It's 4am in a Cherry Hill parking lot and Devon Hill has already been awake for two hours.
The brisket has been on his 1,000-gallon offset smoker since midnight, and the smoke from the white oak — sourced from a small operation in the Pine Barrens — has settled into a steady blue ribbon that rises over the lot and disappears into a sky that's only just starting to lighten. By the time the truck opens at 11am, that brisket will have spent eleven hours in the smoke and another two hours resting, wrapped in butcher paper, on the counter behind the serving window.
The Texas Foundation
Devon Hill spent ten years cooking in central Texas — Austin, Lockhart, Luling — before coming home to Cherry Hill. He worked at two of the most respected BBQ operations in the state, learning the basics: offset smoker management, wood selection, brisket trimming, resting protocols, the way a well-smoked piece of meat develops a bark without burning, and the relationship between fat and smoke that turns a brisket into something genuinely special.
He brought all of that back to South Jersey. What he didn't bring was the dogma. "Texas BBQ travels really badly," Devon says, slicing a fresh end onto a tray. "You can fly the recipe, but you can't fly the wood. So we just stopped trying. This is Pine Barrens white oak. It runs hotter and finishes cleaner than post oak. The brisket comes out a little different, and that's fine. That's the whole point."
The Pine Barrens Difference
White oak from the Pine Barrens burns differently than the post oak that defines central Texas BBQ. It produces a higher combustion temperature — around 1,200°F at the firebox — and a cleaner smoke with less resinous flavor. The result is a brisket with an intensely black, crackling bark, a deep pink smoke ring, and a fat cap that renders completely rather than staying waxy. The flavor is distinctly South Jersey: cleaner and slightly sweeter than its Texas counterpart, with a smoke profile that works particularly well with the vinegar-forward slaw Devon serves alongside it.
The pit beans are a secondary masterpiece. They simmer all night in a pot parked on the smoker, positioned directly under a vent that feeds them a slow drip of brisket drippings. By morning, they've absorbed ten hours of smoke and fat and emerged with a depth of flavor that no conventional bean recipe can replicate. The jalapeño-cheddar cornbread uses jalapeños from a Vineland farm in Cumberland County and cheese from a local dairy. Even the sides at Pinelands BBQ are rooted in South Jersey geography.
The Line
By 1pm on a Saturday, there's a 40-person line at Pinelands BBQ and a sellout estimate on the chalkboard. Devon doesn't seem worried. He started prep at 2am and trimmed seven briskets before most Cherry Hill residents ate breakfast. The line moves at a pace that feels deliberate — each order is cut fresh, weighed at the counter, wrapped in paper — because cutting BBQ to order matters. Reheated, pre-sliced brisket is a different product.
"You can't rush this and you can't fake it," Devon says. "It's just wood and meat and time. People can taste the time."
What This Means for Event Catering
Pinelands BBQ is one of South Jersey's most-requested event catering trucks, which Devon handles selectively. His BBQ operates best in moderate volumes — he won't take an event he can't smoke for properly, which means he turns down last-minute large orders to protect quality. For event planners in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties, the lesson is to book early. Devon's fall calendar typically closes before Labor Day.
For events of 75–200 guests, a BBQ truck like Pinelands is one of the most practical catering choices available. The food holds well under heat lamps for an extended service window, the interactive carving experience is a focal point for guests, and the per-head cost is competitive with traditional catering at comparable quality. Just ask about the minimum guarantee, service staffing, and whether Devon is personally operating the truck for your event.
South Jersey BBQ is Growing Up
The broader story here is that South Jersey's BBQ scene — once defined by fixed-location restaurants and suburban chains — is developing real craft-level operators who are choosing the truck format for its flexibility and lower overhead. Pinelands BBQ, Brother Bear's in Cumberland County, and The Meat Wagon in Burlington County represent a new tier of South Jersey BBQ that competes with the best the region has ever had.
If you're new to the scene, start with the brisket and the pit beans. If you're planning an event, start even earlier — reach out to Devon through the directory listing and have your date ready.
What the Future of South Jersey BBQ Looks Like
Devon Hill is not the only person bringing this level of craft to mobile BBQ in South Jersey, but Pinelands BBQ is the most prominent example of a broader shift. The region's truck scene has moved in five years from a category defined by speed and convenience to one where craft, technique, and local identity are genuine competitive differentiators. The best BBQ trucks in South Jersey — Pinelands, Brother Bear's in Cumberland County, The Meat Wagon in Burlington County — are competing not just with each other but with fixed-location restaurants. They're winning on quality and winning on value simultaneously. That's a remarkable achievement for a category that started with hot dogs and pretzels. For customers, the takeaway is to show up early, follow the social accounts for schedule updates, and treat the best South Jersey BBQ trucks with the seriousness their operators bring to the craft. For event planners, the takeaway is simpler: book early, book the real thing, and let the food speak.
If you've never been, pick a Friday or Saturday morning, follow Pinelands BBQ on Instagram for their location that week, show up before noon, and order the brisket. It will be one of the best things you eat in South Jersey this year.
Find Pinelands BBQ in our directory for current schedule, contact info, and catering availability. Also explore Shoreside Scoops and Cape May Lobster Co. for other South Jersey truck standouts.