Barbecue report: Rap’s BBQ in Dallas

Located in an area otherwise devoid of smoked meat.

Rap's BBQ

Still without their permanent signage, Rap's is serving up some good BBQ in an area otherwise devoid of smoked meat. The staff know their BBQ. As they joked about the size of their smoke ring, I asked for sauce on the side, and they assured me that's the way they do it. That sauce was homemade brick red sauce with a sweetener other than brown or white sugar that I couldn't quite identify, but it tasted like the holidays. Maybe they'll tell me on a return visit.

A hot link was sliced open and warmed on the flat top, then brushed with sauce. The meat had good spice with a nice medium grind. Brisket is all Angus beef as pronounced by the menu. The beef was sliced from the flat had a great crust and a nice smokeline. The flavor was definitely smoky, but could have used more seasoning. The meat had a bit of fat left on it, and both the meat and fat could have been just a bit more tender. Ribs also had good smokiness, and they were more moist and tender than the brisket. A well seasoned bark provided a bold flavor missing in the brisket.

Knowing that they've only been open a month, I'll be willing to check back in soon. Something tells me this place could become a favorite for me and the rest of the East Dallas community.