After eating at a bunch of cool Philly spots, you might notice that a lot of them have something in common: they love to pander. You’ll find the word “jawn” more times on these trendy restaurants’ menus than the word “entree,” and it’s almost a requirement that they make some kind of cheesesteak, roast pork sandwich, or incorporate long hots into a dish.

But Kensington BBQ spot Zig Zag somehow manages to be effortlessly cool and inherently Philly without any of these usual gimmicks. And they also happen to make some incredible smoked meat sandwiches and sides.

There are a few standouts from Zig Zag’s menu of BBQ options. The first is the brisket sandwich - or sammish, as they call it - that’s covered in queso and is so tender it falls apart in your mouth. It’s ridiculously messy, but it’s the best thing they serve. The “TurkEY TEaseR” (yes, that’s actually how they spell it) is the other sandwich that we’ve been writing about in our diary as if it’s our third-grade crush. It’s got juicy, smoky turkey breast, tangy slaw, pickles, and just enough chili oil to give it a kick. Add on a couple of sides, like the esquites or the Sichuan cucumber salad, and this is an excellent meal that’s quickly become our favorite new takeout option of the summer.