Knoxville-inspired hickory smoke and savory vinegar based sauces are at the forefront of this Tennessee-style outpost from husband and wife team James and Karen Fain. The duo first gained loyal fans in Meyerland before opening up shop in the artsy Sawyer Yards district in 2020 and keying in on what sets them apart: smoked vegetarian and vegan options. Feast on dishes like Mama’s Backyard BBQ cauliflower, chickpea salad, and spinach casserole alongside staples like badass pulled pork, and ribs.

Down near Galveston Bay lies a smokin’ newcomer that’s already garnering fans far and wide: Central Texas-style BBQ truck Smokin’ Z’s. Aside from their solid version of the traditional stuff, husband and wife duo Zaid and Mallory Al-Jazrawi put out outrageous riffs on just about everything else. Expect a gooey mac’ and cheese bowl ladled with pulled pork, pork belly BLTs, brisket grilled cheese, and even a smoked cheesecake.

This family-run fan favorite underwent a bigger, better facelift when it moved from 19th to its new location on Ella. Order pit boss Greg Gatlin’s trio of smoked ribs (there’s a short and meaty baby back varietal, a St. Louis-style spare rib, and a megaton beef number) and engage your inner-caveman as gnaw ‘em straight down to the bone or change it up with a fully loaded "kitchen sink" sandwich. Either way, you’ll want to accompany your main with giblet-laden dirty rice.

These blood brothers opened their brick-and-mortar location in Bellaire in 2018, taking inspiration from their Chinese and Vietnamese roots to create next-gen, outside-the-box barbecue that challenges everything you thought you knew about smoked cuisine. Get ingenious specials like brisket burnt end steamed buns, gochujang glazed pork ribs, smoked turkey banh mi, and thit nuong pork belly, among other enticements.

Helmed by married duo Russell and Misty Roegels, this cult favorite brings the heat with its righteous fat-capped brisket and beef rib, both of which come smoked beneath a gorgeous, crusty, jet-black bark. Said brisket was an instant hit, even earning the smokehouse a spot on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 list back in 2017. Since then, the hype has continued thanks to a new special: the Thursday-only smoked pastrami reubens that sell out each and every week.

Once a pink & black trailer, this now-bigger pink-and-black brick-and-mortar outpost is co-owned by BBQ hotshots Will and Nichole Buck. With a silky, perfectly-rendered cap and crusty, blackened bark, the brisket here is one of the finest specimens in all of Houston. Venture out to Spring to grab some, then blissfully destroy it alongside stupendously blistered ribs, overloaded taters, and snappy pork sausage.

Over in the oldest town in Tomball, this sweet and smokey chocolate and barbecue joint is absolutely killing the game. Regarded as one of the best spots in and around Houston for slow-smoked, USDA certified 100% all-natural Prime grade brisket (don’t forget the burnt ends) alongside pork belly and ribs, chile relleno sausages, and daily specials like barbacoa tacos, pastrami beef ribs, and Tejas cheesesteak wraps. Yes, you can get truffles and chocolate bars to-go, too.

Trained first in Switzerland then later by some dude named Wolfgang Puck, chef Ara Malekian developed an affinity for Texas barbecue after years traversing the global restaurant scene. Enter his smokin’ hot slow-and-low emporium, set on the outskirts of town in a rustic shack off Harlem Road. There, Malekian applies chefy French techniques to his food, infusing smoked chicken, brisket, and pork with the staves of vintage oak wine barrels, incorporating fat drippings into everything.

Husband and wife team Patrick Feges and Erin Smith have been fixtures in Houston’s restaurant scene for some time, honing their skills everywhere from Underbelly and Southern Goods (Feges) to Plonk! and Blacksmith (Smith), before they joined forces to open this Greenway Plaza food court spot in 2018. Offering next-level staples like ribs, brisket, and house-made sausage alongside specialties like pig wings and beef belly burnt ends plus unusually well-balanced sides like Moroccan-spiced carrots.

Before the world was turned upside-down, everything felt right when Brenham’s finest barbecue joint made its way to H-town, landing inside the loop in an unprecedented move. No longer barren of brisket, Washington Avenue now draws enthusiasts near and far. Hit it up to snag fatty, 18-hour-smoked brisket and succulent and crisp burnt ends, peppery pork ribs, and sides from old-school tater tot casserole to a corn pudding that you absolutely need in your mouth right now. Do not skip dessert.