Barbecue lovers, listen up. After four years, Texas Monthly has released its highly anticipated roundup: “The 50 Best BBQ Joints” in Texas. Through extensive research, a team of staffers, and freelancers, the magazine has put forth its definitive guide of the best barbecue in the state. Lucky for us, the magazine’s best barbecue in Texas roundup includes numerous restaurants in Dallas and Fort Worth areas.
What is the Significance of Texas Monthly “50 Best BBQ Joints” article?
The Texas Monthly “Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas” is a much-anticipated list released every four years, widely regarded as the ultimate guide to the best barbecue spots in the state. Curated by Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor, Daniel Vaughn, the list is the product of rigorous research and thousands of miles spent traveling across Texas to assess and rank joints based on their quality, consistency, and overall experience.
The last edition of the best barbecue roundup was released in 2021. Here, Texas Monthly featured three DFW barbecue restaurants in the top 10: Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth at No. 10, Cattleack Barbecue in Dallas at No. 6, and at No. 1: Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth.
What Dallas and Fort Worth barbecue restaurants featured on the Texas Monthly 2025 BBQ List?
This year, only two DFW area barbecue joints cracked the top 10 of the “Best BBQ Joint in Texas” list: Goldee’s Barbecue. The placement at No. 3 is bittersweet, as previously mentioned, the Fort Worth barbecue hotspot was crowned the best barbecue in Texas in 2021. Here’s what Texas Monthly had to say about Goldee’s Barbecue:
“On a beautiful morning last fall, we were tenth in line three hours before opening. The struggle was forgotten as soon as we sat down with the brisket that can only be described as perfect, which is remarkable given that the cut is Choice grade,” the publication reads.
“The turkey is so juiced we thought about having it checked for performance enhancers. It was joined by perfectly rendered pork belly, lightly sauced pork ribs, and impressive sides of pork hash with rice and crunchy kale-and-cabbage slaw.”
Aledo’s Dayne’s Craft Barbecue ranked at No. 7.
Other DFW barbecue restaurants to feature on the list at large include: Panther City BBQ, Hurtado, and Sabar BBQ in Fort Worth and Slow Bone BBQ and Smokey Joe’s BBQ in Dallas. Other North Texas establishments to make the greater list include: North Texas Smoke BBQ in Decatur, Slaughter’s BBQ in Sulphur Springs, Smoak Town BBQ in Fate, Cattleack Barbecue in Farmer’s Branch, and Yearby’s Barbecue and Waterice in Pilot Point.
What are the best barbecue restaurants in Texas according to Texas Monthly?
The 2025 edition of the “50 Best BBQ Joint in Texas” names Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin as the No. 1 barbecue establishment in the state. See the top 10 in Texas below:
- Burnt Bean Co. – Seguin
- LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue – Austin
- Goldee’s Barbecue – Fort Worth
- Redbird BBQ – Port Neches
- GW’s BBQ – San Juan
- InterStellar BBQ – Austin
- Dayne’s Craft Barbecue – Aledo
- LaVaca BBQ – Port Lavaca
- Truth Barbecue – Houston
- Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue – Wolfforth