Texas barbecue worth the line

Central Texas brisket doctrine, plus Houston and Dallas. Arrive early — they sell out.

Bookmarks

1. Franklin Barbecue

   5/5

   The line runs hours; the brisket ends the argument anyway.

   Franklin Barbecue, Austin

2. Snow’s BBQ

   5/5

   Saturdays from 8 a.m. in a town of 1,200; Tootsie’s pits repay the drive.

   Snow’s BBQ, Lexington

3. Louie Mueller Barbecue

   5/5

   Smoke-darkened walls since 1949; the beef rib is the size of a forearm.

   Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor

4. Kreuz Market

   4/5

   No sauce, no forks, meat on butcher paper — Lockhart doctrine since 1900.

   Kreuz Market, Lockhart

5. Smitty’s Market

   4/5

   The old Kreuz building, pits burning right by the door you walk in through.

   Smitty’s Market, Lockhart

6. Black’s Barbecue

   4/5

   Same family since 1932, and the most complete plate in Lockhart.

   Black’s Barbecue, Lockhart

7. la Barbecue

   4/5

   Austin’s other great line, and the better sausage of the two.

   la Barbecue, Austin

8. Truth BBQ

   4/5

   Houston’s answer — brisket to match Austin and layer cakes nobody skips.

   Truth BBQ, Houston

9. Pecan Lodge

   4/5

   The Deep Ellum smokehouse that made Dallas a barbecue city again.

   Pecan Lodge, Dallas