BBQ Bus Smokehouse Brings Meaty Picnic Plates to Brightwood

Veteran food truck BBQ Bus enters the brick-and-mortar business on Friday, opening in a new 900-square-foot smokehouse in Brightwood.

Find many of its longtime offerings parked inside the new home at 5830 Georgia Avenue NW, including smoky pulled pork and spicy chicken with a side — think: fire-roasted corn, braised collared greens, or baked beans — for $10.95. Picnic plates range from hefty three-meat medleys with two sides ($17.95) to 3-bean chili ($4.95).

Delivery, catering, and carry-out are also big parts of the new location, which will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The opening is a longtime coming for co-owners Che and Tadd Ruddell-Tabisola, who originally wanted to go the full-service route back in 2009; The sputtering economy steered them towards the more affordable food truck operation first.

The space features an open kitchen, along with photos of its D.C. food truck family splashed on the walls. A deli case showcases to-go quarts of potato salad and racks of ribs.

Stay tuned later this summer for chicken pot pie Fridays, featuring the titular bird, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and gravy. As an ode to its street address, a new Georgia Avenue Gold flavor will be added to its lengthy lineup of barbecue sauce recipes.

The namesake food truck is expected to continue roaming the streets.

Status: Certified open. 5830 Georgia Avenue NW; website.