Since the last time Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn compiled his list of the state’s 50 best barbecue spots four years ago, Dallas’ own Pecan Lodge reigned supreme as the second-best smoked meat spot in the state. Now, it doesn’t even crack the top ten.
Today, after exhaustive research and schlepping across the state, Texas Monthly has released its newly-updated list, and just one Dallas-Fort Worth smokehouse found itself at the top — Cattleack Barbeque in North Dallas came in at #3 on this year’s ranking. Judging by the epic lines that this spot is known for, that really doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
But the Pecan Lodge snub does seem a little out of whack. It still attracts its own lengthy lines, but perhaps the change is par for the course. The rest of Texas Monthly’s list saw plenty of upheaval, with former #1 spot Franklin’s Barbecue being dethroned by longstanding Lexington spot Snow’s BBQ.
The rest of the spots — restaurants 11 through 50 — are unranked, and Pecan Lodge is still listed among the state’s finest barbecue establishments. Also new to the rankings this year is Heim BBQ, which had barely started its trailer the last time Texas Monthly published its rankings. Lockhart Smokehouse also returned to the list.
Suffice it to say, Dallasites are going to have lots of of opinions about Pecan Lodge slipping out of the top 10. Don’t be surprised if you see a few angry folks with pitchforks (or gigantic beef ribs?) headed toward the Texas Monthly offices in the coming days.
Check out the full list below:
- Stillwater Barbeque, Abilene
- Tyler’s Barbeque, Amarillo
- Franklin Barbecue, Austin
- Freedmen’s, Austin
- La Barbecue, Austin
- Micklethwait Craft Meats, Austin
- Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, Austin
- Terry Black’s Barbecue, Austin
- Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, Austin
- Miller’s Smokehouse, Belton
- Truth Barbeque, Brenham
- Vera’s Backyard B-B-Que, Brownsville
- Fargo’s Pit BBQ, Bryan
- Payne’s Bar-B-Q Shak, Burnet
- BBQ on the Brazos, Cresson
- Cattleack Barbeque, Dallas
- Lockhart Smokehouse, Dallas
- Pecan Lodge, Dallas
- Top 5 BBQ, DeSoto
- 4-T’s Bar-B-Q, Forney
- Heim Barbecue, Fort Worth
- Baker Boys BBQ, Gonzales
- Rio Grande Grill BBQ & Tex Mex, Harlingen
- Blue Moon BBQ, Hearne
- Heavy’s Bar-B-Que, Hondo
- Gatlin’s BBQ, Houston
- Pinkerton’s Barbecue, Houston
- The Pit Room, Houston
- Roegels Barbecue Co., Houston
- Joseph’s Riverport Bar-B-Cue, Jefferson
- Snow’s BBQ, Lexington
- Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, Llano
- Kreuz Market, Lockhart
- Bodacious Bar-B-Q, Longview
- City Market, Luling
- Smolik’s Smokehouse, Mathis
- Hutchins BBQ, McKinney
- The Smoking Oak, Mercedes
- Killen’s Barbecue, Pearland
- Pody’s BBQ, Pecos
- 2M Smokehouse, San Antonio
- The Granary ’Cue & Brew, San Antonio
- Hays Co. Bar-B-Que, San Marcos
- CorkScrew BBQ, Spring
- Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor
- Tejas Chocolate Craftory, Tomball
- Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ, Tyler
- Harris Bar-B-Que, Waxahachie
- Flores Barbecue, Whitney
- Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque, Wolfforth