On the search for the best BBQ in CT brings us to HooDoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield.
The smell of burning wood smoke hits you as you walk to the entrance, from the smoking pits that are in front.
Let’s see if the food holds up.
Crispy Pork Belly
The pork belly is impressive with its crispy texture, although it leans towards being mostly fat.
While the crackle on the skin is commendable, the flavor falls a bit short.
The Rating: Crispy Pork Belly
6/10
Buffalo Wings
With their generous size and excellent skin, they promise a meaty and satisfying bite.
The sauce tends to be weak, however, not contributing much.
And the flavor is overshadowed by the strong smoke flavor of the wings.
The Rating: Buffalo Wings
6/10
Bourbon Citrus Teriyaki Wings
HooDoo Brown’s bourbon citrus teriyaki wings fare better, boasting a more pronounced citrus flavor.
The sauce elevates the meaty wings, striking a better balance of flavors.
The Rating: Bourbon Teriyaki BBQ Wings
7/10
Texas Jalapeno Sausage
If HooDoo Brown is a Texas-style BBQ place, their sausage has to be tried.
While the Texas jalapeno sausage delivers a good snap and juicy interior, the flavor leans heavily towards smoke.
The meat itself is a bit dry as well, lacking the expected heat from the jalapeno.
Overall, it falls slightly short on taste.
The Rating: Texas Jalapeno Sausage
6/10
Fries
The heavily seasoned and well-done fries are a treat.
However, they could benefit from a touch more salt, but otherwise are good.
The Rating: Fries
6.5/10
Battle of Ridgefield Sandwich
Brisket, crispy pork belly, apple vinegar slaw.
This sandwich strikes the perfect balance between greasy and tasty.
With a generous amount of BBQ sauce, it is certainly flavorful.
The slaw adds a refreshing element, though the crackly pork belly can be distracting without adding much flavor.
The Rating: Battle of Ridgfield Sandwich
7/10
Spare Ribs
HooDoo Brown’s spare ribs boast an excellent bark and perfect cooking technique.
The flavor leans towards a heavy black pepper presence with a subtle sweetness, almost reminiscent of candied ribs.
The end pieces, however, tend to be overcooked and tough.
The Rating: Spare Ribs
7/10
Brisket
The brisket at HooDoo Brown steals the show with its wonderfully juicy meat that effortlessly breaks apart.
The bark is mildly salty, while the meat remains tender and succulent.
It’s a wonderful execution of this barbecue classic.
The Rating: Brisket
7.5/10
Address: 967 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Hours: Sunday 11:30am to 8pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday to Thursday 4pm to 9pm
Friday & Saturday 11:30am to 10pm