Barbecuing and Grilling

An Aggie Tradition

The Brisket House on Woodway serves up a College Station classic.

Chef Chat, Part 1: Ray Busch of Ray's Real Pit BBQ Shack

Photo by Mandy OaklanderRay Busch mans the barbecue pit.​Houston's most aromatic gas station is the Shell on Old Spanish Trail in Central South. It's right next door to Ray's Real Pit BBQ Shack, a brand-new restaurant that's been pumping out mouthwatering smells and authentic Texas barbecue si ... More >>

A Side Lover's Lament

ilovememphis​Stop right there before you head down to comment land at the bottom of the page and write, "You don't go to barbecue restaurants for the sides." Don't even think of writing that -- it's just a dumb thing to say. If barbecue restaurants don't want to be judged on their sides, then ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Gilbert Arismendez of Phil's Texas Barbecue

Photo by Tam Vo​We continue our chat with Gilbert Arismendez, the pitmaster of Phil's Texas Barbecue, to see how Phil's is trying to set itself apart from the local competition. The pitmaster will also give some expert smoking advice and discuss his favorite woods for smoking. EOW: Phil's is ... More >>

Recipe: Lengua

TLGB​ Lengua is one of those foods that might gross you out just by the sheer fact of what it is. Mom used to always just coat it in barbecue sauce, so the kids never knew what they were eating and gobbled it down with rice. Today it's still darn tasty, with a texture of well-cooked, soft (not ... More >>

Dish: Bobbie Que's Rib Shack

Butcher Knows Best

​Before our recent New Orleans road trip, we asked a few friends about places to go in New Orleans. We got some expected answers, like Commander's Palace, Parasol's Po-boys, Central Grocery and August. But we also got suggestions along the lines of, "For the love of God, you must go see Butche ... More >>

Dual Sausage Poor Boy

​A barbecue sausage poor boy is a novel idea to begin with, but a barbecue sausage poor boy made with two varieties of housemade links really gets my attention. That's the sandwich the counter man at Hungry Farmer barbecue restaurant on Crosstimbers recommended. He claimed that the restaurant ... More >>

Best Barbecued Brisket in Texas

​"What's the secret of smoking brisket?" I asked Cecil Sanchez, proprietor and pit boss at Mustang Creek B-B-Q, the source of my favorite barbecued brisket. "Practice," he said as he carved me some fatty-end meat for a sandwich. "I've been doing this every day for 30 years." I can't say th ... More >>

A Palestinian-Texan BBQ Sandwich

Photo by Robb Walsh​I ate a brisket and sausage sandwich the other day at the new Brookstreet BBQ location on Westheimer west of Beltway 8. Ever since I ate the Bohemian Special at Mustang Creek BBQ in Louise, I have been trying to recreate the brisket and sausage sandwich at every barbecue ... More >>

All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Comedy

My brother Dave is a restaurant purveyor, and he once specialized in Chinese restaurants. Dave memorized the funniest lines from portly stand-up comic John Pinette's hilarious bit about being banned from the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. Dave launches into the outraged Chinese restaurant-owner r ... More >>

Landowner's Challenge at West Alabama Ice House

Photos by J.C. Reid​The West Alabama Ice House recently hosted the final round of the "Win Texas Land" promotion sponsored by Lone Star Beer. The premise is simple: Pass various tests which prove your true Texan-ness and win some Texas land. Three finalists participated: Corey Lossing of Ingle ... More >>

The Worst Brisket I Ever Ate

Photos by Robb Walsh​Sampling the goods at shade-tree barbecue stands is one of my favorite pursuits. So when I saw a smoking barbecue trailer with a crowd around it in a parking lot on Fry Road just north of the Katy Freeway last Saturday, I pulled over and checked it out. The sign advertised ... More >>

French-Vietnamese Open-Faced Sandwiches at Parisian Bakery

Photo by Robb Walsh​The small banh mi rolls are six for a dollar at the Parisian Bakery next to the giant Viet Hoa supermarket in the Asian shopping center west of Beltway 8 at the Beechnut exit. While I was filling up a bag with the Vietnamese bolillos, I noticed some fine-looking savory past ... More >>

Grilling Recipe: Kalbi Fajitas

Photo by Robb WalshWhile I was working on this week's feature story, "Not So Clear Cut," I grilled a lot of different beef cuts fajita-style and asked my friends and family what they thought. The hands-down favorite at every taste test was the short rib meat. It was also the cheapest. I bought a big ... More >>

PJ Stoops' Fishmonger's Booth

Photo by Robb Walsh PJ Stoops has a fishmonger's booth at the Bayou City Farmer's Market at 3000 Richmond most Saturday mornings. He told me he lived in Lake Jackson and made the rounds of the docks where fishing boats pull in early in the morning. He buys good-looking fish right off the boat, vacu ... More >>

The Rodeo's Schedule Ain't What It Used To Be

Alright, so blogging has caused us to pay a little more attention to the rodeo than we usually do, which isn't difficult to achieve, given how much attention we paid to it in the past.But what's up with the gap in scheduling? We thought these things were etched in stone: Go Texan Day, parade, and th ... More >>

Flavors of the 5th: Davis Meat Co. BBQ

The barbecue at Davis Meat Co. on Lockwood is worthy of your attention. The brisket is tender, juicy and tastes fabulous on a sandwich. And the housemade coarsely-ground pork and beef link is one of the best sausages made within the city limits. Unfortunately, the pork ribs come from oversize slab ... More >>

Thelma's Closed By Fire

Nationally famous Thelma's Bar B Que at 1020 Live Oak closed due to a fire. The front of the business appeared as ramshackle as always, but a sign on the door announced the bad news. The rear of the building where the barbecue pit used to be was badly damaged as was the kitchen area. The old-fash ... More >>

Smoke Toys: BBQ Pits by Klose

Texas Food at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.

Sugar Lump’s Fine BBQ Just Outside Lubbock

Back in Business at Kozy Kitchen

Kolaches! (Way Outside The Loop)

Luling Bar-B-Q and Bar Opens in Midtown

$13 at Pappas Bar-B-Q

Bulgoki Burger on the Gulf Freeway

Crab Invasion

Sartin's

Texas Burger Binge

Our food critic reports on the state of the Texas burger -- and recommends 18 you need to try immediately

Barbecue Identity Theft

If it ain’t from Luling, why do they call it Luling City Market?

Best Chicken-Fried Steak

Best Tofu/Soy Products

Sunnyside Sup

Reid's is an awesome barbecue time capsule

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Thelma's Bar-B-Que

Best Barbecued Veal

Kozy Kitchen

Barbecued Squid

A special dish scores as the Seoul food of Korea Garden

Letters

A Dozen Brisket Sandwiches

The best black East Texas barbecue within an hour of downtown

Best Drive-Thru

Pappas Bar-B-Q

Wheat Meat

Naturally Yours Café

Best Asian Grocery

Dynasty Supermarket

Greater Houston's Greatest Pits

Ten of the best old-fashioned barbecue pits within a one-hour drive of downtown Houston

Hogg Leftovers

Dish

Hobbit's New Hole

Brilliant Korea

At Nam Gang, flavors are anything but dull

Hot Plate

Dish

Cook Gets Two Beards

The Church of the Immaculate Barbecue

Heaven has its smoking pits too -- at New Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville

Hot Plate