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

The Texas Monthly 2021 Top 50!

The much anticipated 2021 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ List has finally arrived! Hear our thoughts on the top ten, the list overall, and some fun facts and tidbits about the long awaited list that always has BBQ nerds talking.

Congratulations to all of the great spots that made the list, and make sure you go out and support all of your favorite local BBQ regardless of whether they’re on a list or not.

TheBBQpodcast.com

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2021 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Predictions

One of the most exciting times for both BBQ restaurant owners and fans alike is the release of the latest Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ list. Always a great resource for BBQ travels as well as a hot topic for spirited debate, the list is one of the most coveted accolades a BBQ place can receive.

We both decided to predict the entire top 50 this time around, as well as the order of the top ten. While we have a lot of common selections, there are a few differences. We’ll see which of us had more correct predictions soon!

Send us some of your predictions on our social media, it’s always fun to hear what our fellow fanatics are thinking. And remember, have fun with this list and eat at your favorite spots as much as you can!

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Website: TheBBQpodcast.com

 

Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

20 Best BBQ Places in Texas 5-1

We finish our countdown of the top 20 BBQ Spots in Texas with our final five spots. All of these places represent the best of the best that Texas ‘cue has to offer, and each one should be on every BBQ fanatic’s bucket list.

Follow us on social media for more updates as we launch our website which will have show updates as well as additional information on our big Texas BBQ Hunt, including a map of all 100 spots we considered.

Check out the new website here: www.thebbqpodcast.com

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Twitter: bbqpodcast

Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

20 Best BBQ Places in Texas 10-6

We continue to countdown the best BBQ places in Texas! With this episode we highlight our 10th through 6th rated spots, a diverse group that all offer different and delicious menus of meats, sides, desserts with varied experiences.

Let us know your thoughts on the list so far, we enjoy hearing the feedback and are always up for a spirited debate. It was no easy task ranking the best of the best, but we were rewarded with so much excellent barbecue along the way.

20 Best BBQ Places In Texas 20-11

After months spent crisscrossing Texas in search of the best barbecue we could find, we’ve completed our research, debated dozens of restaurants, and are ready to start unveiling our top 20.

Tune in to this episode to hear us begin our countdown from the 20th best BBQ spot in Texas all the way to the 11th best. The next two episodes will unveil the final ten. With so much great barbecue available all across the state, this was no easy task!

 

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.  

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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