Where to Eat Barbecue in Houston

This story was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated.

The Houston metro area has more praiseworthy barbecue joints than most entire states. We have our favorites, of course. Last year Texas Monthly released a list of the best new barbecue joints in Texas. In 2021 we published our top fifty barbecue joints list, along with fifty more worthy of honorable mentions, but our barbecue recommendations don’t stop there. You can get a great meal of smoked meats at any one of these Houston barbecue joints.

In the city of Houston

Blood Bros. BBQ (Top 50)
Barbecue doesn’t get much more creative than at this joint, which is known more for having a rotating menu of myriad specials—think Thai green curry boudin and thit nuong pork belly burnt ends—rather than a single specialty. 5425 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, 713-664-7776

Brisket & Rice (25 Best New BBQ Joints)
Brothers Hong and Phong Tran combined their Vietnamese heritage with classic Central Texas barbecue to create a gem of a joint next to a gas station. Get your juicy sliced brisket atop a scoop of fluffy jasmine rice, or get it chopped with Chinese sausage, eggs, green onion, and barbecue sauce in the signature barbecue fried rice. 13111 FM 529, 713-936-9575

Bud’s House of Meat
The meat case stretching across the market is stocked full of boudin, sausages, and other raw meats, but head to the barbecue counter in the back to place your order. The green-onion sausage and spicy smoked boudin are the prizes of the smoked meat menu, but it’s all good chopped up and stuffed into a monster baked potato. 6730 Cullen Blvd,  713-733-4363

Burns Original BBQ
At this Houston classic, it’s hard to choose between saucy pork spare ribs, a chopped beef sandwich, or a loaded baked potato so big the styrofoam lid has to be taped down. The diminutive building smack-dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood is old school, and thankfully, so is the menu. 8307 De Priest, 281-999-5559

Feges BBQ (Top 50)
Whether it’s a weekday lunch at the original Greenway Plaza location or dinner with a glass of wine at the new Spring Branch offshoot, the Feges crew will provide incredible barbecue and stunning sides rarely seen alongside smoked meat. 3 Greenway Plaza, Suite C-210, 832-409-6118; 8217 Long Point Rd, 346-319-5339

Gatlin’s BBQ (Honorable Mention)
Since Gatlin’s moved from its humble original location, owner-pitmaster Greg Gatlin created a dynamic menu of barbecue classics, beautifully composed sandwiches (especially the smoked house-made bologna), and breakfast options that include a brisket biscuit sandwich that will have you reconsidering any other kind of bun. 3510 Ella Blvd, Building C, Suite A, 713-869-4227

Goode Co. Barbeque
Look for the armadillo sculpture out in front of the original Goode Co. near Rice University, which has been serving barbecue classics since 1977 (it now has three locations). Get a plate of savory pork ribs or a juicy half chicken with a side of jambalaya and a slice of jalapeño cheese bread. It’s one of the few Houston joints to still offer custom cooking of your meats. Their famous pecan pie is a must for dessert. 5109 Kirby Dr, 713-522-2530; 8911 Katy Fwy, 713-464-1901; 20102 Northwest Fwy, 832-678-3562

J-Bar-M Barbecue (25 Best New BBQ Joints)
This barbecue palace just outside downtown has a full bar, a massive patio, and barbecue talent galore. The team produces impeccable brisket, house-made sausages, and smoked chicken that’ll bring you back time and again. The sides and desserts are impressive in both their quality and variety. 2201 Leeland, 713-534-1024

Lonestar Sausage & BBQ
The uniquely juicy links imported to Houston from the Beaumont area were once prevalent in the city, but no longer. Sausage savant Kevin Mason, who opened this joint in 2016, is keeping old traditions alive. If you prefer a little less juice, try the garlicky beef-and-pork sausage. 13712 Walters Rd, Suite 140, 281-836-6988

Pinkerton’s Barbecue (Top 50)
Home of the “candy paint” pork rib, which could double as dessert if the smoked blueberry bread pudding weren’t so good. On the savory side, try the ultra-tender brisket; it’s also hard to beat the duck-and-sausage jambalaya. 1504 Airline Dr, 713-802-2000

Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue (Honorable Mention)
This historic joint has cranked out excellent pork ribs for decades from its unique brick pit. Recently, the owners brought in a new offset smoker to improve the brisket, and what a difference it has made. Add in some smoked mac and cheese and scratch-made banana pudding, and you have one of the most satisfying barbecue meals in town. 1703 Shepherd Dr, 713-227-2283

Ray’s BBQ Shack
The barbecue surf-and-turf platter, called “The Max,” highlights this joint’s smoked meats, house-made sausages, and excellent fried catfish and shrimp. It’s a deal that’s hard to pass up, but don’t miss the dirty rice, smoked boudin, and smoked oxtail. 3929 Old Spanish Trail, 713-748-4227

Roegels Barbecue Co. (Honorable Mention)
The newly perfected house-made sausages are just the latest reason Roegels is a must-visit in Houston or their new location in Katy. Daily sandwich specials such as the state’s best pastrami Reuben (served on Thursdays at both locations) are reason enough to visit, so the great brisket and ribs are just gravy. 2223 S. Voss Rd, 713-977-8725; 20702 Katy Fwy, Katy, 832-321-5135

Southern Q
Steve and Sherice Garner opened a new spot in 2019, but they’re still making the same great barbecue. Try the smoky pork ribs and juicy sausage for your main, and fried corn on the cob and dirty rice on the side. 411 W. Richey Rd, 281-919-1238

The Brisket House
It isn’t an easy feat to open multiple locations of a Texas barbecue joint, and keeping the quality high is even more difficult. Owner Wayne Kammerl has risen to the challenge with his three Brisket House outposts. The brisket, ribs, and jalapeño sausage are consistent across all locations. 3301 Cypress Creek Parkway, 832-286-1487; 5775 Woodway Dr, 281-888-0331; 3217 Center, Deer Park, 281-884-8058

The Pit Room
You’ll have a hard time choosing between the house-made chicharrones and the jalapeño-vinegar potato chips for an appetizer, but our favorite main course is any of the barbecue tacos served on a hearty flour tortilla. The barbecue is great outside of a tortilla as well. Be sure to load up at the generous condiment and pickle bar before finding a seat. 1201 Richmond Ave, 281-888-1929

Truth Barbeque (Top 10)
Quite simply, it’s the best barbecue joint in Houston, and one of the ten best in the whole state. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. 110 S. Heights Blvd, 832-835-0001

Virgie’s Bar-B-Que
Adrian Handsborough converted his family’s longtime burger shop and grocery store into a barbecue joint in 2005. The menu has changed little since then, as he focuses on the Texas barbecue classics. The massive, smoky spare ribs are a can’t-miss item, and the smoked chicken is juicy and flavorful. 5535 Gessner Rd, 713-466-6525

Farther afield

Bar-A-BBQ in Montgomery (25 Best New BBQ Joints)
Every bit of the menu is homemade, from the spectacular sausages to the hearty sides. The honey cornbread is a dessert you won’t want to miss. Get there early on Saturdays for barbecue klobasniky, or wait until lunch for the monster beef ribs. 21149 Eva, 940-445-0148

Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy (Top 50)
There are very few barbecue joints in Texas where you can find a better beef short rib. It’s worth the splurge. If you require balance in your barbecue consumption, try a side of the crunchy vinegar slaw. 25220 Kingsland Blvd, 281-392-7666

CorkScrew BBQ in Spring (Top 50)
Long lines at barbecue joints might keep some potential customers away, but this joint moves its well-deserved crowd more efficiently than most. Impeccable barbecue will be your reward at the end. 26608 Keith, 281-330-2178

Dozier’s in Fulshear (Honorable Mention)
This old-school meat market (open since 1957) still has a well-stocked raw meat counter along with an excellent barbecue selection. The classic smoked sausages still play a starring role, and are now joined by juicy brisket, tender ribs, and impressive smoked chicken. 8222 FM 359, 281-346-1411

Harlem Road Texas BBQ in Richmond (Honorable Mention)
Owner and pitmaster Ara Malekian brings a chef’s mentality to his barbecue. Well-crafted sausages, tender beef ribs, and tender brisket are all smoked with oak wood and staves of reclaimed wine barrels. Make the trip for the meat, or for unique specials such as pork belly pastrami and smoked sirloin. 9823 Harlem Rd, 832-278-2101

Kat’s Barbecue in Santa Fe
Andrew Steiner mans the counter of this community favorite while his wife, Kazuyo, runs the smokers. The brisket is juicy, and the ribs are perfectly tender. The smoked burger is the Thursday special, and uses ground beef from the Steiners’ cattle herd, the raw version of which is also available for purchase. 3805 N. Farm-to-Market Rd 646, 409-316-0023

Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland (Top 50) and The Woodlands
With locations in Pearland and The Woodlands, the joint that put Houston on the modern barbecue map is now available way north or way south of town. As always, it’s worth the trip. 3613 Broadway, Pearland, 281-485-2272; 8800 Six Pines Dr, The Woodlands, 713-389-5528

Reveille Barbecue in Pinehurst
What began as a weekend-only food truck is now a brick-and-mortar in Pinehurst, northwest of Houston. It specializes in peppery brisket, pork ribs, and house-made sausage. Keep an eye out for specials like barbecue tacos, smoked pork steak, and even smoked alligator. 32360 Texas Highway 249, Suite 140, 832-616-6900

Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q in Spring (25 Best New BBQ Joints)
A few picnic tables under some shade trees make up the dining room for this small but mighty food truck. Get your tray loaded with sweet and savory spare ribs, snappy jalapeño sausage, and tender brisket. Grab a free beer from the cooler, and try the homemade ice cream flavor that changes monthly. 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd, 281-205-0625

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball (Top 50)
Yes, the chocolate is as good as the barbecue, or vice versa, depending on what first draws you to this gem. Praises for the chile relleno sausage are sung far and wide for good reason, but the whole menu is done right. 200 N. Elm, 832-761-0670

Open Mondays

Getting the week started with barbecue can be a challenge with so many joints closed on Mondays, but there are a few great options in Houston. From the Top 50, you’ll find only the Greenway Plaza location of Feges BBQ open on Mondays. Gatlin’s BBQ, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, and the Houston location of Roegels Barbecue Co. are Monday options from our honorable mentions list. As for our other favorites, you can visit Ray’s BBQ Shack, Reveille Barbecue, the Pit Room, and all three locations of the Brisket House. (The meat market portion of Bud’s House of Meat is open Mondays, but the barbecue counter is not.)

Get that boudin

The brisket burnt-end boudin at Truth Barbeque is one of the best smoked boudins in the state, and you can get it every day the restaurant is open. For a Louisiana-style smoked boudin, which has more spice and less rice than most Texas versions, head to Southern Q. At Bud’s House of Meat, the house-made boudin is offered as a side option on its barbecue plates. You have to wait until Friday for the Thai green curry boudin from Blood Bros. BBQ, and boudin is often a special at Bar-A-BBQ and Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q. While the links aren’t made in-house, the folks at Burns Original BBQ in Houston, Pinkerton’s Barbecue in Houston, and Dozier’s in Fulshear also smoke up a fine boudin sausage.

Breakfast

Gatlin’s BBQ and the Pit Room both open at 7 a.m. for breakfast. The Pit Room serves up barbecue breakfast tacos, while Gatlin’s offers a wider menu. Ask for the brisket biscuit, which comes with egg, cheese, and bacon jam. Get barbecue klobasniky on Saturday mornings at Bar-A-BBQ, and Pizzitola’s serves a Saturday brunch menu that includes a brisket-and-egg biscuit, ribs and eggs, and a pulled pork sandwich made with an apple fritter. J-Bar-M Barbecue’s extensive brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday includes brisket chilaquiles and brisket Benedict.

Open late

Barbecue is associated more with lunch than dinner, mainly because so many joints sell what meat they can smoke as quickly as possible. That means many of the best spots will be sold out by early or mid-afternoon, but a few are open late (or at least late for barbecue). Lonestar Sausage & BBQ, Southern Q, and Dozier’s all serve until 7 p.m. most days. Burns Original BBQ stays open thirty minutes later, and Pizzitola’s is open until 8 p.m. Ray’s BBQ Shack stays open until 8 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday, while Goode Co. Barbeque stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8:30 p.m. every other night. Night owls should head to Feges BBQ‘s Spring Branch location, the Pit Room, and Pinkerton’s Barbecue, which close at 9 p.m. most nights. (Pinkerton’s is open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). J-Bar-M Barbecue doesn’t close things down until 11 p.m. during the week, and is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

Wet your whistle

Sometimes you’d like something stronger than iced tea or Dr Pepper with your barbecue, and these joints can help. Truth Barbeque and Killen’s Barbecue serve local beers. Beer and wine are on offer at Goode Co. Barbeque, the Pit Room, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, and Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue. Feges BBQ Spring Branch has an extensive wine list, along with draft beer and margaritas. J-Bar-M Barbecue offers cocktails, wine, and beer at its spacious bar. Blood Bros. BBQ has draft beer and signature cocktails, and at Pinkerton’s Barbecue there’s a full bar to go along with the beer ($1 on Thursdays) and wine.