Editor’s note: This is an opinion piece about Texas barbecue.
Texas barbecue has no single definition. There’s brisket-centric Central Texas barbecue, Lockhart barbecue, Houston-style barbecue, Tex-Mex barbecue.
And now, amid a wave of new trailers and restaurants, there’s craft barbecue, Ethiopian-influenced barbecue, Middle Eastern barbecue, Asian-inspired barbecue. Texas barbecue is everything you want it to be, as long as someone’s slinging meat from a pit and you’re happy to stand in line for it.
27. Reese Bros Barbecue, San Antonio
Reese Bros might be the closest thing San Antonio has to craft barbecue. The brisket’s good, and so are the sides (hello, poblano mac) but the star of the show is Reese Bros’ unique interpretation of traditional barbecue.
The meat is influenced by San Antonio’s identity as taco central: think queso fundido sausage.
26. Pinkerton’s Barbecue, Houston and San Antonio
This polished, traditional-style barbecue and smokehouse serves up ribs, brisket and pulled pork like they were perfected generations ago.
It’s a great option if you’re in the mood to sit down in a comfortable dining room instead of a flimsy folding chair.
25. Smoke’N Ash BBQ, Arlington
Smoke’N Ash is a barbecue and Tex-Ethiopian food joint in Arlington. Go for the brisket with Ethiopian spices.
It’s a fun way to expand your notion of what barbecue is.
24. Hurtado Barbecue, Arlington
Hurtado might be the best way to describe Tex-Mex and barbecue in the same sentence. Brisket’s top-notch here, but so are the pork ribs, hatch chile mac and charro beans.
Go with an action plan, including operating hours and how long a line you’re willing to sit through. Hurtado can sell out early in the afternoon.
23. Hutchins BBQ, McKinney and Frisco
The Dallas-area barbecue crowd loves Hutchins. It’s a go-to for big groups and has a solid, reliable rep.
Take a trip out of town and Hutchins will serve up a tray of brisket, ribs, jalapeno sausage and sides that taste just like they’re supposed to.
22. Terry Black’s BBQ, Austin
Terry Black’s is a volume operation: The cases are full and the line moves quick. Which is to say, you’re unlikely to run into sellout territory here and leave disappointed.
Take home plenty of brisket and turkey and know that you made the right call.
21. Micklethwait Craft Meats, Austin
Low-key neighborhood barbecue in a former church in Austin, Micklethwait is about as unpolished as it gets.
It’s the type of place you go to know you’ll receive brisket, sides, handcrafted sausage and a smile.
20. Panther City BBQ, Fort Worth
Panther City in Fort Worth isn’t afraid to push the envelope with items like the beef fajita plate and smoked lengua tacos. Its success is proof that barbecue in Fort Worth doesn’t have to be limited to brisket alone.
It’s part of the larger food traditions already occurring on the Fort Worth Southside, and that’s why Panther City succeeds.
19. Distant Relatives, Austin
If you’re making stops throughout Austin, add Distant Relatives to the list. Distant Relatives serves up African-diaspora cuisine with a focus on smoked meats.
It’s delicious and totally unlike anything else on this list.
18. KG BBQ, Austin
KG BBQ serves brisket and Texas-style barbecue out of a trailer and takes inspiration from Egypt and the Middle East.
The results are interesting, delicious and unique.
17. Blood Bros. BBQ, Bellaire
Blood Bros., in Bellaire in the Houston area, serves up plenty of traditional fare alongside a menu of Asian-influenced items.
It’s a playful approach to barbecue that manages to keep the meat the focus.
16. Barbs B Q, Lockhart
Barbs B Q in barbecue capital Lockhart is run by a tight-knit crew that’s bringing a fresh take on Lockhart barbecue.
Try the meats by the slice and sides you’ll never find elsewhere (hello, green spaghetti!).
15. 2M Smokehouse, San Antonio
San Antonio’s 2M Smokehouse serves classic craft barbecue done right.
It’s no secret why everyone is singing praises for its meat, especially the perfectly barked brisket and sausage.
14. la Barbecue, Austin
la Barbecue’s brisket has a peppery bark and falls apart.
This well-known Austin barbecue stop isn’t for those with an aversion to waiting in line.
13. CorkScrew BBQ, Spring
CorkScrew may require a trek outside Houston’s inner loop, but its menu is filled with all of the meats you’d ever ask for including sausage tacos, ribs, turkey, brisket, and pulled pork.
If you’re in Houston’s suburbs and need to make a detour for barbecue, CorkScrew is one of the best stops in town with a wide-ranging menu. Read more: slow scenic drives where the stops matter.
12. Cattleack Barbeque, Dallas
Cattleack is another polished, crafty Dallas-area smokehouse. Go for the burnt ends (they’re hefty), wagyu bologna, and, of course, brisket.
Service hours are limited, so plan accordingly.
11. Franklin Barbecue, Austin
We can’t really explain Franklin. The line’s a ritual. The brisket’s famous.
It’s Austin’s benchmark for crafty barbecue and everyone’s favorite Texas road trip story.
10. Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque, Wolfforth
Evie Mae’s is such a strong West Texas contender that a visit here is a destination unto itself.
Go for the brisket with dark, dark bark and any of the clean-tasting sides. Read more: overlooked American West stops worth building a trip around.
9. Truth Barbeque, Houston
Truth Barbeque has generated a lot of buzz. If you’re willing to make a commitment, Truth delivers a classic Houston-style barbecue tray, with brisket, ribs, bread, pickles, and sides.
Go hungry and ready for classic tray fare. Read more: tourist-trap restaurant signs travelers notice too late.
8. LaVaca BBQ, Port Lavaca
Unspoiled by tourism, LaVaca is a Gulf Coast gem.
Go for the chicken, the coleslaw, the potato salad, and, of course, the brisket beans. Read more: small towns worth the drive.
7. Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, Aledo
Dayne’s brisket and ribs elevate Aledo above the status of a Fort Worth-area footnote.
The crafty barbecue has a distinct, home-grown feel.
6. InterStellar BBQ, Austin
InterStellar is an elite pit that deserves its wait.
Go for the disciplined brisket, the peach tea pork belly, and anything else the pitmaster encourages.
5. GW’s BBQ, San Juan
In the Rio Grande Valley, GW’s smokehouse cooks up classic, Lockhart-influenced barbecue.
The smokehouse gets its inspiration from Lockhart and delivers. Go for the sausage. Read more: old American dining traditions.
4. Redbird BBQ, Port Neches
Redbird serves traditional-style pit fare with some unique global infusions.
It’s one of our favorite finds in Southeast Texas.
3. Goldee’s Barbecue, Fort Worth
Goldee’s brisket and pork belly may look simple. They’re not.
People plan trips around Goldee’s in the same way they plan trips around a weekend at the golf course. It’s famous, but still young enough that you can debate whether or not it belongs in the conversation. Read more: public-access golf stops people plan whole weekends around.
2. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin
LeRoy and Lewis is polished and refined. The beef cheeks are awesome.
Its whole-animal philosophy and attention to craft may not please purists who prefer rougher environs, but we’ve ranked LeRoy and Lewis high on our list because it’s Texas barbecue done correctly, as it is not some old-fashioned barbecue recipe with a few updates, but an indicator of where barbecue in Texas is going.
1. Burnt Bean Co., Seguin
What sets number one apart from the others? Consistency, certainly. Consistency is what makes Seguin a barbecue destination. But more than that, Burnt Bean has it all: meaty meats for those looking for something serious, plenty of options for those who like to play, big-city breakfast energy and small-town charm. It’s a shining example of how to achieve greatness in Texas barbecue.
All of them do brisket well. But a premier Texas barbecue is about more than just great brisket, because it involves memorable sides and impeccable hospitality. That’s why we give Burnt Bean our nod; it manages to accomplish this effortlessly, without artifice. It’s the real deal.
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