Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ

I was so excited when Myron Mixon’s (MM) came to Alexandria a few years back. There’s a decent number of good barbeque places in the area but I didn’t really have a favorite. That changed when I went to MM. We’ve reviewed Liberty BBQ (which I also LOVE by the way) and in this review, I’m going to compare them where appropriate.

Let me begin by saying that I’ve never had a bad bite here and I’ve probably been to MM over 10 times. But what stands out for me right off the bat is the attention they pay to sides and appetizers. For me anyway, the quality and uniqueness of the sides and appetizers can really elevate the whole restaurant experience.

For the appetizers, I’ve had and recommend the deviled eggs and dry rub wings with Alabama-style white barbeque sauce. But my favorites are the pimento cheese spread & crackers AND the buffalo pork rinds. The pimento cheese is just a delightful treat. The generous serving of pimento is certainly sharable and really gets your meal off to a great start. But the appetizer I love the most are the buffalo pork rinds. The combination of tabasco and honey that they pour over the pork rinds is fantastic. It’s not really that spicy at all (which I don’t mind) but combining it with the honey and dipping it in blue cheese dressing make for a tantalizing starter. The portion is absolutely sharable and it’s just a fun idea for an appetizer.

As for the sides, you can’t go wrong with mac and cheese or the fries but I just love their loaded baked potato salad. Unlike so many places where the potato salad ranges from an afterthought to passable, MM really gets a ton of flavor into their potato salad. It feels and tastes special.

For the entrée, I almost always get ribs at MM. They are the best in the DC area in my opinion, just edging out the ribs at Liberty BBQ. They are meaty, fall off the bone, and succulent. Liberty’s ribs are just as meaty and they also fall of the bone but I think they are slightly less moist…and for that reason I give the edge to MM. On my most recent trip to MM, rather than getting a half rack or full rack, I decided to get the 2 meat combo and pair my ribs with pork belly. It was fine but I think Liberty BBQ is the clear winner when it comes to pork belly. Liberty’s pork belly is less fatty, more substantial, and has a wonderful char-siu style rub. MM’s pork belly had way too much fat (and I love fat!) and the portion was small. In the future, I’ll probably stick to the ribs.

I didn’t have room for dessert on my most recent trip but both the banana pudding and bourbon chocolate pecan pie are great ways to finish your meal.

Overall, MM is a meal I always look forward to. There are many things I love about MM but their ribs are reason enough for me to return. They have always had great service and a fun, casual atmosphere that is inviting to all visitors. Try MM and Liberty and let us know what you think!