Tales from the pits, a Texas BBQ podcast featuring trendsetters, leaders, and icons from the barbecue industry

Ep.162 - The Great Texas BBQ Hunt - 100 spots we considered

When we began our quest to determine the 20 best BBQ spots in Texas, we knew it would be difficult. It proved even harder than we suspected, but we’re finally finished with our search and will soon be unveiling our rankings. Tune in to this one to hear which 100 places we considered and what our ranking criteria was.

We spent much of 2021 on the road traveling all over Texas, eating a lot of great barbecue and trying to narrow down a very crowded field of quality spots. A huge thanks goes out to all of the friends we met along the way who helped us take on this ambitious task.

We will be launching a companion website in the near future to keep you up to date on the show and provide more detail on our Great Texas BBQ Hunt. We will be including a map of all the spots, specific items to order, and episode links to places we’ve had on the podcast.  

Instagram: talesfromthepits

Twitter: bbqpodcast

 

Ep. 161 - Forth Worth Pitmaster Roundtable

No region of Texas has seen a larger increase in both the quality and quantity of good barbecue options the last few years than the Fort Worth area. While other cities have gotten plenty of rightful acclaim for their roster of BBQ spots, not as much focus has been placed on what has developed in North Texas. We were fortunate to be able to get together with some of the finest cooks and business owners in the region to help shine more light on this burgeoning scene.

 

Note: there is some colorful language in this episode, please be advised. 

 

A huge thank you to Chelsea Machuca from Ben E Keith  Foods for providing the beverages for this episode, thanks to Goldee's for hosting this event, and of course thank you to all of the participants who carved out time to sit down and chat with us about their business and the Fort Worth/Mid Cities BBQ Scene. Please give us (talesfromthepits) and all of these fine BBQ places a follow on Instagram and if you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, rate and review us on your preferred podcast listening app.

 

Heim BBQ: One of the early spots in the area when they began operating out of a food truck in 2015, Travis and Emma Heim have grown their business over the years to include multiple locations serving lunch and dinner all across the DFW area. Instagram: heimbarbecue

 

Goldee’s BBQ: This talented crew cut their teeth learning craft BBQ in Austin before moving back home to open a brick and mortar in Fort Worth. Goldee's has quickly earned acclaim for their well smoked meats and the meticulous care taken in producing strong sides and even housemade bread. Instagram: goldeesbbq

 

Smokeaholics BBQ: Derrick Walker has been a part of Fort Worth barbecue for many years, starting with pop ups om 2006. His brick and mortar spot in south Fort Worth serves what he calls “Tex Soul,” incorporating flavors he grew up with into Texas ‘cue. Instagram: smokeahlicsbbq

 

Zavala’s BBQ: Joe Zavala evolved his dream of “just serving brisket and beans” into a full fledged menu of sides, an array of meats, and specials such as cirispitos and cheese and fajitas out of his brick and mortar in Grand Prairie. The Zavala's building is also home to their second business, Mas Coffee Co, serving artisan coffee alongside Zavala's breakfast tacos. Instagram: zavalasbarbecue

 

Panther City BBQ: Chris Magallanes and Ernest Morales started in a small food truck in the original Heim BBQ spot partnered with a bar in Fort Worth. Their business has grown to include a large covered patio and indoor dining spot where locals can get their signature food, a mix of central Texas style barbecue and the Mexican food culture they grew up with. Instagram: panthercitybbq

 

Hurtado BBQ: Brandon Hurtado burst onto the scene doing pop ups at local breweries. The business quickly evolved into a food truck and just as quickly outgrew that as they gained more notoriety. Hurtado can now be found at their brick and mortar location in Arlington serving an eclectic menu of Central Texas meets Mexican influence. Instagram: hurtadobbq

 

Brix BBQ: Trevor Sales might be a relatively new Texan, migrating to Fort Worth from the Midwest in 2017, but he quickly fell in love with Texas barbecue when he arrived. The Brix menu has the staple Texas items, but their team has also added a lot of creativity to the mix by drawing on things they love to eat like such as hot chicken sandwiches. They can currently be found across from a brewery in Fort Worth, but recently announced plans for a permanent restaurant in the same area. Instagram: brixbarbecue

 

Dayne’s Craft BBQ: Dayne Weaver is another self taught Texan who caught wind of the craft barbecue movement and was soon obsessed with learning the processes. After a couple of years of pop ups (both from his house and partnered with local spots), the Dayne's team bought a food trailer and set down roots at Lola’s, a bar in Fort Worth. Instagram: daynetxbbq

 

Ep. 160 - Rejino BBQ

Aaron and Christina Rejino grew up in West Texas enjoying family barbecues, but it was their first encounter with craft barbecue on a trip to Houston that started them along a path that would lead them to leave their day jobs to open a barbecue trailer in Olton, Texas.

It took some time to start building their audience, but accolades would come their way in the form of positive reviews and a spot on the Texas Monthly Best New 25 BBQ Places list in 2019 helped give them the jolt they needed.

Serving central Texas staples like bark-y brisket and housemade sausage along with quality sides and desserts, Rejino is a place you’ll want to get to when traveling through West Texas and the Panhandle.

Rejino BBQ
514 8th Street
Olton, TX
Thu -Sat: 11 - sellout

Instagram: RejinoBBQ

 

Ep. 159 - Dayne's Craft BBQ

Dayne Weaver started his BBQ journey selling food from his front yard and in a few short years has built his business into one of the most exciting places for craft barbecue in all of Texas. After meeting and striking up a friendship with Thomas Loven, the leadership core of Dayne’s Craft Barbecue began to take shape.

Every Friday through Sunday Dayne, his wife Ashley, and Thomas serve up delicious meats, sides and desserts at Lola’s Trailer Park bar in Fort Worth where the guests can have some adult beverages and listen to live music along with sampling great barbecue.


Instagram: Daynetxbbq
Thomas’ Instagram: LovenLovenLoven
Website: daynescraftbarbecue.com

Open Fri-Sun 11 am - 4 pm or sellout
Closed the final Sunday of each month

Ep. 158 Pitforks and Smokerings

Isaac Arellano never dreamed he’d one day turn his family’s full service gas station into a BBQ spot, but life has a funny way of working out. After delving into the competition cooking world a bit, Isaac got bit by the barbecue bug and quickly started down the path that has lead so many to retail BBQ in recent years.

Along with his wife Ashley, Isaac began to explore the idea of selling the barbecue he was working so hard to produce in his backyard. This along with encouraging words from his dad Cruz eventually lead to the opening of Pitforks and Smokerings BBQ in Slaton, a small town just outside of Lubbock.

In a few short years after opening and the Arellanos have received not only local support but been recognized by Texas Monthly and others for the quality of their barbecue. With Ashley making sides and helping run service, Isaac smoking the meats and a small but dedicated crew helping out, the Arellano family is producing quality BBQ in the building where Isaac grew up.

Instagram: pitforks_and_smokerings_bbq

Pitforks & Smokerings BBQ
1808 US Highway 84
Slaton, TX 79364

Hours of operation
Thu-Sat: 11-4 or sell out
Sun: 11-2 or sell out
Closed the first Sunday of each month

 

Ep. 157 - Goldees Barbecue

To those that have followed the cooking careers of the Goldee’s BBQ crew it comes as no surprise that this Fort Worth joint has quickly ascended to “must visit” status on the Texas barbecue bucket list. After learning from some of the best in the business, this group of childhood friends built out their own restaurant and opened in early 2020 firing on all cylinders.

Goldee’s persevered through a tumultuous 2020 and came out stronger. With a menu of Central Texas classic meats, sides and desserts that are all handled with great care and attention, they’ve elevated the classic BBQ menu to a higher level. Add in some creativity on specialty sausages and sides and Goldee’s is one of the most exciting stops in the entire state.


Instagram: @goldeesbbq
Website: www.goldeesbbq.com
Hours of operation: Fri-Sun 11a-3p (or sell out)
4645 Dick Price Road
Fort Worth, TX 76140

Ep. 156 - Evie Mae's Growth and Expansion

Evie Mae’s Barbeque grew from humble beginnings in Arizona to a trailer outside of Lubbock, Texas and just recently celebrated five years in their brick and mortar location. Along the way came many accolades along with plenty of hurdles but Arnis, Mallory, and their dedicated team have kept working and continue to put out some of the best barbecue in the state.

 

An opportunity arose in 2020 for Evie Mae’s to expand their business and they are about to open a second location inside of a United Supermarket in Lubbock. Customers will soon be able to pick up Evie Mae’s for lunch and dinner, seven days a week with all meats being cooked onsite at the grocery store by their pit crew. 

 

Along with Arnis and Mallory on this episode, we were also fortunate to spend a few minutes chatting with one of the talented members of their pit room crew, Emma Mendoza. Tune in to hear how she came onboard as well as how Arnis and Mallory have grown their business over the years. 

 

For the original story of how Evie Mae’s got their start, listen to our previous episodes with Arnis.

 

Evie Mae’s:

Instagram: @eviemaesbbq

Weds - Sat: 11a - sellout (lunch only)

 

Emma Mendoza 

Instagram: @emma.lemmy

 

Previous episodes with Arnis: 

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-pits-texas-bbq-podcast-featuring-trendsetters/id1242690345?i=1000391311237

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-pits-texas-bbq-podcast-featuring-trendsetters/id1242690345?i=1000391755382

 

Ep 155 - 20 Stop BBQ Tour and a Special Announcement

We’ve been hitting the BBQ trail hard in 2021, but no road trip was bigger than the one we had planned for May. With proper planning and a little help from friends we were able to cram in 20 BBQ meals over the course of five days. Traveling from Houston to Austin to Lubbock to Marfa to Fort Worth to Waco and back home, we were able to try some of the absolute best barbecue in Texas at the following places:

Valentina’s BBQ, La Barbecue, Franklin Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Interstellar BBQ, Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque (twice), Pitforks and Smoke Rings, Rejino BBQ, Tom and Bingo’s BBQ, Hill Barbecue, Brick Vault Brewery and BBQ, Convenience West BBQ, Goldee’s BBQ, Dayne’s Texas Craft BBQ, Zavala’s Barbecue, Smokeaholics BBQ, Guess Family Barbecue, Helberg Barbecue and Cooper’s BBQ.

We recap the trip in this episode, answer some listener questions, and at the end of the episode make a special announcement about some big plans we have for the summer.

Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact us!

Instagram: @talesfromthepits
Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

Ep. 154 - Burnt Bean Co.

Ernest Servantes had made a name for himself in the competition barbecue circuit and on food television for years, earning the reputation of a smart, talented chef. Ernest and David Kirkland met and became fast friends during their competition days, and as both were ready to move away from the wild world of “one bite BBQ,” they turned their attention to retail barbecue.

Ernest and David started doing pop ups in small town Seguin, Texas and quickly built a following. They began the process of building out a brick and mortar restaurant  in the picturesque downtown of Seguin and in the fall of 2020 opened Burnt Bean Co. Serving traditional central Texas style barbecue with some unique twists on side and dessert items, Burnt Bean has been an immediate hit both with the locals and the BBQ hounds that travel the state in search of great barbecue.

Hours of operation:

Thu-Sat: 11a - 3 or sellout

Sun: 8a - 3 or sellout

Instagram

Burnt Bean Co.: @burntbeanco

Ernest Servantes: @popeofbbq

David Kirkland: @sprdav_1

 

This episode was sponsored by Texas Pickle Company, producing artisan pickles since 2013. Available in Houston at Central Market, Dozier’s BBQ, and Houston area Total Wine & More locations. Visit them on Instagram (@atexaspickle) and check out their website (www.texaspickleco.com)

 

Ep. 153 - How do you compare BBQ Joints?

How many factors, and how important are those factors when comparing BBQ joints?

Andrew and Bryan discuss sides, full menu strength, desserts, and the many elements that go into an experience factor.

Is house made sausage a must, and does a strong protein menu with average sides outrank a joint with a larger selection of quality items? Years ago commercial pickles and generic sides were standard fare but the evolution of barbecue now includes everything from sides to desserts to pickles and even house made bread at some establishments. Are those relevant when building a list?

How much impact does fast service and indoor dining count versus a slower service and porta potties in the Texas Heat?

Listen in and let us know on social media what you consider important when comparing two BBQ joints!