Best BBQ in Houston, TX: 5 Smokehouses, Ranked
Pinkerton's Barbecue sits at 1504 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009. It smokes over post oak and mesquite. It was founded in 2016 by pitmaster Grant Pinkerton. Rankings follow how many independent local roundups list each joint - tie-broken by verified fact count - and every listing is checked against the joint's own published information.
The ranking
Pinkerton S Barbecue
Pinkerton's Barbecue, at 1504 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009, was founded in 2016 by pitmaster Grant Pinkerton. It smokes over post oak and mesquite and is open until it sells out. Hours: Tuesday 11am–9pm, Wednesday 11am–9pm, Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday 11am–10pm, Saturday 11am–10pm, Sunday 11am–9pm; Monday closed.
Truth Barbeque
Truth Barbeque serves Central Texas Style whole brisket, pork ribs, smoked whole turkey breast, and sausage links. Pitmaster Leonard Botello IV cooks 18-hour cooks on wood burning offset smokers with slow-and-low Texas smoking. Sides and desserts are made from scratch daily.
Feges Bbq
Feges BBQ was founded in 2018 by Erin Smith and pitmaster Patrick Feges. It uses a large smoking rig and traditional smoking techniques for smoked brisket. Wednesday hours at Spring Branch are 11am–8pm; $50 Feges Boards are on the menu. Summer handhelds are served Tuesday–Sunday while supplies last.
The Pit Room
The Pit Room, the hand-crafted creation of Michael Sambrooks, is open seven days a week: breakfast tacos 7am–10:30am and BBQ 11am–9pm. Menu prices include brisket 1/2 lb $15 and 1 lb $30, and pork ribs 1 lb $25. The pits are two custom barrel-style offset smokers from Allout Fabrication in Stafford, plus a vertical sausage cooker. Price band is $$.
J Bar M Barbecue
J-Bar-M Barbecue is at 2201 Leeland, Houston, TX 77003. It serves Central Texas-style brisket and house-made sausage, smoked over Post Oak in four 1,000-gallon offset steel barrel smokers. Food is served until sold out; Sunday hours are 11am–5pm with the kitchen closing at 4pm.
By neighborhood
Spring Branch
Feges BBQ serves Wednesday hours 11am–8pm at Spring Branch.
FAQ
What style of BBQ is Houston known for?
Truth Barbeque serves Central Texas Style whole brisket, pork ribs, smoked whole turkey breast, and sausage links. J-Bar-M Barbecue serves Central Texas-style brisket and house-made sausage.
What time do popular Houston BBQ joints sell out?
Pinkerton's Barbecue is open until it sells out. Blood Bros. bbq is open from 11am until sell out or 3pm. J-Bar-M Barbecue serves food until sold out. Feges BBQ serves summer handhelds while supplies last.
Which Houston BBQ joints smoke with post oak?
Pinkerton's Barbecue smokes over post oak and mesquite. J-Bar-M Barbecue infuses meats with a Post Oak wood aroma.
Which Houston BBQ joints are open on Sunday?
Pinkerton's Barbecue is open Sunday 11am–9pm. Blood Bros. bbq is open Tuesday–Sunday. J-Bar-M Barbecue is open Sunday 11am–5pm, with the kitchen closing at 4pm. The Pit Room is open seven days a week.