Moo's Craft Barbecue and Taproom

Some may say Moo’s makes the best barbecue in Los Angeles—and when the kitchen is having a good day, I would say I agree with you. Husband-and-wife team Andrew and Michelle Muñoz first started Moo's Craft Barbecue as an underground Eastside pop-up before becoming one of Smorgasburg's most popular vendors. Now their perpetually busy brick-and-mortar in Lincoln Heights churns out Texas-style smoked brisket that's perfectly encrusted with a peppery blend of spices. There are sausages, too, along with their signature "CaliMex" sides such as esquites; heaped-high sandwiches, like the Sloppy Moo, which combines brisket, sausage and pork; a rotating tap list that features mostly L.A.-area breweries; and a smoked brisket burger that happens to be one of the city’s best burgers. Unfortunately, my experiences here have been largely inconsistent, and I detest the nitpicky house rule that parties of two or more can’t save seats while waiting in line.