of all the profound contributions to mankind emanating from the great state of texas, BRISKET is the most singularly transcendant. god have mercy on the poor vegetarians.
Another reason why Dallas sux... DALLAS Baker’s Ribs Chain alert: Baker’s has eight other locations, including one in (gasp!) Minneapolis. I will say that I love Joe's in Alvin, but top 50 in the state, that's debatable...I make a mean brisket and my dad makes some badazz pork ribs...
You liked Meyer's better? Really? I thought Southside was by far the better place. Meyer's was about as good as Pok-E-Joe's to me...very low on the list.
The brisket at Southside was half-fat both times I've been. The paper was soaked in grease; everything (chicken, ribs, sausage, brisket) was super-greasy. I like Poke-e-Joe's, btw, especially the turkey and sausage. Who wouldn't like baked potato casserole?
There is a huge Austin bias to this list. How can 5 of the top 5, and 16 of the top 50 be around Austin. Also, its humorous that College Station is a black hole of BBQ.
its not biased, these joints are not in austin. Kreuz Market started in 1900. that's before Yao Ming or Hakeem.
They are not in Austin, but near enough that the Texas Monthly writers can go check them out. Look at their google map and put a 50 mile radius ring around Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. The area around Austin seems over represented.
I have lived in Deer Park all my life and drive by this place every day, twice, but for some reason I have never eaten there. I guess I always thought it looked like a seedy trucker joint. I'll have to check it out. The best I have had was a place called Zack's BBQ, but it isn't an eat-in place. They only do catering now. But at my work there are enough lunch-time events that I get to have his BBQ every month or so. Freaking awesome, and they give you dessert which is always homemade apple cobbler with a scoop of Bluebell Vanilla. Holy crap it's making me hungry just thinking about it. I drive by that place in Kountze a few times a year on the way to my grandparents. I'll have to check them out.
For better or worse, Central Texas barbecue defines Texas barbecue. As you move east, barbecue gets more Deep South/Cajun influence, and south or west, gets more Mexican influence. This isn't necessarily a list of best barbecue, but more the best examples of Texas barbecue.
That's because those places have been around forever. not because they are biased. Kreuz Market started in 1900. I went to a place in Taylor, they had World War II newspaper posted.
Is that the place over in Snyder (sp?) Plaza? That place has a mean chicken fried steak and pretty good ribs
Lockhart Smitty's - Open till 3 PM on Sundays Kreuz's - CLOSED Sundays Luling City Market - Open till 7 PM on Sundays
fwiw, I went to Smokey Joe’s Bar-B-Que and Grill in Harlingen, they proudly had the "top 50 bbq" sign on their door, and their food was bleh. BLEH. I call shennanigans on this list.
