What is your problem, 2016? You've given us a lot of bad news this year, and now this: Bludso's BBQ, arguably L.A.'s best BBQ restaurant, is closing its beloved Compton location. Cue the waterworks.
Bludso's had been temporarily closed for renovations since September, but were supposed to re-open towards the end of October. That never happened—according to the Los Angeles Times, BBQ extraordinaire Kevin Bludso wasn't able to reach an agreement with the building's owner, and so Bludso's, which opened in 2008, has shuttered for good.
But don't worry—all is not lost. Kevin Bludso will be looking for another Compton location and, in the meantime, will concentrate on pop-ups and catering. He'll also be spending time in his native Texas, where he's in the process of establishing a headquarters. And, of course, there's Bludso's Bar-&-Que, an offshoot of the BBQ spot located on La Brea.
If you're looking for more great BBQ, there has been a resurgence in L.A. lately—though one could argue that it still hasn't reached the caliber of some of the country's top BBQ spots in Texas, Memphis, Kansas City or the Carolinas. At Maple Block Meat Co., diners go wild for the brisket and spare ribs, while Baby Blues BBQ serves a killer pulled pork sandwich. There's also pit-smoked pastrami from Ugly Drum at Smorgasburg to hold you over—an insanely delicious piece of meat that'll make up for Bludso's disappointing closure.
Ok, 2016, that's it. Only good news from here.
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