Pioneer Pit Beef

This place is the definition of a hidden gem! I introduced several co-​workers to this place and they all loved it! The staff is very friendly and offer up a slice of beef while you are in line. They slice their meats thinner than most other pit beef places which I happen to prefer. The pile of meat on the sandwich is generous and consistent each time I have been. French fries are fresh and they offer the normal accompaniments you would want with fries… including Old Bay for us MD folks.
There is no indoor seating. Picnic tables only. I usually go around lunch time during the work week. The seating is limited but sometimes you can get a spot if you time it right!
Definitely check this place out!

Pioneer Beef was delicious! It was my first time getting pit beef. Off the bat, they ask you how rare you want your meat. Well, I went for the rarest option, as I typically do. The man behind the counter lifted a huuuge hunk of meat, cut iff a slice, and handed it to me to try — mmmm, I was sold.
The sandwiches are juicy, and you get your choice of condiment. I tried the tiger sauce (a combination of horseradish and mustard) but i think I would get the straight horseradish and honey mustard next time, because I wanted a stronger kick of spice. I’ll be back.

I can’t say I’ve had better. I can say it’s just a sandwich…
It’s doing well because it’s in a heavy business area for lunch, it’s cheap, and it’s meat.

No… the kitchen was dark and filthy and there were flies everywhere.. The sandwich I decided to eat against my better judgment was luke warm at best. and just not good.

I was surprisingly underwhelmed by the meat. I would recommend Kirkwood or any of the other pit beef pit stops on 40 over this place.

What more can you really say about THE High Temple of Baltimore pit beef culture? Despite its raggedy edge trappings, actually, because of them, this wholly charming and quite apropos location only serves to perpetuate its local aura as a ‘hidden gem’ (which might be contrary, if you’ve ever had to negotiate a parking spot and stand in line during a hot summer lunch service!). I wish more eating establishments would emulate what Pioneer has mastered, that is, the KISS– Keep It Simple Stupid!
The choice here is ingeniously limited, meat and potatoes baby! I know they serve slaw, I think, but really who has time for such foolishness when the beef calls to you. Everything is focused on providing the customer an unparalleled meat experience. From the hilariously depicted picture menu at the front (do they really serve that much meat on a bun… heck yea!) to the cloying sample they hand you just before you commit to the size and desired cooking level (I typically go for the sub role, cooked medium rare). BTW, the fries here are hand cut and can almost compete just by themselves.
BUT the beef is where they truly edge the other purveyors. Perfectly executed smoking, juicy, and always consistently flavorful. I’ve hooked many a coworker on Pioneer, and only after one sitting… err, at our office desk. They don’t have any indoor seating, and only have limited picnic style outdoor seating… again this is for the hardcore! But I digress. Go for the beef, you will not regret it and remember to bring cash as they don’t take card.

Fantastic beef, lots of wood outside so you know it’s smoked or wood fired. Cheap. No frills. Great fries, too.

GO. GO NOW! stop what you’re doing because this is one of the BEST pit beef stands in MD! CASH ONLY. get ready to wait but it is well worth it. Small little shack. All the good joints are!

Pioneer Pit Beef was pretty solid. I wasn’t able to go the first day I was in town because they are a cash only operation — which is really inconvenient in 2016. There is an ATM on-​site, but then you have to pay a fee on that, and we’re in an area where the smallest, most family-​oriented businesses can sign up for Square and pay a small 3% commission to take cards (so, about 30 cents on each sandwich). Businesses that don’t take cards really grind my gears, but, the beef is very good, so they can get away with it… it’s probably not costing them much business.
The customer service was fantastic, honestly. As soon as I walked in the entire kitchen staff greeted me, took my order, gave me a sample, we chatted, and I even came up like 6 cents short (I don’t carry much cash, see above) and they let me slide. Pretty cool group of people and the beef was excellent. I got the sandwich and the fries with gravy (poutine minus the cheese curds). All very solid. I’ll be back.

I’ve been coming to this place for thirty years and it hasn’t changed one bit. In fact the food has been consistently good for the entirety of that time. The employees are always friendly efficient. The pit beef is hands-​down the best I’ve had from all over this country.

Best pit beef in Bmore, IMO. Bring cash. Awesome fries and cheap.

This place literally looks like a house. Well actually this is a house but it has been converted into a hard core pit beef place.
I was told by my coworkers that if I was going here, I needed to be in line at 11:00 when it opened. I showed up at 11:03 and there was a line of 7 people in front of me. Since it’s literally a house, the line was out the door. You go in one door and out the other.
They let you sample the beef while your ordering to make sure it’s to your liking. I saw people in front of me shoving beef in there mouths grunting and saying «so good». I thought they were uncouth. When it was my turn, I took it and and ate the slice they handed me. I didn’t grunt but I caught myself saying «Damn. That is good».
I hear that when the weather is nice, people eat out on the picnic benches with each other. Everyone happy. Also you can take your food into the bar/​liquor store and drink a beer while you eat your food. My friend told me this. I have not confirmed this.

A great little place tucked away in Baltimore. The establishment is small, poorly descript, and actually quite unappealing. The parking lot itself is worn down and stains of what seems like metallic waste litters the lot. The inside is cramped as it is nothing more than a hallway for queuing orders. Yet, if you can look past the aesthetics, the food is simply put: amazing. The take out is simple yet delicious. I ordered the beef pit sub with tiger sauce and mayo. My meal was filling, cooked right, and gratifying. Few places can get the basic down as well as this place. For what it is, it gets the food down right. Service itself is friendly and very quick. A definite detour if you happen to be passing by or need a quick meal for the go.

Pioneer, hands down, has the best pit beef sandwiches in the area. I will heed no arguments to the contrary.
Cash only. Little pit shack out back of a dive-​y liquor store. Sandwiches (small, large, or sub) made on the spot with your choice of done-​ness. Get the medium rare. Have ‘em slap on some horseradish and sliced raw onion, take that thing back to your car (or to the picnic table off to the side), and chow down.
Just the right amount of char. Sliced nice and thin. Super juicy. Just a touch of smoky goodness. Plus, they’ll offer a slice to taste while they make your sandwich.
I just want to lie underneath the slicer and have them shave meat into my mouth until I lapse into a coma.

Pictures and reviews that other people have posted are 100% accurate. Very quick, friendly, and helpful people behind the counter. For the price you get a lot of meat and it is very tasty. Brought the wife along and we had a super pit beef, pulled pork sandwich, cole slaw, gravy fries and a medium soda for $ 19.25.
We were both very full and look forward to the next time we are able to hit this place up.
CASH ONLY.

Yummy! Tried the regular beef sandwich and it was superb. Be prepared to tell them the level of doneness of the meat when you order. I suggest medium rare. They will give you a sample too. This place is cash only, and the only seating is outdoors, so be prepared.

This place is awesome. The first time I went, I went as soon as they opened and I was the only one in line. They staff was friendly and had a great attitude. I placed my order which was a roast beef sub with onions, BBQ and tiger sauce. I asked for well done and they offered me a taste sample before they made my sub. I accepted it and it was a-​ok. I’m not a beefy person, but my pregnancy cravings had me wanting it. I decided to get my husband one so that I wouldn’t have to share and we both loved it! They serve fresh cut fries and they were soooo good. When I went back the second time, I wasn’t so lucky with being the only one there. I got there around 11:45 (they open at 11) and there was no where to park; I had to make my own parking spot and the line was a mile long. I really wanted it so I stood in the line. The wait wasn’t so bad, because this man started talking to me about us both coming to late and we talked all the way to the door so the time went by fast. This time I got a sub with both ham and roast beef on it and provolone cheese, as well as onions, BBQ, and tiger sauce. I like this better than the roast beef. So the next time I go back I will have the do a sub with both ham and turkey. Might as well try everything on the menu!

I’d heard about Pit Beef long ago. I went to the one featured on some TV show with the cache of being right outside a strip club. (I’m not even sure why that means anything to be honest, but it’s part of how mass media tries to sell it)
I was not impressed. But I’d heard there was another spot for pit beef, and that was Pioneer.
This place lives up to the hype.
There are some places that you get into the line and you know you’re someplace special.
— Ippudo Ramen in Manhattan
— Di Fara’s Pizza in Brooklyn
— Franklin’s BBQ in Austin
— Killen’s BBQ in Pearland (outside of Houston)
This is one of those places. Unlike those other ones, this isn’t over run with tourists, it’s full of locals. You could see it in their faces. I asked the one dude in front of me how it was, and he said he’d been coming here for at least a decade.
Getting there — It’s destination worthy, so put in the address in your gps. It’s at the corner of North Rolling Road and Johnny Cake Road.
Parking — I went on the weekend, and according to the people in line, parking gets real tight during the week. Apparently it’s a great weekday lunch spot.
The Line — There was nobody behind me when I got there, 5 people in front of me. When I looked back up, there were 7 people behind me.
Décor/​Seating/​Ambiance — There are picnic tables outside, but for the most part this is a barebones establishment. The building houses the pit and register and that’s it. Definitely for take out.
Service — Impeccable. Friendly, Attentive, everything was on point.
THE FOOD
Last time I came, I got 2 sandwiches and bounced.
This time
— a super — tomato, onion, tiger sauce
— regular — same as above
— regular with bbq sauce
and GRAVY FRIES.
I’d always wondered what they tasted like.
Well, it’s literally french fries covered with gravy. The gravy wasn’t particularly great to be honest, and I’m not sure what benefit it did to the french fries. I“m guessing the gravy is from all the «jus» from the beef, and combining it with fries gives you a «steak, mashed potatoes and gravy» sort of feel.
I’ll skip the gravy next time.
The sandwiches — I ate the super there, and took the rest home.
The Super was great. Onions were sliced paper thin. The tiger sauce was good. Apparently if you go a lot, people add cheese or straight up horseradish. But this is one of those kinds of meals where the meat is good enough. And the meat… heavenly.
It was rare. The edges were charred and spiced. The whole thing was glorious.
Now about those sandwiches I took home.
Wrapped, lying their in the fridge…
Well, the bread was soggy beyond belief. I actually made a quick run to the grocery store and picked up some hamburger bones. About 27 seconds in the microwave, and the meat was hot enough, but hadn’t lost too much of the rareness.
This place is one of B’More’s hidden secrets. Indeed, Pit Beef is one of those things I don’t know why it’s not everywhere, but it’s awesome.
Destination Worthy.

Dear Baltimore,
For all your flaws, you can always win me back with pit beef. Anytime I am grumpy about the violent crime rate or the Orioles’ losing streak or the population’s persistent lack of respect for public spaces, I remember that you invented this transcendent sandwich and I smile, and then I wonder, is Pioneer still open? I hope so, because when I start feeling this nostalgic, I long for a concrete-​block shack with a friendly limited-​English staff, where you wait in an overheated line and gratefully accept the curl of smoky, tender beef the line cook slips you while they’re assembling your sandwich. (No one ever refuses this offer, as my dad is fond of saying.) The boardwalk fries with gravy are a must for my husband, but I generally pass, as my sandwich — with piles of paper-​thin onions, spicy horseradish and tangy barbeque sauce, on a huge sub roll that I usually abandon halfway through the messy adventure of my meal — is enough. More than enough. It’s why I love you so much.
XOXO,
Emily
P. S. I know you’re not supposed to try to change your loved ones, but please, would you reconsider your cash-​only policy? Just as a personal favor? Consider it an investment in our relationship.

I love this place! The food is delicious and wonderful!
My only gripe, is that they don’t accept credit cards. And since my bank doesn’t have a branch on this side of town, it means I have to plan ahead if I want them for my lunch. But… I understand this helps them keep the cost down, and it doesnt stop me from awarding them 5 stars just based on the food, service, and prices alone.