This year’s search for the top fifty barbecue joints in the state resulted in a list of contenders longer than we’ve ever seen before. Narrowing it down was painful, because those that remained—which we’ve collected here as honorable mentions—all belong in the conversation about Texas’s best barbecue. The good news is that readers have even more options for truly great smoked meats, sides, and desserts this summer. You’ll eat well at all of these spots, and you might even get to avoid extralong lines.
Arlington
Hurtado Barbecue
With five locations across the Metroplex (including one inside Arlington’s Globe Life Field), Hurtado serves Tex-Mex dishes—such as smoked brisket birria tacos and a chopped brisket tostada—that set it apart.
Smoke ’N Ash BBQ
The Tex-Ethiopian platter, which includes rib-tip tibs, smoked chicken doro wat, and house-made injera, is the best introduction to this joint.
Austin
Distant Relatives
Having a sauce for every smoked meat, like this joint does, seems excessive—until you try the mustard-seed butter on the brisket or the chile-vinegar butter on the smoked chicken quarters.
Micklethwait Barbecue
Pair the unique citrus-beet salad with some of the state’s best mac and cheese on a three-meat platter stacked with turkey breast, spareribs, and house-made sausage.
Rollin Smoke BBQ
Some of the creative dishes to come out of this kitchen have included specials like carne guisada boudin balls and dirty rice cakes with red beans and smoked chicken.
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Austin is home base for what has become the most impressive barbecue chain in Texas, which includes locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lockhart, and Waco.
Baytown
Space City B-B-Q
The whole menu is made with care, though the sweet and salty glaze on the perfectly smoked pork belly burnt ends will have you wanting to return.
Bellaire
Blood Bros. BBQ
There’s no barbecue joint in Texas that has more fun pushing boundaries. Take items such as the Pho-Strami sandwich, the thịt nướng pork belly banh mi, and the brisket chow fun.
Belton
Schoepf’s BBQ
This stalwart is serving its best brisket ever, along with a masterful, juicy half chicken cooked over direct heat.
Brownsville
Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que
Of course, barbacoa will always be the star here, but don’t miss the pork carnitas, an equally delicious specialty.
Buda
Louie’s Craft BBQ
You’ll have to wait until the weekend comes around for the pork ribs, which were our favorite menu item, but the peppery brisket and juicy turkey breast will satisfy any day.
Canyon Lake
Nik’s Not Normal
Living up to its name, this joint doesn’t serve drinks and doesn’t have a restroom. The barbecue menu is more traditional, and you’ll do well with the sweet-glazed pork ribs and the smoky brisket.
College Station
1775 Texas Pit BBQ
It’s hard to pick a favorite between the smoked meats here because they’re all impressive, so go with the five-meat sampler for just $38.
Dayton
Weaver’s BBQ
This food truck is serving incredible smoked sausages, tender pork ribs, and juicy brisket that doesn’t need any sauce (even though Weaver’s makes an array of great ones).
Del Valle
Henry’s Barbecue
Located near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, this little storefront offers consistently great smoked meats.
Eagle Pass
Choche’s BBQ & Bar
If you plan to visit this joint after 3 p.m., the barbecue might be gone, but there’s a full bar that serves drinks until late.
El Paso
Desert Oak Barbecue
This joint retains the crown for the best barbecue in El Paso. Crispy smoked and fried chicken wings are available in several flavors, and they pair well with the green-chile cheese rice or the creamed corn.
Hallelujah! BBQ
The signature 13 Habaneros sausage isn’t as spicy as it sounds, and it goes great with comforting sides such as green-chile mac and cheese and pinto beans with brisket chunks.
Fort Worth
Brix Barbecue
Smoked porchetta, juicy sausages, and decadent beef belly burnt ends are on the menu every day, but you should also indulge in specials like the tomahawk pork chop.
Smoke-A-Holics BBQ
Come in on the fourth Sunday of every month and get treated to a slab of smoked meat loaf, smoked pork chops, and spectacular oxtails.
Fredericksburg
Eaker Barbecue
Do not miss the Korean-influenced specialties, like gochujang pork ribs, Korean cucumber salad, and kimchi fried rice.
Gilmer
East TX Rust BBQ
The best new barbecue joint in East Texas serves juicy brisket, sweet and saucy pork ribs, and glorious house-made sausages at reasonable prices.
Gonzales
Baker Boys BBQ
We loved the flavorful pork ribs and sausage links, but we were especially wowed by the juicy smoked pork loin.
Grand Prairie
Zavala’s Barbecue
We recommend the Sloppy Juan taco, but also try the smoked brisket boudin, the peppery brisket, and some of the best potato salad in Texas.
Houston
Feges BBQ
Choosing between the sides here might be harder than parsing the meats. For the latter category, the smoked wings (get the curry lime sauce) go nicely with the house-made sausages. For the former, you can’t go wrong with hog-fat cornbread, spicy Korean greens, or the pimento mac and cheese.
Gatlin’s BBQ
The pork ribs and smoked wings are the stars here, but the sandwiches, such as the smoked turkey with herb mayo and melted Swiss cheese, are also incredible.
J-Bar-M Barbecue
Inventive sides such as creamy cauliflower au gratin and cool tomato salad pair well with juicy sausages, massive spareribs, and chicken halves cooked over direct heat.
Roegels Barbecue Co
Roegels has recently stepped up its smoked-meat game, and it now serves some of the best brisket in town, alongside kimchi pork boudin links, at its original location.
Hutto
BBQ Fiends
Add smoked sausage or brisket to a handmade flour tortilla and top the meat with some of the smoky salsa verde for one heck of a barbecue taco.
Jacksonville
JW’s Barbecue
JW’s has gotten better across the board, but nothing has improved quite like the smoked sausages, with a snap that can be heard in every bite.
Katy
Brett’s BBQ Shop
You can’t go wrong with a weekend beef rib or the peppery pork ribs here, but keep an eye out for the new “Summer of Sandwiches” menu.
Lockhart
Kreuz Market
When I recently posted a photo of my barbecue spread at Kreuz, some friends commented that it looked like it contained the best slice of brisket they’d ever seen from the legendary joint. And they were right.
Lubbock
Jiménez y Friends
There’s no dining room here, so go ahead and devour the brisket-and-egg taco and the barbacoa with addictive Big Red barbecue sauce in your car.
Marathon
Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue
After a hike in nearby Big Bend, a tray of peppery smoked turkey and jalapeño-cheddar sausage with green-chile mac and cheese and green beans hits the spot.
McKinney
Hutchins BBQ
The Texas Twinkie’s viral fame is warranted, but the superb pork ribs, monster beef ribs, and decadent brisket burnt ends here also deserve praise.
Mission
El Sancho Tex Mex BBQ
The brisket makes a great filling for any number of tacos, but get it on the chilaquiles verdes for a truly special dish.
North Richland Hills
Patriotic Pig Smokehouse
Using brisket trim for burgers is nothing new, but the Patriotic Pig mixes chopped jalapeños and cheese into the patty meat for something akin to a sausage smash burger.
Odessa
Brantley Creek Barbecue
Juicy and smoky sliced brisket is this joint’s strong suit, but the smoked chicken is a sleeper hit.
Pearland
Killen’s Barbecue
The creamed corn, collard greens, and brussels sprouts are an excellent trio of sides to eat alongside the candied pork belly burnt ends, sweet and peppery spareribs, and juicy turkey breast.
Pflugerville
Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue
The Pflugerville Philly—a roll stuffed with bell peppers, grilled onions, chopped brisket, and queso—might as well be the Austin suburb’s official sandwich.
Richmond
Harlem Road Texas BBQ
Chef Ara Malekian’s seasonings are at once complex and subtle, like on his crisp half chicken and savory pork ribs.
Royse City
Smoke Sessions Barbecue
The Plotter is a fried pork-loin sandwich (try the spicy version) that’s so good you’ll forget it’s not smoked. For barbecue purists, the thick slices of tender brisket and sweet and peppery pork ribs are consistently great.
Sisterdale
Black Board Bar B Q
If the pork-cracklin’ boudin is on the specials board, one ordering decision has already been made for you. It’s incredible, as are the half-pound burger and the mac and cheese topped with a cloud of grated Parmesan.
Slaton
Pitforks & Smokerings BBQ
We particularly enjoyed the smoked turkey and pork ribs, but any smoked meat stuffed into one of the house-made tortillas will do—just make sure to get a side of fried cabbage.
Temple
Pustka Family Barbeque
A simple menu of five meats and four sides ensures that you can’t order wrong here. The regular smoked sausage is a masterpiece, and the savory pork ribs are always perfect.
Tolar
Hill City Chop House
The brisket is always super tender, and the pork ribs come off the bone with just a tug. Get a bowl of borracho beans or Hatch green chile shells and cheese on the side.
Tomball
Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue
The chile relleno sausage helped make this place famous, but it’s also known for being the only barbecue joint in Texas that also makes its own chocolate. Get a truffle or two.
Tyler
Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue
The sweet-rubbed baby back ribs continue to rightfully earn praise, and the new house-made sausages will have juices running down your arm.
Wimberley
Kelly’s Hill Country BBQ
Try the juicy smoked turkey and the Fridays-and-Saturdays-only pork belly burnt ends slathered in sauce.
Winnie
Mout’s Barbeque
Go for the novel alligator sausage or the more traditional smoked chicken dipped into some sweet and tangy sauce.
An abbreviated version of this article appeared in the June 2025 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Next 50.” Subscribe today.
