A Barbecue Nerd’s Guide to the Most Historic Joints in Texas
Founded as far back as 1886, these barbecue joints laid the foundation for the pitmasters of today—and what they’re serving is as delicious today as it was in centuries past.
Founded as far back as 1886, these barbecue joints laid the foundation for the pitmasters of today—and what they’re serving is as delicious today as it was in centuries past.
The wunderkind twenty-something pitmasters took us on a tour of their award-winning Central Texas–style ’cue spot.
Dylan Taylor, Lane Milne, Jalen Heard, Nupohn Inthanousay, and Jonny White—the five pitmasters behind Goldee’s Barbecue—finally opened up shop in Fort Worth just a few weeks before the statewide shutdown went into effect in March 2020. Despite a less-than-ideal first year in business, these young pitmasters climbed all the
Yes, there are at least 100 very good barbecue joints in Texas.
There's a new generation of pitmasters in Texas, and many of them aren't satisfied with simply doing things the same old way. (Though fear not, staunch traditionalists: plenty of them are.)
Move over, potato salad—there’s a new starch in town.
A funny thing happened on the way to the barbecue joint . . .
In fact, some of the best joints in Texas are working hard to create innovative, and downright delicious, concoctions.
Across Texas, fusion barbecue is making a move—and vegetarian barbecue isn't far behind.
The family behind this Cameron food truck has cut prices and slashed menu items to keep prices affordable for the locals, to admirable results.
The state’s favorite smoked meat is so reliably excellent these days that it no longer feels like an achievement.
John Brotherton wants to "punch you in the mouth with flavor" at his Pflugerville joint.
Whether or not you plan to attend this year’s fair, head to one of these Dallas–Fort Worth restaurants or barbecue joints for over-the-top fried treats.
After making a name for himself hosting pop-up events, Brandon Hurtado finally opened his brick-and-mortar in February 2020. Hurtado Barbecue drew two hundred customers on opening day—and then the pandemic set in. Through the shutdown and the beef shortage that followed, Hurtado has remained resilient.
JQ's Tex-Mex Barbecue helped put the smoked brisket birria taco on the map, but it's worth the drive to Houston for any item on the menu.
The Bayou Vista food truck is back, with brisket kolaches, pork ribs that fall off the bone, and a local favorite known as the Cheese Champion.
The Fredericksburg newcomer marries Korean banchan and Texan smoked meats, along with staple sides like a perfectly gooey mac and cheese.
Bo Moreno didn't open his own joint until 2019, but he has brisket, fajitas, chicken, tripas, and wild hog in his blood.
The Beaumont restaurant serves Central Texas–style barbecue, including impressive brisket and painstakingly developed sausage.
The exciting Spring Branch menu includes chana masala, fried chicken, spicy Korean braised greens, brisket, and the most thoughtful wine list in Texas barbecue.
Thickly sliced cabbage, coated in olive oil and imbued with oaky smoke, makes for a worthy main course or the best side dish at the table.
We’ve come a long way from smoked vegetables seeming strange at a barbecue joint—and that’s a good thing.
Richard Funk was bitten by the barbecue bug later than some, but that itch isn't going away anytime soon.
The East Austin food truck used to cater to a late-night crowd. Now its massive sandwiches, innovative vegetable dishes, and flavorful tacos draw in diners all day long.
A Matagorda native brings juicy brisket, masterfully crisped chicken, and inventive sides to the coastal region.
The secret ingredient in Flores Tortillas is all too familiar to Texas pitmasters.
Lupe Nevarez made barbecue the family business, but his heir has some big plans herself.
After years of online mocking by barbecue fans, “Brooklyn BBQ” is now being auctioned as an NFT. The starting bid is about $10,000.
The Dallas barbecue institution will serve its last chopped-brisket sandwich sometime next week. Proprietor Billy McDonald couldn’t be happier about it.
The Fort Worth barbecue truck blends styles with well-smoked brisket tacos, smacking good pork ribs, and more.
Since taking over Tom & Bingo’s Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q in 2017, Ian Timmons has paid homage to the restaurant’s half century of legacy while serving some of the region’s best brisket.
Ray Busch’s barbecue obsession, coupled with his Houston pride, makes Ray’s BBQ Shack the go-to joint for traditional H-Town barbecue.Tell me about the first person who taught you about barbecue. Mr. River Falls was a Houston legend back in the sixties, seventies, and eighties. He taught me everything I know.
1082 BBQ rises like a smoky mirage in three different rural counties north of Abilene.
The fires are still burning at the restaurant, newly named Holy Smoke BBQ, next to New Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
Kris Manning of Smokey Joe’s BB-Q in Dallas is no less than barbecue-obsessed. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been trying to emulate the top-notch ’cue he grew up eating. Now that he’s a professional pitmaster, it just keeps getting better and better. Tell me about the first
The Dallas-area joint went viral on YouTube, but ORC Filipino Asian/American BBQ is much more than an internet sensation.
Thanks to methods gleaned from the competition circuit and a rub honed on the road, almost everything on this Weatherford truck's menu pops with flavor.
With Treviño’s Craft Smokehouse, a former oilman brings solid barbecue and creative sides to Possum Kingdom Lake, one day per week.
With apple pie–spiced ribs, juicy brisket, and a rare offering of fresh vegetables, the new joint is a worthy stop in East Texas.
Fargo’s Pit BBQ first entered the Texas Monthly barbecue scene back in 2013, when pitmaster Alan Caldwell first showed us his straight-shooting character in an interview with barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn. It wasn’t until the next year that Alan even allowed us a look at his mysterious
This Lufkin trailer is winning over customers so quickly that owner, pitmaster, server, and cleaning crew Wade Barbe has barely taken a day off.
We implore you to stay sober enough to properly barbecue your brisket.
Set just outside Fort Worth, T&D serves up solid staples and flavorful surprises—and its pitmasters haven’t even found their footing yet.
Plus: see how smokers are made and listen to a poem about Texas smoked meats.
After selling their family landscaping business in Tucson, Mallory and Arnis Robbins moved to Texas with no plans to make a name for themselves in Texas barbecue. But in 2015, the couple opened a highway-side food trailer (named after their daughter, Evie Mae). The joint quickly rose in the ranks,
Our barbecue editor went looking for brisket in a state that’s downright hogmatic about its pork-centric barbecue traditions.
Craft smoked meats and craft beers come together beautifully at these San Antonio, Garland, and Corpus Christi joints.
Plus: Valentina’s leaves Austin, and Arkansas gets its own barbecue trail.
These teens are the future of Texas barbecue, and they all landed in Llano to compete for scholarship money and recognition as the best young pitmasters in the state.
Trey Felton’s ancestors have been cold smoking meat for hundreds of years, but keeping the tradition alive has made Thorndale Meat Market a unicorn in Texas barbecue.