Although Texas is known for many things, barbecue might take the cake in the Lone Star State. Typically, Texas-style barbecue is noted for its beef-heavy specialties (i.e., brisket) and a focus on dry rubs to highlight the meat, rather than saucy dishes. You can indulge in barbecue throughout the state, like in Lockhart, the overlooked foodie city called “Texas’s BBQ Capital”. However, today we’re taking a narrow approach to our search for the best barbecue restaurants. Rather than looking at a city or region, we’re fixated on the downtown area of Houston.
As you’re busy experiencing Houston’s most popular sites, including underrated destinations for tourists to visit, you can add some delicious barbecue to your itinerary. Although we’ve drafted a list of the top five, there are plenty of options available, especially as you venture further out from the center of town. We created this list by sifting through online reviews and dismissing restaurants with low ratings or scant comments from guests. Because there aren’t five official barbecue spots in the Downtown District, we expanded our search to include neighboring districts as well, such as Montrose and Houston Heights. Without further ado, these are the five best barbecue joints in Houston.
The Pit Room
Kicking things off is both the most-reviewed and highly rated barbecue restaurant in the downtown Houston area. Although the Pit Room is technically tied for star rating with Truth Barbecue, it has almost double the reviews, cementing its status as number one. At the time of this writing, the Pit Room has 4.5 stars and over 7,300 reviews on Google. It’s also fitting that this restaurant is in Montrose, Houston’s most eclectic neighborhood, a creative powerhouse with world-class art and a busy nightlife.
Based on reviews, The Pit Room fires on all cylinders, with quick, friendly service, incredible food, and a lively, casual atmosphere. The dishes that receive the most shout-outs include the jalapeno sausage, the brisket, and the breakfast tacos. If you’re out and about during breakfast and want something a bit bolder than traditional pancakes and omelets, the Pit Room is a fantastic choice. According to the website, breakfast tacos are served from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and the regular barbecue menu starts at 11 a.m. daily. Oddly enough, the Pit Room also features a happy hour that runs from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a different deal every day…