A Traveler’s Guide to Texas Barbecue, Texas | Updadated!
In Texas, a state where picturesque ranchlands have stretched for ages, barbecue is a serious industry.
Texas barbecue is known for its spicy, smoky beef brisket, which has a long history in the state’s barbecue culture. But nowadays, different meats are smoked by pit masters, and the preparations differ depending on the area you’re visiting.
From Restaurants to Rodeos
If you want a unique experience, schedule your visit around a Texas BBQ celebration or event. Houston’s best months are February and March, when there’s the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Barbecue Contest, which’s followed by the city’s 20+ year-old Houston Barbecue Cook-Off. Annually year in January, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off attracts over 250 teams of competitive cooks.
The Pecan Lodge in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood has become a mainstay on the local barbecue scene
Tour the Texas BBQ Trail
Visit the Texas BBQ Trail to gain a deeper understanding of what makes Texas barbecue famous. The trail connects the villages of Taylor, Elgin, Luling, and Lockhart—dubbed the “Capital of Texas Barbecue”—within an hour’s drive of Austin. Get together with the locals in markets and family-run barbecue restaurants, each with a distinct flavour: Try the famous banger in Elgin, which is prepared using the recipes of German immigrants from Texas.
Grilling meats low and slow over a flame at The Salt Lick BBQ
From Small Towns to the Big City
Savour barbecue in Luling served straight out of the butcher paper wrapper, in a zesty mustard-based sauce. You may find the barbecue in Lockhart and Taylor to be just as interesting as the little markets and cafes.In addition, Houston has a sizable concentration of barbecue eateries; taste local cuisine. Highly recommended options include Gatlin’s BBQ, Goode Company BBQ, and Rudy’s BBQ.
Follow the Texas BBQ Trail to Snow’s BBQ in Lexington for tempting plates like this served only on Saturdays
From Restaurants to Rodeos
If you want a unique experience, schedule your visit around a Texas BBQ celebration or event. Houston’s best months are February and March, when there’s the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Barbecue Contest, which’s followed by the city’s 20+ year-old Houston Barbecue Cook-Off. Annually year in January, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off attracts over 250 teams of competitive cooks.
The Pecan Lodge in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood has become a mainstay on the local barbecue scene