The Best Barbecue Near Taline, by the Record
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Rank 1. Takja BBQ House
Korean Barbecue
The ssämjang is fermented in-house, which is either a signal that the kitchen takes Korean barbecue seriously or that it has too much time on its hands, probably both. This upscale Korean BBQ spot on College Street dry-ages an international roster of proteins and has servers manage the grill so you don't have to. The banchan rotates with the seasons, and the cocktail list leans Korean. Canada's 100 Best landed it at number 46.
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Rank 2. Cherry Street Bar-B-Que
Barbecue
A red neon sign cuts through the dust of a massive waterfront construction site, and inside the old bank building behind it, the smoker is a repurposed shipping container on the patio. This is a serious barbecue joint, Michelin Bib Gourmand, running Texas brisket and St. Louis ribs alongside wings and sausage links that regulars know to order first. Come on a weekend and the meats sell out, which is either a warning or a recommendation depending on your planning habits.
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Rank 3. Beach Hill Smokehouse
Barbecue
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Rank 4. Miss Qu Bbq
Barbecue
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Rank 6. Northern Smokes
Barbecue
A custom reverse-flow wood smoker does the heavy lifting at this halal barbecue spot tucked into a Scarborough strip mall, and the smell reaches you before the signage does. Order a multi-meat plate, a sandwich, or by the pound, and the menu swings from Montreal-style brisket to Korean-inflected short ribs without losing the thread. The maple-smoked beans are a quiet reminder that you're firmly in Canada, not Tennessee.