10 June 2011

Good BBQ ribs in Canberra?

| Jasann
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Can anyone recommend a Canberra restaurant that does good BBQ ribs?

My partner wants ribs for his birthday dinner. It would help if the place is child friendly, as we’ll be taking our two year old.

Thanks.

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A belated response but have to mention. The best ribs in Canberra used to be from a place in Dickson called Boogies Diner, back in the 90’s. These American style baby back ribs were the best. Authentic smoked with hickory and then barbecued on the grill with an award winning sauce. Most places these days either boil the ribs first or just bbq and claim they are American style….rubbish! The place use to have the most awesome chicken wings and Nachos as well. I believe the original owners still do the odd function for parties, birthdays and like events. Details can be provided should anyone be interested.

The Dark said :

Just before the man himself gets to it. Jordos Chop shop in Erindale. Easy sorted.

Yes, not a restaurant, but still, just in case.

And its at Wanniassa Shops, not Erindale

Just before the man himself gets to it. Jordos Chop shop in Erindale. Easy sorted.

Yes, not a restaurant, but still, just in case.

Just before the man himself gets to it. Jordos Chop shop in Erindale. Easy sorted.

go to bundah st in civic, theres a place called babars, … hands down the best ribs in canberra! and im a big rib eater! these ribs are so tender i could scoop the meat clean off the bone with a SPOON!

mmmmm my mouths watering just thinking about them!

puggy said :

You’d hope so, seeing as he too is ex-American (as well as ex-Cannons basketballer!). I haven’t seen him in years.

Go to Franciscos, he’s often there and you’ll get a good meal as well!

Not as good as Viva Zapata used to be, but still pretty good.

Keijidosha said :

Angelina said :

I should probably mention Arnold’s Ribs is a takeaway joint in Tuggeranong, not sure if you’ve heard of it or if there is a northside one. I don’t think there is.

There used to be one at Kippax but it is long gone. Their ribs are certainly nothing special regardless.

I didn’t say they were anything special or amazing. In my first post I just said that I like them, I think they’re good. I offered a rib-inclusive child friendly alternative to a restaurant for the OP by suggesting having a house party with rib action. Also making her own ribs as others have suggested is a great idea.

But obviously if they’re set on a restaurant then the places other people have suggested are the best idea. They’re probably a lot more ‘special’ too because they are restaurants, which is why I followed up my original comment by mentioning that Arnolds is just a takeaway in Tuggers, not a nice restaurant.

Do you actually have a constructive comment for the OP or are you just bagging my opinion?

PickedANickname said :

+1 million to Francisco’s ribs. I am an ex-American and I love ribs. Dave’s taste like American ribs. The BBQ sauce is the best.

You’d hope so, seeing as he too is ex-American (as well as ex-Cannons basketballer!). I haven’t seen him in years.

neanderthalsis said :

Hogs Breath. The ribs are one of the few palatable things on the menu and it can accommodate screaming hordes of children.

Or you could make your own for a lot less and not have to worry about being covered in ribs/sauce in public.

Not Hog’s Breath. 3 times I have eaten there. All 3 times the service was woeful. Twice I got food poisoning. It should be noted however, that I have not been to any of the Canberra Hog’s Breath’s. I have been to Ballarat, Liverpool and one in Melbourne. I imagine they are all the same but. Nasty.
Try for ribs elsewhere.

PickedANickname2:41 pm 10 Jun 11

+1 million to Francisco’s ribs. I am an ex-American and I love ribs. Dave’s taste like American ribs. The BBQ sauce is the best.

I forgot to add, I made a similar request for my birthday dinner but we’re making our own, see link below. We have made these Master Chef ones in the past and they are amazing, best served with some sort of mexican beer.

http://www.masterchef.com.au/braised-pork-spare-ribs.htm

Francisco’s Mexican Cantina do indeed still do ribs, I had some a couple of weeks ago and they’re right up there with Hard Rock Cafe ribs, delicious! They do pretty good nachos too, another dish rarely done well in Canberra. (I miss you Montes!)

Angelina said :

I should probably mention Arnold’s Ribs is a takeaway joint in Tuggeranong, not sure if you’ve heard of it or if there is a northside one. I don’t think there is.

There used to be one at Kippax but it is long gone. Their ribs are certainly nothing special regardless.

MsCheeky said :

My place, but sorry, it’s not a restaurant.

Ah no, my place 🙂

You won’t find proper slow cooked over smoke in Canberra, in fact you’d be lucky to find it in Australia. Ithink there’s possibly a handfull of places in teh country. I can recommend the Urban Griller catering in WA but it’s a long way to go.

Hogs breath boil their ribs so not properly cooked.

Roguelette said :

… and not just any ribs they had “Dave Nelsons BBQ Spare Ribs”

Ah, the jingle… “Dave Nelson’s BBQ spare ribs, a dial a meal away, phone 2961024 for the taste that’s really great!”, or something pretty close.

Really want to try the Cantina… want some proper soft shell tacos…

Francisco’s Mexican Cantina in Manuka used to do ribs… and not just any ribs they had “Dave Nelsons BBQ Spare Ribs”. Haven’t been there in about a year, but the website indicates they still sell them. Child friendly too.

golden_youth said :

I’ve been on the quest for Canberra’s best ribs for a while now!

My suggestion – drive to Wollongong and go to the Towradgi Beach Hotel…best ribs I have EVER had.

As for Canberra, I would suggest Eldorados in Dickson. I would stay clear of Arnolds in Tuggeranong…twice I had them I thought they come up very short! But still…bad ribs is better than no ribs!

I have never tried the ribs at El Dorado’s, but the meals I’ve had there were like seriously overpriced club feeds. Paying $30 for a steak that is rarely cooked right and having to place your own order, get your own salad and your drinks at the counter/bar is not my idea of a special dinner.

My place, but sorry, it’s not a restaurant.

I should probably mention Arnold’s Ribs is a takeaway joint in Tuggeranong, not sure if you’ve heard of it or if there is a northside one. I don’t think there is.

golden_youth11:24 am 10 Jun 11

I’ve been on the quest for Canberra’s best ribs for a while now!

My suggestion – drive to Wollongong and go to the Towradgi Beach Hotel…best ribs I have EVER had.

As for Canberra, I would suggest Eldorados in Dickson. I would stay clear of Arnolds in Tuggeranong…twice I had them I thought they come up very short! But still…bad ribs is better than no ribs!

I don’t know of any actual ribs restaurants in Canberra, I’m sure there’s probably one somewhere.

People will probably make fun of me, but I do have an idea.

I really like Arnolds Ribs and last year my husband arranged this western-themed birthday party for me at our house. He got it catered with heaps of Arnolds ribs (and other meat related deliciousness) and we had hay bales set up, and a few of those outdoor gas bottle heaters and lots of daggy western decorations and music, tubs of beers and wine, etc. It was such an awesome night. It was at our house so kid-friendly for our toddler and our friends kids too. Lots of fun and with paper plates, very easy to clean up.

Just an idea…

neanderthalsis11:12 am 10 Jun 11

Hogs Breath. The ribs are one of the few palatable things on the menu and it can accommodate screaming hordes of children.

Or you could make your own for a lot less and not have to worry about being covered in ribs/sauce in public.

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