Seattle might not be the first city you think of when it comes to barbecue — but head north to Brileys BBQ and you’ll see why that narrative is changing, one rack at a time. I’m calling it now: these are the best ribs in town.

Tender, smoky, and perfectly caramelized, the ribs scream Southern goodness, complete with a beautiful smoke ring that comes from many hours of preparation. No sauce is needed, but the housemade mild sauce is so good it borders on addictive. (Don’t let “mild” dissuade you — it’s packed with flavor.)

But wait — don’t sleep on the sides. I have two personal favorites: the Brunswick stew and the cornbread. The stew is rich, hearty, and packed with smoky meat and vegetables that will make you wake up in the middle of the night craving it. As for the cornbread, there seems to be two camps: sweet and cakey versus savory and dry. I’m definitely in the first camp, and this cornbread is everything I want. A piece of advice: dip it in the mild sauce. You’ll thank me later.

Brunwick stew and cornbread.

Photo courtesy of Brileys BBQ