“The best bite in BBQ” - my take.

[JCBBQ]

BEEF. CHEEKS.
Beef cheeks!

I want to thank texastweeter and SheilaAnn who both commented on a post of mine extolling this cut. I’d never considered it much less made it. They sent me down a rabbit hole.

I found a LeRoy & Lewis video where they referred to their bbq’d beef cheeks as the “best bite in bbq”.

This is my recreation. They serve it on white bread with kimchi and their beet bbq sauce. I was looking for something new so I went for it.

First I made beet bbq sauce. I’ve got to say, it’s delicious. Not too sweet, well balanced, super interesting flavor, and the color is amazing.


I made a post about my kimchi making so I won’t rehash but I’ll say that kimchi on bbq is an INSPIRED choice. It pairs perfectly and really cut through the incredible richness of the cheek meet.

Now the star of the show: L&L smoke their cheeks for 4 hours, then braise them in tallow for another four and final rest in the oven over night at the lowest your oven can go. I went 250, 250, then 150 for 12 hours.

The results were incredible. I’d agree, this was definitely the best bite of bbq I’ve ever had.



Into rub - 2 to 1 black pepper and salt.


Some hard ish hockey pucks after 4 hrs of smoke. Got up to 180. Then into the tallow bath sealed up.


Here they are right before serving.


It is a decadent cut of meat



Heres my plate:



And the money shot:



MAKE THIS MEAL!!

[PGH_RAM]

That looks fantastic!

[JCBBQ]

Thanks! I was very happy with it.

[Dewesq55]

That looks amazing! Where'd you find the beef cheeks?

[Troutman]

I know Porter Road sells it, when it’s in stock.

[JCBBQ]

This was a challenge. Nobody around me carries them. Apparently in the north east it’s not a thing. I was told Sam’s but the one near me doesn’t carry them. I ended up buying on line. Paid more shipping than the meat but I just wanted to try it so I paid up.

[JCBBQ]

Now that I want to make this a regular thing, I’m looking for a local seller. I think I’m going to talk to a friend who has a food truck. He can order bc he owns a business. I’d have to buy 30lbs at a time but I don’t mind. I’ll just keep it in the freezer. It’s approximately $6/lb cleaned which is all big pieces like in my pics

[Troutman]

THIS !!!! All my barbacoa is done with cheek. PIA to dress but you may be right, it is close to the best bite in barbecue 👍

[JCBBQ]

Yeah the cheeks I got were already trimmed into perfect pieces. So way easier

[Bluetail66213]

I've had tongue when I was much younger, but not cheek. Can't say that I'm a fan of tongue. The cheek looks like it has more fiber?

[JCBBQ]

VERY different. I’m also not a big fan of tongue. Too chewy for me. This is like the beefiest brisket point you’ve ever had but even more rich.

[Troutman]

Not even close to the same

[Draznnl]

That looks tremendous. I’ve had barbecued beef cheek once, at a place in Chicago that’s no longer with us. It was great. Maybe I’ll try it if I can find somebody who will eat it with me.

[Draznnl]

We’re getting home from our trip to Fishers, IN for the eclipse and Chicago for the granddaughter’s birthday on 4/15 or 16 depending how fast I drive. Going straight from Chicago to San Marcos was already vetoed. I bet mrteddyprincess wouldn’t mind one more at his bash in Fishers on 4/8, especially if beef cheeks were involved.

[mrteddyprincess]

Invitations are still open to the MeatUp next Monday!

[jfmorris]

Yeah, that would be my problem. I would try it, so would my son and one son in law. The girls would never touch it if I told them it was "cheek meat".

[TripleB]

Smoked beef checks is now on my BBQ bucket list.

[JCBBQ]

💪💪💪🏆🏆🏆

[Jim White]

If you have the sauce recipe written yet at a scale that isn’t gallons, I’d love to see it.

[JCBBQ]

See below

[JCBBQ]

Here’s how I made the beet bbq sauce.
Add the wet/dry combo to “the rest” and mix w an immersion blender.

holehogg here you go. Jim White

[Jim White]

Thanks so much!

[holehogg]

Thank you Sir. Do you mind elaborating on the beet juice. Some things this side v that side are called similar but are far from it. I'm assuming it is beetroot juice you buy, (ready made "drinkable.") Yet to find ancho chili powder these parts. Many thanks again.

[JCBBQ]

holehogg yes, beetroot juice. I happen get mine freshly squeezed from a juice bar near me. But yeah, you can probably just get a bottle. As long as the only ingredient is beetroot. Anchos are dried poblano… in case you can source those🤷♂️

[Jfrosty27]

Damn! I need to try this asap. There’s gotta be somewhere around here that I can find them. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Your mission, should you decide to accept it, (I do) is to find beef cheeks and cook them to mouth watering goodness.
This post will self destruct…
OK. Enough. I am on it!

[STEbbq]

I think one of my biggest BBQ screwups was messing up a beef cheek meal to the point where my wife won’t let me try it again. Posts like these make me wonder what could have been.

[JCBBQ]

Oh no!! Tell her EVERYONE deserves a second chance. ☹️

[TripleB]

Tell her it's brisket....

[barelfly]

Seeing your slider built up made me wonder how a shredded beef cheek Bao Bun with kimchi would be

but I’m gonna be on the hunt for some beef cheeks now after seeing this!

[FireMan]

And with kimchi, far out man!

[hoovarmin]

This looks phenomenal to me and I have got to try it.

[Bkhuna]

If you have a Mexican population nearby, beef cheeks (cachete) are not hard too hard find.

[JCBBQ]

That’s what I thought. But I went to two near me and neither had them. 🙁

[Bkhuna]

@JCBBG - Try this https://rumbameats.com/product/beef-cheekmeat/ Walmart where I live will get it if you pester them.

[JCBBQ]

I saw that online but when I went to the stores they list, they didn’t have it. Now I understand the strategy- go pester them. Lol. Thanks.