Today, I'll be making the 383-mile drive from Abilene, Texas, to Ruidoso, New Mexico. Knocked out 4 hours of the trip yesterday and, naturally, stopped at Mills County BBQ Company in Goldthwaite. Stocked up on pork ribs, turkey, ham, and sausage; and great to see proprietor Chris Paskett, as always. Pics forthcoming. I've said it before, but if you haven't been to MCBC, you should make the trip. I don't know how many times I've stopped in (more than 5, less than 10), but not once have I had a dry bite - of anything. Flavor is always on target. As a group, their meats can hang with anyone's.
Anyway, it's my first time on this road. First time in NM. And the farthest West I've been in Texas. Making the return trip on Monday via same route, so I've got a couple of chances to have BBQ along this path unknown. Anyone have any recommendations? Here are some the towns I'll pass thru: Sweetwater, Snyder, Post, Tahoka, Brownfield, Tokio, & Plains. Would love to hear your suggestions via comment or email.
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7 comments:
I already texted you, but I'll put this out in the open also. The ONLY place to get BBQ in West Texas is TC Ponderosa in Dickens, Texas. It is worth to reschedule your drive to make it through there.
I also find it funny that in all the cities you are driving through you are driving around Lubbock. You should stop by it isn't as bad as poeple make it out to be.
Don't forget Harold's pit BBQ in Abilene. Wiley's BBQ in Lubbock (although Tom and Bingos is the more well known place, but if you arn't there by 2 they will be sold out). Brownfield has H Bar C BBQ. Snyder has Bed Barn BBQ.
Seriously though, the only places worth anything are Harolds and TC Ponderosa. West Texas is more known for their steak than BBQ, and alot of times you can taste that mentality in their brisket, which is too dry and tough.
What you should do is head north form Abielene to Asprermont Texas. Stop there at K&J BBQ (not bad place at all, get ribs). Then head north from there to Dickens, eat at the one and only best place in the West, TC's (order sandwiches, eat two then, keep one for the road). Then head west through Lubbock and hook up with highway 84 towards Ruidoso.
I tried Mills County BBQ based on this site's glowing reviews and wasn't too impressed. Don't get me wrong, its probably better than average...but once you've had the best in Lockhart, Taylor and Lexington (and Franklin) Mills County doesn't have a lot of staying power.
The rib was probably the best thing I had, but it just good...not great. I asked for a cut of fatty or moist brisket and I got a lean cut with a big layer of fat on the outside. The flavor was good and it was tender, but a bit dry. It also seemed to be done BBQ style (direct heat with charcoal and/or mesquite) rather than the superior (IMHO) slow indirect asmking style of the places mentioned afore. The sausage was fine but forgettable.
But I see you talk more baout turkey and ham...which (along with chicken) are not THE meats to consider with Texas BBQ.
I wish I had some other suggestions out in West Texas for you but I don't other than Harold's, which was more bout the atmosphere han the food for me.
-casey
I meant to say Mills County seem to cook Cowboy style...not BBQ style.
-casey
Casey: Always great to get opposing perspectives. Most people, I think, would agree with you that brisket is what really matters, when judging a BBQ joint. Some will simply write off a place if they aren't impressed with the brisket. Brisket is the only meat I didn't order yesterday. I like it just fine, but it didn't make the cut over the other 4. Perhaps it's because I'm not from Texas, but if a place doesn't have great brisket, that's no big deal to me. The others that I'm with on outings order brisket, so I rarely order it myself. I'll just try some of theirs. If you give Mills County another chance and don't get a cut of brisket you like, just tell them and see if they can get you what you're looking for. At any rate, thanks for your comments!
Casey: Yep, we're light on West TX recs. Hoping to fix that, with trips like this. Maybe some others will weigh in with their thoughts on Mills County. We disagree, so maybe others will chime in! Speaking of disagreeing, Jacob (who's been to way more Texas BBQ joints than I) likes Harold's, but I thought it was pretty dreadful. Tastes are subjective. Sometimes one person at one of our outings will think a certain thing is the best thing he/she has ever eaten, while another at the table will find it inedible.
You need to judge West Texas BBQ based on the fact that you are in West Texas. Every part of Texas is like a different state. They smoke meat hot up in that area, or you find the places that are more the southern gospel style. Either way you don't find many places that cook central Texas style, and the fact of the matter is we are spoiled in Austin because they best BBQ in the world can be found in a two hour radius.
These guys are getting brisket done in 4-6 hours, not 12. And as I mentioned before it has alot to do with the fact that this is steak country and was once a very poor area. So steak was cooked well done and was poor quality. Also sandwiches are much more prevalent and sauce on it (still more of the culture than anything else). Good BBQ can be found, but it isn't easy. more importantly it is possible to find some really good sausage and chicken. I'm convinced great BBQ is only at TC's. I always order one large brisket sandwich and one large BBQ ham sandwich, sauce on the side. And if I'm feeling up to it I will grab a link of homemade sausage.
Please excuse the horrible typos in my first comment.
I understand Drew...different strokes for different folks. I might try them again as I drive up to the Panhandle once or twice a year via 183 to Brownwood.
Speaking of...I hear people say Sammy's BBQ in Borger, TX (where I'm from) is pretty good...but I've yet to try it myself and am pretty skeptical. Its probably too far north for you anyway.
-casey
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