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jalapeño cheddar grit cakes at Smoke & Barrel
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These 11 Barbecue Restaurants Don't Neglect Vegetarians

Yes, smoked tofu and vegan chicken wings do exist

by Julekha Dash
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jalapeño cheddar grit cakes at Smoke & Barrel
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by Julekha Dash

Diners who request vegetarians dishes at a restaurant known for smoked slabs of slow-cooked, tenderly marinated pork and beef are sure to get laughed out of the place, right?

Surprisingly, many barbecue restaurants actually offer a veritable smorgasbord of meat-free dishes. Some are regular barbecue restaurant side dish staples like cornbread, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and mac and cheese. Other restaurants offer more unusual accompaniments like corn pudding at Hill Country and cheddar grit cakes at Smoke & Barrel.

Some restaurants even offer main dishes that don’t contain any meat. Kangaroo Boxing Club serves falafel while Fat Pete’s Barbecue serves smoked tofu. Some even take the extra step of denoting which dishes are vegetarian on their menus. Strict vegetarian diners should otherwise ask the staff to make sure the baked beans aren’t cooked with bacon fat.

Cobble together a few of these sides and suddenly a vegetarian diner is eating better than his or her pork-loving pals. Here’s a list of 11 barbecue restaurants that don’t treat vegetarians like second-class citizens.

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Acre 121

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Grilled tofu and a veggie burger are on the menu at Acre 121, which caters to vegetarians by marking (V) next to veggieitems on the menu. The restaurant also offers nearly a dozen vegetarian sides like roasted cauliflower, Johnnycakes, and cheddar grits.

1400 Irving St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 328-0121
(202) 328-0121
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American Ice Company

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Grilled cheese and tomato soup, bourbon BBQ beans, veggie nachos, and veggie chili are among the choices at this beer garden and hipster bar near the 9:30 Club.

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 758-3562
(202) 758-3562
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DCity Smokehouse at Wicked Bloom

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It might be known for their brisket, but one of the city’s most popular meat joints has a handful of sides to please vegetarian palates. Choose from the spicy collard greens, red chili coleslaw, potato salad, barbecue pinto beans, and fried onions.

1540 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C.
(202) 750-6375
(202) 750-6375
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Fat Pete's Barbecue

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Fat Pete’s appeal with vegetable lovers is apparent even in its promo materials, which call it a “meat and vegetable smoking co.” Smoked organic tofu seasoned with Mexican spices and served with fajita-style veggies is one of their signature sandwiches. The restaurant also offers more than a dozen veggie sides, including candied yams, hush puppies, and mac & cheese.

3407 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 362-7777
(202) 362-7777
R. Lopez

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Hill Country Barbecue Market

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Hill Country has an assortment of cold and hot sides that can fill a hungry vegetarian’s stomach. Cucumber salad, black-eyed peas, green bean casserole, and corn pudding are among the options.

410 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 556-2050
(202) 556-2050
Eater.com

Also featured in:

Kangaroo Boxing Club

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Kangaroo might be the only barbecue spot that serves falafel in various forms. Get it as a wrap with two sides, which include cornmeal pancakes or Brussels sprouts dusted with a spiced rub. There’s also a lentil wrap on the menu.

3412 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 505-4522
(202) 505-4522
Facebook

Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse

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Skip over the sub and platters fit for carnivores in favor of nearly 20 sides suitable for vegetarians. Lima beans with rice, green beans with mushroom sauce, and garlic dill potato are among the options.

732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547-4553
(202) 547-4553
Michelle A./Yelp

ROCKLANDS Barbeque and Grilling Company

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With four locations in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., it's easy for barbecue fans to find their hickory smoked meats — or a vegetarian side. Vegetarian options are clearly marked on the menu and include BBQ baked beans, macaroni salad, and Texas corn pudding.

2418 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 333-2558
(202) 333-2558
R. Lopez

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Smoke & Barrel

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Another restaurant that makes sure vegetarians aren’t left high and dry, Smoke & Barrel makes vegan wings topped with barbecue sauce, Buffalo blue, or chipotle honey butter. There’s also a veggie chili made with red and black beans, jalapeno and cheddar grit cakes, and several vegetable side dishes, including asparagus and collard greens. Nachos can be topped with thechili or tofu.

2471 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 319-9353
(202) 319-9353
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The BBQ Joint

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Chef Andrew Evans might be known for his smoked beef sausage and brisket, but he also appeals to the meat-free crowd with smoked tofu chili and skillet mac and cheese topped with barbecue rub breadcrumbs.

2005 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 747-2377
(202) 747-2377
Facebook

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Urban Bar-B-Que

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The Rockville and Sandy Spring locations offer a veggie sandwich served with one side, which include collard greens, cole slaw, and a cucumber, tomato, and corn salad.

2007 Chapman Ave, Rockville, MD 20852
(240) 290-4827
(240) 290-4827
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Acre 121

1400 Irving St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Grilled tofu and a veggie burger are on the menu at Acre 121, which caters to vegetarians by marking (V) next to veggieitems on the menu. The restaurant also offers nearly a dozen vegetarian sides like roasted cauliflower, Johnnycakes, and cheddar grits.

1400 Irving St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 328-0121
(202) 328-0121
Facebook

American Ice Company

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Grilled cheese and tomato soup, bourbon BBQ beans, veggie nachos, and veggie chili are among the choices at this beer garden and hipster bar near the 9:30 Club.

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 758-3562
(202) 758-3562
Facebook

DCity Smokehouse at Wicked Bloom

1540 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C.

It might be known for their brisket, but one of the city’s most popular meat joints has a handful of sides to please vegetarian palates. Choose from the spicy collard greens, red chili coleslaw, potato salad, barbecue pinto beans, and fried onions.

1540 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C.
(202) 750-6375
(202) 750-6375
Facebook

Fat Pete's Barbecue

3407 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Fat Pete’s appeal with vegetable lovers is apparent even in its promo materials, which call it a “meat and vegetable smoking co.” Smoked organic tofu seasoned with Mexican spices and served with fajita-style veggies is one of their signature sandwiches. The restaurant also offers more than a dozen veggie sides, including candied yams, hush puppies, and mac & cheese.

3407 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 362-7777
(202) 362-7777
R. Lopez

Hill Country Barbecue Market

410 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Hill Country has an assortment of cold and hot sides that can fill a hungry vegetarian’s stomach. Cucumber salad, black-eyed peas, green bean casserole, and corn pudding are among the options.

410 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 556-2050
(202) 556-2050
Eater.com

Kangaroo Boxing Club

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

Kangaroo might be the only barbecue spot that serves falafel in various forms. Get it as a wrap with two sides, which include cornmeal pancakes or Brussels sprouts dusted with a spiced rub. There’s also a lentil wrap on the menu.

3412 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 505-4522
(202) 505-4522
Facebook

Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse

732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Skip over the sub and platters fit for carnivores in favor of nearly 20 sides suitable for vegetarians. Lima beans with rice, green beans with mushroom sauce, and garlic dill potato are among the options.

732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547-4553
(202) 547-4553
Michelle A./Yelp

ROCKLANDS Barbeque and Grilling Company

2418 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

With four locations in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., it's easy for barbecue fans to find their hickory smoked meats — or a vegetarian side. Vegetarian options are clearly marked on the menu and include BBQ baked beans, macaroni salad, and Texas corn pudding.

2418 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 333-2558
(202) 333-2558
R. Lopez

Smoke & Barrel

2471 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Another restaurant that makes sure vegetarians aren’t left high and dry, Smoke & Barrel makes vegan wings topped with barbecue sauce, Buffalo blue, or chipotle honey butter. There’s also a veggie chili made with red and black beans, jalapeno and cheddar grit cakes, and several vegetable side dishes, including asparagus and collard greens. Nachos can be topped with thechili or tofu.

2471 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 319-9353
(202) 319-9353
Facebook

The BBQ Joint

2005 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Chef Andrew Evans might be known for his smoked beef sausage and brisket, but he also appeals to the meat-free crowd with smoked tofu chili and skillet mac and cheese topped with barbecue rub breadcrumbs.

2005 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 747-2377
(202) 747-2377
Facebook

Urban Bar-B-Que

2007 Chapman Ave, Rockville, MD 20852

The Rockville and Sandy Spring locations offer a veggie sandwich served with one side, which include collard greens, cole slaw, and a cucumber, tomato, and corn salad.

2007 Chapman Ave, Rockville, MD 20852
(240) 290-4827
(240) 290-4827
Facebook

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