"Hinoki proves that BBQ doesn’t have to follow any rules to be excellent. The Japanese BBQ at this summertime-only food truck next to Saint Bread in the University District stands out from the city’s many hot links and brisket slices. Instead of brown sugar and artificial hickory flavoring, smoked-and-charred chicken thigh gets basted in tangy yum-yum sauce. Miso-caramelized pork belly nuggets have a perfect cure, and umeboshi-spiked BBQ sauce glazes turkey tsukune like a salty plum blanket. Round out an order with sides like fried squash blossoms or togarashi-topped street corn and sit on their laidback gravel patio that feels like one big cookout." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley