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Being one of the most fun cities to explore, you can’t go wrong with Houston. This vibrant city is full of energy and excitement, and there’s always something new to see and do. Houston has something for everyone, from world-class museums and restaurants to beautiful parks and lively nightlife. And with its convenient location and affordable hotels, it’s the perfect place to plan a getaway.
The climate in Houston is warm and humid throughout the year, making it a great place to visit any time of year. However, the best time to visit Houston is during the spring or fall when the weather is milder, and there are fewer crowds.
Houston is a foodie paradise. There’s something for everyone here, from Tex-Mex and barbecue to Vietnamese and Creole. And of course, we can’t forget about all the delicious seafood! So whether you’re looking for a simple casual meal or a fine dining experience, you’ll find it in Houston.
If you wish for a hearty BBQ, you don’t have to look far. There’s a wide variety of great options to select from, whether you’re looking for something traditional or something a little more unique. Here are our top 15 picks where you can get the best BBQ in Houston:
Address: 209 Jackson Street, Houston, TX 77002
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Brisket
Jackson Street BBQ is a welcomed newcomer to the local barbecue scene. The restaurant, which features only ribs and meaty sandwiches from its menu of options for entree choices, was created by two well-known chefs, Greg Gatlin and Bryan Caswell. Greg is responsible for Gaitlin’s successful steakhouses, while Bryan runs Reef & Little Big’s seafood house.
The dishes here will make your mouth water before you even get started—the drool-worthy fried mac n’ cheese adds an extra touch to the experience.Â
Address: 18020 FM 529, Cypress, TX 77433
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Brisket, Ribs
The food at Brooks’ Place is the best kind – meaty, delicious brisket and pulled pork that’ll bring you back for more. The menu of meat-centric dishes is not one you’ll want to miss out on. You can enjoy the crispiest, most flavorful brisket around without worrying about it being overly thin or trimmed too much. There’s also massive helpings of beef ribs (or chicken if preferred) served with a side order or two and mouthwatering catfish smoked right before your eyes.
But they’re not just about meats – They have a wide range of specialty desserts, including whole-pound cakes and pies. They also offer German Chocolate cream-filled cake and Italian Cream made from scratch every day with fresh ingredients.
Address: 3613 Broadway Street, Pearland, TX 77581
Cuisine: Barbecue, Sandwiches
Price Range: $$
Must try: Sausage, Mac n Cheese
Known for its large portions and succulent meats, Killen’s Barbecue is a local favorite. The dining room consistently packs in customers with their signature dishes, including beef ribs that are tender enough to eat bare-handed. Chef Ronnie Killen, the namesake of this barbecue joint and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in France, has become a local favorite. His understanding of flavor profiles makes it a much more exquisite experience.
The wait to get into this place is worth it. You’re going to love the potato salad and creamed corn. Also, they have free Lone Star beer for those waiting in line, making things go by faster.
Address: 1702 West Loop N, Houston, TX 77008
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Frito Pie, Brisket Tacos
The best Texas-style barbecue is at Demeris Bar-BQ. They have been a local favorite since 1964. They serve traditional Texas-style barbecue with tasty sides and an array to satisfy any appetite – from the mildest eater who loves fried food on their plate to those interested in more elegant options like salad or corn soup. Their most popular menu item is a sliced beef sandwich that will be sure to melt in your mouth.
They offer a welcoming dining room for those who want to dine in style and quick service and catering options. Furthermore, they are known to provide wedding receptions or other special parties with their delicious food.
Address: 3510 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77018
Cuisine: Barbecue, Southern
Price Range: $$
Must try: Smoked Corn
Gatlin’s Barbecue is a family-run local favorite with several locations in the area. It specializes primarily in ribs, and their must-try dish – if you’re into savory smoked meats–is three popular cuts. They are the St Louis spareribs (the largest), baby back/thick-cut pork Vegas Style Rib( another large beef rib), and mac & cheese. You can top it off with some tasty baked beans or pinto veggies. You can also get plates filled up high from their hearty side choices, including collard greens, potato salad, and green beans.
Gatlin knows how to party! They offer package deals for groups of 10-50 people, including all the meat and sauce you could ever hope for, plus kitchen tools.
Address: 11543 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77099
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Three Meat Plate, Baked Potatoes
Hickory Barn Barbecue is an unassuming restaurant cooking up some of Houston’s best barbecues for over 60 years. The menu features most of your favorite comfort foods like sandwiches and plated dinners, but don’t let their simplicity fool you; this place knows how to do justice in food. They use only fresh ingredients every day using a secret recipe passed down from generation to generation since1940 when it first opened its doors on Willcrest Drive–and no one has tried culinary magic better than them yet.
The beef brisket and pork ribs are some of the favorites, but you also can’t miss out on the fluffy baked potatoes. They’re loaded with typical trimmings and your choice meat- so if you want it all in one dish (and who doesn’t?), you must definitely must this joint.
Address: 5320 Hollister Street, Houston, TX 77040
Cuisine: Barbecue, American
Price Range: $$
Must try: Bacon Wrapped Peppers
Lyndon’s Pit Bar-B-Q is the one-stop shop for all your barbecue needs. It is one of the best BBQ places in Houston. They have been serving up some authentic Texas-style BBQ since 1997, and their menu offers many different options to choose from. Lyndon’s is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for some good old-fashioned Southern cuisine. The menu calls attention to a wide variety of dishes, including beans, coleslaw, fries, and many types of meat available in bulk, so that visitors can order just what they need without taking too much space on their plates.
Suppose you’re looking instead for just something simple; in that case, there are also chicken breast dinners and burger patties made fresh daily, which can go great paired perfectly alongside some fries crispness inside this iconic restaurant.
Address: 1504 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77009
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Banana Pudding
Pinkerton’s, a barbecue restaurant in the Heights area of Houston, specializes only in slow-cooked piggy goodness. The slow-roasted barbecue is created by cooks who only use wood and no other fuels, thus making it to our list of the best barbecue restaurants in Houston. The mesquite smoking process helps to create a more authentic flavor, as it breaks down over time into complex tones. The Central Texas brisket and beef short ribs come with an extra helping hand from their house-made rub, which will you leave satisfied all day long.
Stop in for a taste of Louisiana-style cuisine at this barbecue joint. You’ll find fresh boudin balls and jambalaya made to order, all cooked over an open fire just like you want it.
Address: 3929 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77021
Cuisine: Barbecue, Southern
Price Range: $$
Must try: Turkey, Cakes
What started as a food trailer in the 1980s, Ray’s BBQ Shack is now known for its East Texas-style barbecue. It’s one of the best BBQ joints in Houston, Texas, for authentic Texas Style BBQ. With their storefront on Old Spanish Trail and some of your favorite dishes like beef brisket tacos to chicken fried steak sandwiches, you’ll be able to enjoy great flavors year-round at this local restaurant.
Ray’s is one of those all-in-one places where you can find everything to satisfy your hunger. They’ve covered it whether you’re looking for ribs, brisket, or chicken fried steak with po’boy bread filling. Their sandwiches are also well known in this town and can feed just about any size group (or individual).
Address: 14620 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77040
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Cream Corn, Smoked Turkey
Rudy’s Barbecue is not your typical Texas-style BBQ joint. They specialize in brisket, serving turkey, pulled pork, and beef sausages. This is for those who prefer something other than the classic Texans’ favorite: barbecued meat on a hot plate. Their side options include baked potatoes wrapped in foil to stay fresh while you eat them (perfect when it comes time for seconds) or maybe some coleslaw that will make its way onto one of those soft buns commonly referred to by many around here as “loaves.”
The story of how a humble restaurant began as part- petrol station, grocery store, and auto repair shop in 1929 and grew into one of America’s best BBQ restaurants in Houston is an inspiration.
Address: 5775 Woodway Drive, Houston
Cuisine: Barbecue, Southern
Price Range: $$
Must try: PB & J Sandwich
This small but popular BBQ joint in Houston has quickly become an iconic force on the meat market. They serve delicious and affordable food smoked for more than sixteen hours straight over oak wood to make sure every bite is juicy.
Try the one-pound special if you’re in the mood for something different. This hefty offering comes with up to four meats, such as pork ribs or sausage, served on a sheet of butcher paper pulled straight from an old factory floor. You get aged cheddar cheese cut into cubes; handpicked vegetables like green beans (or any vegetable) that are cooked just enough so they remain crisp.
Address: 6715 Homestead Road, Houston, TX 77028
Cuisine: Barbecue, Smokehouse, Burgers
Price Range: $$
Must try: Boudin
The Triple Js Smokehouse BBQ only uses oak to create their signature flavor and provides it in bite-size pieces with an array of specialty sausages that will have any palate satisfied. From spicy links from Yoakum Packing or Boudoin, the food here is just how it is supposed to be: juicy AND flavorful without ever feeling heavy.
Even though it’s filling, the food at this restaurant will leave you wanting more. The flavor in each bite promises satisfaction with every spoonful. The ribs are juicy and cooked perfectly tender – there is nothing better than meat that falls off a bone when eating steak or seafood.
Address: 6504 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77057
Cuisine: Barbecue, Sandwiches
Price Range: $$
Must try: Smoked Wings
The delicious smoke from Stockyard Bar BQ harkens back to a simpler time when life was more about good food, family, and friends.
They have several delicious dishes, including their mouthwatering BBQ nachos. The menu includes all your favorite meats with various sides to satisfy any appetite. You can also get potatoes and yard poppers here. If you’re craving dessert after your meal, don’t miss out on the fruit cobbler or banana pudding- homemade delicacies made fresh every day. The venue is large with plenty of tables, so they will always find space no matter how many people are coming.
Address: 2223 S. Voss Road, Houston, TX 77057
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price Range: $$
Must try: Turkey Breast, Bourbon Banana Pudding
This barbecue restaurant is family-owned and operated by Pitmaster Russell Roegels, who has twenty years of experience in Houston’s BBQ scene. They serve a range of traditional meats and some custom-made recipes he created just for this establishment.
If you want a light and healthy lunch option, your best bet is probably the side dishes. For something less spicy, try their delicious pinto beans or coleslaw while enjoying one of our other favorite sandwiches, such as pastrami rueben which are available on Thursday mornings only.
Address: 8508 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036
Cuisine: Barbecue, Korean
Price Range: $$
Must try: Bulgogi Stew
Lucky Palace is the best Korean BBQ restaurant in Houston. It is a perfect spot for when you want to get your Asian fix without leaving home. This restaurant offers both grill-your own barbecue options and hot pot items, plus flavorful soups that are sure not to be boring or synthesized. You can also enjoy bibimbop – a local favorite. And don’t forget about their signature cucumber side salad called Muchim, which comes highly recommended here a try. Be sure to try their yummy seafood items too.
Houston is known for its fantastic BBQ scene. If you’re looking to try out the best of the best, then be sure to check out at least a few spots from our list of the 15 best BBQ spots in Houston. These joints have it all, from ribs and brisket to sausage and chicken.
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April 3, 2024 
