These Barbecue Dishes Push Beyond the Basics

Seafood, vegan items, and more

by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Jun 16, 2016, 10:09am EDT

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Vegan spare ribs at Smoke & Barrel

| Caesar S/Yelp

by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Jun 16, 2016, 10:09am EDT

When talking about barbecue, there are certain dishes that immediately come to mind. Pulled pork and pulled chicken, ribs, sausages, and beef brisket all work their way into the regular rotation, and can be found throughout the city on barbecue joint menus. But this style of cooking goes beyond saucy, grilled meats. The local definition of barbecue seems to get broader by the day.

Chefs are throwing everything from oysters to tofu on the grill or in the smoker and turning them into barbecue perfection. Barbecue items can also be found on more traditional restaurant menus, too.

Restaurants from Hawaiian hangouts to Japanese bars to seafood joints and smoke-centric restaurants are all churning out some nontraditional barbecue plates. Here are some of the more interesting ones in the area. Interested in more international dishes? Head to this map.

Have another favorite less traditional barbecue item from a local restaurant? Share in the comments.

Daikaya

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Daikaya doesn't shy away from grilling on a stick, and one of the restaurant's most unique items is its decadent, okonomiyaki-influenced pork and Brussels sprouts.

705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 589-1600

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Del Campo

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Del Campo's grilled seafood smoke box is proof that red meat is not a barbecue requirement. The $72 two-person dish is a mix of Alaskan king crab, lobster, mussels, clams, calamari and chorizo butter oysters.

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777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 289-7377

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Honu Hawaiian BBQ

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Experience the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch with a a barbecue-influenced twist. Dishes like boneless barbecued chicken and beef are marinated in traditional Hawaiian barbecue sauce, which invokes more unusual flavors like pineapple.

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7524 Annapolis Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20784

(240) 714-4041

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Kangaroo Boxing Club

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Kangaroo Boxing Club isn't afraid to mess a little with tradition. Find smoked duck with blackberry caramelized onions, as well as a smoked cheesesteak on this barbecue restaurant menu.

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3412 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

(202) 505-4522

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La Limeña

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Barbecued beef heart, anyone? Give it a try and order the antichuchos here, served with crispy potato and onion salsa.

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765 Rockville Pike Ste B, Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 424-8066

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Republic

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Try the wood-grilled oysters at this temple of seafood. They're prepared simply with garlic butter and red chili flakes.

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

(301) 270-3000

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Rocklands Barbeque (Multiple locations)

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Keep an eye out for Rocklands' annual "Grills Gone Wild" event, where in the past they're cooked up everything from beaver to alligator. The restaurant also plays with unique specials like grilled frogs legs.