12 Texas BBQ Joints That Taste Even Better During Fall Football Season
Pumpkins and spice? Cute. But for Texans, fall means one thing: the intoxicating scent of smoked brisket mingling with the roar of the crowd.
You’re glued to the TV, a nail-biter of a game unfolds, and then it hits you – that primal hunger for perfect BBQ. It’s a true Texas dilemma. Do you pause the game for a pilgrimage to the smoker, or do you brave the halftime rush?
What if we told you the answer is a glorious, smoky “both”? These 12 legendary BBQ joints are about to become your essential game-day ritual, transforming every touchdown and tackle into a feast.
1. Franklin Barbecue
Aaron Franklin’s temple of smoked meat draws devotees who camp out for hours before the doors even open. The brisket here isn’t just good-it redefined what Texas barbecue could be, setting a global standard that pitmasters everywhere now chase.
During football season, the line becomes a tailgate unto itself, with fans sharing drinks and football predictions while the Austin morning slowly warms. The moist brisket, with its perfect pepper-crusted bark and signature smoke ring, pairs perfectly with college gameday excitement.
Franklin opens daily at 11am, but sells out quickly-plan accordingly if you want to score this legendary BBQ before kickoff.
2. Snow’s BBQ
In tiny Lexington, 90-something pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz has become a Texas legend. Her Saturday-only BBQ operation transforms this sleepy town into a weekend mecca for meat lovers who arrive before dawn.
The pilgrimage to Snow’s has become a game day tradition for many college football fans. They wake at ungodly hours, drive the country roads to Lexington, and wait patiently as the sun rises-all for a chance at Tootsie’s perfectly smoked meats.
The brisket sells out lightning-fast, often gone by 8am. But those who brave the early morning are rewarded with barbecue so transcendent it makes even the earliest wake-up call worthwhile.
3. Louie Mueller Barbecue
Step into Louie Mueller’s smoke-stained building in Taylor and you’re walking through Texas history. The walls, darkened by decades of post-oak smoke, tell stories of generations who’ve made the pilgrimage for those massive beef ribs.
I still remember my first visit during a Longhorns home game weekend. My dad insisted we stop here before heading to the stadium, saying, “You can’t understand Texas football without understanding Texas barbecue.” He was right—that peppery brisket taught me more about Texas tradition than any history book.
The colossal beef ribs, with meat that pulls clean from the bone, make perfect tailgate fare for fans heading to UT or TCU games.
4. Kreuz Market
In Lockhart, the self-proclaimed “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” Kreuz Market stands as a testament to BBQ tradition. Here, meats are still served on butcher paper without sauce or forks-just as they have been since the 1800s.
The original meat market opened its doors in 1875, making it one of Texas’ oldest continuously operating BBQ joints. Today’s massive location preserves the no-frills approach while handling larger football-season crowds.
The shoulder clod and jalapeno cheese sausage develop deep flavor profiles from hours in post-oak smoke. College football tailgaters often make the detour to Lockhart part of their game day ritual, loading up on pounds of meat to share with fellow fans.
5. Black’s Barbecue
When a place calls itself the “Oldest BBQ Joint in Texas Continuously Owned by the Same Family,” you know they’ve perfected their craft. Black’s has been serving Central Texas-style barbecue since 1932, with five generations maintaining their smoky legacy.
The Black family’s dedication shows in every bite of their oak-smoked brisket, which develops a perfect bark during its 14-hour smoke. Their original Lockhart location draws BBQ pilgrims year-round, but their expanded Austin-area spots make game-day provisioning easier for Longhorns and Texas State fans.
My uncle swears Black’s giant beef ribs brought his fantasy football team luck last season. He ordered them before every Sunday game and ended up league champion.
6. Pecan Lodge
From humble farmers market beginnings to Deep Ellum institution, Pecan Lodge represents Dallas’ BBQ renaissance. Justin and Diane Fourton’s commitment to craft has earned them Texas Monthly’s #2 spot and countless devoted fans.
The “Hot Mess” loaded sweet potato and mammoth beef ribs have become Dallas food icons. Football fans appreciate Pecan Lodge’s extended hours, staying open until 10pm on weekends to accommodate post-game celebrations.
Cowboys fans and college football enthusiasts alike plan their game days around Pecan Lodge’s smoked offerings. The restaurant’s ability to balance traditional techniques with creative menu items keeps the line stretching down the block even as temperatures drop during football season.
7. Panther City BBQ
Named for Fort Worth’s historic nickname, Panther City began as a humble food truck before its meteoric rise in Texas’ competitive BBQ scene. Their innovative pork belly poppers-jalapeños wrapped in pork belly and stuffed with cream cheese-have become legendary among Fort Worth’s BBQ faithful.
The transition from food truck to brick-and-mortar near downtown Fort Worth hasn’t diminished their commitment to quality. Pitmasters Chris Magallanes and Ernest Morales maintain direct oversight of their smoking process.
On TCU game days, the line at Panther City swells with purple-clad fans seeking pre-game fuel or post-victory celebration meals. Their large format trays make perfect tailgate contributions for hungry Horned Frogs supporters.
8. Killen’s Barbecue
Chef Ronnie Killen brought fine-dining precision to Texas BBQ when he opened his Pearland smokehouse in 2013. The classically trained chef applies his culinary expertise to traditional smoking techniques, creating brisket so tender it barely holds together.
The massive beef ribs, weighing nearly two pounds each, have become Instagram legends. During Texans home games, Killen’s parking lot fills with fans picking up pre-ordered tailgate packages before heading to NRG Stadium.
I once shared Killen’s brisket with some out-of-state friends before an Astros playoff game. They’d been skeptical about Texas BBQ’s reputation, but after one bite, they fell silent before declaring it a religious experience. The newest airport location now converts travelers the moment they land.
9. TRUTH Barbecue
Leonard Botello IV shocked the BBQ world when his small Brenham shack rocketed to Texas Monthly’s top rankings. His Houston Heights expansion brought his exceptional craft to the big city without compromising quality.
TRUTH stands apart through attention to detail-brisket smoked for 18 hours develops bark so perfect it should be framed. Their homemade cakes, particularly the towering multi-layer banana caramel cake, provide sweet counterpoints to savory smoke.
The Heights location strategically positions TRUTH near Houston’s major sports venues. Texans and University of Houston fans form lines before big games, many ordering whole briskets and racks of ribs to anchor tailgate spreads that become the envy of neighboring parking lot parties.
10. La Barbecue
In a field traditionally dominated by men, LeAnn Mueller and Ali Clem have carved out a legendary space in Austin’s competitive BBQ landscape. Their East Austin joint, named for LeAnn (the “La” in La Barbecue), recently earned a coveted Michelin star-remarkable recognition for a place that started as a trailer.
The spicy house-made sausage and perfectly rendered brisket keep lines forming daily. Located just minutes from UT’s campus, La Barbecue becomes a weekend ritual for Longhorns fans during football season.
Last fall, I watched as visiting Oklahoma fans begrudgingly admitted that while they might not support Texas on the field, they couldn’t deny the superiority of Austin’s barbecue after tasting La Barbecue’s perfectly smoked offerings.
11. Terry Black’s Barbecue
The Black family BBQ legacy continues at Terry Black’s, where twin brothers Michael and Mark Black uphold their famous family tradition. Their massive Austin smokehouse near downtown serves as BBQ headquarters for many Longhorns fans seeking pre-game sustenance.
The sprawling indoor pit room allows visitors to watch pitmasters tend the fires that smoke their Central Texas-style brisket to perfection. During football season, their takeout counter stays busy with fans ordering family packs to fuel tailgate parties.
The beef ribs, weighing over a pound each, provide enough sustenance to power through four quarters of football cheering. Their expanding empire now includes locations in Dallas and beyond, spreading the Black family BBQ gospel across Texas.
12. Pinkerton’s Barbecue
Grant Pinkerton opened his namesake restaurant in 2016, quickly establishing it as a Houston BBQ destination. Despite being relatively new to the scene, Pinkerton’s has earned consistent spots on Texas Monthly’s coveted Top 50 BBQ lists-no small feat in the state’s competitive landscape.
Pinkerton’s glazed ribs offer a departure from traditional Central Texas style, adding a sweet finish that complements the oak smoke. The beef ribs, each a massive prehistoric-looking masterpiece, have become Houston tailgate legends.
Houston Texans and University of Houston fans regularly place large catering orders for game days. The restaurant’s candied pork belly burnt ends have developed such a following that they often sell out before kickoff on football weekends.