NColoradoAG said:

---

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

---

https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/best-barbecue-in-the-us


1. Prunedale Market

Salinas, California

---

No Texas places in the top 10, but you can go to Calhouns Texas BBQ in California or Sams Texas Sub Shop in Virginia to get your fix.

---

it's based on yelp reviews... enough said.

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

---

https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/best-barbecue-in-the-us

---

Oh yeah, Jersey Mikes is definitely the best bbq in the US

CDub06 said:

---

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

---

https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/best-barbecue-in-the-us

---

Oh yeah, Jersey Mikes is definitely the best bbq in the US

---

Wow, that list is laughable. Do they even believe the **** they're selling?

Just having moved back to Texas I'm trying to get acquainted with things... Next week I'm overnighting in Floresville and then have to drive to and stay in McAllen overnight. Any solid recs in either place or in between?

I know its a different approach from the typical BBQ joints this thread talks about, but Pappas Delta Blues is not bad.

We had a group of 8 people and ordered the large family size portion with 6 sides. There was more than enough food for everyone to sample everything, and everyone took some home as well.

Had a group gathering at Hard 8.

It's the same thing every time. Dry meat. Decent flavor. But this is at best a Rudy's though novices mistake it for true Texas BBQ. It had potential when it opened up but it is just nothing special.

Smoliks is pretty good and it's in Mathis, which could be on your way. Brisket was pretty good as far as smokiness and flavor last week. Look up TMBBQ list and try a place or two in the valley. I'm going to next time I'm there

The original smoliks is good. But the new one on the interstate is bloody awful.

Ended up going to Two Sawers BBQ in Floresville for lunch today. Got the two meat plate with brisket and pork ribs and sides. Beans were too tangy for me and the Cole slaw way too saucy/thick. I like the pork ribs but there were only two on the plate and it seemed like almost no meat. Brisket was pretty good. No idea how to post pics from phone.

Highlight: to go cup of sweet tea was 30-40oz and barely fit in my cup holder, but was appreciated on my drive to McAllen.

I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but if it were convenient I would probably go back.

My flight out tomorrow is at 1 so not sure if I'll have enough time to hit anywhere up.

CDub06 said:

---

The original smoliks is good. But the new one on the interstate is bloody awful.

---

Go to Butters

Man, definitely go to Butters. I was just responding to the Smoliks love. I didn't want this poor guy to end up at the new one.

So, we had Austin bbq this weekend...

Terry Black's

I'd been hearing that Terry Black's was better than ever. I honestly found it comparable to my last trip. Everything is solid & it's certainly a great place to Park (!), have a Short wait (!!), and enjoy some quality barbecue. But nothing was mindblowing. It remains a B+ for me. Ribs won.

La Barbecue

We were in line Saturday at about 9:45am. Probably about 10th in line. It's nice to wait in the A/C. Easily the best barbecue of the day, which was expected. This was my first trip to the new location, but they're maintaining their quality in the new space. Brisket & Ribs won - duh. Grade: A
BUT DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE IDIOTS THAT SHOW UP AT 11AM, GET IN THE HOUR LONG LINE AND SEND SOMEONE INSIDE TO SQUAT ON A TABLE UNTIL THEY ORDER. YOU ARE THE WORST OF US.

Kerlin Barbecue

Kerlin seems to have lost a step since my last visit. Everything was good, especially the ribs (and corn), but it didn't match my expectations from previous visits. Admittedly, it's been a couple of years since I've been. I think I'd drop them to a B+

LeRoy & Lewis

I've had LeRoy & Lewis at BBQ events. The beef cheek is amazing. But this was my first visit to their truck. They only do brisket on the weekends. Their focus is on the more unusual. They were out of beef cheek when we went, but I got some Brisket, Pork Shoulder, Hop Sausage, and Barbacoa/Avocado. The sausage was actually fairly ordinary, though hops were present. The barbacoa was good, but it was a mess with the presentation. The pork shoulder was dry. The brisket was very good - good smoke, nice crust with a bit of crisp, just a really good meat. It's harder to grade since they do such different stuff. Somewhere between B+ & A-. I'll need another trip.

Now unfortunately, we couldn't go to any others (Not My Decision! I was ready!). I really wanted to hit up Micklethwait. It's been a while since I've been - before they were a known commodity. Next time, I suppose...

Stiles has a All Star cast of BBQ Pitmasters. All these guys are working at Stiles Christopher McGhee (formerly of Freedmen's), Bill Dumas (late of Smoky Denmark) and Marco Oglesby (Texas Ranch BBQ), and Lance Kirkpatrick who was at the flagship before taking over the new restaurant. Kirkpatrick came from Louie Mueller. Now you add Braun Hughes from Franklin

Wow, when they said he was leaving I assumed it was like 99% of guys who are going out to start their own business. But he just moved across town, guess Stiles ponied up and Franklin didn't. Y'all Austin-ites who have had Stiles a few times in the past need to let us know if this move really improves their product next time y'all are in there. I mean, it definitely should for what I'm sure they are paying him.

schmendeler said:

---

Quote:

---

BUT DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE IDIOTS THAT SHOW UP AT 11AM, GET IN THE HOUR LONG LINE AND SEND SOMEONE INSIDE TO SQUAT ON A TABLE UNTIL THEY ORDER. YOU ARE THE WORST OF US.

---

as I've gotten older, my patience for this bull **** has decreased markedly. I'm at the point now where if this is happening, and there's no other tables for people with food and you're camping on a table for your friends in line, I'm just going to sit down at the table with you and start eating.

your "saved" table just became family style.

---

That's exactly what should be done.

BTHO table sitters!

agfan2013 said:

---

Wow, when they said he was leaving I assumed it was like 99% of guys who are going out to start their own business. But he just moved across town, guess Stiles ponied up and Franklin didn't. Y'all Austin-ites who have had Stiles a few times in the past need to let us know if this move really improves their product next time y'all are in there. I mean, it definitely should for what I'm sure they are paying him.

---

I'll likely check the place out in the next week. I wonder if he's going to end up at the location in Dripping when it opens up? I wasn't impressed with Stiles Switch in the past but that could definitely be a game changer.

Well that's what we did. They were informed that 8 guys were going to be sitting around them regardless of if they moved. They moved.

There was another squatter that came in about 10:45 and was still there, alone, when we left. It's a tiny dining area as it is... I can't stand how self-absorbed people are.

Unfortunately, Kerlin's rise in popularity has triggered a drop in quality/consistency. The other day I went and the service was so slow (training new employees) we just left and went to Terry Black's. We were like 10th in line when we showed up and waited 30 minutes without ordering. Plus they ran out of corn and ribs before 12:30. I still love them and will go back again. Just have to weather the growing pains of increased popularity, and will avoid Fridays from now on.

Glad Terry Black's was solid. Their ribs are amazing, but so rich I rarely get them because I can't eat those and brisket together in one meal. What would boost them to an A in my book is the fact that they pump out high quality bbq from 9am-9pm 7 days a week.

I need to try Leroy and Lewis soon. Heard great things about them.

Perfect description of Terry Blacks. I love it cause it is good and fast. It is in my top 5 for those reasons even though no meat is higher than a B+.

Headed to Stiles Switch today for lunch to see if there is any noticeable improvement in their bbq.

It's common courtesy, but since we know that doesn't exist with many people anymore, the restaurant should put a sign up stating that you can't reserve tables before ordering.

Decided to try Stiles Switch again after the big Braun Hughes acquisition. I'm not sure if it's like this every Friday, but the line was out the door. I honestly haven't been by Stiles Switch as often as other places just because the consistency was an issue. My first trip there the "moist" brisket was bone dry and way too thick and honestly just terrible. Second trip the brisket was better, but I couldn't get the ribs off the bone.

Today both ribs and brisket were better. Ribs were just okay, a little lacking in flavor other than being sweet. But they fell off the bone and held up to the bite pretty well overall.

The brisket was much much better. Flavor was very good, the thickness was about perfect, and I was able to cut it and eat with a fork. Not too salty or too peppery either. It changed my opinion of Stiles Switch and I'll probably add it back into the lunch bbq rotation with Kerlin, Terry Black's, and Brotherton's.


First trip about a 2 years ago for comparison:


Second trip last year:



Today's trip:

Wow. That looks amazing. I went there a few years ago and thought it was crap and didn't understand the hoopla. Looks legit now. I'll have to give it a try again.

https://instagr.am/p/BklVYSCHhde

this is what Feges had on special today.

I live right by them and can never really go because of their GD hours. That looks amazing.

Texas Monthly BBQ Fest tickets went on sale this morning. We're not going to be able to hang around for the Sunday event, but we are going to the Franklin and Friends dinner Saturday night.

Off topic, but this is where the knowledge is located. What are the three best BBQ joints in Memphis? No tourist traps please.

I went to the original Central BBQ (on Central Ave) and enjoyed it. I would skip the greens there though if you're normally into it. Ribs were top notch. Pulled pork was good too.

Favorite part of visiting there was Porcellino's. Looks like it closed just after we went for a location move though. Excellent breakfast.