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Kimpton Ink48 Hotel

Hotel Hayden

The Evelyn

[Flickr/minna883]

Texas, Carolina and Kansas City may more often come to mind when you think of genuine Barbecue, but New York chefs have been getting especially creative behind their smokers as of late, and the City is suddenly awash in BBQ joints that rival the best. Here are four must-stops for any NY-bound BBQ fan:

Daisy May’s: Classically trained chef Adam Lang turns to BBQ at this Hell’s Kitchen spot, right near brand new hotel Ink 48. An over-the-top option for groups is calling ahead to request a whole hog. 623 Eleventh Avenue

Hill Country: A slice of central Texas transplanted to the Flatiron District, within walking distance of Chelsea hotels like the Hotel Indigo, Hill Country brings the real deal: moist beef brisket, tender pork spare ribs, and beer can chicken. 30 West 26th Street

Blue Smoke: Over in the East 20’s, and just two blocks from the Gershwin Hotel, this swanky take on a BBQ joint specialized in ribs but runs the regional gambit, with saucy KC-style pork spare ribs, smoky, sauce-free Texas-style ones, and spicy Memphis baby backs. 116 E. 27th Street

Fette Sau: Offering a decidedly more hipster take on the BBQ boomlet is this Williamsburg spot, a popular mid-bar-hop spot for whiskey and pork belly, also worth a quick L train ride from Union Square Inn. 354 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn

– Brendan Spiegel of Endless Simmer.