Kitchen Sink Sandwich Gatlin's BBQ
Kitchen Sink Sandwich at Gatlin's BBQ / Photo by David Hale Smith / CC BY-SA

Texans take barbecue seriously and will travel far and wide to find the best. Fortunately, Houstonians no longer have to make the trek to the suburbs or small country towns for their barbecue fix with the recent influx of skilled pit masters setting up shop inside Houston city limits.

These new additions have brought a whole new level of technical skill and quality to the city’s barbecue scene, with several restaurants earning a coveted spot on the prestigious Texas Monthly’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas list. With everything from traditional Texas-style brisket to tangy vinegar-sauced pulled pork on the menus, meat-lovers can rejoice as they fill their butcher paper-lined trays knowing a post-meal nap is a short drive away.

Head to these Houston neighborhoods for a barbecue feast.

The Heights

The Heights, named for its elevation 23 feet above Downtown, is a tight-knit community offering an inner-loop alternative to big city life with its backdrop of Victorian-inspired homes, Craftsman bungalows, quiet streets, and plenty of parks and trails. Locals love the restaurant and bar scene that’s been booming with new arrivals, including several top-rated barbecue joints.

Spots to Check Out:

  • Truth Barbeque: Houston was lucky to be chosen as the second location for this Brenham, Texas barbecue hotspot. Crowds line out the door for their oak-smoked meats and towering three-layer cakes. On the weekends, staff circulate with cold beers to ease the wait. Arrive early for their Saturday-only special, Flintstones-sized beef ribs.
  • Pinkerton’s Texas Pit Barbecue: Fans of Grant Pinkerton’s barbecue trailer waited with anticipation for his brick-and-mortar location to open in The Heights. The permanent spot allows for a more extensive menu, including sides like smoked duck and sausage jambalaya and jalapeno cheese rice, plus desserts made from scratch daily.
  • Willow’s Texas Barbecue: Often popping up at local area bars like Big Star Bar and Dan Electro’s, follow this food truck’s social media to find out where they will next be serving their tender brisket, smoked turkey, and pulled pork.  
  • Loro: Austin culinary juggernauts, Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Tyson Cole of Uchi, will open the second location of their Asian smokehouse in a revamped church on 11th Street in the coming year.

Montrose

Montrose is a highly sought-after neighborhood, which offers home buyers everything from modern townhomes to historic bungalows. Residents take pride in the area’s walkability, street art murals, and a restaurant and bar scene that’s always on top 10 lists.

Spots to Check Out:

  • The Pit Room: Only the highest quality prime beef and heritage pork is served at this top-rated barbecue joint. Take your plate to their adjoining ice house, The Patio, where you can enjoy the ample outdoor seating. Down the street, you’ll find their Tex-Mex take on smoked pork ribs at their sister restaurant, Candente.
  • Brookstreet Barbecue: Hailing from Sugar Land, this local chain’s inside the loop location features a drive-thru window for convenient to-go orders.
  • Southern Smoke Festival: Organized by the James Beard award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, this annual street festival is a who’s who gathering of local and national pit masters. Ticket holders can sample some of the best barbecue in the country paired with beer, wine, and cocktails. All proceeds from the event go to the National MS Society and the Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund.

Garden Oaks

This family-friendly neighborhood is popular for its plentiful green space, kid-friendly hangouts, and abundant supply of single-family homes lining live oak shaded streets. 

Spots to Check Out:

  • Gatlin’s Barbecue: “Love is the secret ingredient” at this family-owned and operated joint known for its Southern-style barbecue. The family’s Creole roots shine in their dirty rice side dish on their menu featuring a wide variety of non-traditional barbecue items, like the smoked bologna sandwich and selection of wangz (chicken wings).
  • Barbecue Inn: While the motto of this 72-year-old restaurant is “It’s all good,” the sassy wait staff will help you navigate the sizable menu of comfort food and barbecue—especially, since contrary to its name, fried chicken is their game.

Bellaire

Bellaire operates as an independent city with its own police and fire departments. Its small-town vibe is why this neighborhood is beloved by generations of Houston families and continues to attract new residents. Traditional homes intermingle with modern design, and pocket parks provide plenty of green space for the area.

 Spots to Check Out:

  • Blood Bros. Texas Barbecue: Earning national accolades from the likes of Bon Appetit and Food & Wine, Blood Bros. is making its mark on the barbecue scene with its Asian-influenced dishes, like brisket fried rice.
  • Fainmous Barbecue: Hickory smoke flavor and vinegar-based sauces dominate at this Tennessee-style barbecue restaurant. They also have a unique vegan/vegetarian menu available for those who want to experience the smoky flavors without the meat (two-hour advance notice required). Be on the lookout for their new location opening up in the First Ward.

Destination Barbecue Around the City

 These standout barbecue spots are worthy of a visit to their respective neighborhoods. 

 Spots to Check Out:

  • Burns Original Barbecue: Since 1973, crowds have enjoyed the signature rub and sauce created by Roy Burns Sr. in the humble Acres Homes neighborhood. Anthony Bourdain showcased their traditional barbecue on his Houston episode of “Parts Unknown.” Visit mid-week for the “Wrib Sandwich Wednesday” special.
  • Feges Barbecue: Located inside Greenway Plaza, the business hub of the Greenway neighborhood, the husband and wife team at Feges takes a modern spin on barbecue classics and opens its doors early for breakfast.
  • Roegels Barbecue Co.: After years of experience in the barbecue business, pit master Russell Roegels reopened his Tanglewood restaurant under his own name in 2017. Since then, he continues to rack up top-notch reviews by barbecue aficionados, who particularly rave about his Thursday special Pastrami Rueben with an impressive half-pound of brisket pastrami filling.