13 Iconic BBQ Joints In Texas That Are Worth The Hype
Texas is a land where BBQ isn’t just a meal, it’s a way of life. Smoky pits burn day and night, and the scent of slow-cooked brisket drifts through towns big and small.
Some joints have been perfecting their craft for generations, turning meat into mouthwatering legends.
If you’re chasing that unbeatable blend of smoky, tender, and downright delicious, these iconic BBQ spots are the gold standard worth every bite and every minute spent waiting in line.
1. Black’s Barbecue (Lockhart)
Stepping into Black’s is like walking through a time portal to 1932. Four generations of pitmasters have perfected their craft here, making it the oldest family-owned BBQ joint in Texas.
Their dinosaur-sized beef ribs will make your jaw drop before you even take a bite.
The peppery bark on their brisket provides the perfect crunch before revealing the moist, tender meat beneath that practically dissolves on your tongue.
2. Smitty’s Market (Lockhart)
Meat-lovers beware—Smitty’s entrance through the back pit room will haunt your dreams. The floor is slick with decades of rendered fat while fires blaze openly beside the narrow walkway.
Cash only and no sauce in sight, this joint screams Texas barbecue purism.
Their sausage links snap perfectly with each bite, releasing juicy flavors that need zero accompaniment. The building itself, once the old Kreuz Market, holds enough BBQ history to fill a textbook.
3. Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor)
Smoke isn’t just in the air at Louie Mueller’s—it’s literally embedded in the walls. Since 1949, this Taylor institution has coated its interior with a patina of smoke so thick you can write your name in it.
Giant beef ribs reign supreme here, each one weighing over a pound. The pepper-crusted brisket sports a smoke ring so perfect it could make a pitmaster weep.
Family-owned for three generations, they’ve snagged a James Beard Award while staying true to their humble, meat-market roots.
4. Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Worth the wait? Absolutely. The line at Franklin forms before sunrise, with lawn chairs, coolers, and new friendships blossoming among strangers united by a common mission: Aaron Franklin’s legendary brisket.
Franklin started with a roadside trailer in 2009 and revolutionized Texas BBQ with his obsessive attention to detail.
Each brisket receives 12+ hours of oak-smoke love at precise temperatures. The result? Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection that’s converted even the most skeptical BBQ critics.
5. The Salt Lick (Driftwood)
Holy smoke show! The Salt Lick’s circular stone pit with dangling meats over open flames creates the most Instagram-worthy BBQ scene in Texas.
Set on a gorgeous ranch in Driftwood, this BYOB destination turns dinner into an event.
Their unique style features a sweet glaze sizzled directly over coals—a technique that would make BBQ purists clutch their pearls.
Family-style platters arrive piled high with ribs, brisket, and sausage. The setting under ancient oak trees makes the hour-long wait feel like part of the experience.
6. Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (Llano)
“Big chop! Little chop!” Pitmasters yell as you approach Cooper’s smoking pits, where you’ll point directly at your meat before it’s weighed and wrapped.
This cowboy-style direct-heat cooking method breaks all the low-and-slow rules.
Their two-inch-thick pork chops have achieved cult status among BBQ enthusiasts. Unlike most Texas joints, Cooper’s encourages dunking meat in their vinegary sauce.
Started in 1962, their expansion to multiple locations hasn’t diminished the quality that made the original Llano spot a Hill Country legend.
7. Snow’s BBQ (Lexington)
Once a month, I set my alarm for 4 AM to make the pilgrimage to Snow’s, where 86-year-old pitmaster legend Tootsie Tomanetz still tends the fires.
This tiny Saturday-only operation in a town of 1,200 people became an overnight sensation after being named Texas Monthly’s #1 BBQ joint.
Arrive by 8 AM or risk leaving empty-handed. Their brisket develops an almost bacon-like quality after being flipped throughout the night in pits that date back to the 1970s.
The jalapeño sausage offers the perfect spicy counterpoint.
8. Burns Original BBQ (Houston)
Tucked away in Houston’s historic Acres Homes neighborhood, Burns has been a community cornerstone since 1973.
The late Anthony Bourdain put this no-frills joint on the map during his Houston visit, but locals have treasured it for generations.
Their East Texas-style barbecue embraces sauce unlike many Central Texas counterparts. Mammoth stuffed baked potatoes loaded with chopped brisket, cheese, and all the fixings can feed a family.
The ribs fall clean off the bone—a textbook example of tender perfection that keeps Houston’s rap royalty coming back regularly.
9. Terry Black’s BBQ (Austin)
Family drama never tasted so good! When twin brothers Michael and Mark Black branched off from the famous Lockhart Black’s dynasty, they created their own barbecue empire that rivals their ancestors’.
Their Austin location offers a BBQ theme park experience with viewing windows into the pit room. The beef rib—a gargantuan, pepper-crusted monument to excess—can feed three hungry adults.
Don’t skip their sides, especially the mac and cheese with its crispy breadcrumb topping that elevates this joint beyond meat-only status.
10. Bandit BBQ & Burgers (San Antonio)
Newcomer alert! Bandit might be the rebellious rookie in Texas BBQ, but pitmaster Brandon Peterson is cooking like a seasoned veteran.
Housed in a repurposed 1920s gas station in San Antonio’s Southtown, this joint fuses Texas tradition with chef-driven innovation.
Their smoked birria tacos—a collision of Texas and Mexican cuisines—draw crowds on Tuesdays.
The brisket showcases textbook technique while occasional specials like smoked beef cheek bring something new to the table.
The craft beer selection makes this the perfect spot for BBQ aficionados seeking something beyond the classics.
11. Baby Back Shak (Dallas)
Memphis meets Texas at this South Dallas gem where owner Clarence Cohens has been slinging ribs since 1995.
The tiny blue building with a hand-painted sign doesn’t scream “destination restaurant,” but BBQ pilgrims know better.
Their namesake baby backs arrive painted with a sweet-spicy sauce that caramelizes beautifully over pecan wood smoke. The “Shak Attack” spice rub appears on everything from ribs to their legendary wings.
Unlike many Texas spots, they embrace sauce culture with Clarence’s secret recipe available by the bottle for devotees who can’t live without it.
12. La Barbecue (Austin)
Female-owned and queer-friendly, La Barbecue smashes Texas BBQ stereotypes while smoking some of Austin’s finest meat.
Owner LeAnn Mueller—yes, from that Mueller barbecue dynasty—carries on her family’s legacy with her own distinctive style.
Their El Sancho sandwich piles brisket, pulled pork, AND sausage between two buns for the indecisive meat lover.
The chipotle slaw adds a signature twist to traditional sides. What began as a food truck has evolved into an East Austin institution where the line moves faster than Franklin’s but the quality rivals anything in the state.
13. Joseph’s Riverport Bar-B-Que (Jefferson)
Rising from literal ashes, Joseph’s Riverport story is the ultimate BBQ redemption tale.
After a devastating 2012 fire destroyed the original restaurant, owner Stephen Joseph rebuilt rather than retire, preserving a slice of East Texas BBQ history.
Their enormous stuffed baked potatoes could feed a small army. The ribs feature a distinctive sweet glaze that sets them apart from Central Texas counterparts.
Located in historic Jefferson near the Louisiana border, this joint represents East Texas-style BBQ at its finest—embracing sauce, serving exceptional sides, and smoking meat over a unique hickory-oak blend.