’s a delight. Working on similar lines to Soju & Goji, the range of proteins for the grill is remarkable – octopus, scallops, sweet potato, pork belly, beef tongue and the rest – and there’s a full supporting cast of veg, noodles, rice and sides. It's a must-do for fans of BBQ!
Ottoman, Clayton Street West
Another well-regarded restaurant putting a Turkish spin on grilled and barbecued meats, Ottoman offers all the dishes you’d expect – shish, adana, mixed grills – along with plenty you might not like cheesy meatballs, moussaka and seafood guvec. The menu is long and tastily tempting, with plenty of fish and vegetable dishes among all that good, good grilled meat.
TGI Fridays, Eldon Square
TGI Fridays is a large chain serving American diner-style food to grateful British customers who can’t get enough of those flavours. Founded in NYC in 1965, TGI Fridays set the standard for elevated bar food – wings, Tex Mex, mac’n’cheese, potato skins, steaks and burgers – and stays ahead of the trends too, plenty of vegan and specialist items among the trad menu items. It has always been a firm family favourite – lively, loud and fun – and their BBQ ribs are great!
Hen & Hops, High Bridge
Another must-visit restaurant for lovers of all things chicken, Hen & Hops is a High Bridge hotspot. Boasting some of the most delicious chicken in the Toon, they dish up a range of wings all slathered in your choice of sauces and rubs. If you're old-school BBQ, the Old Faithful wings (doused in a BBQ Bourbon sauce) are a sure-fire winner, but if you're feeling spicy there's plenty to suit too - from a banana-habanero in-house sauce to wings coated in naga chilli salt. Luckily, as the "Hops" part of their name suggests, they've got a great selection of beers to help cool you down too!
Blackfriars’ Cloister Garden BBQs & Hog Roasts, Blackfriars, Friars Street
Throughout the summer, the lovely Cloister Gardens at Blackfriars will be used for a series of BBQs and hog roasts to make the most of the (hopefully) warm summer afternoons and evenings. Each event has more than one sitting and tickets (£25 for the BBQ, £29 for the roast) will get you a three-course meal including a main course either straight from the grill or from the perfectly-prepared hog. They're the perfect summer events for lovers of all things BBQ!
There’s something particularly tasty - and summery! - about food straight from the barbecue or grill, be it a slab of seared meat, a fine slice of beautifully charred fish or some expertly grilled veg. Whether you want it done Texas-style, straight off a Turkish spit or cooked in front of you in a Korean BBQ, Newcastle has some great options for all you barbecuties!
