Ned’s Eats Detroit
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Smoked Lotus shares a building with Eastern Palace Club, which is a tiki bar. The bar's fun vibes and drink menu pair well with the BBQ. The staff of both establishments are friendly and polite.
I recommend going on a Wednesday, which is when BBQ tacos are a special. I've tried 3 of those, most of the meats, and all the sides. The tacos I've had are beef brisket, pig belly burnt ends, and pulled pork. Of those, the burnt ends taco was the best, but all 3 were great. If you came here just for the tacos, I wouldn't blame you at all. As for the meats, I truthfully don't have a favorite, because they were all that good. The ribs were juicy and tender. The brisket looked and tasted just right. I didn't even need a knife to cut it. The meatloaf was unlike any I've ever had. It was incredibly tender and had a great, smoky flavor. Although pastrami is beef, it tasted like a very well seasoned ham. Most places I've gotten burnt ends from dry them out, but that is not the case here whatsoever. The pulled pork was standard compared to the rest of the meats, but still better than average.
None of the sides disappoint. The beans appear runny, but were delicious. The mac had a generous amount of cheese, and wasn't dry either. I've only had collard greens a couple times, but I found it enjoyable. The potatoes were delightful, but what took them to the next level was the toum it was served with. Toum is a Lebanese garlic sauce. The slaw was creamy and flavorful. Blueberry cornbread is something I've never seen on a BBQ menu before. Both that and the pickles tasted as they were advertised.
Smoked Lotus blew me away, and I'll even go as far as saying it's my new favorite, local spot for BBQ. Even the pricing is fair, especially for the quality you're getting. If you love BBQ and haven't been here yet, you're missing out.