The 20 best barbecue joints in Houston

Houston barbecue

Houston smokes three ways: East Texas pork ribs and chopped beef at old neighborhood pits, new-school Central Texas brisket, and Asian-Texan plates where brisket meets fried rice.

8 of the 20

1. T

   Truth BBQ

   Washington HeightsCentral Texas barbecue$$

   New-school brisket that's moist and lean, plus sides strong enough to be the reason you came: corn pudding, roasted Brussels sprouts and a two-cheddar mac.

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2. P

   Pinkerton's Barbecue

   The HeightsCentral Texas barbecue$$

   A wood-paneled hall on Airline Drive. Meat starts over mesquite and finishes over post oak; get the glazed pork ribs, crusty brisket and bacon-rosemary mac.

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3. B

   Blood Bros. BBQ

   BellaireAsian-Texan barbecue$$

   Brisket done right next to chow fun, fried rice and sweet-and-sour ribs. Ribs change by the day: gochujang glaze some days, guava others, beef ribs Saturdays. Closed Mon–Tue.

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4. B

   Burns Original BBQ

   Acres HomesEast Texas barbecue$

   An Acres Homes landmark smoking East Texas-style barbecue for about 50 years. Order at the window of the tiny house: pork ribs, links, chopped beef, dirty rice.

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5. G

   Goode Company Barbecue

   Rice VillageMesquite-smoked barbecue$$

   Jim Goode's mesquite barbecue house, serving since 1977. Save room for the Brazos Bottom pecan pie, sold whole in a wooden box to take home.

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6. P

   Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue

   Rice MilitaryClassic Texas barbecue$$

   Barbecue from brick pits hand-built in 1935 for the old Shepherd Drive Barbecue. St. Louis-cut spareribs are the specialty, seasoned with just salt and pepper.

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7. F

   Feges BBQ

   Spring BranchTexas barbecue$$

   A chef-couple's Spring Branch barbecue joint, under a big metal pig head on the patio: new-school brisket with country nostalgia, ordered at the counter and run to your table.

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8. P

   The Pit Room

   MontroseTexas barbecue$$

   A small Montrose counter with a big patio deck and bar. Brisket, smoked chicken and venison sausage, with mustard potato salad and house milk bread.

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The other 12

The 20 are spread across 19 neighborhoods. Garden Oaks (2) has the most; Acres Homes, Bellaire, EaDo, East End, Fulshear, Galleria, Missouri City, Montrose, North Houston, Rice Military, Rice Village, Spring, Spring Branch, the Heights, Third Ward, Tomball, Trinity Gardens and Washington Heights have one each.

For Tex-Mex, see the best Mexican food and Tex-Mex in Houston.

All 20, on your own map

This page is 8 of them. The Houston Barbecue pack in Whosly has all 20 — add it and every one drops onto your map, ready to save, rate and turn into a plan your friends RSVP to from a text, no app needed to answer. The pack is included with Planner Pro.

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