Monday, July 11, 2011

What are the most overrated Texas BBQ joints?

We'll get into underrated places later. Today, I want to know what you think are the most overrated BBQ joints in Texas.

70 comments:

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Stubbs BBQ!!"

Extremely Entertained Husband said...

Goode Company

gachirayil said...

The Salt Lick

Anonymous said...

Rudy's

Fonty said...

Pappas bbq is so overrated.

Heath Cheek said...

Sonny Bryans

MikeDinATX said...

Rudy's - the favorite BBQ of Yankee transplants to TX.

Appleton said...

I'd agree with Drew and say "Stubbs," but I don't think anybody actually takes their food seriously anymore (including the Stubbs crew). Instead, I have to go with Meyer's in Elgin; pretty dreadful experience every time I've gone. Close contenders would be Sonny Bryan's and Rudy's -- the "Chili's" of BBQ.

Jacob said...

Easy choice: Salt Lick.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Rudy's, Dickey's, Salt Lick"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "it's a tough choice between Dickey's and Sonny Bryan's. People saying Rudy's are crazy. May not be Franklin but it's decent"

whargoul said...

Pecan Lodge

Anonymous said...

Black's. Just cuz its it lockhart doesn't make it good.

TexSquid said...

County Line..

BBQ for people that don't like to smell smoke

Annie Bulloch said...

Salt Lick, hands down.

Anonymous said...

Hard 8 in DFW. Great eye candy. Marketing Geniuses. Ordinary Q

Sarah said...

Stubbs. No question. I would say Salt Lick, but I love the pickles.

And Adam Richman went there. And my heart will always belong to Man v. Food.

Dustin said...

How can you say Salt Lick? Their sides are terrible but the meat is top notch. I'd go with Pappa's.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "any bbq joint that uses electric smokers...Texas BBQ should be wood smoked! If there isn't a pit..not worth a spit!"

JP aka Thechevychef said...

I would have to agree on Blacks as the highest rated and most disappointing to me. That said, I had a bite of their beef ribs off a friends plate that was most divine .

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "dickies has to lead the pack?"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Most Overrated, in the whole state: Pappas BBQ. Unbelievable they are related to Pappasitos and Pappadeaux"

Steve Labinski said...

Rudy's and Goode Company would make my list too.

BBQ Snob said...

The Original Sonny Bryan's in Dallas. For the record, in four visits, I've never had a bad meal at Black's.

Anonymous said...

With all the recent ridiculous hype I would have to say Franklin's. I have only had it once and the sausage was good, ribs were steamed out and brisket was cooked well but lacked flavor. I guess it's not always worth the wait!

GregS said...

Dickeys is terrible but so many people love it. I just don't get it. Salt Lick isn't bad, its just not top notch. I think most people go for the experience anyway.

Never been to Pappas just because I assumed it was overrated

Anonymous said...

I have to agree w/ the other anonymous person. Hard 8 in DFW is a major, major disappointment.

OL SKOOL TACTICS said...

Rudys Rudys Rudys! "Peeople Who Care About their Friends & Loved Ones do not take them to Rudys!"


Oh and VIC'S on the SouthSide of Austin...... Waaaaaowwww

You can do better @ HOME!

Lindsey said...

I think it's a hoot to see how many votes there are for Rudy's on here. I am from Texas (thank jeepers) but have lived in either Charlotte, NC or Northern Virginia for the last 7 years. I just heard someone say the other day, "Every time I go to DFW, I have to stop by Rudy's. They have the best BBQ on the planet!" Too funny. I just smile the knowing smile of someone who knows good BBQ. :)

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Salt Lick and here's why http://www.culinarycara.com/2011/03/salt-lick-not-as-seen-on-tv.html"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "My vote is for Coopers. While that may tick some people off, I've never really been impressed."

KB said...

It has to be Salt Lick. It's good, even really good on occasion, but the amount of people in the world/USA/Texas/Travis County who think The Lick is the greatest FOOD, much less barbecue, ever is mind-numbing.

Cooper's is a close second. Louie Mueller post-2008 is up there as well.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "we all know it's salt lick, by a mile."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "The Salt Lick."

BBQ Authority said...

Franklin's - Definitely not worth standing in line for 2 hours. Love the fact people are saying Salt Lick, that is my favorite restaurant in Austin and now maybe I won't have to wait an hour every time I eat there.

Jacob said...

I cry a bit everytime I see someone say Franklins is not worth the wait. I laugh when they say Salt Lick is.

Salt Lick is not only the most overrated, it is also one of the worst. The fact that the automatically pour bbq sauce on their food should be your first warning. If not the dried out overpriced small serving food will due.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Give me Sonny Bryan's over Salt Lick by a hair..."

WittyKitty said...

Salt Lick and Rudy's.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "The Salt Lick and Stubb's"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "The most overrated? Salt Lick BBQ: Tough brisket, chewy ribs and no smoke flavor; they cheat by using gas, then lie about it."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Salt Lick, Rudy's & Coopers=terrible, artless BBQ. But Kreuz Market=most overrated: worst in Lockhart, tough brisket & ribs."

Karla May said...

Salt Lick.

Willis said...

Stanley's in Tyler, TX. Always gets mentions in Texas Monthly, and I'll never know why.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Franklin's."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Salt Lick.... Don't get the Rudy's hate... Pretty solid and I've never heard anyone claim it was the best/should be Top 50."

Aaron said...

It has to be rated to be overrated, right? So therefor I think that Rudys and Stubbs are out. But I agree with Salt Lick, if it weren't for the BYOB, Sauce, and bread it would be out! My main gripe is currently Franklin. Sorry fanboys, it ain't that good.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Putting Franklin BBQ on the "overrated" list is insane. Franklin=unparalleled; best in TX, wonderful ppl. 100% worth the wait"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Salt Lick & Kreuz Market"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "dickey's"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "County Line"

Drew Thornley said...

From my buddy Matthew Diffie (http://matthewdiffee.com/): "I hate to hear all the Sonny Bryan's mentions here. I grew up on that stuff. Sad to learn something you used to love ain't that great. Like watching The Karate Kid as a grown-up. Furthermore, I wanted to hate on Franklin's and Snow's so I could be in the cool kid's club, but head-to-head with 22 other Texas joints at the recent Texas Monthly BBQ fest, their brisket was way, way better. Ridiculously better. And Black's is wonderful too if you order correctly."

cowboysandchuckwagoncooking said...

Most seem to believe it's Rudy's. However, I'm not buying it. They offer atmosphere but I would agree, their BBQ sauces lack. However, while SNOW'S is to die for, I'm not waiting until Saturday to enjoy eating the taste of TEXAS. My pick of the over rated, JOE COTTON, Robstown, Texas. Just because you serve a former President some BBQ does not make you the king of TEXAS BBQ.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "And yes, that's another vote for Rudy's. Spring Creek's a close second...it is terrible but people with bad taste <3 it!"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Stubbs by far. wasn't too impressed back in the early 2000's. Gave them another chance recently. Still not impressed."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Tom & Bingo's in Lubbock. They are in the TM Top 50, yet they don't serve ribs or sausage."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "County Line"

Anonymous said...

What about Bill Miller bbq? I thought about Rudy's but they are good in comparison! Just don't think they focus on their sides.

Black's has the best sausage I've tasted in a long time and i'ts one of my favorites other than City Market.

County Line is also delicious--love their peppered turkey and the bread is awesome.

Jared said...

I'm curious as to people's reasoning for saying Franklin's is overrated. If you eat BBQ every day, maybe the two hour wait isn't for you but, if it's the line they're griping about, I'd rather wait for excellent BBQ (or any type of food) than walk in and immediately be served sub-par 'cue. Waited in line for Franklin's every Friday for 8+ weeks in a row last summer and don't regret a second of it. Gonna make a generalization and say the same people probably also think Uchi and Uchiko are overpriced.

As to the most overrated BBQ joint, I've gotta say Kreuz and Snow's. I'll give Snow's the benefit of the doubt that they had an off day (it was cold and damp when I went so that's entirely possible). I gave Kreuz the benefit when I went, too, but I've heard too many other people have the same opinion that Kreuz is just not producing quality BBQ anymore. People buy into the hype and notoriety around Kreuz, just like Salt Lick. Personally, my favorite in Lockhart is Black's. Severely UNDERrated thanks to all the TV time the Smitty's/Kreuz "feud" gets.

Kreuz doesn't live up to the hype. No hype around Franklin's, just real good BBQ.

"Now hype is something that's not for real. I'm all real." - Boobie Miles

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "FRANKLIN'S BBQ!!! I just don't get the hype about that place. Their BBQ is ho-hum at best. Not worth the time in line."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "To those who are saying Franklins, I offer this - Are you people on crack!? Dickeys, Meyers and Woody's in Centerville"

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Black's, County Line and most over-rated in TEXAS......Sonny Bryan's by far."

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Bodacious, at least in NE Texas"

Ashton1961 said...

Stubbs, Salt Lick, Black's, Kruez & Sonny Bryans have all gone the way of quantity not quality they are riding on thier names, they no longer have it. The food is edible but its not what it once was.
To my way of thinking Pappas, Bill Miller & Rudy's are the Taco bell of the BBQ world.

Drew Thornley said...

Twitter reply: "Lots of BBQ is overrated. Most UNDERrated and unknown is Cele Store."

Unknown said...

Dickey's in Texas, Corky's in Memphis.

TexasPitMaster said...

I've been away from Texas quite awhile...and never had the chance to taste barbecue from any of the above listed spots...but IMHO, Angelo's in Ft. Worth/White Settlement is THE most over rated spot I've tried.

Unknown said...

The choice is easy! The Rusty bucket hands down! I have been there once (easily the worst bbq resturant not just on Cupples road but in all of San Antonio) never go there again! Avoid it like the plague!

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