The central Texas style around Austin and San Antonio was until recently hard to find good examples of in Houston. Most of the places, I hear, are more of a Southern/KC style with the sweet sauce. True Texas BBQ should always come with sauce on the side if at all.

I visit Houston regularly, and in the past year and a half found Gatlin's and Brisket house to do a decent job in the central Texas style. Gatlin's in particular has been very good the last couple times I've had it. Very flaky with the take out orders, though. Check your order before you leave. Brisket House has been good in my experience but a little more uneven and hasn't quite matched the highest Gatlin's level the times I've tried it.

People bag on Luling City Market near the Galleria, partly because of their bad history with respect to City Market in Luling, TX, but it's been good not great the couple times I've tried it.

There are a couple other places that I've been to that were sort of promising but not quite up to the same level as the above three.

Snow's in Lexington, Smitty's and Black's in Lockhart, City Market in Luling and City Meat Market in Giddings all dwarf the Houston places, but they're 2 hrs away. Kreuz had excellent sausage as I recall.