Texas barbecue isn’t just a meal — it’s an institution with its own rules, its own pilgrimage sites, and its own multi-hour lines that people show up for before sunrise. Figuring out the best BBQ in Texas is genuinely contested territory, with new names breaking into the conversation every few years alongside the old guard. Here’s a current, region-by-region breakdown of where to find it.
What Makes Texas BBQ Different
Central Texas barbecue built its reputation on simplicity: brisket seasoned with little more than salt and pepper, smoked low and slow over post oak, with the meat doing all the talking. That approach spread statewide and then started splitting into regional styles and creative reinventions — Houston’s barbecue scene leans into smoked sausage and Gulf Coast influences, while a new wave of pitmasters across the state are blending Texas technique with everything from Egyptian spice traditions to Tex-Mex flavors. The result is a barbecue scene that’s arguably stronger and more varied right now than it’s ever been.
Texas Monthly’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints list, the most authoritative ranking in the state, is published roughly every four years and remains the benchmark most serious barbecue travelers plan trips around. The most recent edition shook up the rankings considerably — both Franklin Barbecue and Snow’s BBQ, longtime fixtures at the very top, dropped out of the top 10 for the first time, not because the food declined, but because the level of competition statewide has gotten significantly stronger.
Top BBQ Joints in Central Texas
Austin & Lockhart
Austin remains the most concentrated barbecue destination in the state, even with new contenders elsewhere stealing some of the spotlight.
- LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue: Currently ranked among the very top spots in the state, known for pushing past traditional brisket-and-ribs barbecue into more inventive smoked dishes.
- InterStellar BBQ: One of the newer Austin spots to earn a Michelin star, alongside LeRoy and Lewis, for consistently excellent technique.
- Franklin Barbecue: Still essential for serious barbecue travelers despite dropping out of the most recent top 10 — the line that forms before opening every day remains one of the most famous in American food culture.
- La Barbecue: A consistent presence on statewide top 50 lists, a reliable stop if Franklin’s line is too long.
Just outside Austin, Lockhart carries the unofficial title of Texas’s barbecue capital, with multiple historic smokehouses that have been operating for generations. Snow’s BBQ, technically located in nearby Lexington, is famous for its Saturday-only schedule — visitors who want to try it have to plan their entire trip around a single day of the week.
Top BBQ Joints in Houston
- Truth BBQ: One of the most consistently ranked Houston spots on statewide lists for years running, known for a refined take on traditional brisket and ribs.
- CorkScrew BBQ (Spring): A Houston-area favorite that’s earned recognition on both Texas Monthly’s list and the Michelin Guide’s recommended tier.
- Pinkerton’s Barbecue: A reliable, well-regarded stop for anyone exploring Houston’s broader barbecue scene beyond the two names above.
Houston’s barbecue identity also overlaps with the city’s Viet-Cajun food scene, so it’s worth pairing a barbecue stop with a crawfish dinner if you’re spending more than a day in the city.
Top BBQ Joints in Dallas-Fort Worth
- Goldee’s Barbecue (Fort Worth): One of the breakout success stories of the past several years, regularly ranked among the top handful of barbecue joints in the entire state.
- Dayne’s Craft Barbecue (Aledo): A newer name that’s quickly climbed into the statewide top 10, a sign of just how competitive the Fort Worth barbecue scene has become.
- Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth): A longtime top 50 fixture, slightly more accessible than Goldee’s in terms of wait times.
- Cattleack Barbecue (Dallas): Known for shorter lines than some of the bigger-name spots while still delivering top-tier quality.
How to Plan a Texas BBQ Road Trip
Given how spread out the state’s best barbecue is, a dedicated road trip is the most realistic way to hit multiple top-tier spots without flying between cities.
- Central Texas loop: Start in Lockhart for historic barbecue, continue to nearby Lexington for Snow’s (Saturdays only), then finish in Austin for LeRoy and Lewis, InterStellar, and Franklin.
- Extend to Seguin: Burnt Bean Co., currently the highest-ranked barbecue joint in the state, sits about 40 minutes from Lockhart and is worth building into the same trip.
- Houston add-on: If you have extra days, Houston’s Truth BBQ and CorkScrew BBQ are both worth the detour, especially paired with the city’s broader food scene.
- Fort Worth as a separate trip: Goldee’s, Panther City, and Cattleack are close enough together to make a strong standalone Dallas-Fort Worth barbecue day.
A few practical tips: arrive early, since the most popular spots regularly sell out by early afternoon; bring cash, since some smaller smokehouses still don’t take cards; and check each restaurant’s specific open days, since several of the best spots (Snow’s especially) only operate a few days a week.
FAQs About Texas BBQ
What is currently the best BBQ in Texas? Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin currently holds the top spot on Texas Monthly’s most recent statewide ranking, with LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin and Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth rounding out the top three.
Is Franklin Barbecue still worth visiting? Yes — even though it dropped out of the top 10 on the most recent statewide ranking, that shift reflects how much the overall competition has grown rather than any decline in quality. It remains one of the most iconic barbecue stops in the country.
What’s the best city for a Texas BBQ road trip? Austin and the surrounding Lockhart/Lexington area offer the highest concentration of nationally recognized barbecue within a short driving distance of each other.
How often is the Texas Monthly BBQ ranking updated? The full Top 50 list is published roughly every four years, with the most recent edition released in 2025 and the next expected around 2029.
Final Thoughts
Texas barbecue rewards travelers who plan ahead — checking open days, arriving early, and accepting that the best brisket in the state usually comes with a wait. Whether you’re chasing the current #1 spot in Seguin or sticking to old reliables like Franklin and Snow’s, the sheer depth of quality across the state right now means it’s genuinely hard to have a bad barbecue trip in Texas.