I love BBQ

Now, before you read this, you have to know I am a born and bred Texas girl, and when you get me talking about BBQ, I tend to get excited.

I've long been a fan of Home Plate BBQ, and I was looking forward to seeing their new place. I've been 3 times now, and have tried enough dishes it's time to write a review.

First of all, the size of the new place is outstanding. No worries about finding a seat at this location! They have plenty of high chairs, too. When I was there, I saw at least 4 small children in high chairs. The restroom is 100% better than the old one at the original location (which has been renovated, I hear). The Black and White Western movie is also center stage, literally, on the stage in the front of the main hall. This location definitely matches the caliber of the food. And speaking of location, as another reviewer pointed out, it's not the easiest to find if you aren't familiar with the area, but just go through the drive under the building of the Comfort Inn, and it's back there on the left, about 100 m away from Banana Leaf.

Now for the food. When you walk into the place, you immediately smell the smoker going just beside the door, and when they open the sliding glass door to take a tray of meat in to smoke, it's enough to make a Texas girl swoon because of the intoxicating aroma coming out. Oh. My. Word. It takes me back to summers in Texas when all the neighbors are BBQing.

So far I have tried: bacon corn muffins, bacon wrapped cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers, bbq nachos, bbq wings, pulled pork sandwich, brisket, fried pickles, fried okra, and the smoked sausage. This was my food and friends' foods when we went. The nachos were the only thing that could use a bit more improvement on the cheese topping, but everything else was outstanding. Be warned, the smoked sausage packs a punch of spice! The menu states that they cure their own bacon, which explains why it is so much better than the Hormel brand I buy at the store here. And putting bacon in a muffin! So good! The new recipe is so tasty, I wish you could order just that one and forget about the corn muffin. It just can't compare to the other one, even though it's good by itself.

They have quite a drink selection as well. They keep their soda prices low (like 8-10 rmb a can), which is nice. I also was able to try the smoked beer that Slow Boat had on tap. Now that's one I could drink all day. I'm already looking forward to my next trip to drink that one again. They have a Kentucky Burboun Ale that I've seen served in a brandy snifter, and that's on my list to try next.