Vincent Mangual of Empire BBQ is coming back to defend his 2024 title. Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats, second to him last year, is back too. So is Darlene Lawrence of Sands Jerk Hut, whose apple honey jerk ribs won the 2024 People’s Choice.
The 2025 lineup so far:
- Vincent Mangual of Empire BBQ
- Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats
- Darlene Lawrence of Sands Jerk Hut
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
- Oak Marprasert of KAM RAI THAI
- Gavin, Jamie and Chris Farella of Brothers Barbecue
- Cenobio Canalizo of Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ
- Fefe Anggono of Taste of Surabaya
- Jose Perez of Archie Moore’s and The Meat Truck
- Samuel Alleyne of Fire & Smoke BBQ and Big Bob Gibson’s Memphis in May team
- Mike’s Hot Honey team
- Francis Maling of Bad For Business Popups
- More to be announced
Ribs are the point, but they aren’t the whole menu. Masienda is making sopes and tortillas from its masa harina. Dakota Ham is slicing a 36-month country ham, and Jimmy’s No. 43 is running a vegetable grilling station. Sauce King™ NYC hot sauces will be on the tables, and dessert comes from Tejas BBQ, Tipsy Scoop, Aurelia gelato and MuMsKitchens NYC.
The bar pours The New York Distilling Company, Upstate Vodka, Brooklyn Gin, Fort Hamilton Distillery, Piñaq, Round Table Brewery and Gun Hill Publick House, with zero-proof options.