Green Street Smoked Meats is my go to for Chicago.

I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on Killen's? I've never been, but the local paper up here raves about 'em.

http://texasbbqposse.blogspot.com/20...ns-bbq-is.html

i'm back in iah in less than 30 days and it's gonna be places i've never been:
-brisket house
-killens
-fat bao (not bbq but whatever)

then my tried trusted true
-ray's
-hungry farmer (for a cheap loaded bake or chili cheese fries or something)

meat here in africa is ^^^^ but these people can't smoke or do ribs worth ----

i will report back

technically its not in Houston, but given the scale of the state, the 3 Rudys location are always always consistent and good.

Goode's is dog food.

There are actually a few tiny shops, many of them recent, that are supposed to be good. havent had the opportunity to try.

That's actually hilarious because I work near there but have never heard of this place. Looks delicious, I'll have to check it out.

I'm doing a small road trip with my son in August to knock some new states in the mid-west on our quest to do all 50. Besides the sites, I am hoping to have some great food and used this thread as inspiration. We are starting in Nashville and ending up in Tulsa. Here is what I got so far:

Nashville to St Louis via Mammouth Cave National Park

St Louis - Bogarts Smokehouse

Kansas City - Joe's Kansas City Smokehouse

Betonville - (could not find any standout food options in NW AR)

Tulsa - Elmers

Am I missing anything good? Anyone familiar with the routes and thinks there is a place along the way worth stopping at?

Not BBQ, but just off the square in Bentonville there is a food truck that does really great crepes at lunchtime called Crepes Paulette. It's near Crystal Bridges which I highly recommend you stop in and see if you are going through Bentonville. If you want higher end, then The Hive at the 21c Museum Hotel is the best option around that area too.

I need something to do so in AR so your Crystal Bridges recommendation is noted. Crepes will be a welcome change, can't do BBQ at every meal over the 5 days. Thanks

Take the Crystal Bridges recommendation as a strong urging. The main exhibits are free, it's only special exhibits that have a charge. Leave time to walk the grounds as the trails are beautiful including the Frank Lloyd Wright house. http://crystalbridges.org/

Best BBQ I've had is definitely in Austin and Kansas City, but among local options, I think The Smoking Pig in San Jose, CA is the best in the Bay Area.

Finally had the opportunity to visit Dinosaur BBQ in ROC... that was tasty!!!

-J.

If anyone is ever in Madison, WI, check out Smoky Jon's for top notch ribs.

Be prepared for the line at Joe's in MCI if you go. I also liked Brobeck's and Woodyard along with Jack's Stack, esp. their baked beans. The lamb ribs I'd stay away from.

One of my fondest memories is driving with my dad for about a week throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico and having Mexican food every single day. We ate so much that finally by the last night, we'd had enough! I would love to make that trip now and eat BBQ every day

I was gifted a hearty amount of Salt Lick's meat products. So far we've cooked up the brisket, ribs, and sausage. All have been great. While I know it's not the preferred way to experience a BBQ place, it will have to do for now :)

What type sauce is Ya'll favorite?

I like a tomato/vinegar based sauce that is not super sweet and is medium thick (Memphis/St. Louis style)

I try to stay away from that, if possible. Good BBQ just doesn't require it. However, on the occasion that good BBQ isn't to be found, I just go with whatever the establishment has laid out.

For whoever was looking for BBQ in Houston.

Disclaimer: I haven't tried any of these, but if I get a chance, I will.

Here are some for Austin & Dallas as well:

http://austin.eater.com/maps/best-ba...in-restaurants

http://dallas.eater.com/maps/dallas-...-best-barbecue

Been to most of these in Austin; only Pecan Lodge in Dallas, however.

I prefer a mustard based sauce but overall I prefer dry rub. The sauce should be a dip/condiment rather than slathered on the meat.

i never thought i would say this about a list from one of those yelp/chowhound-esque data mining websites but this list is legit. triple j's, brisket house, hickory hollow (i thought there was only 1 in the heights). i'll def try the downtown joints next

i always wanted to try killens and as much as i love q i'll never wait longer than 20 mins in line to order it

I was at Joe's for lunch recently around noon and the line wasn't too bad, at least not near approaching the 45 minute norm I had been warned about. Took me about 15 minutes to get through the queue. I thought my pulled pork sandwich was outstanding and can see why Joe's is rated so highly.
Just to clarify - that was the Joe's at W 47th Str, KC, Kansas. I understand there are now three locations.

Also made it to Smokehouse and was not nearly so impressed, although the baked beans were great.

I'm a KCBS BBQ judge and travel regularly through most of the great BBQ areas in the US. After much sampling and contemplation, I now believe that the absolute BEST BBQ comes from central Texas. However, there is also a lot of mediocre BBQ in Texas, and several major metros in the state have very little excellent Q to be found. I think the MOST CONSISTENTLY GREAT BBQ comes from North Carolina, specifically the whole hog joints. Nothing better than a spicy, vinegar based sauce IMHO.

I think Memphis does some excellent Q as well, but the one region I just can't get behind is Kansas City. The burnt ends don't do it for me and certainly not the thick, tomato-based, sugary sauces.

I have enjoyed following this thread and just figured I would add in a couple more data points. Like microbreweries, it seems like BBQ is experiencing a bit of a renaissance - certainly a trend we are all benefiting from.

Enjoy your personal favorite Q

Well, that begs the question - which is your personal favorite place?

As the Faithful travel to Mecca, aficionados of beef barbecue travel to Lockhart, TX, where there are several Sacred Places where slow smoked, dry rubbed (if for a few ultra-orthodox, no more than S&P) brisket is the all and end all of BBQ. Beef ribs are harder to find done well, but when managed carefully can be moist and juicy area treat.

Sauce? Really good Barbecue needs none, but a thin blend of drippings and stock accentuated by one or more of the dried or smoked chiles (even chipotle has crept into the larder). If resorting to mustard, ketchup or vinegar, they should be served "on the side" so that the faint-hearted can blend their own crude adulterants.

Sugar? Didn't your dentist tell you about sugar? We're not talking pig here, and even then those of us trained in the tropics might substitute pineapple.

I have never been to Franklin's, only because I am always in Austin for work and have never had half a day to spend in line.

The best BBQ I have personally experienced was at Louie Mueller's, Taylor TX

There used to be a Smokestack up north in Clay County, MO that was quite good. I don't think it's there anymore. I have to think the prior poster was thinking of Jack Stack...there are 4 or 5 locations around town, with the most well-known one in the Crossroads south of downtown. Great burnt ends. All of the side dishes are fantastic - especially the beans.

Q39 is the hot new(ish) trendy spot. If you want to eat there for lunch, get there at 11AM sharp. Also a dinner spot although I haven't been there in the evening yet.

Danny's ("the Pink Pig") on the Boulevard is a nice, quick BBQ sandwich spot for lunch. Good pork and burnt ends. Sandwich + fries + drink for about $12, easy in and out plus some outdoor picnic tables.

Absolutely. Perfect Texas brisket is an amazing experience. Transcendental, perhaps. However, as I posted elsewhere on either this thread or a different BBQ-themed one, there is a ton of shockingly bad, barely edible brisket on offer all over Texas. Dry. Flavorless. Tough... I rarely eat BBQ because so much of what is available here in TX ranges from mediocre to terrible.


I think it is much easier to do edible pork than beef brisket. Mediocre pulled pork is usually edible; meidocre brisket is nasty. If forced to eat BBQ at a less than top-tier place even here in Texas, I will go with the safer choice of pulled pork. Brisket is just really hard to do right.


One recommendation to add to this thread that I don't think I've seen yet. While really good BBQ is hard to find outside of Central Texas and a few foodie destinations in DFW, there's actually a pretty good place in East Texas.

While I would not make a special trip to TYR just to eat there, if one was in East Texas anyway or needed a worthy detour off of I-20 for lunch between DAL & SHV, I really like Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ in downtown TYR:

http://stanleysfamous.com/

^^^ I love the place - it is my new favorite when in town.

Last weekend I ate at Black's in Austin. It had very good brisket, like their location in Lockhart, but lacking in atmosphere.

I have been to Stanley's in Tyler, agree that it is very good.

But my favorites are still Mueller's in Taylor and Pecan Lodge in Dallas.

+1 to Stanley's. I've literally only driven through that part of the world one time, and when I saw a Tyler sign I remembered "Isn't there supposed to be a famous BBQ joint here?" We stopped for an early dinner there and took a few photos...it was fantastic. ^ The place has very little parking...I remember we parked on a side street a block away or so...

Some more candidates
 

Pecan Lodge
Cattleack
Lockhart Smokehouse

houston:

rudy's is the best chain bbq out there and nice when i'm travelling intra-texas or i have a post-7pm bbq hankering. but their brisket and ribs and sause are way way way way too salty. the sause is nice, but good lord the salt.

i went to brisket house and found it to be alright but not worth the trek. a bit pricey but it's in that kinda pricey area.

triple j's was great, had an awesome 2 plate ribs+links. man the links in houston are awesome.

3rd ward has tons of little trucks and holes in the wall, many of which are not on google. fabulous fabulous ribs anywhere you go. and of course rays did not disappoint.

a few years ago somewhere in the northline/eastex area i stumbled across this bbq hole in the wall. it was a standalone building, no seating, no inside, with a sign that just said bbq and one of those typical neon open sign on the wall. this building was standalone, probably buffered by 2 empty lots on both sides. it's just a sliding window, 1-way/mirror glass, no counter or nothing, really really weird/hosuton. i'm just like ......super confused, so after standing around awkwardly for 20 seconds i just walk away to my car, window slides open and a middle aged gentleman in a wife beater, paint stained nike basketball shorts, socks+sandals (yall know.. that north houston bidness casual look) says "sorry sorry about that...what can i getcha". the inside has a proper prep table but most prominent is a crappy executive leather chair and fresh prince of bel air on the tv. this cat has some semi-retired bbq for fun kinda situation going on. i say "yeah you got a menu?"
he says "nawnaw, i got ribs n links left"

so i order a rib sammich, he says sure and slams the window. i wait prob 5-10 minutes, wondering if he's screwing with me

5.50 or something cheap, great spicy sauce on the side, oh your god some of the best ribs ever.

i haven't been able to find it since, anyone know where i was? this was the first time i ever had been to houston and at that point i never knew i'd fall in love with that swamp. i can tell you it is not on tidwell, crosstimbers, or lil york. it was in close proximity to hardy.

I'd try tweeting to Texas Monthly BBQ @tmbbq or their BBQ editor Daniel Vaughn @BBQsnob. I'll be he or one of his readers could figure it out for you.

usatoday is highlighting Tops BBQ in Memphis. Anyone been?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...ssee/87522792/

+1. Excellent advice.

You have to love a state where the magazine of record favored by the state's intelligentsia/chattering classes actually employs a full-time BBQ Editor!


Pecan Lodge is well-covered on this thread and all the BBQ-themed ones. I won't add anything else other than to say it lives up to the hype and then some. It's phenomenally good.

Haven't checked out Cattleack yet. I didn't click on the link but is that the joint that is open one day a week an an industrial park parking lot?

Lockhart Smokehouse has always disappointed me. I've only been to the Plano location, not Oak Cliff. Multiple visits to Lockhart Smokehouse in Plano have resulted in pretty mediocre BBQ. I'm done with the place. Lockhart (the town) it ain't!

I'm going to have to give them another shot or two. I very much enjoyed Lockhart Smokehouse -
but then I prefer quite fatty brisket. If the real Lockhart were accessible by light rail, there'd be
no question, and my go-to would be Black's.

That's the one. It's only open for lunch Thursday & Friday. Most people from my office that is close by will just pre-order to avoid the lines. It's worth it!

Try the beef rib! They are over a pound easy and amazing! Just don't be shocked when they price it out at ~25 dollars a rib....

I'm not sure if you have taken your trip yet or not, but you have a pretty good list there....You might want to see if 17th Street BBQ in Marion/Murphysboro Illinois is along your way as that is pretty high grade in my opinion...

Bogart's is the best I have ate anywhere...I live 100+ miles from there and have, more than once, jumped in the car on a whim and drove over there just to eat and come home...