12 Best BBQ Restaurants in Houston, Texas

Karina Kumar | August 9, 2023

Houston is home to a wide range of restaurants and cuisines. There is no exception when it comes to the barbecue world. The culture of Houston shines bright through these best BBQ restaurants in Houston, and each one offers its own flare.

12 of the Top BBQ restaurants in Houston

  1. JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ
  2. Fainmous BBQ
  3. Smokin’ Z’s BBQ
  4. Blood Bros. BBQ
  5. Brett’s Barbecue Shop
  6. Gatlin’s BBQ
  7. Corkscrew BBQ
  8. Bar-A-BBQ
  9. Nomad Barbecue
  10. Truth BBQ
  11. The Pit Room
  12. Killen’s Barbecue

1. JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ

Address: 4816 N. Shepherd Drive, Suite A, Houston

A perfect combination of Texas bbq and Tex-mex cuisine all in one place. JQ’s Tex Mex has some of the best BBQ tacos in Houston.

Hours

  • Friday, 5 pm – 10 pm
  • Saturday, 2 pm – 10 pm

2. Fainmous BBQ

Address: 1201 Oliver St #50, Houston, TX 77007

Tennessee BBQ

Fainmous BBQ is where Tennessee BBQ meets Texas bbq. With hickory smoke, lots of pork, and their unique sweet and tangy vinegar-based sauce, Fainmous is a must-have for BBQ in Houston.

Hours

  • Monday – Thursday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm or sold out
  • Friday  & Saturday, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm or sold out
  • Sunday, Closed

3. Smokin’ Z’s BBQ

Address: 6 Herring Dr., Bayou Vista, TX 77563

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ

Smokin’ Z’s is a BBQ food truck that provides all the classics of Texas BBQ, like ribs, sausage, and brisket. They have all the traditional dishes with a spin on their own sides as well.

Hours

  • Saturday & Sunday, 11 am – sold out

4. Blood Bros. BBQ

Address:  5425 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401

Blood Bros. BBQ

Started with three friends who grew up together that reconnected later in life. Blood Bros BBQ is all about good food and good friends. This BBQ spot is great for your traditional selection of meats and sides done well.

Hours

  • Monday & Tuesday, Closed
  • Wednesday – Sunday, 11 AM – sold out

5. Brett’s Barbecue Shop

Address: 25220 KINGSLAND BLVD, KATY, TX 77494

Brett’s Barbecue Shop 

Brett’s Barbecue Shop is yet another great spot for traditional Texas-style bbq. Located in Katy, their meat is cooked to perfection and always hits the spot.

Hours

  • Wednesday – Friday, 11 am – 9 pm

6. Gatlin’s BBQ

Address:  3510 ELLA BOULEVARD, HOUSTON, TX, 77018

Gatlin's BBQ

Family-owned and operated, Gatlin’s provides traditional southern-style BBQ. From turkey sandwiches to brisket and sausage, they have all the classics done right.

Hours

  • Monday – Saturday, 7 am – 6 pm
  • Sunday, closed

7. Corkscrew BBQ

Address: 26608 Keith Street, Spring, TX 77373

Corkscrew BBQ

Corkscrew BBQ is run by a couple, Will and Nichole Buckman, and started as a catering business. After many requests for a restaurant Corkscrew opened their first restaurant and have been thriving since. They source all their meats and ingredients responsibly and make everything in-house.

Hours

  • Wednesday – Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm or until sold out
  • Sunday – Tuesday, Closed

8. Bar-A-BBQ

Address:  21149 Eva St. Montgomery, TX 77356

Bar-A-BBQ

Family-owned and operated, Bar-A-BBQ offers quality bbq with all the traditional options. With a casual dining room and lots of catering options, they are a great spot for some good Texas BBQ.

Hours

  • Wednesday – Friday, 10:45 am – 6:30 pm
  • Saturday, 8 am – 6:30 pm

9. Nomad Barbecue

Address: B-52 Brewing, 12470 Milroy Ln, Conroe, TX 77304

Nomad Barbecue 

In partnership with B-52 Brewing, B=Nomad serves its dishes on weekends at the brewery. This location serves mostly pork entrees with some of the traditional bbq sides.

Hours

  • Friday – Sunday, 12 pm – sold out

10. Truth BBQ

Address: 110 S HEIGHTS BLVD, HOUSTON, TX 77007

Truth BBQ 

Truth BBQ takes bbq to the next level. Founder Leonard Botello IV is constantly experimenting with new dishes and combinations. He focuses on the perfect cook and attention to detail. Everything is made completely from scratch in-house, and Botello is continuously trying to honor the history and tradition of Texas bbq.

Hours

Lunch:

  • Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – sold out

Dinner:

  • Thursday – Sunday, 5 pm – sold out

11. The Pit Room

Address: 1201 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77006

The Pit Room 

The Pit Room is another great spot for traditional Texas bbq but with the traditional Houston flare. They let the culture of the city inspire their food and provide the best possible dishes to their customers.

Hours

Breakfast:

  • Every day, 7 am – 10:30 am

Lunch/Dinner:

  • Every day, 11 am – 9 pm

12. Killen’s Barbecue

Address: Pearland Location: 3613 Broadway, Pearland, TX 77581

Killen's Barbecue 

Killen’s Barbecue takes traditional texas bbq and adds a Le Cordon Bleu trained eye. Ronnie Killen has been cooking since he was 8 years old, and Killen’s barbecue is a dream come to life for both Ronnie and barbecue fans.

Hours

  • Sunday – Thursday, 11 am – sold out
  • Friday & Saturday, 11 am- sold out
  • Monday, closed

Conclusion

Houston’s barbecue scene has grown over the past few years, and many of these spots have been recognized by major media outlets for some of the best bbq not just in Houston but also in Texas. Don’t miss out on these delicious bbq restaurants around HTX.