Texas Monthly BBQ List Drops

Texas Monthly has dropped their much anticipated BBQ list. It’s full of surprises; the traditional stalwarts have been pushed aside to make room for newer, trendier joints. Here’s their new Top 10:

1. Goldee’s Barbecue (Fort Worth – 2020)
2. InterStellar BBQ (Austin – 2019)
3. Truth Barbeque (Houston – 2015)
4. Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin – 2020)
5. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue (Austin – 2017)
6. Cattleack Barbeque (Dallas – 2013)
7. Franklin Barbecue (Austin – 2009)
8. Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque (Wolfforth – 2015)
9. Snow’s BBQ (Lexington – 2003)
10. Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth – 2018)

For the first time, I think Texas Monthly really screwed up. They’ve always had a bit of a pro-Austin bias (they’re based there, duh) but it seems like they’ve gone full hipster on us. BBQ joints with less than two years of tenure are crowned among the Top 10. Like far too many food writers, the focus seems firmly fixated on the new, rather than the best. That’s inexcusable in a list like this. Barbecue takes time to perfect, and consistency takes even longer.

No pits established before 2003 were recognized in the Top 10. Only two were established before 2010: Franklin and Snow’s, two previous #1’s that they couldn’t leave off this list… but neither made the top five. Honestly, I’m surprised that “Instagram Opportunities” wasn’t a listed criterion for selection.

Yes, even lauded BBQ temples like Snow’s and Franklin have been pushed down the list to make room for the flavors of the month that Texas Monthly is rushing to recognize. The Houston area is massively underrepresented; word-class pits Corkscrew and Tejas dropped out of the Top 10 entirely, although they were recognized among the 50 Best.

There are some bright spots. Blood Brothers and Mimsy’s were recognized for their efforts, appearing further down the list. Newer pits like these deserve the recognition they earned, down the list, among the best, but not in the Top 10.

What are your thoughts?