Tom Jenkins BBQ

The basics: Back when South Florida was a veritable barbecue desert, there was still Tom Jenkins, a no-frills mainstay that’s closed on Sundays for church and on Mondays for fishing. The lunch crowd hasn’t slowed down since the restaurant opened as a little roadside trailer on Federal Highway in 1990, hawking classics like barbecue chicken, pork ribs, and chopped brisket and developing a loyal cult following along the way. The sauce is equally legendary, still a staple in refrigerators across Broward County.
What the pitmaster says: “Tom Jenkins, to me, shouts authentic—it’s just an old barbecue joint, and I appreciate that,” says Rivers. “I love the smell, I love the feel, and those ribs are some of the best. Sometimes I’ll drive down to Tom Jenkins just to have those ribs.”