I’m taking you on a tour of my hometown to find the best Baltimore pit beef, a Maryland staple you seriously can’t get anywhere else. We’re hitting up iconic spots like Chaps and Pioneer to see who’s taming the fire best and serving up that perfect char with plenty of tiger sauce. If you love real charcoal barbecue and fresh cut fries, you’ve gotta see why this local culture is all about the meat and the heat.
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37 Comments
Some say pit beef is not BBQ since the beef is not smoked, even if that's true, it's still good.
I've had Chaps. It's very good. It would be a lot better if they had great bread like they have in Philly. I tell my sons the next time I go to Baltimore I'm gonna stop by Sarcones, grab a roll, and transfer the beef over to that roll.
I had some pit beef at Max's tap house when I visited from the UK. Was great, definitely need to get out to other parts for some of these pit beefs. Ps also loved the Steam crabs 🤌
I’m meeting some friends at Chaps in Glen Burnie next week. A big high five to Baltimore pit beef. Great review Tony.
Pioneer is where it’s at!!! The best!!!
Pit beef obviously isn't barbecue, it's seared over high heat turning often to prevent burning. Always rare so you got to slice it thin and cook to desired temp (but bottom round gets tough over medium). It's heydays were the 1970s with guys setting up grills at almost every red light along pulaski hwy. Personally I'm rye bread with horseradish and mustard.
I moved away from the tax state 15 years ago. The only thing is missed was the food, in this order.
Crab cakes/seafood
Pit beef
Fenwick or Woodlea bakery.
I get crab cakes from Jimmy's every couple of months, sometimes as part of the monthly box special with crab soups.
I looked at purchasing a food trailer with a pit to sell pit beef, but the lot rental, and cost of beef make it prohibitive.
Tony, you missed Bakers in Middle River (Beef sandwiches and Johnny Dogs), and Charcoal Taste (The Mega Threat, beef, ham and turkey) in White Marsh beside the go-cart track.
BAYSIDE BULL EDGEWATER MD
Pepe's off Falls Road used to be the place for us for Pit Beef.
They are a little more upscale now.
Pioneer Pitbeef is the best I drive 40 minutes to get it!
North shore beef. Massachusetts
Chaps, Pioneer (old Al Becks), Canopy and I'd add Expressway in Odenton.
The food looks amazing!
I loved that you made a pit beef episode, and I've been to every spot you covered. My ranking is 1) Chaps, (the OG spot and in Aberdeen), 2) Cruisers (an added plus, they have really good cheesecake there), 3) Pioneer (i'm just a sucker for little pit beef shacks), and then there's Canopy (they aren't what they used to be. Back in the early 90"s they would have been a #2 candidate) Sadly it's just not the same. ✌ Go O's! , Go Ravens! and Go JFS!!!
The raven from chaps is to die for!!!
All hail the Maillard reaction. I'm a native Baltimorean but have never been to Chaps. Pulaski Highway is like terra incognita to me, having grown up in north Baltimore. I will definitely check it out now that I have seen this video.
west river pit, west river md….nuff said.
Meat Man in Edgemere is also awesome, and the macaroni shrimp salad is incredible! Hilarious that the new Chaps (awesome) used to be an adult book store!
Bull on the Beach in OC and The Canopy in Ellicott city are my favs
Pioneer House at Rolling Road and Johnnycake Woodlawn Maryland is the BEST !
Canopy served me a cold pit beef I'll never go back there again
The canopy is amazing. I moved from there about 10 yrs ago but when I lived in Brooklyn I would drive to canopys atleast twice a week. My grandfather would also take me there alot when I was a kid. I hope they haven't changed. I will be up there in May and can't wait to go.
I've had chaps and the canopy. Chaps is my favorite. I've copied chaps recipe as seen on dinner drive inns and dives. It's amazing!
No tiger sauce is sacrilegious
Bro dissing Pioneer? Insanity. Pioneer is our go to, GREAT Pit Beef. Their Tiger sauce is money and their fries are insane!!!
pit turkey wildly slept on here in MD. onion, pickle, tiger. and those fresh cut fries are a MD standard from the beach. "boardwalk fries"
All pit sandwiches are better earlier in day. Go early
Dude! the closest we get to that is Arby's…. Life is not fair
What temp did you get your pit beef in all these spots? Some look more rare
Pioneer Pit Beef in MD is the best spot, IMO (Catonsville, MD).
Pioneer is the best!
If you ever attended a bull and oyster roast in maryland in the 70s through 90s you were treated to the company that started it all, Atlantic Catering. They would have a dozen full size grills at each event that could hold 20 rounds per grill. Fresh carved. Didn't need any condiments. Add a plate or 5 of ice cold oysters and ice cold natty boh and you were most definitely in THE LAND OF PLEASANT LIVING!!!
Chaps House Bbq and tiger on med rare is my go to everytime !!!!!😂😂
Moved to the area recently. Can't wait to check out your suggestions in person. I like your no nonsense style of reviews.
Unfortunately, Maryland is known for "Crabs". I do like a good crabcake sandwich, but no picking crabs. The pit beef is great. Additionally Terrapin Soup is something else! A true Maryland standout that is only available on the Eastern Shore. Also love Rockfish! Maryland cusine is underated, because everybody thinks of Crabs! I live in Virginia and left Maryland after I got my degree from Univ. of Maryland. Always loved Bayside Beef, my parents lived in Annapolis.
Check out Beefalo Bobs
Caribbean 1500’s ??