Slicer97 said:
Never seen that at Snow's. Then again, I've never had to wait more than 30 minutes. Their new ranking may have changed things.
Same here.
Texas Monthly 2017 Top 50 BBQ Joints
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Last: 3 yr ago by agfan2013
Same here.
It's so hard to rank bbq. There's not much of a difference on brisket, except the difference between great and good. I went to snows for the first time about 1.5 months ago..,it was damned good. We went to Truth yesterday and I think that might be better.
I try to rank them anyway. It's a struggle. 
I've eaten at Snow's over a dozen times and have always shown up between 7:30 & 8:00 and been eating by 8:20 or so. This buzz has the lines at unprecedented levels, so I don't think anyone can project wait times right now. It's nuts.
I've eaten at Snow's over a dozen times and have always shown up between 7:30 & 8:00 and been eating by 8:20 or so. This buzz has the lines at unprecedented levels, so I don't think anyone can project wait times right now. It's nuts.
CorkScrew BBQ Lines on Saturday:
I'm driving in on Saturday and read they hand out numbers so you can come back and not stand in line. Any idea when they start handing out numbers? Thanks Ags!
I'm driving in on Saturday and read they hand out numbers so you can come back and not stand in line. Any idea when they start handing out numbers? Thanks Ags!
That's what crazy about these places. Not much for eating BBQ for breakfast.CDub06 said:
I try to rank them anyway. It's a struggle.
I've eaten at Snow's over a dozen times and have always shown up between 7:30 & 8:00 and been eating by 8:20 or so. This buzz has the lines at unprecedented levels, so I don't think anyone can project wait times right now. It's nuts.
Take a small cooler filled with hot water. Buy the brisket unsliced. Take the foil-wrapped meat and wrap that in an old towel or blanket and stick it in the cooler (pour the hot water out first, if that wasn't obvious).
Meat will still be piping hot come lunch time.
Meat will still be piping hot come lunch time.
I don't see the reason in preheating the cooler. This is how I rest all my meat when it comes off the smoker, and it is normally still piping hot to the touch 3 hours later, and I never preheat the cooler.Slicer97 said:
Take a small cooler filled with hot water. Buy the brisket unsliced. Take the foil-wrapped meat and wrap that in an old towel or blanket and stick it in the cooler (pour the hot water out first, if that wasn't obvious).
Meat will still be piping hot come lunch time.
on a table, outside, they have a binder with numbered pages. As you arrive, you just grab a page (only like 20 or 25 pages + binder). i think the "rule" is that you can't leave the parking lot. around 10:50-55am people start lining up, numerically.
i've never gone on a Saturday, but this seems to run pretty smoothly.
Beef Ribs and Chicken are specials on Saturdays, so get those, at least.
i've never gone on a Saturday, but this seems to run pretty smoothly.
Beef Ribs and Chicken are specials on Saturdays, so get those, at least.
It's not going to hurt anything to preheat the cooler. I would assume the meat you are buying at the counter is not 190+ like it would be coming right off the pit into a cooler.AG 07 said:I don't see the reason in preheating the cooler. This is how I rest all my meat when it comes off the smoker, and it is normally still piping hot to the touch 3 hours later, and I never preheat the cooler.Slicer97 said:
Take a small cooler filled with hot water. Buy the brisket unsliced. Take the foil-wrapped meat and wrap that in an old towel or blanket and stick it in the cooler (pour the hot water out first, if that wasn't obvious).
Meat will still be piping hot come lunch time.
NColoradoAG said:It's not going to hurt anything to preheat the cooler. I would assume the meat you are buying at the counter is not 190+ like it would be coming right off the pit into a cooler.AG 07 said:I don't see the reason in preheating the cooler. This is how I rest all my meat when it comes off the smoker, and it is normally still piping hot to the touch 3 hours later, and I never preheat the cooler.Slicer97 said:
Take a small cooler filled with hot water. Buy the brisket unsliced. Take the foil-wrapped meat and wrap that in an old towel or blanket and stick it in the cooler (pour the hot water out first, if that wasn't obvious).
Meat will still be piping hot come lunch time.
Basically this. While the brisket at the counter is plenty hot, it's been resting in their cooler for awhile. I don't know how much it helps, but like you said, it certainly doesn't hurt.
There aren't many places like Snows that start slinging at 8AM.BQ75 said:That's what crazy about these places. Not much for eating BBQ for breakfast.CDub06 said:
I try to rank them anyway. It's a struggle.
I've eaten at Snow's over a dozen times and have always shown up between 7:30 & 8:00 and been eating by 8:20 or so. This buzz has the lines at unprecedented levels, so I don't think anyone can project wait times right now. It's nuts.
But Barbecue? Good
Breakfast? Good
What's not to like.
I gave Tejas in Tomball a 4th chance today. Got there at 12:20 and there were 6 people in the place. Sausage is so greasy I didn't eat it. Brisket is ok, but nothing more. Sides are ok. I was hoping my 3 previous, disappointing trips were one offs, but I don't think so after today.
You and I are going to disagree about that place. But it does appear that you gave them plenty of chances.
Different people like different things and that's just how it is. I gave it 4 shots over about a 60 - 90 day period which I think is fair.
6 people says all i need to know bout tejas
In reply to smulawag
on a table, outside, they have a binder with numbered pages. As you arrive, you just grab a page (only like 20 or 25 pages + binder). i think the "rule" is that you can't leave the parking lot. around 10:50-55am people start lining up, numerically.
i've never gone on a Saturday, but this seems to run pretty smoothly.
Beef Ribs and Chicken are specials on Saturdays, so get those, at least.
THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE!
on a table, outside, they have a binder with numbered pages. As you arrive, you just grab a page (only like 20 or 25 pages + binder). i think the "rule" is that you can't leave the parking lot. around 10:50-55am people start lining up, numerically.
i've never gone on a Saturday, but this seems to run pretty smoothly.
Beef Ribs and Chicken are specials on Saturdays, so get those, at least.
THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE!
Went to Top 5 in Desoto and Bodacious in Longview (the correct one on Mobberly).
Nothing special at all about Top 5. Really not sure how they ended up on the list but maybe it was a bad day.
Bodacious was good...for East Texas. Not even close to Stanley's or Riverport in Jefferson though. I'll give them another try as well but I was a bit disappointed. The ribs were damn good though.
Nothing special at all about Top 5. Really not sure how they ended up on the list but maybe it was a bad day.
Bodacious was good...for East Texas. Not even close to Stanley's or Riverport in Jefferson though. I'll give them another try as well but I was a bit disappointed. The ribs were damn good though.
5th times the charm?
Heading to a dinner tonight near Temple, but a combination of a small and early lunch made me seize the opportunity to hit up Louie Mueller's again. Just got 1/4 of a pound of brisket and the peach cobbler as I don't plan to offend my dinner hosts tonight. Was a little concerned heading in this late in the day but the brisket was still excellent, they were sold out of everything except for it and pulled pork they said.
I had Snow's shipped out to California for some client meetings last week. I was worried it wouldn't be quite the same but it turned out almost perfect. This one was dinner at my friends' house one night as I relaxed from all the headache that is business travel. The sausage is from Luling.
Hit up La Barbecue today for the 3rd time and it was as good as ever. Coincidentally, I've been there once under each pitmaster they've had.
I gotta say I'm still pretty surprised it didn't make the Texas Monthly Top 10. I've been to 7/10 of the Top 10 joints (still need to get to Cattleack, Bodacious, and Evie Mae's), and La Barbecue definitely beats out at least 3 of the 7 I've been to. Obviously this is all a matter of opinion but La Barbecue has always been consistent and high quality when I've been there. Maybe the transition from Esaul Ramos to the new guys was bumpy and that effected their scoring, but it's as good as ever now.
I gotta say I'm still pretty surprised it didn't make the Texas Monthly Top 10. I've been to 7/10 of the Top 10 joints (still need to get to Cattleack, Bodacious, and Evie Mae's), and La Barbecue definitely beats out at least 3 of the 7 I've been to. Obviously this is all a matter of opinion but La Barbecue has always been consistent and high quality when I've been there. Maybe the transition from Esaul Ramos to the new guys was bumpy and that effected their scoring, but it's as good as ever now.
Had Cooper's in Llano last night. Got the burnt end brisket. Best brisket I have ever had. Beats Franklin's (still very good) and all the Lockhart/Luling places by a wide margin. Ribs, sausage, turkey were good but not close to the stellar brisket.
Heated up for lunch today, still the best.
Heated up for lunch today, still the best.
kag00 said:
Had Cooper's in Llano last night. Got the burnt end brisket. Best brisket I have ever had. Beats Franklin's
Coopers brisket >Franklins is laughable.
The problem with Coopers is consistency, but when it is good it is really good.
I actually really like Louis Mueller and Lockhart. I guess I am the only one. 
Smittys used to be really good but not the same. Kind of a sentimental favorite for me.
The Bryan Kreuz Market is not a bad gig while in BcS. I liked it better than Fargos.
Salt Lick is awesome BBQ is you are from New Jersey on an Austin business trip. Otherwise, you can do so much better.
Pecan Lodge is very good but not great for me.
Franklins is the real deal. Obviously.
Meat U Anywhere has been good but nothing more for me.
Smittys used to be really good but not the same. Kind of a sentimental favorite for me.
The Bryan Kreuz Market is not a bad gig while in BcS. I liked it better than Fargos.
Salt Lick is awesome BBQ is you are from New Jersey on an Austin business trip. Otherwise, you can do so much better.
Pecan Lodge is very good but not great for me.
Franklins is the real deal. Obviously.
Meat U Anywhere has been good but nothing more for me.
agcrock2005 said:kag00 said:
Had Cooper's in Llano last night. Got the burnt end brisket. Best brisket I have ever had. Beats Franklin's
Coopers brisket >Franklins is laughable.
As variable as brisket is, with a small sample size anything is possible. A place like Coopers or Lockhart, they are highly inconsistent. That's why Franklin's is so top notch, it's never off. But another place can be on and approach Franklin's but likely not on two consecutive trips.
Objective Aggie said:agcrock2005 said:kag00 said:
Had Cooper's in Llano last night. Got the burnt end brisket. Best brisket I have ever had. Beats Franklin's
Coopers brisket >Franklins is laughable.
As variable as brisket is, with a small sample size anything is possible. A place like Coopers or Lockhart, they are highly inconsistent. That's why Franklin's is so top notch, it's never off. But another place can be on and approach Franklin's but likely not on two consecutive trips.
Completely agree, consistency is key. A great BBQ place is always great and there are very few of those. A very good one is typically great but has off days. Most places discussed are in the latter category.
You also have to consider the cut of meat. I have eaten Franklin's a few times but never was able to get a lean burnt end.
http://www.southernliving.com/souths-best/bbq#southern-soul-barbecue-st-simons-island-georgia
Lol at this top 10 in the south list. I've been to southern soul a few times and it's crazy overrated and not near as good as any top 20-30 place in Texas
Edit: also has salt lick in top 10 in the south, while I like sat lick more than most on here, has no business in top 10.
I like the comments about consistency, I still think the one time i went to Black's in lockhart it is tied for the best brisket I've ever had. Judging by a lot of people that go more often, that usually isnt the norm and they arent as highly valued. Thats what sets Franklin's apart is that he does it day in and day out, no offense to Snows as they crank out excellent BBQ too, but they only do it once per week, Franklin does it 6 days. Im sure TM just wanted clicks and people to talk about their list but its hard for me to agree with Snow's over Franklin's on how much they each put out.
To my point earlier, do people here like the Bryan Kreuz Market?
I do. Have been probably 10+ times now, had a couple times where the brisket or ribs were sub par but for the most part they're decent. Can't compare to the original location as I've never been. I'd put them at #2 in B/CS behind fargos.
I agree with this. The brisket I've had at Coopers hasn't been great, but flavor was good and if I looked like Daniel Vaughn it probably would have been great. I have had an incredible pork chop there however, but that too is inconsistent.BQ78 said:
The problem with Coopers is consistency, but when it is good it is really good.
Franklin gets it right for every customer though, or he'll throw the stuff away.
Aggie09Derek said:
http://www.southernliving.com/souths-best/bbq#southern-soul-barbecue-st-simons-island-georgia
Lol at this top 10 in the south list. I've been to southern soul a few times and it's crazy overrated and not near as good as any top 20-30 place in Texas
Edit: also has salt lick in top 10 in the south, while I like sat lick more than most on here, has no business in top 10.
Southern Soul is amazing and anyone saying otherwise is just being a State of Texas homer. Salt lick shouldn't be on the list that I agree
I'm in SSI right now, I must catch them on off days I guess when I'm here. SSI on the other hand is crazy underrated.
Places in the top 50 in Texas have blown it away to me.
Places in the top 50 in Texas have blown it away to me.
I don't know if you're ****ed up or I'm ****ed up but I have no clue what you're saying right now...Aggie09Derek said:
I'm in SSI right now, I must catch them on off days I guess when I'm here. SSI on the other hand is crazy underrated.
Places in the top 50 in Texas have blown it away to me.
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