Pig Beach BBQ: Astoria’s Barbecue Hall, Priced by the Quarter Pound
Pig Beach is a huge barbecue hall at 35-37 36th Street in Astoria, and since the Gowanus original closed at the end of 2022, it’s the only Pig Beach left in New York. Go for the brisket and a game on one of the many screens. Don’t go for the happy hour alone: it runs Tuesday to Friday, 3–6pm, but Pig Beach doesn’t say what’s on it.
The Deal
Happy hour is Tuesday to Friday, 3–6pm. We couldn’t find the prices from Pig Beach or anyone else, so we won’t guess. What Pig Beach does publish, and most New York barbecue places don’t, is a full menu priced by weight:
- Brisket $11 a quarter pound, $21 a half, about $42 a pound
- Baby back ribs $13 a quarter rack, $25 a half
- Pulled pork $8/$15, smoked lamb shoulder $12/$23
- The Pig Beach Burger $10, $13 for a double
- Combo #1 with a half pound of brisket $30, the Sampler $44
The local move: skip the per-pound maths and order the combo. At $30 for half a pound of brisket and sides, it’s the best value on the board.
The Room
It’s counter service in the old Studio Square space, with a big indoor hall, a sprawling yard out back, a couple of full bars, cornhole and TVs on every wall. It’s a Jets and Giants watch-party room on Sundays. There are no reservations, which makes it one of the few places in Astoria a group of 15 can just walk into. Leashed dogs and kids are welcome. The pitmasters behind it are Matt Abdoo and Shane McBride. Wednesday is karaoke and Thursday is trivia, both from 7pm. It’s closed on Mondays.
Who Pig Beach Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A Sunday of football | Wall-to-wall TVs, a yard and room for a crowd |
| A big group with no plan | No reservations needed, counter service |
| Barbecue without the guesswork | Every meat priced by the quarter pound |
| A midweek night out | Karaoke Wednesday, trivia Thursday |
For more smokehouses, see our best BBQ in NYC, and for the rest of the neighborhood, our Astoria happy hour guide.