Dining Guide
The Original Willie’s Bar-B-Q

This joint has a large menu that caters to local tastes (brisket tacos, fajita plates), and it was packed during the weekday lunch rush. Meats are all available by the pound, with the tender pork ribs (smoked to perfection with pecan wood, a rarity in South Texas, where mesquite tends to be the norm) being the standout protein. Willie’s thin, sweet sauce serves as a nice complement. While beef ribs are sometimes more visually appealing than they are delicious, the ones here do not disappoint, featuring a hearty smoke flavor and fully rendered fat. Skip the bland sausage.
City: Alamo
Cuisine: Barbecue
Method: Pecan; indirect-heat pit
Pitmaster: Arturo Lanteros (since 2003)
Pro-tip: Get a few slices of the smoked fajita meat.
Price: $$
Address: 320 S. Alamo Rd., Alamo, TX, 78516
Hours: Mon-Sat 11-9, Sun 11-5
Phone: 956-702-1370
Website: originalwilliesbbq.com
Year Opened: 1992
Last updated: May 13, 2013