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BEST RATED HOUSTON, TX BARBECUE RESTAURANTS

3 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Houston, TX

Expert-recommended Top 3 BBQ Restaurants in Houston, Texas. All of our barbecue restaurants actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

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THE PIT ROOM REVIEWS

Great find! It's not wonder it has so many positive reviews. The food is delicious, reasonably priced, and even with a line, it goes fast. I got the 3 meat platter with brisket, pork rib, and a beef sausage. The rib and brisket were excellent. The sausage was ok. I got the charred green beans and Mac n Cheese. 2 good options. There's plenty of inside and outside seating, but it does get quite crowded. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're in Houston.

This place is definitely the real deal! I’m glad we got there “early” at 6 pm because by 7 there was a line out the door and down the block! This was on a Thursday night. Try the coffee BBQ sauce- it is different but grows on you! All of the dishes were unique and they aren’t dialing it in here. Eat outside on the shared patio.

We ordered a 3 meat plate with pork ribs, brisket and jalapeño cheddar sausage. For our sides we ordered the corn, green beans, and Mac n cheese. The meats were flavorful and tender. The ribs were definitely better without BBQ sauce. Highly recommend as we will be back for more!

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PINKERTON'S BARBECUE HOUSTON REVIEWS

Pinkerton’s Barbecue is an outstanding BBQ spot in Houston that delivers authentic flavors with plenty of charm and character. The atmosphere perfectly complements the food—simple, welcoming, and true to its roots. The brisket is the highlight here—tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection, with just the right amount of smoky depth. The sausage, however, truly stands out; it’s easily the best I’ve ever had, with a bold flavor and perfect snap. For anyone visiting Houston, Pinkerton’s is a must. It captures the essence of Texas barbecue in a way that’s both classic and memorable.

Had a great meal here! Killer brisket like so many have posted. We loved the chicken and sausage also. Great potato salad. Just across the board fantastic. We were comparing notes with another group and the pit master overheard and brought us back to the pits. Patrick the pit master was so cool, explained their process (someone there 24 hours a day watching the fires!!) and talked bbq. Made a great meal better to see the care that goes into everything.

Chose this place after searching for popular BBQ in Houston and it was excellent. The meat was extremely tender and melts as you are eating it. I got a half pound of the sliced brisket with jalapeño cheese rice and potato salad. The potato salad was a little more pungent than I expected so beware if you're looking for something a little more bland to balance out the meat. But regardless it was obvious why this place is so loved.

RAYS REAL PIT BBQ SHACK REVIEWS

Being from Kansas City, I was nervous about this place but it was good! The cucumber salad was refreshing, sauce was a great addition to the brisket, and the baked beans were yummy! The staff were nice and the tables were nice and clean. I can’t complain!

Ordered two fish family packs and a 3 meat plate. Pleasantly surprised on how much fish comes in each fish family pack! Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Definitely will order again.

The best BBQ on the Southside! Brisket was tender, ribs were great and the dirty rice was even better! I had the two meat plate, ate about half, and was stuffed. Run don’t walk!

TBR® Inspection Score Report

THE PIT ROOM Total Inspection Points: 117/120
Business Hours: 9
Variety of Menu: 9
Social Media: 9
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Reviews Accuracy of 14.6K: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

PINKERTON'S BARBECUE HOUSTON Total Inspection Points: 115/120
Business Hours: 9
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Variety of Menu: 9
Social Media: 9
Menu Images: 10
Current Evaluation: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

RAYS REAL PIT BBQ SHACK Total Inspection Points: 114/120
Complete Info: 8
Business Hours: 9
Reviews Accuracy of 6.7K: 9
Variety of Menu: 9
Social Media: 9
Menu Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10