Jennings & Co. BBQ in Montgomery

Texas Monthly magazine’s quadrennial “The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas” list dropped this week, and elicited the inevitable debate and hot takes about what makes smoked meat in the Lone Star State so exceptional.

In what may be the least controversial pick in the list, Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin took the number one spot, with LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin coming in at number two. Truth Barbeque came in at number nine – the only Houston joint in the Top 10.

GUIDE: Our list of Houston's very best barbecue joints

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At first glance, the rest of Houston’s barbecue heavyweights seemed to take a hit. Indeed, some of the biggest names were relegated from Top 50 spots in the 2021 list to the 2025 Honorable Mention list, effectively ranking somewhere in the 50–100........

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