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Texas Monthly 2017 Top 50 BBQ Joints

443,746 Views | 2661 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by agfan2013
cone
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AG
so why is this list authoritative again?

it's become manufactured clickbait
Quinn
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cone said:

so why is this list authoritative again?

it's become manufactured clickbait


I'm always surprised by responses like this. I would venture to guess that it's the most thoroughly researched list out there. Yes, people have their own tastes and there will be disagreements, but I certainly wouldn't consider it click bait.
CDub06
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AG
It's a MUCH better list than nonsense like Best of the Brazos. These guys put in Work. Well... "work"
Guitarsoup
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jja79 said:

Tejas Chocolate Factory is 6? BBQ must be dead. I work in Tomball and have given it a few tries. It's no better than Spring Creek. If you want to try it though you won't have to wait in line because there isn't one.


Agree completely.
Here4Beer
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AG
Guitarsoup said:

jja79 said:

Tejas Chocolate Factory is 6? BBQ must be dead. I work in Tomball and have given it a few tries. It's no better than Spring Creek. If you want to try it though you won't have to wait in line because there isn't one.


Agree completely.


Couldn't disagree with either of you more. Tejas is great, I've always left there impressed.
OregonAggie
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The only omission I'm surprised about are Buzzie's in Kerrville and Blacks. Those places are great.


Blacks not being on this list is absolutely laughable. Blacks beef rib and brisket are some of the best I've ever had.
agcrock2005
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Quinn said:

cone said:

so why is this list authoritative again?

it's become manufactured clickbait


I'm always surprised by responses like this. I would venture to guess that it's the most thoroughly researched list out there. Yes, people have their own tastes and there will be disagreements, but I certainly wouldn't consider it click bait.
Agreed...I disagree with many things on this list but it's been heavily researched for several years and certainly isn't "clickbait". If there is a legitimate list of bbq joints in Texas...this is it.
Boiling Denim
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cone said:

so why is this list authoritative again?

it's become manufactured clickbait
So which one of your favorites didn't make the list?
agcrock2005
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AG
CDub06 said:

Number one is: Black's not being on the list is a travesty. It should be top ten.
One prime example of a Cdub/Agcrock philosophical difference in bbq. Another is heim. I totally agree with you however that if there is a place to beat out Franklin, it had to be Snows.

Get your ass to Cattleack asap before the line is more stupid than it currently is. It's about to blow up! Some of the best brisket and ribs I've had. Sausage was decent.
CDub06
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AG
At least we agree on Pecan Lodge. It seems more appropriately rated now.

The truth is I've been dealing with a family situation in Corpus for the last couple of months. Not a ton of great BBQ on that stretch from Houston. Instead of the metroplex trips I've had planned, I've instead been patrolling south Texas.

I'll make sure I'm standing in (a lengthy) line at Cattlelack within the next 6 weeks though.
Wicked Good Ag
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I know this thread will continue to discuss brisket but what sides do you always get at some of these locations

One thing at Truth is our kids love the mac and Cheese and it is decent to me but their collared greens and corn pudding are great

What sides/ desserts are a go to item at some spots ?
Blanco Jimenez
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AG
CDub06 said:

At least we agree on Pecan Lodge. It seems more appropriately rated now.

The truth is I've been dealing with a family situation in Corpus for the last couple of months. Not a ton of great BBQ on that stretch from Houston. Instead of the metroplex trips I've had planned, I've instead been patrolling south Texas.

I'll make sure I'm standing in (a lengthy) line at Cattlelack within the next 6 weeks though.
The best BBQ in between Houston and CC is McMillian's in Fannin. It's a shame that it was left off the list.
TwoTimeAg
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My favorite side by far are the beans at Snow's...still amazed that they are still free after all these years.
agcrock2005
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AG
CDub06 said:

At least we agree on Pecan Lodge. It seems more appropriately rated now.

The truth is I've been dealing with a family situation in Corpus for the last couple of months. Not a ton of great BBQ on that stretch from Houston. Instead of the metroplex trips I've had planned, I've instead been patrolling south Texas.

I'll make sure I'm standing in (a lengthy) line at Cattlelack within the next 6 weeks though.
Sorry to hear about the "situation". Hope everything works out well. Yeah, I've been quite pissed about the bbq situation up here since I moved from Austin in 2013. I felt like I had to drive to damn near Oklahoma for Hutchin's or get above average food at Meat U Anywhere. Not many other options. Glad the Cattleack made it up here. It really reminds me of a snows/franklins. Glad they brought the post oak up here, although it is a mix with hickory. Looking forward to your review on it.
agcrock2005
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Wicked Good Ag said:

I know this thread will continue to discuss brisket but what sides do you always get at some of these locations
I don't know where you are but I've noticed there are a lot of interesting new sides that are popping up. I don't often do sides, but I have tried them at Micklethwait (Austin) and Cattleack (Dallas), for example, when I hear people talking about how awesome they are. Both serve amazing jalapeno cheese grits. Traditionally I haven't even liked grits but they are amazing at both. Lots of places coming up with differentiating mac & cheese recipes too (bacon, jalapeno, etc.). Didn't like them but Heim had "bacon burnt ends".
AggieOO
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Jalapeno cheese grits FTW!

And I normally skip sides at bbq joints.
CDub06
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AG
Sides have become a real draw at bbq joints. If you're still serving that Sysco potato salad with red specks, you're behind the times.

A couple of my current faves: roasted okra from The Pit Room & Carrot Souffl at Tejas.
Mustang1
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AG
Will Snows ever be open more than just Saturdays or is that tradition never changing? Just wondering how that came to be.
Husky Boy Jr.
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AG
A bit surprised that Opies in Spicewood dropped from the list.
MathNewman06
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AG
Anagrammatic Nudist
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Comparing Tejas to Spring Creek is comical.

Tejas is fantastic, and the lines have been killing me recently. Not sure why the hate.
jja79
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I've tried them 3 times and haven't been impressed. I work in Tomball and pass by there most days during lunch. I've never seen a line.

If you like them good for you. Not everyone likes the same things.
Anagrammatic Nudist
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Got no problem with someone not liking them, but comparing them to Spring Creek is just dumb.
Bryan98
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Stive said:

Said this on the old thread so I'll post it here as well:

WOW!!! The turn around at Bodacious has been insane!

5 years ago that place was essentially dead in the water, and everyone would have laughed at you if you'd of told them they would be on anyone's top 50 list in the near future. But with their new guy they've shot back up everyone's list!

Would you call it a turnaround if it's completely different owners and pitmasters? I mean, it's essentially a completely different restaurant at that point, imho.
Quinn
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Getting back on topic... how many have y'all hit? I've only been to 9, assuming I counted correctly. I think I would group them as such:

Top:
Franklin

Very good:
Killen's
Fargo's
Pecan Lodge
Micklethwait
La Barbecue
Heim

Good:
BBQ on the Brazos

Fine:
Lockhart Smokehouse

Not an exact order. Hard to differentiate the Very Good group, especially only having been to La & Micklehwait once.
'03ag
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Anagrammatic Nudist said:

Got no problem with someone not liking them, but comparing them to Spring Creek is just dumb.
Yeah but I like that comparison. It's like a nice little sign saying "don't give my opinion any weight whatsoever." It's convenient.
dragmagpuff
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Mustang1 said:

Will Snows ever be open more than just Saturdays or is that tradition never changing? Just wondering how that came to be.


Tootsie, the 82 year old postmaster still works 30 hours a week as a maintenance lady for the local school.
agcrock2005
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Quote:

how many have y'all hit?
I've been to 17. Zero in Houston area however. Might take a BBQ road trip with some buddies so I can hit up corkscrew and a couple others.
Bryan98
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AG
CDub06 said:

I have a lot of thoughts on the list.

Number one is: Black's not being on the list is a travesty. It should be top ten.

Snow's is the only joint that deserves taking the crown from Franklin. I think it's an it forced, but I'm not mad at it.

Killen's should be top ten. I would also place Heim & Hutchins in the top ten.

Other notable omissions from the list: Lamberts, Brooks, Kerlin, McMillans, Slow Bone, Jackson Street
I have a lot of thoughts on your thoughts.

Black's top ten? C'mon, man. It's not comparable to Top Ten places like Snow's, Franklin, Corkscrew, or should-be-top-10 Killen's. I'd be fine with it being on the list, but I've been three times and I've never been wowed. Killen's and Pecan Lodge are more deserving.

I agree with you that Snow's is the only place that can compare to Franklin. I'd have kept Franklin in the top spot, and in the event of a tie, give it to the place that's actually open for lunch and more than once a week, but they are both deserving.

And hold on, Jackson Street? In downtown Houston? That place is near the bottom of my list of "legit" BBQ places.

Other personal ramblings:

Louie Mueller still in the top five? Their brisket was not worth having the one time I went.

H-Town: Pappa Charlie's should be in over Gatlin's or Pinkerton's. Pleased for Roegel's.

Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas is a joke. Just read the review included in the list: It basically says the brisket isn't all that good. Not remotely top fifty, imho.

I need to get off my duff and finally check out The Pit Room.
Stive
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That's a good point. He's the son in law of the original bunch but he learned the craft from the Stanley's guys.


So maybe a pseudo turnaround.
Bryan98
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I've been to 12 of the new top 50, FWIW. I had been to all of the previous top four, and I'll just highlight again that based on just one trip to Louie Mueller and two to Pecan Lodge, I cannot believe LM stayed in the top part of the list and Pecan Lodge fell out.

Working my way around the new top ten is going to be a long job.
Anagrammatic Nudist
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'03ag said:

Anagrammatic Nudist said:

Got no problem with someone not liking them, but comparing them to Spring Creek is just dumb.
Yeah but I like that comparison. It's like a nice little sign saying "don't give my opinion any weight whatsoever." It's conveinient.
That's pretty much exactly what I thought as well.
JYDog90
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When I went to Black's this past December I was simply not impressed whatsoever. I was originally happy they weren't on the list because of my experience but after giving it some thought for a few hours, I'm sad for them.

They did help Texas bbq become what it is today.

None of the Elgin guys. No Salt Lick. We owe those guys a lot.
Seersucker Ag 2011
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I alluded to this earlier, but no Killen's in the top 10 is criminal.
AggieOO
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willie wonka said:

None of the Elgin guys. No Salt Lick. We owe those guys a lot.
Salt lick sucks. Seriously. I'd rather eat Rudy's.

I've never understood the love for that place.

I will now prepare to be verbally abused.
 
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