My Top 10 BBQ Places in Texas

In case you’ve joined me recently one thing you may not know is that I spent the summer of 2017 visiting all of the Top 50 BBQ Places in Texas according to Texas Monthly Magazine. Based on their list, and after visiting every place, I had the arduous task of trying to piece together my own personal top 10 list, this was the outcome of that effort:

#10) Pinkerton’s Barbecue – Houston

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Next up on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ journey is Pinkerton's in Houston. Everything on this tray was amazing from the fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, the sausage, the duck meat jambalaya, moist brisket, cheesy jalapeno rice, and even the chocolate cake. Stop number 15 on the 14th day of my tour and it did not disappoint. Also great to run in to @thesmokingho while there. . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #txbbqpassport #yummy #amazing #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #Houston #atxfoodguy #pinkertons #brisket #beef #ribs #porkribs #sausage #jambalaya #duck #chocolate #cake

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Jun 27, 2017 at 8:31am PDT

#9) Killen’s BBQ – Pearland

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Keeping it going by heading south to Pearland's Killen's BBQ, stop number 16 on my Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ journey. Killens didn't disappoint with intriguing menu items such as fried mac n cheese, wagyu burnt ends, and pork belly as well as BBQ staples such as regular mac n cheese, baked beans, fatty brisket, sausage, bread, and sweet tea. Those wagyu burnt ends though… 🤤 . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #atxfoodguy #pearland #houston #bbq #porkbelly #wagyu #burntends #brisket #sausage #pork #beef #macncheese #friedmacandcheese #bakedbeans #txbbqpassport #texasbbq #sweettea

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Jun 28, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

#8) Hays Co. Bar-B-Que – San Marcos

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Another entry on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ spots in Texas, Hays Co. BBQ in San Marcos, Texas. Stopped in to pick up a pound of brisket for some friends as a house-warming gift and decided to try a bit for myself. One slice of moist brisket, half a link of jalapeno cheddar sausage, bread, and sweet tea. All of it was as delicious as I expected it would be. . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #whitebread #instafood #bread #amazing #instagood #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #txbbqpassport #foods #atxfoodguy #beef #pork #sausage #brisket #jalapenocheddar #sweettea #moistbrisket #sanmarcos #texasbbq

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Jun 12, 2017 at 7:57am PDT

#7) Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ – Austin

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Happy Texas Independence Day! +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Today I think about the brave people that decided to declare Independence from Mexico back in 1836 to form the Republic of Texas. Today also marks the 225th birthday of Sam Houston who also left a significant mark on Texas history. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Even today, it's hard to ignore the cultural influence that Mexico has had on Texas from the name of streets, cities, and schools to endeavors like art and music as well as the culinary makeup of my state. @valentinastexmexbbq is a great representation of that influence with their self described "Tex-Mex BBQ." This tray includes your traditionally-Texas slow cooked BBQ with pork ribs, brisket, and sausage but also includes Mexican influenced food with the rice, beans, and fresh made tortillas, then the merging of the two with the brisket based carne guisada taco! Valentina's is one of my favorite BBQ places in the entire state because of their merging of two cultures and cuisines. Keep up the amazing work!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Mar 2, 2018 at 8:05am PST

#6) Corkscrew BBQ – Spring

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Well, I officially completed my @texasmonthly BBQ journey sponsored by @yeti by collecting my 50th sticker from number 7 in the state, @corkscrewbbq and @pitmaster_buckman in Spring, TX! Went ahead and ordered just about everything, fatty and lean brisket, turkey, pulled pork, sausage, pork ribs, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, pickles, jalapenos, onions, bread, and a tiny bit of sauce. Corkscrew knows how to do it and I'm happy to have been joined by @atxbeerguy @firstflyingpsycho and also my fellow journeyman, @mikecasaessucasa who also happened to be collecting his last sticker the same day. ——— In the next day or two I'll be compiling and posting my own top 10 list derived from the Top 50 list by Texas Monthly, so stay tuned! ——— . . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yummy #amazing #instagood #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #atxfoodguy #txbbqpassport #springtx #yeticoolers #yeti #beef #turkey #pork #sausage #porkribs #ribs #macandcheese #macncheese #bakedbeans #beans

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Sep 12, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

#5) la Barbecue – Austin

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La Barbecue was stop number 26 on my Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ journey over on the East side of Austin. Of course I picked up their acclaimed brisket, a bit of turkey, and a menu item that fascinated me, the Javiachi! The Javiachi is a Chicago style hot dog using one of their hot gut sausage links topped with pickled onions, raw onions, sport peppers, a pickle spear, relish, tomato, and mustard. Washed this all down with a big ol' Mexican Coke. . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #Austin #atxfoodguy #txbbqpassport #chicagodog #brisket #beef #turkey #cocacola #coke #texasbbq #txbbq

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Jul 17, 2017 at 8:04am PDT

#4) Evie Mae’s Barbecue – Wolfforth

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Stop 48 was at the amazing Evie Mae's in Wolfforth, just outside of Lubbock. I managed to be the first in line and as soon as I pulled up some of the staff walked out to greet my parents and I. We decided to order the number 6 sampler which is basically a 1/4 lb of every meat. I wish every BBQ place had a sampler you could order, just another instance of them doing it right, and for only $28!? It came with pulled pork, turkey, brisket, a few different types of sausage, and pork ribs. I, of course, added burnt ends and picked up the cheesy jalapeno grits, baked potato salad, and my mom grabbed a slice of cheesecake. One thing that stood out to me, besides the amazing customer service, was the fat on the brisket, it was like eating candy! So flavorful and sweet and beautifully rendered to its full potential. Keep up the amazing work, Evie Mae's, and I look forward to seeing you at the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest in Austin! . . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #instafood #amazing #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #txbbqpassport #atxfoodguy #wolfforth #lubbock #turkey #brisket #beef #burntends #porkribs #pulledpork #pork #sausage #grits #cheesecake #potatosalad

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Aug 22, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

#3) Tejas Chocolate Craftory – Tomball

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My lovely friend, Christina, joined me to visit Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball, Texas this past weekend to see what my adventure is all about. This is stop number 43 on my quest to tackle the Top 50 BBQ places in Texas according to Texas Monthly and they deservedly took the number 6 spot on the list! Ordered a great spread including lean brisket, fatty brisket, turkey, pork ribs, burnt ends, beans, potato salad, and cornbread pudding. Everything was flavorful, delicious, and definitely worth the praise in the form of their high placement on the list. Keep an eye out for a picture of the chocolate! . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #smile #tasty #foodie #delish #girl #girls #delicious #friends #prettygirls #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #tomballtx #atxfoodguy #brisket #beef #turkey #pork #porkribs #burntends #beans #potatosalad #txbbqpassport

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Aug 14, 2017 at 8:54am PDT

#2) Cattleack Barbeque – Dallas

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Stop number 39 out of my quest to conquer the top 50 BBQ places in Texas according to Texas Monthly Magazine. This time I had some friends meet up including @akuma_xliv and @rebeccashand ! This one took the number 3 spot on the list and it's definitely warranted. 1/2lb of moist brisket, 1/2lb of Carolina style pulled pork, one link of jalapeno cheddar sausage, one link of "Spicy Texan" sausage (which is much like chorizo), green chile Mac and cheese, and jalapeno cheddar grits. The bark on the brisket was phenomenal! . . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #dallas #atxfoodguy #brisket #pulledpork #sausage #grits #macncheese #jalapenocheddar #cheesygrits #txbbqpassport

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Aug 5, 2017 at 8:54am PDT

#1) Truth BBQ – Brenham

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Stop 32 on my BBQ journey found me at @truth_bbq in Brenham, Texas. This place was absolutely amazing and deserves better than 10th best. I'm thinking they need to be 5th best in Texas, at least, but I still have a few places to visit to be certain. Brisket was the poster child of the way brisket should be, the pulled pork was succulent and flavorful, the mac and cheese was absurd after being topped with cheese and bacon. All around one of my favorites thus far! . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #brisket #beef #pork #pulledpork #macandcheese #cheese #macncheese #atxfoodguy #brenham #bbqsandwich #truth

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Jul 23, 2017 at 8:32am PDT

The Original Post

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This may be one of the hardest lists I've ever compiled and it may ruffle some feathers but here's what you've all been waiting for, ATXFoodGuys's Top 10 BBQ in Texas. —- Disclaimer: I truly think @franklinbbq is still setting the bar so it's becoming cliche to continue having it take up a spot on top 10 lists. So consider Franklin being in the zero spot. —- 1) @truth_bbq – Brenham 2) @cattleackbbq – Dallas 3) @tejaschocolate – Tomball (Houston) 4) @eviemaesbbq – Wolfforth (Lubbock) 5) @la_barbecue – Austin 6) @corkscrewbbq – Spring (Houston) 7) @valentinastexmexbbq – Austin 8) @hayscobbq – San Marcos 9) @killensbbq – Pearland (Houston) 10) @pinkertonsbbq – Houston —- Feel free to discuss in the comments but keep it civil, please. 🙂 . . . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #houston #austin #txbbqpassport #txbbq #bbq #lubbock #wolfforth #brenham #tomball #spring #milesandmilesoftexas #brisket #meat

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Sep 14, 2017 at 8:54am PDT