Houston has been home for more than a decade, and when I arrived, I realized how serious BBQ is here. I love everything about it. The technique, the beautiful days of fresh air mixed with the burning of post oak wood, the family aspect, and of course the taste! Plus, it's something left in our society that slows us down from the pace of life. Even when you're just showing up to a restaurant, BBQ is the kind of meal you make time for. And you don't eat it alone. There is calm in the calamity with BBQ. 

So I'm headed all over Houston to try the best spots with my BBQ expert friend Jeremy. I met him at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's BBQ Cook-off where we both judged brisket. Since then, we've become fast friends in slow paced environments. 

Below I'll list the places in case you're looking for recommendations and give some very unofficial scores as well. But I'll tell you, I haven't tried a bad place yet down here. Hope this helps you in your search!

 

Killen's BBQ (25618 Northwest Fwy #3B, Cypress, TX 77433) 

(Picture from the Houston Chronicle)

Killen's BBQ isn't just one location anymore, though I still need to visit the original in Pearland. I visited the Cypress location, and wow I don't know how they bring that much quality to multiple locations. Often in BBQ, it's one location where the expert does his or her thing. It has to be a huge venture to make it this good elsewhere. While the atmosphere wasn't like your typical hole in the wall, the location is very conveniently located off 290. In smoking meat, it can be hard to accomplish complete consistently. Every brisket for example is going to be a little different each time. Sizes of the brisket, the exact cooker temp, and even the temp/humidity outside can affect the cook. All that to say, we got a GOOD day and it was delicious. The sides were great, particularly the corn casserole!

• Brisket: 8 out of 10
• Sides: 8.5 out of 10 
• Atmosphere: 7 out of 10

 

Brisket & Rice (13111 FM 529, Houston, TX 77041)

(Picture from the Houston Chronicle)

Brisket & Rice is a place that has really burst on the scene in the last few years, and recently received a Michelin star. Not bad for a place connected to a gas station! It's probably the most unique BBQ menu I've ever seen, as they blend flavors and cultures!

While I usually get about the same thing every place (brisket and sausage/ribs with potato salad or mac and cheese) I could not pass up the "Brisket & Rice" plate, and wow I was not disappointed:

The fried rice was as good as any restaurant you'd get Asian food from, and the loaded potato salad didn't hurt my feelings one bit! The parking is hard, but the vibe is fun. Kind of feels like an old diner, though they are moving to a new location soon. 

• Brisket: 8.5 out of 10
• Sides: 8 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8.5 out of 10

 

Corkscrew BBQ (26608 Keith St, Spring, TX 77373)

My family went with me to Corkscrew, and this one is near and dear to my heart. I used to live very close to it and made some great memories there. It's a great vibe in Old Town Spring, and it's what introduced me to how great Texas BBQ is. The lines are long most days, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, and they will sell out of popular items on busy days. The brisket you can cut with a plastic fork. It's that tender. 

• Brisket: 9.5 out of 10
• Sides: 7 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 9.5 out of 10

 

Tejas Chocolate + BBQ (200 N Elm St, Tomball, TX 77375)

Scott, Austin and the staff are very friendly, and I've been coming here a long time as well. They have one of the fullest menu's I've seen at a BBQ restaurant and man is it all good.

First to the BBQ. As you can see, the brisket is done so well. Plus, with the full menu I mentioned, it's not just meats and sandwiches. They'll do things like this BBQ stuffed baked potato. And then there is my favorite thing on the whole menu: the pork belly.

There is so much flavor in just one little bite of this pork belly. On a plate like I got, or in a sandwich; either way you can't go wrong. It's rare for me to like something on the menu more than brisket, but this pork is just so good. They know what they're doing with BBQ, plus family recipe sides (definitely try the carrot soufflé as seen below). 

They also offer something no other BBQ place does: chocolate. Yes, you can get chocolate truffles for dessert! It's another great atmosphere in downtown Tomball. One where you'll forget life's worries and just enjoy some great food with some great friends. 

• Brisket: 9 out of 10
• Sides: 9.5 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 9.5 out of 10

Truth BBQ (110 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007)

One I've heard about for a long time and FINALLY got to is Truth BBQ. Originally in Brenham, they added this location to the Heights in recent years. I was a little nervous about parking and the line, but at 11 am on a Tuesday it wasn't bad at all. They have a big parking lot for being in that area, and only a few people were ahead of us. But you get a show while you wait! Yes you can see them trim the meat!

Plus something I'd never seen before: free samples! Usually you have to put the sweat in with the person smoking the meat to get a taste before dinner, but they graciously offered it for waiting in line.

As for the BBQ: WOW. They aren't messing around. The brisket was top notch, and the sides were some of the best I've had. This may have been the best potato salad I've ever had. It was good in and of itself. But right when they get it on your tray, they offer crumbled bacon and fresh dill. I also tried the tater tot casserole, which was excellent as well. Ribs were fall off the bone. This was as good of a BBQ experience as you will get anywhere. 

• Brisket: 9.3 out of 10
• Sides: 9.9 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8.5 out of 10

Fire Craft BBQ (2665 Royal Forest Dr Suite B10, Kingwood, TX 77339)

My boss invited me to a place in Kingwood that I actually hadn't even heard of. Fire Craft proved to be a worthy stop!

When I order, I know typically what I'm going to get if I haven't been there before. I know it's brisket, what any good Texas BBQ place is judged on; and I'll usually end up getting sausage or ribs. So when the person taking my order suggested their smoked salmon, I had to decline. It sounded great, and may try it in the future. But on this day, it had to be the traditional BBQ meal. So brisket and sausage it was, along with potato salad and something they suggested called "jalapeno corn spoonbread". The spoonbread rocked my world. More on that later. First the BBQ:

The brisket was solid! Not quiet as much pepper flavor as I like on the bark (the crusty part), but really tender and a good amount of rendered fat. The sausage didn't present as well, but the flavor was great!

As for the sides, the potato salad wasn't great. It tasted like something you'd get at a grocery store. After a while, I just didn't want to use the shrinking room in my stomach for it. But this spoonbread... wow. I would go here for this alone. I was shocked how it could be so crunch on the outside, yet so moist on the inside. The jalapeno flavor was phenomenal. 

• Brisket: 7.8 out of 10
• Sides: 8 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8 out of 10

Pinkerton's Barbecue (1504 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009)

Pinkerton's is one on just about everybody's list, with another location in San Antonio and a second location in Houston coming soon. 

It's the type of place where, even if you had never heard of it, you'd feel confident you were in the right place for good BBQ. The menu is written on butcher paper. If that ain't Texas Q, I don't know what is. 

If you look closely at the menu, you'll see an option for glaze on the ribs called "candy paint". If there's one thing you take away from this review of Pinkerton's: get the candy paint, I repeat, get the candy paint. Rarely, if ever, have I walked away thinking the ribs might be as good as the brisket. This was that time. Growing up closer to Kansas City than Houston, saucy ribs was an unexpected treat for me. In Texas, sauce is usually just an option for the consumer to put on afterwards. In Kansas City it's slathered on, and in my humble opinion, I think that's usually the better option. Now, Kansas City has NOTHING on Texas when it comes to beef. But glazed pork ribs are amazing, and Pinkerton's brings the best of both worlds: these ribs and that Texas brisket. 

The ribs, brisket, and sausage link were incredible. The sides (potato salad and jalapeno cheese rice) were solid. We got there right after it opened on a Thursday and only had to wait a few minutes, though there were some gathered before it opened. It really picked up by 11:30 am or noon, but by no means was the line wrapped around the building. I'm sure it's a different story on a Saturday, but even then this food makes a wait worth while. 

• Brisket: 9.2 out of 10
• Ribs: 9.9 out of 10
• Sides: 9 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8.8 out of 10

Gatlin's BBQ (3510 Ella Blvd Bldg C Ste A, Houston, TX 77018) 

(Picture from ABC7)

Gatlin's has been a BBQ staple in Houston for 15 years now. They started it in a tiny home, and eventually moved to the wonderful space they have now. It still has that BBQ feel you want for an atmosphere, but modern enough that you don't feel cramped. In all these stops, I'm usually with my BBQ buddy Jeremy. This has long been near the top of his list, and I can see why.

The brisket and potato salad were solid, but it was the other 2 items I got that made it for me.

The ribs were fall off the bone and a side that I hadn't seen on the BBQ scene yet was finally ready to order: okra! I'm not sure what it is, but most places I go to in Houston don't have okra. Growing up in Oklahoma, it was a staple. But I had it at Gatlin's and they did it right! One note: I did also try the sausage and it had a very unique flavor I've never had before. It was one of those times where you take multiple bites trying to figure out if you like it or not. If you go, try it and let me know what you think!

• Brisket: 8 out of 10
• Ribs: 9 out of 10
• Sides: 9 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8.5 out of 10

True Texas BBQ (20017 Bridgeland Creek Pkwy, Cypress, TX 77433)

(Picture from Lone Star Live)

Earlier this year, my friend says, "You're going to think I'm crazy, but I think one of my new favs is inside H-E-B". We at this point had visited many craft places, and continued to visit hole-in-the-wall places until he finally convinced me to try it. Boy, I'm glad he did. I can safely say this is the best chain restaurant BBQ I've ever had. 

Some how I went to a second place in a row that had okra, and WOW was it good. Potato salad and turkey were solid. And oh the brisket:

This wasn't at the VERY top, but it was up there. And beats others on my list. I can't believe it was this good. Plus, I tried something my buddy never had here; burnt ends:

Definitely give those a try if you're there. Overall, good food and a good atmosphere. It looks like a chain and not your typical old school look but it also was a chill vibe because it's overlooked. No one knows the goodness inside. Plus, you can get some shopping at H-E-B done afterwards! And let me tell you, at some of these places it can be close to $100 for both of us. We both ate for $45, as my buddy graciously bought my meal. 

• Brisket: 8.9 out of 10
• Sides: 9.4 out of 10
• Atmosphere: 8.8 out of 10