Baby Blues BBQ

When I first relocated to SF, I really had no idea what to expect. I didn't know that even contemplating walking from Embarcadero to the far southern end of the Mission District was unheard of, even though it was only a 90 minute walk, with stops, and more importantly, didn't know where to eat.

These days, I'm well aware that the Mission has no shortage of great restaurants. Happily, I stumbled into Baby Blues BBQ, courtesy of cravings for a large portion of ribs.

Baby Blues BBQ
As expected, there are plenty of choices, focusing primarily on the BBQ-style meats that they smoke in-house. There were some regulars there, chatting with the waitresses while drinking their beers, and a kids-corner, but drew people in appeared to be the deliciously meaty scents that wafted out the door.

Beer on Tap
Being as indecisive as I am, I ended up ordering a 'small' plate with a 1/3 serve of Memphis Ribs and 1/4 serve of St. Mary's free-range chicken. I'd debated whether pulled-pork, or beef brisket should have made it onto the plate as well, but there'll always be a next time.

The Rebel
The ribs were richly smoked, although not quite as fall-off-the-bone tender as would have hoped. The chicken was juicy and succulent with a light glaze of BBQ sauce. All-in-all, a satisfying dinner, albeit one that's probably making nutritionists disappointed all around the country.
The atmosphere is a little smokey courtesy of the hard-working BBQ, but it's relaxed and fun. With friendly service and large platters to share, I'm inclined to bring my carnivorous friends here to enjoy some quality BBQ (by the standards that govern BBQ outside of the famous states). There's not much space, and I've heard parking can be hard to find but it's worth trying to get a seat here. And there's always take-away if you'd rather dig into a meaty feast at home instead.
Baby Blues BBQ 3149 Mission St, San Francisco Sun-Thu 1130am-10pm, Fri-Sat 1130am-11pm