The Great Texas BBQ Wars

Anyone who’s lived in Texas for any length of time knows about the ongoing Great Texas BBQ Wars that are a major source of entertainment in these parts. You know, “XYZ BBQ has the best brisket!” “No! ABC BBQ does!” On a good day, this can be good for several hours worth of “conversation”, not just of the best BBQ joints, but also the best (read: ONLY) way to cook BBQ at home.

I admit to being a BBQ aficionado, myself. Not in the preparation (I leave that to the menfolk in the family, resting on my gumbo laurels), but in finding the best commercial BBQ around.

You may have heard that Bon Appetit, a few months back, declared Franklin’s BBQ in Austin to be The Best BBQ In The Country. Now, no insult intended to Franklin’s, but the Texas BBQ expert who dubbed them so is from Georgia, then New York City, and my guess is that he hasn’t had the proper grounding and experience in the pit boss’s art - and art, not science, it is - necessary to make such a statement.

I propose that he come back down to Texas, and be taken on a Grand BBQ Tour of Central Texas. I have my own list of places that I’m pretty sure he should try, and then he can revisit the issue. I’d be surprised if you do not have your own such list; why not post your suggestion or suggestions in the comments section and we’ll compare notes, and perhaps make up a list of suggestions to send off to the fine gentleman?

My list would be sure to include the following (this is by far not a comprehensive list; I am not going to give away ALL my secrets!): Sam’s BBQ in East Austin (recently closed and I do not know if it's reopened - it's been in Austin as long as I've been in the area); House Park in Central Austin; Cooper’s in Llano or New Braunfels; Laird’s Barbecue in Llano; Black’s in Lockhart; Schoepf’s in Belton; Taylor Café in Taylor; City Market in Luling; Perez BBQ in Bartlett; Snow’s in Lexington, O.D.'s in Jarrell. That would be good for a start, and then we could drive the roads of Central Texas looking for those priceless jewels, the little BBQ shacks that can be found dotting our highways and byways, offering the intoxicating aroma of pit smoke and the promise of the BBQ of your dreams.

What about you? Where would you take someone to initiate them into the delights of Texas BBQ?