Top 8 BBQ Restaurants in Houston

Who’s down for some delicious BBQ in Houston, Texas? We know that we’re ready for some tender brisket, chopped beef, pulled pork, and all of the other delicious meats that are served at some great BBQ restaurants. So, you know that you want to have some BBQ for lunch or dinner, but don’t know where to go. Houston is well known for all of their choices in BBQ restaurants, so where do you go? We are here to help you out! Here is a list of the top five best BBQ restaurants in Houston!

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1. The Pit Room

Authentic Texas Barbecue That Would Leave You Wanting More If the Portions Weren't So Big

1201 Richmond Ave | Museum District | thepitroombbq.com

The Pit Room proudly serves authentic Texas BBQ, but for anyone visiting from outside the Lone Star State... what exactly does that mean? Black pepper, smoke, and love, but no sauced meats (unless you ask). And you don't have to worry about getting there early to get the best cuts since their hardworking team strives to keep the quality up through breakfast, lunch, and dinner service 7 days a week.

After you try a bite, you'll be glad to know that The Pit Room offers dine-in, takeout, and catering. There's also outdoor seating available!

"This is a great place if you are looking for awesome food. We ordered to go and it was great.From the brisket, pulled pork, Mac n cheese, spicy beans and jalapeño sausage. We can honestly say everything was mouth watering. A must go to if you are in Houston, TX." -- Yelp Review

2. Gatlin’s BBQ

Support local restaurants with this family-owned business that serves delicious brisket, beef ribs, and many more!

3510 Ella Boulevard | Oak Forest / Garden Oaks | gatlinsbbq.com 

Opening its doors in 2010, Gatlin’s BBQ quickly became a hidden gem within the Oak Forest area and is a family owned restaurant that has been awarded the go-to craft barbeque restaurant in Houston. Gatlin’s BBQ is known for their delicious meats where they say “love is the secret ingredient.” Here at Gatlin’s, you know that you are going to be satisfied with the food because of the quality that is produced, along with how much their owners care about their customers.

Want to know delicious meats that Gatlin’s BBQ sells and is known for? They make delicious smoked meats such as pulled pork, venison sausage, brisket, spicy sausage, baby back ribs, and many more! Gatlin’s also makes many different kinds of sandwiches containing their smoked meats such as a pulled pork sandwich, a pastrami turkey sandwich, and even a smoked bologna sandwich. Sounds good right? Head on over to Gatlin’s BBQ today for some delicious family BBQ recipes!

“Gatlin's is super fast for dine-in and carry-out. The staff are always helpful and polite. I highly recommend going here if BBQ is what you're in the mood for!” - Yelp Review

2. Pinkerton’s Barbeque

Check out this rustic BBQ restaurant that serves Texas-style brisket, ribs, and other BBQ favorites!

1504 Airline Drive | The Heights | Pinkertonsbarbeque.co

Are you in and around The Heights in Houston and are craving some delicious BBQ for either lunch or dinner? We recommend that you try Pinkerton’s Barbeque for all of your BBQ needs! The owner of this restaurant, Grant Pinkerton, has been passionate about meat and Texas BBQ traditions and has evolved Pinkerton’s Barbeque from a small barbeque pit, to a big hit restaurant in Houston. This restaurant is known for their family recipes and good meats, and is rated one of the top spots to go get BBQ in the area!

Think that Pinkerton’s Barbeque sounds like the right BBQ restaurant for you? Here are some delicious meats that will have your mouth water as soon as you hear what they are! Pinkerton’s serves tender and tasty meats such as prime brisket, beef ribs, pulled pork, pork ribs, smoked sausage, and even boudin. They also serve sandwiches with meats such as pork, turkey, or sausage along with some sides to easily go along with your meat, like potato salad, cole slaw, and even jalapeno cheese rice! Sounds like a great place to go right? Stop by Pinkerton’s today for some delectable BBQ meats that will keep you coming back for more!

“I'm very happy we made the trip over Pinkerton's, we will be back. And remember to support local, independent food spots!” - Yelp Review

3. J-Bar-M Barbecue

Where They Believe "Good Food Is Like Music You Can Taste"

2201 Leeland St | EaDo | jbarmbbq.com

Four 1,000 gallon offset steel barrel smokers couldn't be wrong, could they? At J-Bar-M Barbecue in EaDo, what they're serving up is so, so right!

Enjoy world-class, Central Texas-style brisket and house-made sausages inside or on the patio. And the best part? The entertainment! You'll get the true Houston experience with their live music and special events.

The brisket and pulled pork are onviously the stars of the show, but don't miss out on the cauliflower au gratin!

"Great food and unique variation of bbq in addition to your classic TX bbq plates. the sides are legit.Hands down the best scene for BBQ, outdoor patio, kid friendly and live music. Great set up for parties and groups." -- Yelp Review

4. Ray’s BBQ

Check out this casual Houston spot that serves hickory-smoked meats and even seafood!

3929 Old Spanish Trail | MacGregor | Raysbbqshack.com

Stop by Ray’s BBQ where their motto is “smokin’ good with a whole lotta soul”. Ray’s BBQ sells some one-of-a-kind BBQ with family recipes and also provides outstanding customer service and fresh quality meat for their customers every single day. Serving not only BBQ, Ray’s BBQ also sells seafood, salads, soups, po’boys, and baked potatoes. Opened since 2011, this restaurant has been popular in the Houston area, for its BBQ and many other favorites.

Ray’s BBQ serves lots of meat favorites and some of these include brisket, rib tips, fried fish po’boy, fish and shrimp po’boy, and many others! They also have many different sides to choose from as well, such as homestyle beans, potato salad, cole slaw, macaroni salad, and even smoked mac n’ cheese. Each course comes with two sides, so you will have lots of food to eat and maybe even have some for leftovers later! Does Ray’s BBQ sound good to you for lunch or dinner? Stop by today for some of the best BBQ in Houston!

“The BBQ to beat for me at the moment. Something about the slow cooked brisket and the bbq sauces makes it an unbeatable combo.” - Yelp Review 

5. Killen's Barbecue

Delicious Texas Barbecue the way God Intended... On a Sandwich Bun

3613 E Broadway | Pearland | killensbarbecue.com

The best barbecue, period.

Hard to argue with a slogan like that!

But Killen's fans definitely agree that there's just something in the sauce... and in the brisket, and the sides that sets Killen's apart from the pack. There are three locations in the Houston metro area as of this writing, so tasty barbecue goodness is never too far away.

Easily the best bbq spot in Houston Texas. The brisket here is the benchmark and far better than other local favorites in downtown. Order a mix of lean and fatty brisket, and try their other favorites like their excellent large beef rib, pork ribs, and sausages. Sides like mac and cheese, collard greens, and baked beans with burnt ends are excellent and their included pickled veggies are a refreshing complement to their meat dishes. Lastly always and I mean always get their famous bread pudding made of croissant (and then try their carrot cake or banana pudding for your second visit)." -- Yelp Review

6. Feges BBQ

Try a modern eatery that serves some delicious BBQ that is located in the Greenway Plaza!

3 Greenway Plaza Ste C-210 | Greenway | fegesbbq.com

Erin and Patrick Smith were very passionate about fine dining and barbeque expertise so they decided to open up their own BBQ shop called Feges BBQ. Feges BBQ is located right in Greenway Plaza’s food court and has a modern style to it, but they are known for serving the most delicious southern BBQ, salads, and other tasty goodies. Think this is the place for you? Why don’t you hear what kind of good meats that they serve then?

Even though it’s a small food place right in the Greenway Plaza, that doesn’t deter from how good the food is! Feges BBQ serves traditional BBQ meats such as smoked barbacoa, a whole hog, beef ribs, brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, and many more. They are also known for their loaded BBQ baked potato that includes a sweet or Idaho potato with chopped brisket or pulled pork. Feges BBQ also has many different sides to choose along with your BBQ’d meat, such as kale salad, loaded potato salad, braised collard greens, and even pimento mac n’ cheese! Stop by Feges BBQ today for some delicious BBQ today!

“Great staff and awesome bbq! Had the brisket and it was one of the best briskets I've ever had.” - Yelp Review

7. Henderson & Kane

Grocery, Barbecue, and Bagels... What More Could Y'all Want?

715 Henderson St | 6th Ward | hkgeneralstore.com

Whether you're looking to pick up some farm fresh eggs to bring home or have some mouthwatering juicy brisket for lunch, H&K has you covered. The locally owned, women-owned market sources their products from the region's best local farms. So if you're looking to take a bite out of big Texas flavor, this is where you get the real deal.

The breakfast tacos, brisket sandwich, and meat plate get rave reviews, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

They also speak Spanish, too!

"What a surprise! Delicious brisket -- some of the best I've had in Houston, for sure!! Got the fatty brisket and it had a perfect texture -- fatty with tender lean chunks and a nice crispy crust. So good! Had a craving for BBQ but didn't want to wait so I picked a random, lesser known establishment and it paid off. Short wait and delicious meat.Skip the long wait times elsewhere and give this place a try." -- Yelp Review

8. Truth BBQ

What’s better than some smoked brisket and a cold beer? I can’t think of anything better, so come to Truth BBQ today!

110 S Heights Boulevard | The Heights | Truthbbq.com

Starting off as a roadside outpost in Brenham, Texas, Leonard Botello IV created one of the most popular hot spots for delectable, and tender BBQ meats in Houston. Over the years,, Truth BBQ has gained lots of critical acclaim and has been named #10 in the Top 50 BBQ List in the Texas Monthly. Not only does Truth BBQ serve some fantastic BBQ meat, but it also serves many different homemade sides and even cake!

Interested in going to Truth BBQ? Here are some of the BBQ meats that they serve! They are most well known for their pork ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork, lean brisket, and even garlic sausage. They also serve many different sides, such as mac n’ cheese, corn pudding, coleslaw, baked beans, and even their homemade tater tot casserole. While Truth BBQ is most well known for their BBQ dishes, they also serve many different kinds of sweet and sugary cakes that will keep you coming back for more! We know you want to try out Truth BBQ, so come on down today and try out their BBQ and cakes! 

“Brisket was delicious, ribs stood up as well! Need to plan an earlier visit to get hold of the beef ribs! I think what makes them really special are the sides. That tater tot casserole is delicious, Brussels are pretty classic, can't say no to corn!” - Yelp Review ‍

Houston has an amazing barbecue scene, and this is just a sample platter.

We know that BBQ restaurants are pretty popular in Houston and trying to find the perfect one can be difficult, but we hope that we have helped you to make this decision a little bit easier! Now go and enjoy some BBQ food on this nice day with the top five best BBQ restaurants in Houston!

Is there a BBQ restaurant in Houston that you absolutely love, but we didn’t mention? Make sure to let us know in the comments!