These Are The Best Barbecue Restaurants In Texas

Whether you've ever set foot in "The Lone Star State" or not, everyone knows that you can expect great barbecue in Texas. It's home to one of the most (if not the one and only, depending on who you ask) iconic barbecue styles in the country, and the world, with a unique historic tradition that runs deep. The cow is the holy grail of Texas barbecue, defined by slow-smoked brisket with an almost crunchy layer of bark blanketing the tender marbled center, along with spicy, handground sausage, beef ribs falling off a bone that's bigger than your face, always served alongside homemade, stick-to-your belly side dishes, like coleslaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, baked beans, and more. That signature Texas-style barbecue sauce – thick, smoky, sweet, usually tomato-based, and often with a spiced-up kick – ties it all together for a transcendental dining experience that'll leave you stuffed, sticky, and swearing off all other forms of barbecue.

The opportunities to find this experience are far and wide within the state of Texas. From Dallas down to Houston, Austin over to Lubbock, and in so many tiny towns in between, you'll find amazing barbecue gems, some hidden secrets, others bringing in tourists from all over the country. But if you want to call yourself a true connoisseur of Texas barbecue, then you've got to check out the cream of the crop – the barbecue standouts in an endless sea of smoked brisket and sauce. These are the best barbecue restaurants in Texas.

If you believe that Texas is the capital of barbecue, then Lockhart, Texas has got to be city hall itself. The small town between Austin and San Antonio is home to a number of finger-licking barbecue joints. But almost no one can hold a candle to the behemoth that is the Kreuz name. Originally a meat market selling barbecued meats since 1875, Kreuz Market has evolved into a restaurant as well as an experience. Customers can see into the massive, open cutting room, where the meat is being smoked and freshly sliced right before their eyes. Kreuz is known for having some of the best sausage you can get, made with a smoky and spicy beef and pork mix. It's even sold at other barbecue joints that won't even attempt to make their own (via Huffington Post). The more than 120-year-old recipe has apparently never changed, and it's so ingrained in the Kreuz legacy that it isn't even written down anywhere.

The roots behind the barbecue at The Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood run deep. And so does the loyalty of the thousands of fans who flock to the small town to get their hands on the "world-renowned Texas barbecue" made from recipes dating back more than 150 years (with a "Texified" treatment over the years). The Salt Lick uses a unique recipe – with no tomatoes, but lots of sugar – to create their signature, caramelized meat, smoked over an open fire pit. It's a time-tested method and one that clearly works. The Salt Lick says it serves thousands of customers daily, smoking up more than 1.3 million pounds of brisket and pork ribs every year. The heaping, Texas-sized plates of finger-licking barbecue, served with potato salad, coleslaw, and baked beans, plus all the trimmings, has landed The Salt Lick in the spotlight on Food Network several times. While you're inevitably waiting in line to get your hands on the storied barbecue, you can take in the serene landscape surrounding The Salt Lick's cozy, tree-draped locale (via Texas Living). You may even happen to catch some live music when you make a visit.

While Lockhart is undoubtedly the barbecue mecca of Texas, its influence is way too big to be contained in such a tiny town. You can find it in barbecue outposts like Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas. The restaurant traces its roots back to Kreuz Market, still a barbecue stalwart in the city of Lockhart itself. The granddaughter of Kreuz's founder opened up Lockhart Smokehouse with her husband only a decade ago, and already the restaurant has landed itself among the ranks of longtime barbecue giants. Lockhart feels like stepping into a Texas Hill Country smokehouse, complete with butcher paper in place of plates, a buffet of pickles, onions, and sauce to help yourself to, and a huge open meat counter behind the cash registers, so customers can see their barbecue cut to order. The brisket and burnt ends at Lockhart are hard to beat, as are the homemade sides, like burnt ends baked beans, jalapeño mac and cheese, and creamy potato salad loaded with chunks of brisket. Added bonus – the family connection means that Lockhart sells Kreuz Market sausage at its restaurants.

To make the trip out to Lexington, Texas to eat at Snow's BBQ is to gaze on the face of legendary barbecue history, and one of the most badass grandmas out there. The meat at Snow's is smoked to perfection under the supervision of world-famous, Barbecue Hall of Fame-inducted, not to mention James Beard Award-nominated pitmaster, Tootsie Tomanetz. She's affectionately known as "The First Lady of Texas Barbecue” (you've even seen her on Netflix's "Chef's Table") and she's got 50 years of barbecue experience under her belt (via Food & Wine Magazine). Tomanetz agreed to team up with Lexington local Kerry Bexley in 2003. Five short years later they were crowned the best barbecue in Texas (via Texas Monthly). And the word has spread like a wildfire ever since. Snow's BBQ is another spot that is hard to get your hands on. It's only open on Saturdays until the meat runs out, and to have a chance at it you'll need to drive an hour outside Austin and be prepared to arrive early for the good stuff (via Eater).

The food at Interstellar BBQ in Austin can aptly be described as out of this world. At Interstellar, they're putting their own twist on Texas barbecue, going way beyond the basics in exciting, delicious new ways. While they've got the basics nailed down, on the menu you'll also find things like peach tea glazed pork belly, jalapeño popper sausage, smoked scalloped potatoes, mole baby back ribs, and handheld banana cream pies (via Eater). Notably, Interstellar BBQ's sides menu even earned it a shoutout from Texas Monthly as a great option for vegetarians who may dare venture into a barbecue establishment – in fact, the wife of one of the co-owners and chefs is a vegetarian. This up-and-comer opened just three years ago and has already cemented itself as one of the best places for barbecue in Austin, which is a major feat (via Austin American-Statesman). Safe to say Interstellar is now a must-try on the Texas barbecue circuit.

The family behind Evie Mae's BBQ never really expected it to be big. Barbecuing became a way of life for founder Arnis Robbins and his wife, Mallory, after he was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Their hobby evolved and grew with the help of hungry friends and neighbors, and eventually, the Robbins sold their landscaping business, moved from Arizona to the West Texas city of Lubbock, and opened Evie Mae's BBQ (named for their daughter) in a food truck in 2015. Within a few short months, word got out about their smoking skills, and the customers just kept coming. Just over a year later, Evie Mae's moved from a food truck into a full-fledged restaurant. And today, they feed around 1,000 people each day they're open. That's what happens when you're known as one of the best places for barbecue in Texas (via Texas Monthly). Like all the other great barbecue joints, yes, you'll wait in line when you get there. Unlike most places though, at Evie Mae's you can help yourself to a free beer while you wait (via VisitLubbock.org). And before you know it, you'll be digging into slabs of brisket, burnt ends, and Evie Mae's signature, juicy beef ribs (if they aren't sold out already).