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Categories: Barbeque, Southern, Vinyl Records
Neighborhood: Silver Lake"Harold and Belle must have loved butter. I love butter too, which is probably why I had a great dining experience here. The meal started…" read more »
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This is my go-to for people new to town. I show it off like I was the first to know about it. Last time I went I had the brisket, took 45 min but I am willing to forgive them that, this is BBQ after all, not Mickey D's. The brisket is fantastic! There are two sauces on the table to choose from, I tend to mix them since I love the vinegar sauce but like a thick sauce that will cling to the meat. I do think they need a few bottles of rooster sauce to grab if you need more heat. So, I went on Halloween Night, crossing my fingers that they were even open. Luckily they were and we rejoiced once we found parking.
Warning the parking in the neighborhood is a real bitch at night. That said once you find parking it's all uphill from there.
In the fridge are good ol' fashioned soda in glass bottles, Cheerwine is my personal fave. And in the freezer are complementary Otterpops. Yup, Otterpops, not those bullcrap fake ones.
As for our dinner this week, I went with fried chicken and Jake went with brisket. The fried chicken was what I imagine it tastes like if that aunt, who's won the county fair blue ribbon 15 years in a row and won't shut up about it and you want to slap her until you finally bite into the juicy fried breast that is neither greasy nor dry, made it. So, yeah the chicken was good, but I would like a bit of rooster sauce to sprinkle on it. Jake inhaled his brisket and leaned back on his chair moaning in pain and pleasure at a job well done. The sides shouldn't be called sides other than in reference to where they sit on the plate. Sides infers that they are somehow not the stars of the show. By gommit my plate was a damn ensemble piece. Mac and cheese that was creamy and not too salty, Greens that sing when they hit your mouth. I like to think that by eating greens I am somehow healthy, ignoring the chunks of pork that season every bite. The owner hooked us up with a complementary biscuit that I can imagine when fresh out of the oven are amazing, take that Biscuit lady at Loveless(actually the food at the Loveless is pretty freakin amazing)
Ok enough of my yammering on about the food. Go eat it!!
And don't forget to walk around to the record store where I managed to find some fairly awesome records that were half off!!
I hope you enjoy hair in your sauce. Main dewds are super nice the others cancel that out by being giant jerk face jerks.
I like people that have a smile and a shower to make my food. Also serving a sandwich does not make you cool in my book. Especially when the sandwich is not as good as my mama makes.
A guy my boyfriend worked with invited us to a hootenanny that he and a couple of his friends were throwing. They do it every Thursday night. They do some covers (Leadbelly!!) but for the most part they do their own originals. Very fun, and it's BYOB!!
Before that Thursday, we have never been here before. My boyfriend is a vegetarian so we thought we wouldn't be finding much for him to eat. Which was true, the menu is generally consisted of meat, and so we chose from the sides menu. Two orders of their mac n cheese with some biscuits. On paper this sounds small, but it was actually quite enough! And so delicious!! The biscuits are actually somewhat dry, but the apple butter they offer with it helps it tremendously. The mac n cheese is not the best people will ever try, but it was still tasty.
We are going back today for the hootenanny, and the food!
We went recently for the first time...
-The cole slaw was really unusual. Minced and dry.
-The collard greens were bland. Maybe I've just had too much southern/soul food.
-The pulled pork and brisket were dry. Unusually dry.
-The mac and cheese were were the only redeemable dish. Although, actually seeing them pull out the 40 Gal. container of precooked pasta made my eyes bulge.
I'll go try it again once more. Everyone has a bad day. We'll see...
People thought this was:
The reviewers that are calling this place "authentic" must have been to very different parts of the Carolinas than I have. Back east, no self respecting BBQ joint would have such scraggly servers. I don't usually judge based on appearances, but dirty is dirty, and there's too many places I can go without having my food brought to me by someone with matted, stray dog-esque hair.
On to the food: the meat and sauces actually are actually quite tasty. The mac and cheese is cold and tastes suspiciously like the stuff in the ready made section of Ralph's. The slaw is sludge. The biscuits are cold. I won't be back.
People thought this was:
Okay. Went back for Rib plate. SO good. Tried the greens. Yum! The mac and cheese tasted cheesier and had a hint of cayenne? This meal was better than the first! It will set you back 15-bucks though. Love the vibe and the nice ladies that work there. Hootenanny rules!
On Thursday nights, a group of guys puts on a hootenanny and we decided to check it out. I have been… Read more »
Any complaints about the quality of the BBQ at Territory are totally unfounded, and probably a result of a lifetime spent eating LA's usual, pathetic excuse for BBQ. There are a lot of reasons to dislike Territory, but the quality of the food isn't one. The recipes here are spot on -- juicy, flavorful pulled pork and brisket, great homemade biscuits, and excellent sauce -- and I like both the backyard vibe of the seating area and the BYOB policy (there are several liquor stores within 1.5 blocks). Beyond that, however, it's easy to be critical.
The staff look uniformly filthy, as though Territory's kind-hearted owner decided to spur the economy by employing the finest burnouts Skid Row has to offer ( though apparently Sebastian Bach was busy http://www.instantrims.../ ). I'm all for charity, but I've been here 3 times and only once has my food been hot by the time it arrived. When it takes 25 minutes to deliver a plate of pre-smoked meat, ready-to-serve mac n' cheese, and a biscuit, there's a problem.
Maybe the problem is that at least 50% of staff are clearly baked. In fact, on my first trip I actually watched two of them smoking a joint in full view of the clientele, not 5 feet from my table. Don't get me wrong, if they weren't on the clock, I'd happily spark up with them, but smoking in front of customers is classless and handling folks' food while high can be downright dangerous.
That said, I'm giving this spot 3-stars because A) I firmly believe that if they cast the unwashed hipster masses out of the kitchen and hire some respectable employees, it could be one of the best BBQ joints in LA, and B) they serve Cheerwine.
People thought this was:
Really down home, no frills, country BBQ and sides. Went there with a bunch of friends and got to taste almost everything. Love it ALL.
If you are uptight about under the radar, breaking the rules kind of rock and roll restaurant then please don't go cause they don't want to explain it to you.
It's chill, if there's no free beer (and there wasn't when I went) then walk down the block to the liqueur store. But beware, that liqueur store closes at 9.
Territory is laid back, has nice decorations, sells music next door, and gives you Otter Pops for free. However, I like the place more than the barbecue itself.
I got the rib dinner with collard greens and a biscuit, and a bottle of Cheerwine. Turns out the ribs are baby backs. I prefer spare ribs, but it's not a deal breaker. If you're not a barbecue fan, you'd like them just fine. They're smokey, tender, moist enough, and the dry rub is slightly sweet and has the right amount of salt.
Under scrutiny, however, the ribs don't hold up. We all like smokiness, but these ribs are too smokey. They smell like carbon, and some areas of the bark are crunchy due to charring. As a result, the ribs are not as moist and tender as they could be, and smoke overpowers the meat's flavor. I think the dry rub needs more black pepper and other spices. That may have clashed with the sauces, so maybe not. One last thing. The ribs are served on a bed of dry, pulpy coleslaw. I'm not sure why they do that.
Everything else was pretty good, though. The collard greens are cut in big pieces and aren't salty or bitter. They had a little zing to them, and had no annoying bits of meat. They're almost as good as Bigmista's collard greens. The biscuit was crusty yet tender, a little dry, but came with a great apple butter. As good as homemade.
I liked the sauces, too. They reminded me of Mexican chili sauces. Great chili flavor, lots of spice in the dark sauce. Not what I expected at all. I was imagining something with chili flakes, apple cider vinegar, maybe some tomato sauce.
In the end, Cheerwine and an Alexander the Grape Otter Pop were the highlights of my meal. I was really mad when they started making Otter Pops smaller.
Been wanting to try this place out for a while now. I would pass it everyday on my way to my friends house to pick him up to go train. The place is small, but boy does it smell good. The first time I was there I tried their brisket, mac & cheese, and potato salad. All I can say is good, good, & good. The brisket was so tasteful and not dry at all. The mac & cheese was so cheesy, and the potato salad was really tasty. I went back (cause they only serve ribs after 6pm) to try their ribs. WOW! The ribs were so good and meaty. They have 2 sauces spicy and sweet. I really enjoyed the sweet one. I also tried their pulled pork but I wasn't a big fan of it. But all in all a great place to satisfy your BBQ craving.
People thought this was:
I'm from North Carolina. My grandfather was a pig farmer. I'm a bbq connosieur of the highest order. Thus by default, these facts make my review significantly more relevant than everyone else's.
Is it the best BBQ I've ever had? Certainly not. Is it very tasty? Yep. It's indeed authentic North Carolina-style chopped/pulled pork BBQ.
For those who don't know, in NC there is a decades-old debate about what kind of sauce to put on the BBQ (note: when we use the term BBQ in NC, we are referring specifically to the tasty delicacy of chopped/pulled pork).
In eastern NC, they swear by a thin, liquidy vinegar based sauce. In western NC, they prefer a tomato/ketchup-based sauce more like what most people are used to seeing in bbq sauce bottles (though it does still have some vinegar in it for a little twang).
They are doing things right here and as a North Carolinian now living in LA (not to mention only 5 minutes away from Territory), I appreciate what they're doing.
The sides I had (baked beans and collard greens) were only average, with the beans being much better than the greens.
I'll have to try the ribs next time.
I enjoyed my BBQ on the white bread in its soggy, juicy goodness.
And remember, it's BYOB.
People thought this was:
Great quality unpretentious comfort food.
Definitely worth the trip for the genuine minced style coleslaw and the milder-flavored applewood smoked pulled pork. completing my plate were tasty pickled eggs, potato salad and the delicious Carolina style vinegar sauce.
If you get a chance have a chat with the pitmaster Clifford . Contrary to some of the reviews here, all the staff were friendly and talkative.
I thought both the fried chicken and the bbq pork here were just OK. Neither were bad - we both cleaned our plates - but it just left me feeling a little "eh." The mac and cheese was alright but really...you should bake it. I can make soupy noodles and cheese at home.
It is definitely overpriced for this kind of cuisine. In the same week that I ate here I went to Austin and had twice as much food for at least 3 or 4 dollars less.
I liked the atmosphere here though - very casual and laid back. It could be a cool place but I'm not sure the location is the best for what they might be going for.
You know, I am always happy to check out a new joint in the area and was pleased as punch to find Territory, particularly with my new summer obsession with BBQ.
The food itself was fine and tasty - I am not an expert on the BBQ, so I will let youse all duke it out over authenticity. Overall the pulled pork was tender and cooked well. I tried the vinegar and sauce options, both which worked for me. Portions were fine and the mac and cheese was good enough. However, i was served potato salad when I asked for a biscuit, which was disappointing. The fried chicken was a poor showing, however. Two small pieces - both dark meat were less than expected. Cooked great, tasted great, but honestly, toss us a breast for a the (roughly) $13 we spend on it. Also, no requested biscuit on that dish either. I guess they ran out and just decided it was cool to substitute?
Overpriced for what we got but more importantly, we wont go back simply cause of the staff. Now, I've lived in Silver Lake for my entire life and I am not a stranger to Eastsiders. I have also been around enough hippies to not cringe at unwashed hair. That said, that does not mean I want someone who looks like an unwashed Jesus serving me my food, no matter no nice and pleasant he is. The hair looked DUSTY due to it's unwashed nature and only moved in one solid piece. Honestly.
Then there were the beards! I did not see a single mouth of any man working there. Those beards had YEARS on them.
NO ONE was wearing a hair net on the head or the beard, which, in as many restaurants as I have worked in I can assuredly say is, not acceptable.
The dirty clothes don't help either. Neither did the unbuttoned shirt to the navel of the dude cooking.
When we sat around back we were near the back door, which opened to the kitchen. It looked like a regular house kitchen, with a regular stove. We wondered aloud how long that could last when we heard a bark - FROM THE KITCHEN. I saw the guy cooking in there turn around and order the dog who WAS IN THE KITCHEN WHERE MY FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED to be quiet. Now, If I can't even bring my dog into Target cause they sell packaged food, then really, is it OK for a dog to be in a kitchen?
I really did feel like I pulled 2 hairs out of my food while eating. If they were real or not at that point did not matter. Do you really want to eat in an establishment where that is what you think about with every bite?
I know I don't.
Never again.
People thought this was:
If you like good BBQ, great sides and a BYOB policy, this is the place for you. I'll tell ya, the Q is pretty good, but the collard greens are out o' this world. Oh, and did I mention that there's no-cover live countrified music on the back patio every Thursday night? Well, there is, or at least until it gets too cold. I'm guessing December.
If I were independently wealthy, the is is sort of place I would open. What's not to love? An authentic BBQ joint slash record shop in a setting as casual as your friend's back porch.
Territory is unapologetically Carolinian. As good as some California barbecue restaurants are, I'm not aware of any with such an unmistakable point of view. I'm not going to argue that the Carolina school of barbecue is the best, because that's a silly debate. It is one of the best styles of homegrown American cooking, period. Instead of a mishmash of tastes and styles, they stand on the shoulders of centuries of a style of cooking that has evolved through necessity, collaboration and the blending of disparate cultures.
This is a "from scratch" operation. Fried chicken (delicious fried chicken) is cooked to order. Mac & cheese and beans, while not the most amazing, had a homemade appeal. Behind the counter, I spotted a sheet of biscuits, right out of the oven. I had to try one, and I was blown away. It was also a great sight to see one of girls (dressed like a nurse, no less) carry a bucket of uncooked greens to the kitchen that was so heavy, it made her shoulders sag. The barbecue is made for all so see, in two medium-sized offset smokers in the back. Unlike a lot of places, they've got nothing to hide.
To set the scene, there is a small front area with a counter and a small kitchen. The menu is on a chalkboard, which is a very good sign. No great barbecue restaurant has a completely fixed menu. You need some kind of board that says either what you have or don't have at the moment. If the food in question takes 10+ hours to cook, nothing will be ready all the time, unless you cheat. These guys are not cheaters.
You eat in the patio off to the side. You order your sodas at the counter, but you grab them from the fridge outside: a technicolor array of legit sodas - thick glass bottles from grape Crush to Cheerwine (a great cherry soda popular down south, I'm told). The freezer has popsicles for free, just like home. I was far too stuffed to partake. Off to the side you have a dozen or so bottles of homemade barbecue sauce (plus some commercial hot sauce). They have that rarely seen classic Carolina vinegar sauce, nearly identical to what I make at home for pulled pork. It's just vinegar seasoned with salt, pepper, sugar and hot pepper (or something like that). The other two sauces are sweet and spicy, and while both are technically tomato-based, every sauce here can be called a vinegar sauce. (see: point of view)
As for the barbeque itself, it's very good, but taken alone, I'd probably say it's four-star barbecue. Everything is pretty salty, which is good and bad. Everything I had was lightly dressed in a vinegar sauce, which is also good and bad. The pulled pork was really pleasing. The brisket was really good too, but it had a little of that falling apart texture. I prefer sliced and unsauced brisket. I think it's the best way to enjoy it, and it's also the hardest for the cook to pull off. Even so, it's one of the better briskets I've had around here.
In the negative reviews I see complaints about the place being too casusal, the sauce being too thin, the slices of white bread, the handwritten menu, and so forth. All these things are just as they should be and are completely true to style of thousands of legitimate barbecue spots throughout the country.
The record shop is small and quirky. Mostly 60s and 70s pop, nearly all of it vinyl or, get this, cassette. I only had time to check to see if they passed my baseline test, and yes, they carry both Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. Next time, I'll look further.
The record shop might trend pop, but I'm not surprised to see that they carry Stevie. Because like Stevie, I'd sum up Terriory BBQ in two words: funk and soul.
People thought this was:
I went to Territory BBQ mere days after they had opened and it was an experience. I can't think of another place in LA that is quite like Territory. It just goes to show the many experiences one can have in the City of Angels if they choose to venture out of their comfort zone.
Having said that...you should go here with an open mind. It is not a traditional restaurant and it feels like you went to your buddy's house for lunch/dinner.
I initially wrote about this place (with photos) and posted here: http://tinyurl.com/noyxo5
Since then, I have been back and my second experience was great. The record shop is now open and they seem to be more comfortable in running their restaurant.
Territory is one of those must try places. If you go and you don't like it, then move on to somewhere else, but don't go in there ready to hate it.
They are introducing Folked Up where they will have live music or show films on Tuesday evenings. Might be worth checking out.
People thought this was:
I went to Territory few days after their grand opening, I truly liked it. Since then I have been back once more and still feel the same way.
Love the food, the atmosphere, and the very comfortable setting.
The staff is very attentive and friendly. There's nothing fancy at this restaurant, but it is very comfortable, kind of like eating at your friend's backyard bbq.
In my opinion it serves tasty home style bbq with a down to earth feeling all around. Don't miss their very good fried chicken, prepared to order every time.
A quite unique bbq place in Los Angeles.
Free frozen popsicles!
: )
I posted a few photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/ter...
People thought this was:
Dirty hipsters. Clean hipsters are bad enough. Average-below average food. Served cold. Enjoy!
Totally wasn't prepared for having dinner in my neighbor's backyard, but I had a great time here. There wasn't much to remind us that we were in Silver Lake and not somewhere in North Carolina, except for the hipsters sharing the patio with us. [That's right, I used the word hipsters. I scanned through some of the reviews below and see a lot of bitterness about that word. Guess what, I'm not hatin', I'm just trying to describe my fellow BBQ-lovers. If there's a more PC term that we're now all using, lemme know, how bout that!]
I had a burger, my date had the ribs. Both were pretty good, though we weren't totally on board with the collards or the slaw. Will have to try some of the other sides next time.
The decorations on the wall outside are awesome. Raccoons! If this is your first time there, just make sure you realize this joint is uber-casual. I don't mean, be prepared to dress down... that kind of casual. I mean, be prepared to grab a cold Bubble Up from the fridge outside and listen to them literally cookin your ribs on the BBQ out back. If you're down with that, you'll have a good time, too.
The folks running this place seem cool, so I hope they do well. Didn't get to check out the newly opened record store, but if it's anything like the BBQ side, it should be funky. Maybe next time.
People thought this was:
Hip little place in the outskirts of...I don't even know. Unfortinately didn't get a chance to try the food, but apparently it was delicious (so I'm told by a native Texan, so it must be good.) Saw Peanut Butter Wolf "perform" here and the backyard is hip and in my face.
Return trip is a must.
Best pulled pork I could ever imagine--not greasy, super tender. Yum. Excellent collards. Mac n cheese could use a little more draining of the water off the pasta before they add the cheese and milk but it actually worked pretty well as a mix-in to the pork...incredibly delicious sauces/vinegars/etc. to complement the perfectly prepared meal. Some people pooh-pooh the cheap white bread but I love that whole thang. Great outdoor dining area with some cool dj things happening at night. I also scored a long-desired cassette at the record store.
Oh, and the santeria candle "SHUT UP" (on our table) seemed to fulfill its purpose. Nothing like breaking a curse of sorts while eating the yummiest yums.
Give. Me. More.
Thanks, and love ya.
There are some things that just shouldn't go together.
Like ice cream and onions, sardines and strawberries, and SPAM and jello.
Or hipsters and BBQ.
I've been searching for a long time for a great BBQ joint near the Eastside. I love my BBQ, but not quite enough to drive a new Audi into the 'hood. So when Territory opened in Silver Lake, I really wanted to like this place.
The menu looked good. Small enough that they can get everything right. Just the basics without the frills.
Walking in, I noticed that the no frills approach extended not only to the food but to the restaurant too. A grimy tile lined space, a half bare glass counter with a few desserts, and a menu written on a white board.
Oh, and two hipsters (of the dirty variety as opposed to the geeky variety) who were in no rush to serve me, the only customer in the restaurant.
That's fine. I don't need service if the BBQ is good.
I order a pulled pork sandwich and mac and cheese, apparently their specialties, and they ask me if I'm eating in. I look around for tables and chairs. Seeing none, I answer affirmatively but not hopefully.
Turns out the dining area is in a fenced in outdoor area around the back. Six or seven plastic tables with vinyl tablecloths, an old fridge with serve yourself sodas, rolls of paper towels on the tables, and a tray of mismatched cutlery. Reminds me of a share house in college. And not in a good way.
But still, I'm hopeful. I wander further around the back and find a concreted backyard with two smokers in action, a few bags of charcoal and odds and ends. Like a kids bike.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I return to my table to find my food. A red plastic basket holding a couple of scoops of pulled pork on two slices of plain white bread. Okay, I was hoping for a nice crusty bun but sliced white bread will do. The side of pickles and slaw consisted of two slices of pickle and a small scoop of finely chopped, almost blended, slaw. And the mac and cheese was pretty much Velveeta on macaroni. None of this was inspiring confidence.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
My first bite of the pulled pork was... disappointing. Where was the moist, tender meat? Where was the smokey flavor? Where was the seasoning? This pulled pork was uninspiringly dry and bland. Granted, I didn't add any sauce to it but good BBQ should stand on its own and not have to rely on a sauce to impart moisture or flavor.
But had I wanted to add sauce, none was to be found. There was one bottle of ketchup and one bottle of vinegar on the counter, plus a few bottles of hot sauce. Turns out, in this loosely run backyard affair, that if one table happens to be hogging the only two bottles of BBQ sauce, there are none others available.
I made short work of the sandwich. No need to savor or linger over this one. Five bites and it was done.
I left disappointed and hungry. Not a sign of good BBQ.
But I guess that's hipster BBQ.
It helps maintain the anemic, skinny and disillusioned look.
People thought this was:
By far NOT the worst bbq I've ever had. If this is the worst you've had, consider yourself lucky. There is some gnarly bbq in this world. I've taken bites of pulled pork that had the texture of chewed up dental floss. I've also had bbq that made me send crammed postcards to my folks, confessing my sordid love affair with a smoky plate of swine. But they are not serving either of those things at Territory BBQ. It's a fine effort, but sadly, nothing mind blowing here YET. I say YET cos this joint just opened. Kinks are sometimes worked out.
Between the meats I sampled, the brisket was the clear winner. It was flavorful and tender. Sauce was optional, but not necessary.
The pulled pork wasn't dry nor did it melt in my mouth. It was an easy chew as it's not of the tough variety that leaves your jaw achingly sore. The problem was it didn't stand on its own four flavorful feet. I felt the need to sauce it up. I do like the fact that they leave your meat bare and allow you to smother it to your own liking. However, the sauces offered weren't the type that make me lie in bed tossing and turning as I try to dissect the recipe. Not bad, just not great.
In the sides department, I tried the collard greens. DECENT. Potato salad. EXCELLENT. Beans. REQUIRE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. I live for the bean. I eat them as a main course. Use them as a condiment. Look at pictures of them when I am lonely. I suspect the beans may have been salted before they were done cooking. They were not the lovely little tenderonis that they could and should have been. Lastly, I do enjoy bbq with white bread aka edible napkins. I figure the prices play a big role in the people's summaries of Territory BBQ. When you are paying upwards of $10 nowadays, you demand SENSATIONS. There are a few more options on the menu (fried chicken/fried catfish/ribs) and maybe those offer a ride on the roller coaster of flavor. You tell me. Overall, I'd like to give the place two and a half stars... Yelp will not allow that, so just know that I take the A out of A-OK.
Regarding the record store, they have quality records. They probably have something you want and make it easy to get it. If you are the hunter/gatherer type, it might not be as much fun as searching months to find the holy grail for $1. You pay a couple bucks more for instant gratification.
People thought this was:
The Food!!!!!!
It is so good , I went with the catfish sammy with a side mac&cheese and a Dr.pepper in the bottle.
The staff was very nice , the food was homestyle and very good. I was at a party there that had free colt 45 and peanut butter wolf on the 1's & 2's how could it get any better?
P.S.
The negative reviews are still dead wrong, written by people who claim to know good BBQ but write about it like blind-from-birth sorts trying to describe a sunset.
And oh no, HIPSTERS! There are HIPSTERS! Honestly, anyone writing reviews here who uses that term pejoratively within said reviews should automatically be discounted with extreme prejudice. Moreso if they don't have any other reviews written.
P.P.S.
The record store is pretty amazing. Small, high quality, very specific, extremely well-stocked.
People thought this was:
I think you'll just have to disregard the negative reviews here, or the single negative review. The… Read more »
Why are kids reviewing this who've never stepped inside? I hope you turkeys realize that this hurts the rating of the place.
The food was fantastic.
First the food, pulled pork was really good - moist, nicely smoked and plentiful. Fried chicken delicious. For sides, slaw was interesting, beans very tasty, biscuit very dense (and tasty). LOVE that they serve tater tots. Maybe "BFD" for some, but tots were a welcome surprise. Crispy and hot. Very much liked the tangy sauces.
BE WARNED ribs are ONLY served after 6pm. A huge disappointment for me since I was there at lunch.
To say this place is no frills is an understatement. I'm not terribly prissy so I didn't mind the seating area and general feel of the place. Some might. Casual servers. You might wait a bit to get served. But there is also no one rushing you to clear your table.
And it is BYOB for alcohol. SWEET!!!!
7 adults ate (very well with extra sides) for $90.
If it weren't for the size of my expanding ass, I wish this place was more convenient for me - I'd be doing take out often.
This place does collards right. But note, you must like collards done right to enjoy them. I am from Georgia, I grew up eating collards cooked right, and yes, "Success!"
I disagree that the portions were too small. Maybe this was just something because of opening night with the large crowd. We thought the portions were fair for the price.
My boyfriend got the pulled pork, mac & cheese, and collards.
I got the catfish, baked beans, and collards.
All of these things were very good.
Only outside seating, parking seems difficult at night (we walked), BYOB (Silver Bullet), real good, real Southern food.
I think only some soul food places in Southwest LA could give it a run for the money, but what hipster wants to drive to Compton on a weeknight? Not this one.
People thought this was:
Hey, why are there two yelp listings for this place?
Just came home from an awesome dinner here with a bunch of friends.
Most of us ordered the Pulled Pork... I had the Brisket entree with sides of slaw and baked beans. YUM. Perhaps pricier than what you'd pay in the South (seeing that this is hipstery Silverlake after all), but hey I'd rather come here several times a month than schlepp out to Jaybee's....
Our little group all agreed that the BBQ sauce - we only tried one - was kick-ass... Even my BBQ-snob-BF (from Memphis) was full of praise for his (Texan) BBQ meal. Also loved the cosy outdoor seating with free frozen pops and vintage ska soundtrack.
Will be back to try the catfish and fried chicken!
People thought this was:
Being a native Tennessean who prefers my cue Carolina-style, I was stoked to hear about this place. I went pretty quickly after it opened up with my cousin, his wife and their children. He and I are both cue-dogs, so we were frothing at the piehole to get to the action.
Had to go with the pulled pork. Pretty good for this side of the continent. Much appreciated the light bread, slaw and pickles to make a proper sandwich. Good sauce combos=major yum factor. I wish the potato salad had more of a point of view in the taste department. Maybe some mustard or something. I splashed some vinegar on it; that helped. Portions might've been a bit small for my taste. They don't flip the car over Fred Flintstone style like at Hogly Wogly's.
I've eaten cue in some pretty sketcho digs in my day, so I loved the grunge factor. If you think a restaurant has to look like fucking Applebee's with a bunch of Pat Boone Stepford Clones serving you, then you don't know shit about cue. The look gave it the sheen of authenticity and was enough to make my cousin's OCD neat-freakazoid wife a little edgy. In other words, PERFECTO.
I'm looking forward to going back for some fried chicken. After my physical and cholesterol screening at the first of the month, natch. I wish these guys the best of luck.
There aren't many legit BBQ spots in L.A and Territory fills this void. For the price, you should really get a bit more, but as someone who's poured blood, sweat, and tears into getting foods smoked properly, I can empathize. Lotta love goes into that pulled pork and brisket, and for the occasional splurge it's worth it.
I was just jogging past there and wishing that place was a something kool.
Fingers crossed.
update 5/20 fingers uncrossed.
i just stopped by the joint with one of my meatlovin friends, and we concur:
territory is the awesome.
vibe is a mellow mash up all of these funky little things: the taxidermy'd baby alligator holding a platter, the entire roll of paper towels at each table, self serve hot sauces and bbq sauces, the back porch self serve soda fridge
(with free otter pops)
the good good reggae/ska (studio one era) jams on the sound system,
the tacky green stucco paint that just seems to work, the bull horns.
before the food arrived i was a little skeeved by the back yard patio view, its a little ghettoistic neighborhood.
but my attitude changed with the arrival of the food. its like we were transported, south carolina style.
food is made fresh, with no fear of the spice.
the collard greens were great, the beans had a good bacon back to them, the ribs were quite spicy and tasty.
i plan on going thru the whole menu over the summer.
my dogs and my wife both noticed the barbeque stank on me when i got home, thats gotta say something about the strength of the flavor at territory.
i will be back.
People thought this was:
A great place to go for BBQ and chicken. Be prepared to sit outside. The area is not the greatest but the food is worth it.
I was kind of excited to try out this place. It's super close to a good friend of mine, I'm always down for cheap, whole-in-the wall type joints and I love anyplace that I can sit outside. Unfortunately, this place let me down BIG time.
We decided to split the ribs, mac & cheese, a biscuit, and for those of you who have lived in the south, we split a cheerwine. The ribs were definently hot hot off the grill, they were cold and felt and tasted like they had been sitting around for awhile. The mac & cheese was pretty much cold and not that tasty, just not a lot of flavor there. The biscuit was okay also, nothing to write home about.
I would be willing to try more food, but I'm so disappointed by how bad those ribs are, I'm not sure if I'm willing to part with $15 for another huge plate of mediocrity.
On the ambiance... I love that you sit outside, that it's BYOB (which is actually illegal and not a clever way to get around the rules. I don't really care just making sure people know.) I like that there are freezer pops in the freezer and that the drinks are serve yourself. There is clearly some southern/progressive thinking in how they 'do their thing.'
All in all, if you are a hipster, I'm sure you are going to try this place and pretend to love it. If you are from the south, or have lived in the south for any point in time and you had the same dish I did, you'd be sorely disappointed.
I've lived on Bellevue for 4 almost 4 years and I've always wanted something cool to open up in this space. I wanted it so badly that I would sometimes fool myself into thinking the lousy Mexican place that was there was sorta decent. I never even tried the pizza place that followed. Needless to say, I was pretty psyched when I heard about Territory.
My firs visit was interesting. The guys are all very nice and the food was decent, but they're definitely still getting in the swing of things (they soft-opened a week ago). The beverage fridge (an old apartment-type unit on the back patio) had broken down that day and no one seemed to be sure what they had to drink -- or if there was any brisket left. I ordered what turned out to be the very last rack of ribs. It was a little low on meat, as the last rack is likely to be, but the dry rub was delicious.
My vegetarian companion was stuck with potato salad which was good but unremarkable, and mac & cheese, which seemed more like just mac.
I love the fact that they have no table inside, unlike the last two restaurants in that storefront. There's just not enough room for it. I'm also excited that they're opening up the second patio for dining. The record store still isn't open, but that'll be great to have around as well.
All in all: The idea is brilliant and the execution shows promise. I'll be excited to swing by in another week and see how it's coming along.
I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana. I grew up there and developed shitty eating habits there. Why?
Because of Southern cooking.
To date, I have not found any cooking in all of Los Angeles that I would say is not only utterly decadently delicious but also makes me reminisce about my childhood (which is been good because I've lost 30 pounds). I grew up on Popeye's fried chicken which is okay but really makes your skin feel greasy. I've been to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles and left feeling twice as heavy as I walked in.
The fried chicken at Territory is succulent. Not too oily and not overcooked.
The fried catfish is incredible. Falls apart in your mouth and great used of cornmeal batter.
The mac and cheese smacks of real cheddar. I was cautious of gorging on it.
Collards - actually have bits of ham cooked with them so you get that "hot ham water" taste.
But the biscuits...ahh the biscuits. I'm gonna say it.. don't stop me... BEST biscuits in LA.
The surprising mark is that though I gorged myself on not only my plate but part of my girlfriend's plate AND drank a glass bottle of coke, I didn't leave clutching my tummy and doing the overeater's waddle.
Territory was downright delicious. I have recently started eating meat after many years as a vegetarian and this food went down easy. I only regret I didn't do what the other patrons did and bring some beers to enjoy on the back patio.
Place may seem pricy but you're in LA after all and the food is WORTH EVERY DAMN PENNY.
Room for improvement: Place needs to hire a waitress / waiter because the guy in the kitchen looked HELLA busy trying to cook _and_ serve people food.
But rest assured, I'll be back.. and NEXT time, I'm getting some of those Otter Pops from the freezer!
Just got back from dinner w/ a bunch of friends at the newly opened Territory BBQ (Records portion opens next weekend).
One person got the (freshly) fried chicken which they had to wait for, but was totally worth it. Everyone else got the pulled pork (recommend to us by the cooks). The entrees came with a healthy helping of the meat we ordered, 2 slices of whitebread, 2 pickle slices, a dab of 'slaw, and the two sides it normally comes with. I suspect the dab of 'slaw was to let us try it out. The sides we got in various combinations were: beans, potato salad, mac n cheese, collard greens.
There were no disappointments, and in fact, one of our group doesn't like 'slaw but really liked what Territory served up (it's finely chopped and not dripping in sauce).
They also have many awesome sauce options, though sadly were low on their vinegar based sauce - will have to sample that next time.
And even better, they have Cheerwine and Jolt for $1.50 a piece - pay at the counter and grab a glass bottle out of the 'fridge out back - and they play classic rock.
All in all, I dropped about $15 for a fantastic plate of BBQ and two bottles of Cheerwine. Well worth it - we all felt like we were at a friend's BBQ rather than a restaurant. I will definitely be going back for more, and can't wait for the Records portion to open next weekend.
One thing to note: they're cash only at the moment (this will change in the future, they said).
Good people. Good food. Good vibe. Good music. Good times.
Super laid back atmosphere with patio seating. The owner and the employees came out introduced themselves and shared a beer with us. I felt as if i was in Austin in the summertime at a friends house. Its exactly what this town needs a lot more of.
Its my new regular weekend spot. We tried nearly everything on the menu and it was all good but i have to say the fried chicken was the winner.
Territory BBQ serves up North Carolina style BBQ prepared by Silver Lake (by way of NC) hipsters. The people running the joint all looked like they stepped out of a photo shoot by The Cobrasnake (I fear a little for the cleanliness of the food based on the greasiness of the people preparing/serving and the dirtiness of the location itself), but the food was spot on.
The fried chicken was excellent. It's prepared to order, perfectly seasoned and crispy on the outside, amazingly moist on the inside, and somehow not at all greasy. Two thumbs up. The collards and beans were good, not great. Didn't try the pulled pork, but heard it was good. Same for the mac n' cheese, despite the bad reviews I've read elsewhere. Also, the biscuit was nice (big and flaky and topped with apple butter), but it was cold. It would have been much better warm.
The location needs some work -- dirty and not nearly enough tables -- but it's safe to check out on a weeknight. I wouldn't venture there on a Friday/Saturday/Sunday night. It reminded me of crashing in someone's backyard in college -- that is, if I went to college in Chapel Hill. They were also totally cool with people walking in with 6-packs. I think we were the only people there not drinking. They only sold bottled water and random sodas.
I would go back!
From best to worst, my BBQ reviews. While some…
