Texas BBQ is a religion. Post oak smoke, salt and pepper brisket, and the belief that sauce is optional. Here are the 25 best BBQ joints in the state, ranked.
Austin. The most famous BBQ joint in the world. Aaron Franklin's brisket is the standard everything else is measured against. The line is 2-4 hours. Worth it? Yes. Order online to skip the line if available. The bark, the smoke ring, the tender fatty brisket — perfection.
Lexington (1 hr east of Austin). Saturday only, 8 AM until sold out (usually by noon). Pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz started cooking BBQ in her 60s. Now in her 90s. #1 in Texas Monthly 2008 and still elite. The brisket and pork steak are legendary. Get there by 7 AM.
Fort Worth. #1 in Texas Monthly 2021. Post oak brisket, incredible ribs, and a pork belly that changed the game. Small operation, sells out. Worth the drive from anywhere in Texas. The new generation of Texas BBQ.
Houston (+ Brenham original). Leonard Botello IV's brisket is silky, rich, and deeply smoky. The beef rib is a showstopper. Homemade sides (the banana pudding is famous). Houston location made Texas BBQ accessible to the city that needed it.
Austin (North, Georgetown). The new Austin favorite. Brisket is consistently perfect. Wagyu options. Excellent sides. Less wait than Franklin, arguably as good on any given day. The brisket grilled cheese is insane.
Austin (East). LeAnn Mueller's legacy. El Sancho brisket taco is iconic. Fatty brisket is top-tier. The line moves fast. East Austin location is more fun than Franklin's strip mall. Beef rib on weekends.
Dallas. Thursday and Friday ONLY. Sells out fast. The ribs might be the best in Texas. Brisket is elite. A tiny, no-frills operation in an industrial park. Dallas's answer to Franklin. Get there early.
Dallas (Deep Ellum). Dallas's most popular BBQ. The Hot Mess (brisket + pulled pork + mac cheese + slaw) is the move. Great sides. Large restaurant that can handle crowds. Consistent quality.
Lockhart. Since 1900. The BBQ capital of Texas. No forks, no sauce, meat on butcher paper. Shoulder clod, prime rib, sausage. The original. A pilgrimage every Texan should make.
Austin (East). A trailer that produces world-class BBQ. The brisket, the jalapeno cheddar sausage, and the sides (the bread pudding!) are all excellent. Shorter line than Franklin, same neighborhood quality.
Lockhart. Walk through the smoke-filled pit room to order. Shoulder clod and sausage are the stars. The experience is as good as the food. Lockhart's atmospheric best.
Lockhart (+ Austin, New Braunfels). Family-run since 1932. The oldest continuously operated BBQ joint in Texas. Brisket and beef ribs. Multiple locations now but Lockhart original is the move.
Taylor. Since 1949. The walls are black with decades of smoke. Beef ribs the size of your forearm. The most atmospheric BBQ joint in Texas. 30 min from Austin.
Austin (+ Dallas, Fort Worth). Expanding but quality holds. No line most days. Solid brisket, great sausage, good banana pudding. The most accessible great BBQ in Austin.
San Antonio. Tex-Mex meets BBQ. The brisket is top-tier. The sides are Tex-Mex inspired (elote, charro beans). San Antonio's best BBQ by a mile.
San Marcos. Small trailer, big flavor. Consistently excellent brisket. Worth a stop if you're between Austin and San Antonio. The jalapeño cheddar sausage is a standout.
Austin (South). BBQ + Tex-Mex fusion. The Real Deal Holyfield (brisket, egg, cheese, potato on flour tortilla) is the best breakfast taco in Austin. The brisket stands alone too.
Fort Worth. Rising star. Brisket, beef rib, and a pork belly that melts. Small operation, sells out. Fort Worth's BBQ scene is having a moment and Panther City leads it.
Tomball (NW Houston). Yes, chocolate AND BBQ. The brisket is excellent. The craft chocolate is excellent. The combination is uniquely Texas. Friday-Saturday only.
Austin (South). New-school Austin BBQ from a trailer. Rotating menu, creative sides, beef cheeks, and a burger that might be the best in Austin. The "new Austin BBQ" representative.
Llano (+ Austin, Fort Worth). Direct heat, cowboy style. Pick your meat from the pit out front. Big pork chops, sirloin, cabrito (goat). Different style than Central Texas. The Llano original is worth the Hill Country drive.
Austin (North Loop). Excellent neighborhood BBQ. Great brisket, sausage, turkey. No crazy lines. The daily special board is always interesting. One of the most reliable options in Austin.
Magnolia (NW Houston). Small town, big BBQ. Brisket, ribs, and a pulled pork that puts East Texas style on the map. Saturday only. Worth seeking out.
Wolfforth (Lubbock area). The best BBQ in West Texas, no contest. Brisket rivals the Central Texas greats. Thursday-Saturday only. If you're anywhere near Lubbock, go. You'll be shocked.
Austin (East). African and Southern-influenced BBQ. Oxtail, jerk ribs, collard greens, cornbread. A completely different take on Texas BBQ and one of the most exciting new restaurants in Austin.
The ultimate Texas BBQ road trip: Austin (Franklin, la Barbecue, Interstellar) → Lockhart (Kreuz, Smitty's, Black's — 30 min south) → Taylor (Louie Mueller — 30 min northeast) → Lexington (Snow's, Saturday only — 1 hr east). You can hit all of them in a long weekend. Bring stretchy pants.
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