Absolute Best - Smitty's Market, Lockhart, TX
A Close Second - City Market, Luling, TX
Three Way Tie for Third - Kreuz's Market, Lockhart, TX; Black's Market, Lockhart, TX; Louie Mueller BBQ, Taylor, TX
Honorable Mention Rudy's Country Store, Leon Springs, TX; Cooper's BBQ, Llano, TX; Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood, TX

Of course, the measuring stick here is the pure smoky goodness of a slab of beef brisket. Unadulterated with "sauce" (if it needs sauce, it ain't cooked right). Sure, most all make a sausage, Coopers cooks lots of chickens, Kreuz's cooks a shoulder clod and a prime rib, a few of them will cook various and sundry pig parts, some even cue a goat or venison or even fish. But I'll forgive them for these silly distractions if they can make a good brisket.

I'm a steak lover and think I grill 'em to near perfection, but the single best piece of meat I've ever eaten was a 1/2" slab of fatty brisket from Smitty's - rich, moist, smoky, tender, pure heaven.