J. Carl Guymon has been an Oklahoma City-area sports writer and a stringer for the Tulsa World.
He serves as a part-time statistician for Fox Sports and CBS at college football games, the NBA and WNBA games, and he has covered the past 41 NCAA wrestling championships.
He has worked for a funeral service ("I worked nearly 500 funerals in the past six years.") and is embarking on a new career in health insurance.
He's also a barbecue fanatic. I can't say how many times I've walked into a Tulsa barbecue restaurant and found Guymon in front of a platter of 'cue. He has developed some favorites.
"Of course, it's a matter of personal taste, but my list starts with Oklahoma Joe's for its consistent high quality on everything it serves," Guymon said. "As a side, try the fried okra. The whole pod is fried in a great batter. Joe's Sunday Gospel Brunch on the first Sunday of each month (at Cain's Ballroom) is hard to pass up.
"Burn Co. has a different taste than most traditional places, but it's a great, slightly charred taste from high-quality meat.
"Billy Sims cooks its ribs to contest-worthy tenderness. Capp's has good meat and high-quality sides, and Elmer's short-end rib dinner is one of my favorites, with what might be my favorite rub in the Tulsa area.
"And, of course, if you count Sperry as Tulsa metro, Donny Teel's Buffalo's BBQ trailer is good every day, every hour, whether it's for the masses or contest judges."
Fellow Tulsa World Scene Writer Jerry Wofford and I recently started putting together a list of our own favorite dishes from Tulsa-area barbecue joints in the categories of sandwiches, sides, chicken, brisket and ribs. The following is how it shook out.
BBQ BINGO
BBQ Bingo is broken down by five categories: Ribs, brisket, chicken, sandwiches and sides. As you try each one, mark them off your list. We have 25 different barbecue joints here, so you have time. You can fill out the ribs first, or start making meals with the best barbecue Tulsa has to offer.
Where to find them
Albert G's
2748 S. Harvard Ave.
Back Alley Blues & BBQ
116 E. Elgin Ave.
Big Anthony's
8151 E. 21st St.
Big Daddy's All American BBQ
1125 S. Garnett Road 4560 N. Lewis Ave., 399 E. Main St., Jenks
Billy Ray's Catfish & BBQ
3524 Southwest Blvd. 6835 E. 15th St.
Billy Sims BBQ
5213 S. Sheridan Road eight other metro locations
Boston Deli, Grill & Market
6231 E. 61st St.
Buffalo's BBQ
201 N. Highway 11, Sperry
Burn Co. BBQ
3208 E. 11th St.
Capp's BBQ
2604 E. 11th St.
Elmer's BBQ
4130 S. Peoria Ave.
Hark's BBQ @ Wing Run Café
7996 S. Sheridan Road
Hickory House Bar-B-Q & Grill
626 N. Mission, Sapulpa
Kansas City's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
7020 S. Memorial Drive
Knotty Pine Barbeque
6161 S. 33rd West Ave. 1425 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow
Mac's Barbeque
1030 W. Rogers Blvd., Skiatook
Oklahoma Joe's Bar-B-Cue
333 W. Albany St., Broken Arrow
Oklahoma Style Bar-B-Que
2225 N. Harvard Ave.
Reba Dale's Barbeque
714 E. 36th St. North
Rib Crib
1601 S. Harvard Ave. 10 other metro locations
Stone Mill BBQ & Steakhouse
2000 W. Reno St., Broken Arrow
Stutts House of Bar-B-Que
2021 E. Apache St.
Watt's BBQ
31st Street and Sheridan Road
Wilson's BBQ
1522 E. Apache St.
Wrangler's BBQ
7915 E. 71st St.
Scott Cherry 918-581-8463
scott.cherry@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Fanatics' Faves
