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Texas Monthly 2017 Top 50 BBQ Joints

444,461 Views | 2661 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by agfan2013
The Pilot
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AG
I don't know how Lockhart smokehouse in dallas is top 50. That place is terrible
Koldus131
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AG
Franklin tomorrow morning, getting there at 6:30 and hoping to get a good spot in line. We'll see. Very excited to finally get a Franklin Beef Rib!
wadd96
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Koldus131 said:

Franklin tomorrow morning, getting there at 6:30 and hoping to get a good spot in line. We'll see. Very excited to finally get a Franklin Beef Rib!
Franklin not really known for the beef rib... in fact, I can't say that I have ever seen a beef rib at Aaron's place. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage... yes. Beef rib? No. Menu

Head to Style's Switch after the Franklin Brisket to get your Beef Rib.
All the God's, all the Heavens, all the Hells are within you.
Koldus131
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AG
They do beef ribs on Saturdays only. That's why it's not on the regular menu. This is just my first time going there on a Saturday
agfan2013
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He sells out fast of those, but you should be able to get one if you're in line at 6:30. I got there closer to 7 a month or so ago on a Saturday and by the time they got down the line to us they said they were sold out, but when we went inside and got the meat, we could've gotten a beef rib as they were really conservative went taking orders down the line and still had quite a few left.
Koldus131
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AG
Yeah we're in between the 2 staircases, so not bad at all. I think the trick on a weekend is showing up right before daylight because right now we've been here for an hour and the line is 5 times as long and already wrapped around the sidewalk and out of sight
Aggie1946
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What spot did you end up getting and what time did you get there?
Koldus131
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AG
About 25th in line, got here at 6:25. By 7:30 you couldn't see the end of the line. Earlier this summer I got here at 7:30 on a Tuesday and was about 25th in line then too. You have a bit more buffer room on weekdays. I don't know if the people at the end of the line right now are going to get food and it's not even 8 yet. Just crazy.
Objective Aggie
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The Pilot said:

I don't know how Lockhart smokehouse in dallas is top 50. That place is terrible
I really like Lockhart.
byfLuger41
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Corkscrew is bumping today as well.
CDub06
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Objective Aggie said:

The Pilot said:

I don't know how Lockhart smokehouse in dallas is top 50. That place is terrible
I really like Lockhart.



Same. I'm had some really REALLY good BBQ there.

My biggest ??? On the Top 50 list is Smolik's in Mathis. It's become a running joke with my family in corpus.
wadd96
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My biggest WTF is Heavy's in Hondo. No where near top 50 IMHO.
All the God's, all the Heavens, all the Hells are within you.
CDub06
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I've visited Heavy's once and gave them a C+. Didn't know if it was a bad day, but didn't see anything redeeming about their BBQ that day.
wadd96
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I've eaten there a couple of times since we are in Hondo a bunch. I agree there's nothing redeeming about it.
All the God's, all the Heavens, all the Hells are within you.
CDub06
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Since we are talking about average BBQ, the new Goode Co in Shenandoah had its soft opening today. They're working a different concept, but I'm not expecting much different bbq. Grand opening August 1.
Objective Aggie
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CDub06 said:

Since we are talking about average BBQ, the new Goode Co in Shenandoah had its soft opening today. They're working a different concept, but I'm not expecting much different bbq. Grand opening August 1.


I like Goode Co. it is no where near the new elite. But 25 years ago it was considered good BBQ.

They have the best beans ever. I somehow got the recipe and it comes pretty close. Their chocolate pie and their pecan pie is amazing.

There was something soothing about the jalapeo cheesbread and brisket. Their sauce was perfect for them.

Now, if we were to put their brisket side by side with Franklins and LM and the like, it would be a travesty.


Perhaps I like it because back then it was the best place in the world to take a yankee. I mean, the place just oozes Texas with the cowhide chairs.

But today, they are outclassed. I am just sentimental.
The Milkman
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Here4Beer said:

The Milkman said:

Headed to Tejas for lunch tomorrow for the first time. Excited to try it.

Also, who here is doing the BBQ Passport? How many stickers do y'all have so far? Tejas will make 9

Burnt Ends, Moist brisket, and the Half Yard bird are the best I've personally ever had. Ribs and sausage are decent but nothing to write home about. Oh, and please for the love of god get their Carrot Souffl.


We tried the beef rib, pork ribs, jalapeo sausage, brisket, burnt ends, carrot souffle, cornbread pudding and potato salad.

The brisket and beef rib were big winners, but the rest were prettt disappointing honestly. Not sure how it was #6.
Panama Red
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Truth BBQ houston location will be at Washington & Heights Blvd
PFG
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My original intention was to try all 50.

Then I ate 2M in SA.

I may stop.
Aggie1946
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Because it was so good?
Koldus131
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I'm real nervous about Truth once that Houston location opens. It's so hard to maintain quality at 2 locations, especially 2 locations that far away from each other.
agfan2013
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Koldus131 said:

I'm real nervous about Truth once that Houston location opens. It's so hard to maintain quality at 2 locations, especially 2 locations that far away from each other.


I had the same thought. Anybody know which location the pitmaster will be at? The article I read said he was from Houston so my thought would be he will head up that one and leave the Brenham place to someone else.....
PFG
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Because it was incredibly good. Really, really spectacular.

Bonus: With such a short wait. They open at 11. We got there at 10:15 and were first in line.
Koldus131
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2M is incredible. The lines are going to start getting longer and longer I fear as word gets out. It's in my personal top 5, maybe even my #3 behind Cattleack and Franklin.
Aggie1946
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Can't wait to try 2M.
agcrock2005
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Unfortunately I'm a regular at UTSW in Dallas across from Sonny Bryans. Just saw sign that says "Open 24/7". They couldn't make average BBQ when they were open for lunch. I'm sure their brisket at 2AM is awesome!
CDub06
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PFG said:

Because it was incredibly good. Really, really spectacular.

Bonus: With such a short wait. They open at 11. We got there at 10:15 and were first in line.


That may have been a fluke. The line was longer than that when we went and that was before the top 50 list came out.
The Pilot
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No BBQ this weekend but I got a new BBQ travel buddy, a Bernese Mountain Dog named Brisket.

https://instagr.am/p/BXMKBYFFOFX
The Milkman
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Well I'm now following that dog on instagram
PFG
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Should have said this was on a Thursday. May have been part of the short line. Was 30ish deep by the time they opened the doors.
Koldus131
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Snuck away from work over to La Barbecue for a late lunch in their first day at the new location at the Quickie Pickie on East Caesar Chavez. They've still got some kinks to work out (I waited 35 min with only 20 people in front of me), but overall it's gonna be an improvement on an already incredible experience. There's now A/C, bathrooms, and lots of seating. I'm excited for their future, but not as excited as I was to get a short line!
wadd96
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Picked up a full tray of Stiles Switch for our team lunch. Brisket was spot on, ribs sightly under cooked, a little too much tug but great flavor. Got a little of each kind of sausage, not quite enough snap on the casing for my taste. Picked up some turkey for specific folks, didn't taste it.

Beans, creamy slaw and corn casserole for sides. All were good.
All the God's, all the Heavens, all the Hells are within you.
CDub06
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FINALLY got to try Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue in Cloudcroft, NM. I've been working in Alamogordo for short spells over the last 18 months but havent been able to make it up there during lunch on a Thursday or Friday.

I volunteered to go pick up lunch for the office today. The line wasn't very long, but it was hugely inefficient (they had to have been down 1-2 people) so the wait was over an hour. However the meat was spot on. Mad Jack used to have a truck in Lockhart and the bbq (for the most part) was of that tradition. The brisket was fantastic, the turkey was great, Kreuz links were on the menu, and unfortunately they were out of pork ribs. The pulled pork was a bit odd and had notes of apple in it. But very good stuff and I converted a couple of locals (and a transplant from Kansas City) to the Texas Barbecue gospel.

Now if only I could get them to put the sauce down.
Matsui
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At at The Granery in San Antonio on Tuesday night. Outstanding.
CDub06
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I really dig the Granary's style of "fancy BBQ" but I never expected them to be top 50. They're a totally unique spot on that list.
 
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