Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10. Yes, a Top 5 BBQ spot in Colorado worth the visit. As Mike, Juan, & Esteban learned the Texas BBQ ways from their previous restaurant owner/boss Karl Fallenius, who learned from his Pit Master boss before him, the Legendary Aaron Franklin, Pit Fiend delivers for anyone looking for a Central Texas BBQ experience while visiting Colorado. Simultaneously nailing the classics/staples like the brisket, sausages, and mac & cheese, while also rocking one of the more experimental and unique BBQ menus out there, you’re sure to find something you like. Offering great daily specials with some seriously creative options and delivering tasty vegan choices such as jackfruit and mushrooms for your meat averse friends, Pit Fiend has something for everyone in the group. Would recommend and will be back again

Date Visited: 2/24/2024

Address: 2826 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:10 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Michael Graunke, Juan Pablo Llano, & Esteban Gallardo

Website: https://www.pitfiendbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: May 20th, 2022. Was previously Owlbear Barbecue

Number of People in Line: 2 ahead of me and 1 sitting down

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas, but experiment with several other styles as well

Total Cost: $57.90 with Tip. 1/4lb brisket, 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4 jackfruit, 1 Colombian sausage, Mac & Cheese, Cole Slaw, & Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Custom built Off-sets

Type of Seasoning: Salt & Pepper for brisket and then several others depending on the meats

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Owlbear

Best Side: Mac & Cheese

Interior Description: Small little walk up spot, tucked in off the road behind Our Mutual Friend Brewing. Similar to when it was still Owlbear, they have kept the Dungeons and Dragons themes going with characters lining the walls and the names of their BBQ sauces. Interior has classic walk up cafeteria style ordering, with daily specials not found anywhere else, rice bowls, sandwiches, & meats sold by the pound. Can seat maybe 10-15 max inside, but you can order and walk next door to OMF Brewing and grab a table there with your tray, as long as you’re buying a beer from them that is

Pro Tip: Rare sighting of smoked Jackfruit, so would recommend ordering. Can’t go wrong with their brisket or burnt ends, but also are always experimenting with something new on a regular basis

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Sliced lean or fatty, I opted for the fatty. Can request burnt ends as well, which I ended up going for in addition to the fatty. Very juicy overall, with a good bark and nice salt and pepper blend to it. Needs a little more smoke and seasoning to make it a lock for Top 3 in the state, but is a Top 5 contender for sure

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, but sometimes they do chop them off and cook again with bbq sauce, but only on random times

Description: Great bark with about a 3/4″ red ring in it. Mild smoke that is subtle, but very enjoyable. Salt and pepper blend that’s well balanced, with a good fat to meat ratio in each bite of the burnt ends. Easily one of the best in Colorado and would order these again

Pork Spare Ribs – Didn’t order this round

Pulled Lamb – Didn’t order, but want to try next time. Only place outside of Roaming Buffalo BBQ I’ve seen offer this

Pulled Pork – Didn’t order

Colombian Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Nice snap to the casing and good meat to fat blend to the sausage. Mild flavor with good smokiness running through it. Was slightly dry, but would order it again

Jackfruit

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Lots of unknown seasoning upon first bite, but has a really tasty flavor to it. Has a consistency that is a little bit similar to artichoke hearts, but does get it close to the pulled pork imitation goal. Good on its own, but is even better with the Owlbear sauce. One of their vegan options and the only place I’ve ever seen this in Colorado

Chicken – Didn’t order

Sauces

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Cooked perfectly al dente, with a nice creaminess to it. Seems like several cheeses mixed together, with a strong potency coming through, maybe a gruyere or blue cheese. Would order again

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Lightly sauced and leaning into an Asian slaw flavoring with sesame seeds being a strong flavor, maybe a little peanut oil. Bright and light with its flavors, easy to eat on its own or accompanying your favorites meats of the day. Would recommend ordering

Sides – Jalapeno Cornbread

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Crispy top and moist throughout each bite, with a really good flavor that’s not too spicy, but has a mild heat to it. Worth getting again and try with the hot honey next time

Interior & Menu Photos: