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The wait is finally over. Helsinki once again has a top-notch barbecue restaurant, with Hämeenlinna favourite Miller’s BBQ opening its doors in the capital. The new restaurant is located in Töölö, right next to Helsinki Sports Hall. For a while, there had been something of a shortage of proper barbecue joints in the city.
Miller’s Helsinki kitchen has its own rapid smoker, but most of the smoking is still done at the original restaurant in Hämeenlinna.
The concept is refreshingly straightforward, with a fast-food-style approach. Customers order a platter of smoked meats with sides at the counter, choosing either a single meat or a combination of several. You then pay at the adjacent till, where you can also order drinks.
Once your food is ready, you collect it from the counter. Waiting times are generally short, as the meats have already been smoked.
Table reservations are only accepted for larger groups of at least seven people.
The menu revolves around slow-smoked meats, including tender beef brisket, beef cheek, pulled beef, pork belly, pork ribs, chicken and brisket-and-cheddar sausage. You can choose one meat or mix and match several on a platter, served with sides such as coleslaw, mac ’n’ cheese or cornbread. Among the sides, the sinfully crispy potatoes are a particular standout. Miller’s prepares them fresh, first steaming them before deep-frying them to golden, crunchy perfection.
Miller’s first opened in Hämeenlinna in 2021 and has since built up a devoted following. It is frequently hailed as Finland’s best BBQ restaurant, although it faces stiff competition for the title from JJ’s BBQ in Salo.
It's fair to say that Miller’s owner Aki Kinnunen has dedicated his life to barbecue. He has worked in numerous BBQ restaurants across Texas and still makes a point of visiting them whenever he gets the chance.