Making the list is sort of like getting selected for an Academy Award–one will always be able to tout that exclusivity; your description henceforth can include the reference.
Barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn sharpens his pencils every four years for this list, which ranks the top 10 barbecue spots and lists the remaining 40 by city. To compile the list, "taste testers drove thousands of miles across the state in late 2024," according to the article, which you'll need a subscription to read. Those tasters visited a total of 319 barbecue joints; visits are not coordinated with the restaurants, no one knows when Vaughn or others will show up, and Texas Monthly pays for its own meals.
Vaughn notes that while eating barbecue for a living is good work if you can get it, there were moments when it was "tedious and exhausting to parse the often minute differences among so many meals."
What's Good Around Here?
Four years ago, Goldee's in Fort Worth took the exclusive No. 1 spot on the list and retained its placement in the top 10, although it fell to third overall. Since the high marks last time, the crowds have relentlessly lined up at this rustic spot. Texas Monthly notes, "We’re pleased to report that the Goldee’s crew has not faltered as hungry hordes have descended upon this modest joint a half mile down a country road from the county landfill."Party tip: You may not have to show up hours in advance now that it's not No. 1 (although you actually probably will). If you decide to make the journey, Texas Monthly reports that the "Sunday-only bread pudding is so heavenly that God might skip church for it."
Dayne's Craft Barbecue in Aledo moved up from the general top 50 in 2021 to No. 7 on this year's list.
Cattlelack, which is a Michelin-recommended spot, dropped from No. 6 to the top 50.
The Others
Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin took top smoke honors this year. As someone who grew up not far from Seguin, this is stunning.The No. 2 spot on the list went to LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin, where the director of the Michelin Guide dined when he was in Austin last year for a press trip promoting their hotel guide. If you're in Austin, this is worth standing in line for hours for. Speaking of which, Franklin Barbecue is not in the top 10 but is in the top 50.
No. 3 - Goldee's Barbecue (Fort Worth)
No. 4 - Redbird BBQ (Port Neches)
No. 5 - GW's BBQ (San Juan)
No. 6 - InterStellar BBQ (Austin)
No. 7 - Dayne's Craft Barbecue (Aledo)
No. 8 - LaVaca BBQ (Port Lavaca)
No. 9 - Truth Barbeque (Houston)
No. 10 - Evie Mae's Pit Barbecue (Wolfforth)
Here's a look at how North Texas spots moved among the list:
Goldee's (Fort Worth): Dropped from No. 1 to No. 3
Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth): Dropped from No. 10 to the top 50
Cattleack (Farmers Branch): Dropped from No. 6 to the top 50
Dayne's Craft Barbecue (Aledo): Moved up from the top 50 to No. 7
Smokey Joe's BBQ (Dallas): Stayed in the top 50
Slow Bone (Dallas): Stayed in the top 50
North Texas Spots new to the top 50:
North Texas Smoke BBQ (Decatur)
Yearby's BBQ and Waterice (Pilot Point)
Sabar BBQ (Fort Worth)
Smoak Town BBQ (Fate)
This year, Texas Monthly added a supplemental list of 50 honorable mentions.
The following spots fell from the top 50 in 2021 to the honorable mention list:
Zavala's Barbecue (Grand Prairie)
Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington and Dallas)
Terry Black's (Austin and Dallas)
Smoke-A-Holics (Fort Worth)
Hutchins (McKinney)
Smoke 'N' Ash in Arlington, a recommended spot in the Michelin Guide, made the honorable mention list.
