BBQ
February 4, 2021
BBQ News Roundup: Welcome to BBQ University
New schools are offering multiple ways to learn how to be a pitmaster, plus a rocket scientist’s take on barbecue.
BBQ Joint Reviews
February 1, 2021
The Fried Rib Tips Are Sacred at Mitch’s Corner Stop
The New Orleans–inspired dish is available every day except Sunday, when Mitch Davis preaches at the local Baptist church.
BBQ Recipes
January 26, 2021
Fort Worth Pitmasters Have Perfected Smoked Chicken Salad
This surprising barbecue dish is taking over local menus—and it's so good, our barbecue editor developed his own recipe.
BBQ Recipes
January 22, 2021
Recipe: Confit Smoked Chicken Thighs
This low and slow cooking technique locks in smoky flavor and juicy, tender meat.
BBQ
January 21, 2021
BBQ News Roundup: West Texas Gets Barbecue on the School Bus
Plus, Snow's reopens, Killen's expands, and an honest pitmaster job posting.
BBQ
January 19, 2021
What Brisket and Chocolate Have in Common (Besides Being Delicious)
Tomball's Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue is one of the best smoked-meat joints in the state, but it pours its heart into its bean-to-bar confections.
BBQ
January 16, 2021
Turkey Legs Smothered in Mac and Cheese Are the Latest, Greatest Texas Trend
Smoked turkey legs have broken out of the State Fair and onto menus across the state.
BBQ
January 14, 2021
How Big Al’s Smokehouse Is Ensuring Its Barbecue Comfort Food Survives the Pandemic
One secret is pitmaster Pedro Garcia, who started at Big Al's as a dishwasher over 40 years ago.
BBQ
January 7, 2021
BBQ News Roundup: A McKinney Staple Forced to Close
Plus, Houston’s most anticipated restaurant openings for 2021, Fidel Castro in a cowboy hat, and the end of #BrisketGate.
BBQ
January 5, 2021
Why the Texoma Region Is Worth a Barbecue Tour
From brown gravy sauce to pecan pie with brisket, joints from Denison to Gainesville provide lots of solid (and surprising) options.
BBQ
December 31, 2020
What Happened When I Attempted a Cornyn’d Beef Brisket
Hint: “Trim all visible fat."
BBQ
December 23, 2020
Dallas’s Back Country BBQ Community Is Helping a Pitmaster in Need
Plus, mask shirkers in Abilene and Greg Abbott's shocking barbecue tab.
BBQ
December 18, 2020
My Favorite Texas BBQ Bites of 2020
Even in 2020, Texas managed to turn out superlative barbecue. Our barbecue editor picks his favorite bites of brisket, spare ribs, sausage, and more, from all across the state.
BBQ
December 11, 2020
Derek Allan’s BBQ Proves Brisket Belongs on a Biscuit
The Fort Worth joint is now serving Wagyu brisket on a biscuit from you'll never guess where.
BBQ
December 10, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Massive Closures Are Coming for ’Cue Joints
A warning from the National Restaurant Association. Plus, Austin kicked off its annual 12 Days of Smoked Meat.
BBQ Joint Reviews
December 4, 2020
Estrada’s Texas Barbecue Serves a Guisada Breakfast Taco That’ll Last You Through Lunch
Mechanic turned pitmaster Randy Estrada and his wife Tessa created a menu of uniquely flavored meats and sides at the Creedmoor truck.
BBQ
November 28, 2020
A Celebrated Pitmaster on His Long Road to Recovery
Jordan Jackson once ran the pits at one of the best joints in the state—Bodacious Bar-B-Q, in Longview—but he says the drinking and the pressure were too much. Now he’s working for Aaron Franklin as he starts to rebuild his life.
BBQ Joint Reviews
November 27, 2020
Henry’s Barbecue Is a Small Food Truck With Big Dreams and a Great Burger
The Del Valle truck serves a well-executed barbecue menu, and its owners are hoping this is just the start.
BBQ
November 25, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Last-Minute Thanksgiving Tips for Smoking a Turkey
Plus, pork processing plant managers behaving badly and $2,000 brisket.
Style & Design
November 25, 2020
Holiday Gift Guide: For the Backyard BBQer
Equipment, accessories, and treats for the home barbecue chef in your life.
BBQ Joint Reviews
November 19, 2020
The JNL Trailer Serves Up Old-school Barbecue and Community Spirit
The Austin trailer is serving up a small, focused menu after narrowly escaping a pandemic-induced closing in April.
BBQ Joint Reviews
November 16, 2020
Thorndale Meat Market’s Dry-Aged Steak Is an Experiment in Funk
The first bite of one of Trey Felton’s cold-smoked, dry-aged ribeyes made our barbecue editor laugh with joy.
BBQ
November 12, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Thanksgiving Tragedy at Greenberg Smoked Turkeys
A fire at the meat processing plant means no turkey for 200,000 customers. Plus, Feges in Houston now ships nationwide.
BBQ
October 29, 2020
BBQ News: A Very Bad Take About Barbecue in America
Plus, our very own BBQ Fest culminates in a virtual backyard barbecue this Sunday.
BBQ
October 28, 2020
It’s Always a New Menu at Blood Bros. BBQ
The Houston barbecue joint keeps regulars on their toes with an ever-changing menu that calls on Hawaiian, Chinese, and Texan flavors.
BBQ Joint Reviews
October 23, 2020
A Former Police Officer Finds His Calling With Lonestar Sausage & BBQ
Kevin Mason has gone from selling his house-made links out of a patrol car to running an impressive joint in Houston.
BBQ
October 15, 2020
I’ll Be Missing ’Cue: Saluting Joints That Are Gone but Not Forgotten
The connections we make with some barbecue restaurants go way beyond brisket and chopped beef sandwiches.
BBQ
October 15, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Want to Buy a Top 50 Barbecue Joint?
Hays Co. Bar-B-Que in San Marcos is for sale. Plus, Neely’s in Marshall closes after 93 years.
BBQ Joint Reviews
October 12, 2020
Dozier’s Has Been Making Traditional Texas Barbecue for 63 Years. Under New Pitmaster Jim Buchanan, It’s Even Better.
The Fulshear restaurant and meat market has spectacularly juicy smoked turkey, excellent sausage, and a peppery house-made mustard. Just don't go on a Tuesday.
BBQ
October 1, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: A Fort Worth Restaurant’s New Online “Meat Locker” Sells Brisket to Smoke at Home
Plus: Texas A&M scientists used eye-tracking tech to help 1775 BBQ in College Station design a new menu.
BBQ Recipes
September 25, 2020
Recipe: Smoked Turkey Legs
In honor of the State Fair of Texas, here’s how to enjoy these annual treats at home.
Recipes
September 25, 2020
Most Restaurants Trash Their Leftover Fat. This Houston Barbecue Joint Made it a Signature Item
Plus: Feges BBQ's recipe for smoked sweet potatoes in beef fat.
BBQ
September 23, 2020
Blue Moon BBQ Is Back
The owners of the Hearne restaurant had planned to stay closed permanently, but reconsidered after hearing from loyal customers.
BBQ
September 18, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: John Mueller Has a New Joint, and Chris Shepherd and Aaron Franklin Have a New Beer
Plus: Look for a new hot dog cart from La Barbecue.
BBQ
September 16, 2020
Recipe: Smoked Lamb Shoulder
A simple recipe is all it takes when you use Texas pasture-raised lamb.
BBQ
September 11, 2020
Bidding Adieu to Peggy Sue BBQ
The nostalgic Dallas restaurant was where I first fell in love with Texas barbecue.
BBQ
September 10, 2020
Two Austin Women Hope to Build the First Lab-Grown Brisket
The founders of BioBQ are designing a real-meat version of the Texas barbecue favorite—no animal slaughter required.
BBQ
September 3, 2020
Barbecue News: To-Go Tailgate Kits and the Return of Kerlin’s
Plus: a 17-year-old barbecue prodigy.
BBQ
September 2, 2020
Most Portable Grills Don’t Last or Aren’t Truly Portable. A Dallas Start-up Aims to Change That
The suitcase-size Nomad grill is pricey, but founders John Veatch and Cam Leggett are betting that consumers will pay more for quality.
BBQ Recipes
August 31, 2020
Recipe: Bone-in Pork Loin
With some advice from Roy Perez of historic Kreuz Market, I smoked a delicious dinner that couldn’t have been easier.
BBQ Joint Reviews
August 26, 2020
East Austin Pitmaster Jerome Faulkner Is Carrying on His Family’s Barbecue Legacy
At J Leonardi’s, he smokes meat the way his uncle taught him in the former freedmen’s town of St. John Colony.
BBQ Joint Reviews
August 21, 2020
This Fort Worth Barbecue Trailer Stands Out for Its Superb Brisket, Creative Sides, and “Dank Sauce”
Brix Barbecue founder Trevor Sales grew up in the Midwest and fell in love with Texas barbecue after moving here in 2017.
BBQ
August 20, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: ‘Chef’s Table’ Features Tootsie Tomanetz
Plus: are we ready for lab-grown barbecue?
Food & Drink
August 19, 2020
The Better Beef Buying Guide
A growing number of independent specialty shops around the state offer tightly curated selections from local producers.
BBQ
August 13, 2020
A Barbecue Family’s Final Farewell
The butcher shop and barbecue joint, more than a century old, is finally shutting down (but not before giving us its mop sauce recipe).
BBQ
August 6, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Brisket Tips and Barbecue Fraud
Plus: two new barbecue sauce lines launch.
BBQ Joint Reviews
August 1, 2020
The True Story of the Legendary Sam’s Bar-B-Que
Tracing the history of the East Austin institution, which has survived two fires, a gentrification buyout offer, and Midland.
BBQ
July 29, 2020
The Red Rocket Hot Dogs at La Barbecue Are Out of This World
Inspired by a childhood favorite, the wieners are a welcome addition to the menu of the Austin joint, especially when served with chili.
BBQ
July 24, 2020
Is Texas Ready for a Joint Like Complete Beef Barbecue?
With the traditional supply chain in crisis, here’s a radical plan for a new way forward. (With one big catch).
BBQ
July 23, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Meat-Cutting Robots and 3D-Printed Steak
Plus: Cananda misunderstands Texas barbecue.