Texas Eats · checked by hand, fall 2026

Texas barbecue joints

74 barbecue joints across Texas for smoked brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs and sausage, each checked in fall 2026 against a 2025–26 source: its own site or menu, recent local news or an official tourism listing.

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Smoke, salt and pepper

Central Texas barbecue is beef brisket rubbed with salt and black pepper and smoked for hours over post oak, sold by the pound on butcher paper with white bread, pickles and onions. Beef ribs, pork ribs, turkey and house-made sausage share the cutting board. East Texas leans to chopped beef and sauce; South Texas has barbacoa on Sunday mornings. Many joints open a few days a week and close when the meat runs out.

The list at a glance

Towns with the most: Austin (13), Houston (10), Fort Worth (6), Lockhart (4), Dallas (3), Arlington (3), Spring (2), San Antonio (2). The dishes we found most often: brisket (34), pork ribs (8), beef ribs (6), turkey (6), sausage (5), beef rib (4).

Our method: a place made the list only if a 2025 or 2026 source backed it up (its own site or menu, a dated local news story or an official tourism listing) and its street address matched. No current source, or a website gone dark, and it stayed off. Review sites played no part, and places run by region and town rather than by anybody's score. Barbecue joints sell out and keep short hours, so check before you drive.

On your phone, Texas Eats orders this list by how far each place is from you, and a tap opens Apple Maps' live card with hours, photos and directions.

Other guides: Tex-Mex, Taquerías, Kolaches, Chicken-fried steak, Oldest restaurants, MICHELIN & James Beard, Restaurant inspections. City pages: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso.

Jump to a region

Houston & Gulf Coast

19 joints, by town.

  1. 1701 Barbecue

    1701 Calder Ave, Beaumont

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, pork ribs, brisket boudin, turkey, corn maque choux

    Central Texas-style barbecue in Beaumont with brisket boudin and Friday pork steaks.

  2. Blood Bros BBQ

    5425 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, ribs, brisket fried rice, smoked char siu banh mi

    Bellaire barbecue joint that mixes Texas smoke with Asian flavors, from brisket fried rice to smoked char siu banh mi; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  3. Brisket & Rice

    13111 Fm 529 Rd, Houston

    Barbecue On the menu: barbecue fried rice, jalapeño sausage, glazed chicken

    Hong and Phong Tran's barbecue counter in a Cy-Fair gas station, with barbecue fried rice.

  4. Feges BBQ

    8217 Long Point Rd, Houston

    Barbecue

    Spring Branch barbecue restaurant on Long Point Road.

  5. Gatlin's BBQ

    3510 Ella Blvd, Houston

    Barbecue

    Barbecue restaurant on Ella Boulevard in north Houston.

  6. J-Bar-M Barbecue

    2201 Leeland St, Houston

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage, pork ribs, brisket tacos

    EaDo barbecue hall with brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage and big boards.

  7. Khói Barbecue

    515 Patton St., Houston

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, beef rib in coconut curry, smoked and fried chicken

    Near Northside barbecue with Vietnamese flavors, such as beef rib in coconut curry.

  8. Levant BBQ

    5884 Westheimer Rd, Houston

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: lamb neck, lamb chops, beef ribs, brisket

    Houston barbecue built around lamb, from lamb neck to lamb chops, alongside brisket.

  9. Pinkerton's Barbecue

    1504 Airline Dr, Houston

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: beef rib, brisket, St. Louis-style ribs

    Grant Pinkerton's Airline Drive barbecue house with glazed pork ribs and duck-and-sausage jambalaya; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  10. Roegels Barbecue Co.

    2223 S Voss Rd, Houston

    Barbecue

    Barbecue joint on South Voss Road in Houston's Mid-West area.

  11. The Pit Room

    1201 Richmond Ave, Houston

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, beef ribs, breakfast tacos

    Montrose barbecue joint with house tortillas for brisket tacos.

  12. Truth BBQ

    110 S Heights Blvd, Houston

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, turkey, house-made sausages, corn pudding, tater tot casserole

    Leonard Botello IV's Heights barbecue restaurant (the original is on US 290 in Brenham); MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  13. Bar-A-BBQ

    21149 Eva St, Montgomery

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, house-made sausage, pork ribs, chocolate cornbread pudding

    Montgomery barbecue in a converted house, known for its sausage-making.

  14. Jennings & Co. BBQ

    16050 Walden Rd, Montgomery

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, cabbage cooked in bacon fat, sweet corn soufflé

    Montgomery barbecue trailer beside a gas station on Walden Road.

  15. Killen's BBQ

    3613 E Broadway St, Pearland

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecueChicken-fried steak On the menu: beef rib, pork belly burnt ends, crème brûlée bread pudding

    Ronnie Killen's Pearland barbecue restaurant known for beef ribs and burnt ends. Also serves a chicken-fried ribeye with peppery white gravy every day.

  16. Redbird BBQ

    1104 Port Neches Ave, Port Neches

    Barbecue

    Port Neches barbecue joint in the Golden Triangle.

  17. CorkScrew BBQ

    26608 Keith St, Spring

    1 MICHELIN StarBarbecue On the menu: brisket, beef ribs, pinto beans, loaded baked potatoes, green-chile ranch, fruit cobblers

    Old Town Spring barbecue restaurant run by Will and Nichole Buckman; holds a MICHELIN star.

  18. Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q

    2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, pork ribs, jalapeño-cheese sausage

    Spring barbecue food truck from Jordan Rosemeyer and Ben Maxwell, known for its house-made sausage; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

    rosemeyerbbq.square.site

  19. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue

    200 N Elm St, Tomball

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: beef ribs, chile relleno sausage, brisket, carrot soufflé

    Tomball craft chocolate shop and barbecue joint in one; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

Dallas–Fort Worth

22 joints, by town.

  1. Dayne's Craft Barbecue

    100 S Front St, Aledo

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, ribs, sausage, burgers

    Downtown Aledo barbecue that began as a home pop-up in 2018.

  2. 225° BBQ

    601 E Main St, Arlington

    Barbecue On the menu: birria ramen, brisket elote, Texas Twinkie

    Downtown Arlington barbecue with birria ramen and brisket elote.

  3. Hurtado Barbecue

    205 E Front St, Arlington

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, birria tacos, brisket tostadas, Mexican street corn

    Arlington-born "Tex-Mex barbecue" with birria tacos and brisket tostadas (other branches across DFW).

  4. Smoke'N Ash BBQ

    5904 S Cooper St, Arlington

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, pulled lamb, collard greens, Ethiopian lentil stews

    Arlington mom-and-pop pairing Texas barbecue with Ethiopian stews and injera.

  5. Slow Bone BBQ

    2234 Irving Blvd, Dallas

    Barbecue

    Design District barbecue cafeteria with a sweet potato praline side.

  6. Smokey Joe's BBQ

    6403 S R L Thornton Fwy, Dallas

    Barbecue

    Oak Cliff barbecue spot with four decades of smoking.

  7. Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

    2202 Inwood Rd, Dallas

    America's ClassicBarbecue On the menu: brisket sandwich, onion rings, jalapeño sausage · Since 1958

    The original Inwood Road barbecue joint opened by William Jennings "Sonny" Bryan Jr. in 1958, now open 24/7; a James Beard America's Classic (2000).

  8. North Texas Smoke BBQ

    2555 US-287, Decatur

    Barbecue

    Decatur barbecue trailer known for its sides.

  9. Cattleack Barbeque

    13628 Gamma Rd, Farmers Branch

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, pork ribs, pork steak, wagyu pastrami brisket, burnt end beans

    Barbecue spot off Gamma Road in the Farmers Branch area, open limited days; known for brisket, pork steak and wagyu pastrami; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  10. Angelo's BBQ

    2533 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket, pork ribs, turkey, jalapeño sausage

    Old-school White Settlement Road barbecue house, opened in 1958, with brisket, ribs and jalapeño sausage.

  11. Brix Barbecue

    1012 S Main St, Fort Worth

    Barbecue On the menu: pork belly porchetta, tomahawk pork chop, steak sandwiches

    Near Southside barbecue that started as a trailer in 2017 and opened a brick-and-mortar in 2023.

  12. Goldee's Bar-B-Q

    4645 Dick Price Rd, Fort Worth

    1 MICHELIN StarBarbecue On the menu: brisket, turkey, jalapeño-cheddar sausage, brisket beans, banana pudding

    Southeast Fort Worth joint with famously long lines, known for brisket and Lao-inspired sausage specials; holds a MICHELIN star.

  13. Heim Barbecue

    5333 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth

    Barbecue On the menu: bacon burnt ends, brisket

    Fort Worth barbecue known for bacon burnt ends; its River District restaurant on White Settlement Road stayed open after the Magnolia flagship closed in February 2026.

  14. Panther City BBQ

    201 E Hattie St, Fort Worth

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, brisket elote, brisket burritos, pulled pork, spicy smoked mac and cheese

    Fort Worth barbecue on East Hattie Street, opened in 2019, known for brisket elote and pork belly poppers.

  15. Smoke-a-Holics BBQ

    1417 Evans Ave, Fort Worth

    Barbecue On the menu: rib tips, oxtails, Cajun cream corn, Coca-Cola cake

    Southside "Tex-soul" barbecue with oxtails and rib tips.

  16. Zavala's Barbecue

    421 W Main St, Grand Prairie

    Barbecue

    Family-owned barbecue on Grand Prairie's Main Street.

  17. Victorian's Barbecue

    419 E Texas Ave, Mart

    Barbecue

    Barbecue in Mart, east of Waco.

  18. Drew's BBQ and Eatery

    220 N Main St, Maypearl

    Barbecue

    Barbecue in tiny Maypearl, south of Dallas.

  19. Hutchins BBQ

    1301 N Tennessee St, McKinney

    Barbecue

    Collin County barbecue restaurant on North Tennessee Street.

  20. Patriotic Pig Smokehouse

    3900 Rufe Snow Dr, North Richland Hills

    Barbecue

    North Richland Hills smokehouse also praised for its burgers.

  21. Smoak Town BBQ

    107 Elmhurst Ln, Rockwall

    Barbecue

    Barbecue trailer in fast-growing Fate.

  22. Smoke Sessions Barbecue

    307 Tx-66, Royse City

    Barbecue

    Royse City barbecue about 30 miles northeast of Dallas.

Austin & Central Texas

25 joints, by town.

  1. Briscuits

    4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket biscuit sandwich, pork belly, pimento cheese grits

    South Austin barbecue served on biscuits.

  2. Distant Relatives

    3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken, burnt ends with black-eyed peas

    Southeast Austin barbecue with burnt ends and black-eyed peas and chile-vinegar chicken; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  3. Franklin Barbecue

    900 E 11th St, Austin

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, pork ribs, sausage, turkey, pulled pork

    Aaron Franklin's East 11th Street joint, famous for its brisket line; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  4. InterStellar BBQ

    12233 Ranch Rd 620 N, Austin

    1 MICHELIN StarBarbecue On the menu: brisket, peach tea-glazed pork belly, beer-brined turkey, poblano creamed corn, banana pudding

    Northwest Austin barbecue spot off RM 620 with peach tea-glazed pork belly and creative sides; holds a MICHELIN star.

  5. KG BBQ

    3108 Manor Rd, Austin

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: lamb shoulder, chicken thighs, rice pudding

    East Austin barbecue blending Texas smoke with Egyptian flavors; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

    kgbbq.com

  6. la Barbecue

    2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, house-made sausages, beef ribs

    East Austin barbecue spot on Cesar Chavez for brisket, house-made sausages and beef ribs.

  7. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

    5621 Emerald Forest Dr, Austin

    1 MICHELIN StarBarbecue On the menu: sausages, barbacoa, smoked whole hog, brisket, beef rib, red chili frito pie, banana pudding tiramisu

    South Austin barbecue joint known for underdog cuts, whole-hog and vegetable sides alongside brisket and beef ribs; holds a MICHELIN star.

  8. Micklethwait Craft Meats

    4602 Tanney St, Austin

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: brisket, sausage, lamb, jalapeño cheese grits, banana pudding

    East Austin barbecue known for house sausages, lamb and jalapeño cheese grits; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  9. Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen

    5811 Manor Rd, Austin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: pastrami sandwich, matzoh ball soup, brisket

    East Austin smokehouse and Jewish-style deli known for its house pastrami.

  10. Parish Barbecue

    10300 Springdale Rd., Austin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, boudin, pulled duck, crawfish cornbread stuffing

    Austin barbecue blending Central Texas barbecue with Louisiana flavors such as boudin and crawfish stuffing.

  11. Rollin Smoke BBQ

    1700 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin

    Barbecue

    Austin barbecue spot.

  12. Stiles Switch BBQ

    6610 N Lamar Blvd, Austin

    Barbecue

    Barbecue restaurant on North Lamar in Austin.

  13. Terry Black's BBQ

    1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, sausage

    Barton Springs Road counter-service barbecue hall from a branch of the Lockhart Black family.

    terryblacksbbq.com

  14. Schoepf's BBQ

    702 E Central Ave, Belton

    Barbecue On the menu: brisket

    Belton barbecue restaurant noted for its brisket.

  15. Louie's Craft BBQ

    122 Main St, Buda

    Barbecue

    Barbecue on Main Street in Buda.

  16. Henry's Barbecue

    2403 Highway 71 E, Del Valle

    Barbecue

    Barbecue on Highway 71 in Del Valle, near the Austin airport.

  17. Baker Boys BBQ

    1404 N Sarah Dewitt Dr, Gonzales

    Barbecue

    Gonzales barbecue joint on Sarah DeWitt Drive.

  18. Snow's BBQ

    516 Main St, Lexington

    Barbecue

    Out-of-the-way barbecue joint in the small town of Lexington.

  19. Barbs B Q

    102 E Market St, Lockhart

    Bib GourmandBarbecue On the menu: Molotov pork ribs, black pepper turkey, green spaghetti

    Lockhart barbecue from a new generation of pitmasters, with Molotov ribs and green spaghetti; MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

  20. Black's Barbecue

    215 N Main St, Lockhart

    Barbecue

    Lockhart barbecue on Main Street with a history of nearly 100 years.

  21. Kreuz Market

    619 N Colorado St, Lockhart

    Barbecue

    Barbecue hall on North Colorado Street in Lockhart.

  22. Smitty's Market

    208 S Commerce St, Lockhart

    Barbecue

    Lockhart barbecue market on South Commerce Street.

  23. Louie Mueller Barbecue

    206 W 2nd St, Taylor

    America's ClassicBarbecue Since 1959

    Long-running barbecue landmark in downtown Taylor. In this former gymnasium in downtown Taylor since 1959; the business dates to 1946 and opened as its own entity in 1949.

  24. Pustka Family Barbeque

    1220 W Ave M, Temple

    Barbecue

    Family-run barbecue in Temple.

  25. Kelly's Hill Country BBQ

    14306 Ranch Rd, Wimberley

    Barbecue

    Hill Country barbecue in Wimberley.

San Antonio & Hill Country

4 joints, by town.

  1. Eaker Barbecue

    607 W Main St, Fredericksburg

    Barbecue

    Barbecue on Main Street in Fredericksburg.

  2. 2M Smokehouse

    2731 S Ww White Rd, San Antonio

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, turkey, chicharrón mac and cheese, pickled nopales

    Southeast San Antonio barbecue from pitmaster Esaul Ramos with chicharrón mac and cheese and pickled nopales.

  3. Reese Bros Barbecue

    906 Hoefgen Ave, San Antonio

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, queso fundido sausage, house-made flour tortillas, piña colada cobbler

    San Antonio barbecue with Mexican-influenced specials such as costra tacos and queso fundido sausage.

  4. Burnt Bean Co.

    108 S Austin St, Seguin

    MICHELIN RecommendedBarbecue On the menu: brisket, beef rib, sausage, pickled okra

    Downtown Seguin barbecue co-founded in 2020 by Ernest Servantes and Dave Kirkland, known for brisket and weekend rib specials.

Rio Grande Valley & Border

1 joint, by town.

  1. GW's BBQ

    107 N Nebraska Ave, San Juan

    Barbecue

    San Juan barbecue joint in the Rio Grande Valley.

Coastal Bend

1 joint, by town.

  1. LaVaca BBQ

    532 N Virginia St, Port Lavaca

    Barbecue

    Port Lavaca barbecue joint on the Coastal Bend.

Panhandle & Plains

2 joints, by town.

  1. Rejino Barbeque

    609 7th St, Olton

    Barbecue

    Barbecue in the small Panhandle-plains town of Olton.

  2. Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque

    217 US-62, Wolfforth

    Barbecue

    Wolfforth barbecue joint just outside Lubbock.