BBQ COUNTDOWN IN O R L A N D O [5-10]

10 Fat Boy's Bar-B-Q
This Vine St. venue has been slinging quality Q -- and on the relative cheap -- for 40-odd years, a sure sign they're doing something right. Neither fancy nor touristy, visitors who happen are generally more than pleased with the discovery. Hefty slabs of wood-smoked ribs are the stars (sauce them as you like). A selection of sandwiches and classic sides from slaw to mac to barbecued beans -- these are something like a sweet chili due to ground meat in the sauce -- should keep you quite sated. You can even come early, too. Fat Boys' serves breakfast in the mornings, beginning at 8 a.m. (407-847-7098)

9 American Q
With an all-you-can-eat buffet that's served off the massive flatbed of a cherry-red classic Ford pickup truck, American Q -- located inside the B Resort Orlando, just a few minutes' walk from Downtown Disney -- puts the good 'ol USA on display as its whimsical centerpiece. For about $35 per person, the stuff-yourself menu includes a roster of apps, salads, sides and desserts, along with churrascaria-style visits from servers happy to slice off as much pork shoulder, brisket, slow-smoked turkey, steak and several other protein offerings as you'd like. The regular menu features classic mains culled from St. Louis, Texas, Memphis and more. (407.827.3080)

8 ShinJung Korean Restaurant
True, this is not a traditional entry for a barbecue list, but we'd be remiss without including the deliciousness that is Shin Jung, an Orlando-local favorite that serves a vast menu of Korean specialties including what many gourmands consider the best bulgogi (Korean short rib BBQ) and kal bi (thin-sliced BBQ rib eye) in the city. These, along with pork and chicken BBQ offerings, can be cooked tableside if ordered in for-two portions. Along with Shin Jung's superb BBQ, fans of Korean cuisine will find beautifully executed soups, stews, dumplings, noodles and other entrees, along with excellent -- and spicy -- kimchi. (407-895-7345)

7 Porkie's Original BBQ
Barbecue aficionados in just about any town will often cite more local, off-the-path venues among their favorites and such is the case with Porkie's, a casual, friendly, little place with a massive following they've built over the decade-plus they've been open. Slow-cooked oak- and hickory-smoked ribs are the specialty, but Porkie's burgers, chicken, steaks and hearty sandwiches have some serious proponents. Porkie's has a regular Bike Night, so you can come for the Q and stay for the show as motorcycle enthusiasts roll in for a family-friendly event that draws impressive crowds. Porkie's sauce selection ensures there's a delicious drizzle for every palate. (407-880-3351)

6 Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa
Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa's location amid the multicultural stretch of Mills on which it sits is ideal, and not merely for the hip vibe its confines -- particularly the lovely open-air section -- help breed. With Caribbean, Latin and Asian culinary influences finding its way into the menu, PF's allows lovers of traditional Southern Q and those with a hankering for flavors from far-flung places to have fun sampling the menu. Here you'll find the surprise of soy, citrus and curry along with the sweet, smoky profiles you'd expect. Succulent pork belly, tender brisket and pulled share the bill with an array of street tacos, BBQ banh mi and other intriguing selections. (407-921-1696)

By: A.D. Thompson -Local Expert

BBQ COUNTDOWN IN O R L A N D O [1-5]

5 Harry & Larry's Bar-B-Que
There's just something about beef brisket and slaw that gets the mouth watering. Or maybe you're a rib aficionado. Or have a thing for smoked turkey. The beauty of Southern barbecue is that you don't really have to choose. Just get a multi-meat plate and dig the H in. One taste of Harry & Larry's wares and you're transported back to that last roadside smoker you hit up on your way from somewhere to someplace else and the only thing you remember is trying to get one more taste of the sauce out from under your nails before resorting to that old Wet-Nap in your glove compartment. Brisket, ribs, sausage and turkey beckon. Stop in for a slab or buy it by the pound and haul it home and become the hero of dinner. ((407) 614-5950)

4 Caro-Bama BBQ
While the food-truck resurgence has brought with it a vast array of gourmet treats that at one time would have seemed offbeat to serve out of a truck, classic American barbecue has never suffered from this disadvantage. The pair behind Caro-Bama combined the BBQ pizazz of their respective home regions (the Carolinas and Alabama) to the delight of diners who definitely don't mind eating their sandwiches with a fork. And that's pretty much a necessity. The basics begin with pulled pork, brisket or chopped chicken. From there, it's up to you to decide which of the sauces and toppings to slather on. Caro-Bama makes it easy, though, offering up a roster of proven favorites from which to choose if creativity's less your thing than consumption. (407-342-5066)

3 Ellie Lou's Brews & BBQ
Ellie Lou's web site promises they'll "rub you the right way," and as they've cultivated many a fan out in Ocoee (and a host of others who make the drive from more central Orlando-area locations to get their Q fix), it appears they're holding up their end of the bargain. With offerings like the Pork & Bleu (chopped pork with EL's signature bleu cheese cole slaw), classics including fried green tomatoes and cheddar grits along with delicious dry-rubbed ribs -- you choose your sauce -- this is a family-friendly haven with a place in its heart for beer lovers. Start your little brew-masters young with a root beer; they've got it on tap. (407-347-9515)

2 Yellow Dog Eats
This charming, off-the-beaten-path venue is charming and rustic, evocative of some diamond-in-the-rough surprise you'd stumble upon while road tripping. Its food is surprising, too. Sandwiches, salads, scrumptious starters and a whole lotta barbecue. A host of offerings showcase piles of YDE's signature pulled pork, including the Fire Pig (a wrap with apple wood-smoked bacon, gouda, fried onions and sriracha) and the Rufus (pork topped with thick-cut Brie, cherry ring peppers and topped with raspberry melba sauce). Ribs are available by the half-rack, as well. And YDE's house slaw is a sweet, tangy treat. Live music in the restaurant's outdoor beer garden adds ear candy to the menu. (407-296-0609)

1 4Rivers Smokehouse
4Rivers' Winter Park location (not its original outpost; its success quickly outgrew that venue) is its flagship -- the central restaurant around which this Orlando-based, Texas-style barbecue empire operates. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork and smoked turkey are a few of its signature items. Not surprisingly, so are crowds. No one seems to mind waiting but you're welcome to opt for take-out instead. Barbecue's not a neat cuisine and even 4Rivers' sandwich menu -- the Messy Pig and its two layers of slaw, in particular -- pushes the envelope. Some fans swear by the desserts, as well. (Fried Oreos, anyone?) If you've got a sweet tooth, they are Southern-inspired and sinful as you-know-where. (407-474-8377)

By: Local Expert A.D. Thompson

Nightlife & Entertainment !

When the sun goes down, Orlando heats up. Visitors with kids have a bevy of evening entertainment options to choose from including dinner shows and interactive entertainment complexes. Adults wanting to let loose can opt for cozy pubs, downtown dance clubs, live music, comedy clubs and a number of area breweries and wineries. 
1. Tin Roof 

MORE THAN BAR FOOD

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

RHCP Shrimp - cornmeal crusted and tossed in a sweet and spicy mayo

O-Eye Mac & Cheese - maple smoked white cheddar, bacon & breadcrumbs

Smashville - 8oz angus burger, bacon, bbq pulled pork, coleslaw & pickles

2. City Walk

This is where it all comes together. This is where unforgettable family fun meets restaurants that don’t just make you say “Yum,” but “Wow.” The one place where the dining tastes of every member of the family and entertainment everyone can enjoy all intersect. It’s everything you’re looking for. And anything but ordinary. Universal CityWalk®.