The pitmasters at these Houston BBQ spots are nothing short of revered. (Richard H Grant/Shutterstock)
There’s certainly no shortage of Houston BBQ spots to enjoy all around the city and suburbs. Follow our guide to find the best of the best.
Texas is known for a variety of food styles, and BBQ is at the top of many people’s lists of Lone Star State cuisine. Houston BBQ, in particular, has quite a few stellar options. No matter where you are in the Space City, you’re not too far from some fantastic smoked meats, accompanied by hearty sides and classic desserts (assuming you don’t overdo it on the meats, a common BBQ challenge).
Because we know BBQ can be a very divisive subject, we’re not ranking these among themselves. We’re just going in alphabetical order. Let’s dig in—there’s plenty of food for everyone!
Big Horn BBQ & Burgers
Locations in Manvel, Pearland, and Santa Fe
Brothers Britt and Darren Dixon launched Big Horn BBQ as a warm and welcoming place to savor high-quality meals. But if you’re in a hurry, that’s fine, too; just hop into the BBQ drive-thru. The restaurant’s pork ribs are some of the finest in Houston BBQ. They’re thick, meaty, and fall-off-the-bone tender—a trifecta of barbeque goodness. And, as the name might suggest, Big Horn’s burgers are delectable—the Mushroom Swiss is a standout.
Blood Bros BBQ
5425 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire
Blood Bros BBQ started in 2013 as pitmaster Quy Hoang and brothers Terry and Robin Wong served their fare at pop-up events and barbecue festivals around town. Blood Bros BBQ ended up opening a proper brick-and-mortar location in 2018. Hoang is the first Vietnamese-American pitmaster in the city’s craft barbecue scene. The brisket fried rice is a unique option among Houston BBQ, and the Happy “Nhau”-ers are a must-try. On those nights, the restaurant experiments with dishes that wouldn’t typically fit on their menu, so you can really savor some wacky creations. If you somehow can still stand upright after indulging, cap off the day with a few songs at Glitter Karaoke, which the Wongs own.
CorkScrew BBQ
26608 Keith St., Spring
CorkScrew BBQ is one of just six Houston restaurants—and the only BBQ joint—to earn a Michelin Star. CorkScrew has been serving folks stellar-quality plates in Spring, Houston, and just about every other suburb since opening a decade ago. The brisket and beef ribs are the top options, though every meat choice is a good one. Our best advice is to arrive quite a bit ahead of when the doors officially open at 11 a.m. After all, you don’t want to worry about missing out on any meat-cute opportunities.
Feges BBQ
8217 Long Point Road, Houston
3 E. Greenway Plaza, Ste. C210, Houston
If you hear someone mention the “Whole Hog Guy,” they’re talking about Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ. Feges and his wife, Erin Smith—who has an impressive culinary background and won an episode of “Chopped” in 2016—opened up the Feges BBQ brick-and-mortar in 2018. The brisket and sausage are both finger-licking good, and these are some of the most creative sides in town. Save some space for the Korean braised greens, hog fat cornbread, and rum raisin bread pudding. Feges, a Purple Heart recipient, supports veterans with regular specials, and kids under 12 eat free every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Gatlin’s BBQ
3510 Ella Blvd., Houston
Family-owned-and-operated since 2010, Gatlin’s BBQ is no longer the hidden gem it was when it first launched. The restaurant got so popular that it had to move to its current, more spacious Oak Forest location in 2015, but thankfully, the heart behind the meat hasn’t changed one bit. In fact, it’s only gotten better—Greg Gatlin was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2023. Our favorite sandwich is the Kitchen Sink, which lets you sample sliced brisket, spicy sausage, dirty rice, cheddar cheese, and sautéed onions and jalapeños.
Killen’s BBQ
3613 Broadway St., Pearland
25618 NW Freeway, Ste. 3B, Cypress
When I was eight years old, I was firing red shells and lightning bolts at my fellow drivers in “Mario Kart 64.” When Ronnie Killen, founder of Killen’s BBQ, was eight years old, he was beginning his cooking journey. That led to him opening multiple restaurants around the Houston area, starting with Killen’s Kountry BBQ when he was only 23. You’ll find all the BBQ staples here, plus fun additions like pork belly burnt ends and crème brulée cheesecake. Just be sure to park yourself in line before 11 a.m. to enjoy all the meaty goodness.
KEEP READING: New BBQ coming to Houston, but old shops still smokin’
The Pit Room
1201 Richmond Ave., Houston
10301 Katy Freeway, Houston
Montrose and Memorial City have some of the best brisket in the Houston BBQ game. The Pit Room doesn’t let anything go to waste, either—the restaurant also uses brisket trimmings to make their tortillas. Every breakfast taco is a strong choice (if we had to choose, go with the pulled pork hash and egg), and try the black pepper garlic venison if you’re looking for an enhanced sausage link.
Pinkerton’s Barbecue
1504 Airline Drive, Houston
When you step into Pinkerton’s Barbecue, you’ll immediately notice two things: the cabin-esque decor with an abundance of wood paneling and mounted deer heads, and the smell of fantastic BBQ. Follow your nose to order and savor tender, smoky BBQ options (the beef ribs are exceptionally delightful) with heavy helpings of sauce. There’s also a Pinkerton’s Barbecue in San Antonio—coincidentally located on Houston Street. That’s a full-circle BBQ moment if we’ve ever seen one.
Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q
2111 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring
Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q is a fairly standard food truck by design, but childhood friends Ben Maxwell and Jordan Rosemeyer know how to smoke some fantastic meat. The brisket is a Houston BBQ standout, though with daily specials, you might find something else that catches your eye as you wait in line. Speaking of, Rosemeyer hands out free beer to those braving the Texas heat. That hot and sticky weather is worth it to have a top-notch BBQ experience.
Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue
200 N. Elm St., Tomball
It’s not too often you come across a BBQ and chocolate combo, but Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue delivers the goods in more ways than one. Nibble on some chocolate (or, perhaps even better, order some to take home), but we’re here for the meats. The Tejas Chocolate Craftory focuses on a simple “black and white” brisket rub of equal parts salt and pepper, letting the meat do the talking for them. Meanwhile, if you try to talk while eating the meat—whether on its own or in a sandwich like the Brisket & Blues—you’ll likely only be able to utter “mmm, mmm, mmm.”
Tin Roof BBQ
18918 Town Center Blvd., Humble
Tin Roof BBQ is a lovely family story; Ronnie and Nancy Webber opened up shop in June 2001 after over three decades in the Houston Police Department. Today, Ronnie and his son Brek slow-cook all the establishment’s meats. The brisket, smoked over red oak for 14 hours, is exceptionally tender, and the sides game is nothing to sneeze at either. Tin Roof boasts that its baked potatoes are “as big as Houston itself.” And while they’re not that big—consuming a city-sized baked potato feels like an impossible endeavor—they’re still a welcome addition to any plate. The restaurant also sells a collection of sauces and rubs, so you can sauce up any meal at home.
Truth BBQ
110 S. Heights Blvd., Houston
2990 US-290, Brenham
Leonard Botello IV, the owner and pitmaster of Truth BBQ, is so obsessed with the craft that he used to sleep next to his smokers. You can taste that attention to detail in every bite. With everything made from scratch daily, you’re always getting the freshest cuts of meat and the most mouth-watering sides possible. Smoked pork ribs are the standout BBQ option, though try to save some room on your plate for the tater tot casserole. Truth BBQ also sometimes hosts BBQ classes, so you can experience smoking meats like a true pitmaster.
Related: 12 foods Texas is famous for—and the stories behind them
