Originally Posted by
braslvr
Maybe pulled pork should be the easiest to do well, but that is certainly not my experience. I can find decent brisket, tri-tip, chicken and ribs pretty easily, but it has been years and miles since I've had good pulled pork. I've quit ordering it until I can return to No. Carolina.
I'm going to have to disagree with that. I've found that pulled pork is the easiest to do well. Even mediocre pulled pork is tasty and quite edible. Bad brisket, on the other hand, is horrendous.
Even here in TX, pulled pork is the safest BBQ bet. While brisket is certainly king here in TX, few places actually consistently get it right. There is tons of bad brisket on offer all over this state.
Originally Posted by
GadgetFreak
While I am personally partial to Texas BBQ based on my years living in Austin (and thinking of the drives to Lockhart in the spring with with the wildflowers blooming as one of my fondest memories) I think comparing across styles is just hopeless. Statements in support of Texas vs KC vs Carolina will almost always come out as arbitrary and reminiscent of something that is being discussed relative to Elizabeth I vs the Catholics - although hopefully without the executions.
For my own perspective, I only rate them within type; best Texas style, best KC style (with or including as a separate style the STL variant) and best Carolina style. And try to enjoy the best of each style based on their unique characteristics.
Absolutely. I would never compare across different styles. They are entirely different things, each wonderful for their own reasons.
Back to Texas BBQ though, this may be heresy but I am going to suggest taking a pass on it unless you really know the place. There is just so much bad brisket around these days that the odds favor something ranging from disappointment to getting something nearly inedible.
As for a few Texas BBQ joints that are worth the trip. My favorite BBQ places in the state, in no particular order, are:
Pecan Lodge in Dallas (brisket is consistently phenomenal, beef ribs less so than at Louie Mueller)
Black's in Lockhart (while it seems to get less publicity, Black's gets my pick among the Big Three of Lockhart; I've been disappointed by both Kreuz and Smitty's)
Louie Mueller in Taylor (beef rib!!!)