A Cincinnati barbecue joint is receiving some national recognition after getting a shoutout in a Texas Monthly article on some of the best barbecue bites in the country.
Texas Monthly contributor Daniel Vaughn knows a thing or two about good barbecue. After all, according to his bio on the publication’s website, he’s the country’s first barbecue editor and has “eaten more barbecue than you have.” He’s also authored The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue and co-authored the Whole Hog BBQ: The Gospel of Carolina Barbecue.
This year, Vaughn spent a lot of time on the road traveling the United States in search of the best of the best barbecue for a Texas Monthly project called “The United States of Texas Barbecue.”
While traveling, Vaughn said he had enough leftovers to produce another list of incredible eats found outside the Lone Star State. Just Q’in, a local Texas-style barbecue joint with locations in Walnut Hills and College Hill, made the cut thanks to its Smoked Pastrami Sandwich.
Vaughn says Just Q’in’s pastrami is more Texas-style than New York-style due to the meat being smoked and not steamed and is brisket instead of beef navel.
“Order it by the pound, or ask for the sandwich, and staff will layer the meat with Swiss cheese, pickled onions, and yellow mustard between two slices of buttered and griddled rye,” Vaughn writes.
It’s not the first time Just Q’in’s pastrami has received national praise. In 2022, it was featured on the Cooking Channel and Food Network. And the Walnut Hills restaurant even hosted President Joe Biden when he visited Cincinnati in 2023.
Keep in mind that Just Q’in currently only offers pastrami on the weekends.
Just Q’in, 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills & 5903 Hamilton Ave., College Hill. More info: justqin.com.
This article appears in Dec 11-24, 2024.
