Smokee Joes

This place is closed.
It is now a Get It ‘N Go.

I was on my way to Phillips II and saw a sign that said «Bar-​B-​Q». I figured it was worth a try. But first, I had to pick up some cash at Sunny Latino Market, with a capital LA. =)
This place used to be Smokee Joe’s, but as of two weeks ago (?), it’s under new management. Now it’s a branch of Get It ‘N Go that serves barbecue. I ordered the pork spare rib lunch with cabbage and corn & okra. I asked to get sauce (they only have mild) on the side, but it came on top of the ribs. The lunch is supposed to come with three ribs, but they gave me four. Let’s call it even.
The ribs were a little dry, but not tough or chewy. They could have been smoked for another half hour and trimmed of a little more fat. Neophytes will complain that they were not «falling-​off-​the-​bone,» but they were still pretty good. Also, I’m sure I’ve tasted the sauce before. Very similar to Rib Nest. Maybe they’re both using a bottled barbecue sauce. It’s not too sweet or tart, and has a nice molasses, chili powder, paprika, tomato flavor. I don’t know if it’s the sauce or the seasoning on the meat, but there’s a good bit of black pepper in there.
I enjoyed the sides even more. The cabbage is cooked with carrots and red bell pepper, though it was a little overcooked for my taste. The carrots almost completely disintegrated, but the cabbage wasn’t mushy, and it was perfectly seasoned with salt and a pinch of cayenne. They put in a little vinegar, which supposedly keeps cabbage greener, but it tends to soften vegetables a little too much. The cabbage would stay greener if they cooked it less to start with! I doth protest too much. The cabbage was delicious.
The corn & okra was pretty good, too. The okra was not slimy, and the stewed tomatoes complemented the other vegetables. It was spicy-​but-​not-​too-​spicy, and also perfectly seasoned. Safe to say that Get It ‘N Go knows how to season well.
I don’t regret not going to Phillips II. The sides were much better, and the ribs and sauce were still above average.

As you drive down Florence, an aroma tickles your nose, it takes you back. waaayyyy back to family reunions at Kennth Hahn Park, 4^th of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day all wrapped into one. It’s Bar-B-QUE…Owwww Wee… The Hickory smoke draws you into this lil smoke shack on the corner. It’s definitely a diamond in the rough.
My fam and i walked in there to see what was up. We’ve always seen this place on the way home but never tried it out, but we thought. «ahh what can it hurt»
Believe me it was well worth the visit. The rib tips were meaty and tender and the sauce is to die for! Mr. Chalks the manager is AWESOME!
It’s not a sit down restaurant, unless you want to sit on the out door patio. That’s not important though, cause you can take it and scarf it down in the privacy of your own home. I think i would borrow the theme from carl’s jr. «if it doesn’t get all over the place it doesn’t belong in your face». Smokee Joe’s is not stingy with the b-​b-​que sauce and that’s what i like. I want a lil extra sauce left offer to sop up with my bread, to be able to savor every last drop. I would definitely recommend this place. In fact, just writting about it is making me salivate, i’m about to head to the kitchen to grab my left overs!