There's so much to say as the sun begins to set on an absolute icon and staple of the Houston food scene. Barbecue Inn has been serving our great city for 80+ years, however David and the family recently announced they're closing up. For good. It's time to retire. One can hope that someone in the family may want to step in later, but I had to pay homage to the restaurant I've been coming to for years and remember visiting as a small kid some 40+ years ago on their last day of service. The interior is a time warp from decades ago, waitresses with service uniforms, paper order tickets, the red booths, the diner style bar top, the entire place just gives you the throwback feel, which is honestly what gives it so much identity. I remember when this was a cash only spot but thankfully they transitioned eventually. I digress. Over the years I've always guided people visiting, or new to the city, to give this spot a try. And for any last minute people that have the time, go get in line and make the wait. I arrived about 30-40 minutes before they opened at 10:30 am on their last day and the line was already wrapped around the building. 3 hrs later I was inside with a few new Houstonian friends in tow. It was great sharing memories with how they first came to know of it. Food & Drink Look, I'm not gonna say anything about the barbecue here other than it isn't why I ever came here. For me, it has always been about the fried chicken, the chicken fried chicken, the fried shrimp, and on occasion the chicken fried steak. Personally, I think the CFC with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans along with the fried shrimp are the two staples. We are fortunate there are several fantastic fried chicken shops in Houston, one that is just down the road from here that I would also highly recommend, but this one has the honor of being one of the absolute OGs. So like always, I went with a chicken fried chicken and 12 fried shrimp. It makes for a good amount of food for two and not have leftovers if you bring your appetite. Service Typically the times were always quite quick as there isn't a three hour wait, but today, even once sat it was 20-30 minutes to order, and another hour for the food. All in, I walked out of the restaurant nearly five hours after arriving. Our waitress definitely was struggling and came across overwhelmed and very curt when we tried to ask her how she was doing. Notably, other waitresses seemed to be handling the stress and chaos much better. Happy and sad all at the same time. Ready for their own retirement in a way. We saw several tables that were sat after us with these other servers get their food faster so I think our waitress was struggling to greet, take an order, and get the order into the queue vs others who seemed to be more timely at both of those aspects. Regardless, we were in no rush, we had waited 3.5 hours to place an order, what's another hour for food. Was it worth it, absolutely! Cost I think so many staples are struggling to make the economics work these days with inflation on food continuing to rise. Our bill this visit for two iced teas, a dozen fried shrimp (not the full meal platters) and one chicken fried chicken platter was about $65. Bear in mind the CFC platter is about $22-23? Overall I'll close with, anyone that never tried it, you missed out on being able to say you ate at an icon. For those that frequented or knew this for decades, we're all thinking about what spot can hopefully stand for 75+ years. Lastly, thank you to the generations of Skrehots -- Louis, Nell, Louis Jr, Wayne, David, the rest of the family along with their entire faithful workforce over the years. I wish y'all all the best in whatever the next chapter brings. read more

I've been to BBQ Inn plenty of times, and one of the things I appreciate most is the consistency. The food, service, and atmosphere are always dependable. It is the kind of place where you know exactly what you are going to get: fresh, flavorful, good old Southern cooking that feels comforting and familiar every single time. Opened in 1946 and still family owned, BBQ Inn has been a local favorite and Houston staple for decades, and it is easy to see why. The staff is another big part of what makes this place so enjoyable. Many of the employees have been there for decades, and it shows. The faces are familiar, the service is warm, and there is a well-established rhythm to the whole place that makes you feel welcome. It has the feel of a true neighborhood institution with lots of loyal regulars. The fried chicken is always one of the biggest highlights for me. It is cooked fresh to order, so there is usually about a 20 to 30 minute wait, but it comes out piping hot and is absolutely worth it. The fried catfish and shrimp are also crowd-pleasers, and the chicken fried steak or chicken fried chicken are excellent choices if you are in the mood for something hearty. Meals typically come with a salad and French fries, which round things out nicely. Portions are generous, so it is definitely a place to bring your appetite. The sides are exactly what you would hope for from a Southern-style restaurant, and the dessert selection is full of traditional favorites. Pecan pie, chocolate icebox pie, banana cream pie, lemon meringue pie, and apple pie are all great ways to finish off the meal. A couple of things are worth noting. They do not serve bread or cornbread with the meal, and it is not available for purchase, so do not expect that as part of the experience. They also do not serve liquor or wine, though they do offer a limited beer selection. If you want wine or champagne, you are allowed to bring your own, which is a nice option, but beer and distilled spirits are not permitted. As for other beverages, they have the usual tea and soft drinks. The dining room itself is comfortable and casual, with a nice mix of tables and booths, plus a coffee-shop-style counter if you prefer that kind of seating. One small tip: it can feel a little cold inside because the air conditioning works very well, so that is something to keep in mind. Overall, BBQ Inn is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner and has never disappointed me. It is a dependable Houston classic with tasty food, generous portions, and service that feels genuinely seasoned and professional. They do not take reservations, but if you have a larger group, it is smart to call ahead since they will usually try to accommodate by pushing tables together. For anyone craving satisfying Southern comfort food in a relaxed, familiar setting, BBQ Inn is well worth a visit! read more

First, it's permanently closing tomorrow August 1. When my family moved to Houston in '67, we lived a few miles away and this was one of the few places we would go out to eat. Though no longer in the area, we've been back a couple of times a year as a family ever since. Went yesterday arriving about 11am and had an hour and a half wait for a table. It seems a few others had the same idea but planned it better. We were invited by the couple in front of us in line to join than at their four-top. We were able to continue our reminiscing and enabled the next folks in line behind us to have what would have been our table. So while I could heartily recommend this place, it won't do you any good. So long Barbecue Inn and thanks for all the fried chicken, chicken fried steak, fried shrimp and oysters and iceberg and tomato salad with house-made Thousand Island. My "Last Supper" read more

Barbecue Inn - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

Best thing about this place is the service and ambiance. It was a very nostalgic trip down memory lane that reminded me of diners from my childhood. The service was amazing! Prompt, friendly, and genuine. It truly felt like my waitress was a family member makes sure I was well fed. I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken with a side salad and mashed potatoes. To me the chicken was disappointing in flavor. The chicken itself was great. It was very moist, which is a plus. It was served piping hot as it is cooked to order. The crisp on it was perfect. Greasy to the touch as expected for fried chicken, but not a greasy taste. So good job mastering that! The issue I had is that it was bland. No seasoning or spice was detected in the batter. So it really fell short for me here. If there was just some seasoning to it, it would have been great. I added hot sauce to give it something. Side note, the mashed potatoes were great. A little lumpy, which is just how I like it. Decent size parking lot, with a security guard. Easy to find on the corner of Yale. Dec t size dining room that was a little busy, but no wait. And the food came out pretty fast considering it's made to order (20-30 min for the chicken). My favorite part was the server for sure. I wish I took down her name! She even explained the chicken to me multiple times as I couldn't remember. read more

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I'd definitely come back! I tried the chicken fried chicken and the chicken fried steak, and both were delicious. I also had the crab bites as an appetizer, which were excellent. The service at Barbecue Inn was great as well, our server was very attentive and made the experience even better. read more

Barbecue Inn - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

I went here for lunch and had their 1/2 chicken fried steak special. it came with green beans & mashed potatoes w/ gravy, for a really good price point. The steak was so tender that I didn't need a knife to cut it. My fork did the job! It's a step back in time when you dine here! read more

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Food is very very good. Had a little bit everything. Ribs, fish, shrimp and onion rings. Everything delicious. The star of the show? The homemade pies. Had the coconut cream pie and it was amazing. Will try fried chicken next to round. Everything is homemade Service was good and the place was clean. read more

Barbecue Inn - Coconut pie - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

In search of the best fried chicken in Houston and a lot of people recommended barbecue inn. Arrived about 1pm on a Saturday and the place was fully packed with a mostly older crowd (55+). We talked to a large group of lady's and they told us they had been coming for 30+ years. Good sign ! The menu states if ordering fried chicken to give it at least 25-30 mins since it's made to order. They were very busy that day so it took closer to 40 mins but that's ok. Our waitress was slammed and she did a great job. Chicken comes with two sides. The salad is legit just lettuce and tomato. That's it. The chicken came out nice and hot. Super crunchy. Very good! I wouldn't say it's the best I've had but still worth a visit. read more

Barbecue Inn - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Found this little hole in the wall place by accident. Feels like it takes u back in time to possibly 50s or 70s. Everything seems authentic and nostalgia. Staff were attentive and super friendly. My friend ordered the fried chicken and I ordered the bbq brisket. The chicken was great, crispy, balanced salt, and excellent sides. 5/5. My brisket was pretty dry, great bbq sauce, and decent sides. read more

Barbecue Inn - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

Have lived down the road from this spot for a few years now and the stars aligned, so finally was able to check it out. Appetizers: PASS. The shrimp cocktail was disgusting. The shrimp was likely freezer burnt as they just kinda mushed in your mouth when you ate them. And then the Crab Balls were about the same. A very unpleasant mushy texture that wasn't enjoyable at all. Main Meal: Got the fried chicken with gravy and it comes with 2 sides. The salad was meh, it's just iceberg lettuce with some diced up tomatoes and ranch dressing. Could have used maybe some cheese or croutons. The meal itself was delicious though. Chicken wasn't heavily breaded so had the perfect crisp to it. The gravy was very bland, could benefit from pepper and the mashed potatoes were great. Overall: I would come back here but only for the main course, fried chicken. I'd pass on everything else. read more

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Old school place with comfort food and fabulous waitstaff. Had the fried shrimp last time I was there. They were perfection. Simple lettuce and tomato salad was yummy, fresh and crisp and good size. Their fried chicken is your mom's home style. Excellent just remember they prepare everything to order. Chicken takes at least twenty minutes. So eat those club crackers on the table, they are always fresh. Blast from the past dining at its best. The waitresses are always wonderful. Don't be fooled by the name, do not recommend the bbq. Only iffy thing on menu. We always enjoy our time here! read more

The food here is Nationally acclaimed and surely noted. Ordered the fried oysters and a side of onion rings. The oysters were huge and well fried. They were exquisitely tasty. The onion rings were crisp and fresh tasting. The service was attentive and friendly. The ambiance was calm with a throwback flavor. read more

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For a place that's a houston institution, the best thing about it was the waitress. Meat was overcooked and swimming in sauce. Good brisket but it doesn't need to be drowned like that. My shrimp which was supposedly a specialty was mushy - and you know that's a danger sign! Food and sides weren't seasoned. I remember this place being much better. Not sure what happened but we won't be returning. read more

From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out, we felt welcomed & taken care of like family. We had onion rings that were perfectly battered & fried. Our salads came next & were bigger portions than normal. 1000 Island dressing was house made & delicious. My husband had the seafood platter & was overwhelmed by the huge fried oysters! The rest of the platter was good, too. I had a baked potato with my chicken fried steak. Truly, the steak was tender enough to cut with my fork. To top things off, we had pie, of course! Flaky crust & fluffy meringue! I had coconut & my husband had chocolate. Very yummy! Thank you to Elizabeth for her attentive & friendly service! read more

This was our first visit to this Houston institution, which opened in 1946. Their claim to fame is, ironically, fried chicken, so that's what we ordered. The dining room was pretty full for lunch. We are in our 60's, and felt we were among the youngest in the restaurant. Very friendly staff. The chicken was served hot from the fryer and was crispy and delicious. The sides green beans and mashed potatoes were rather bland. I am so happy I got some coconut cream pie to go. It was excellent with a tender flaky crust and delicious filling. Go for the chicken and stay for the pie! read more

The service is excellent! The food is excellent! The friendliness is excellent! Love this place. read more

Barbecue Inn is "famous" for its fried chicken. Prior to this review, my previous 3 star gives my take on that reputation. Since it had been 4 years since my last visit I had the opportunity to return and decided to try something else on the menu for a change. In thinking back to previous visits in the past I think I have always ordered the fried chicken. It was for lunch and the front parking lot was full but fortunately the back lot wasn't. I do like the interior of this restaurant for nostalgic reasons. It reminds me of non-chain table service restaurants from the 60's and 70's. You are seated and immediately brought a basket of saltines, Captains wafers, Melba toast and butter. The waitress calls you "honey" or some other southern expression of a warm greeting and then pulls out her notepad and asks what can I get you, 'hun? My waitress named Liz was the perfect professional of the likes you rarely see anymore. I decided to go with their "famous" French fried shrimp (7) with sides of fries and baked beans for $22. Their fried shrimp is highly regarded. During the approximately 20 minute wait I noshed on the wafers and Melba toast which were so good. The shrimp definitely tasted "French fried" and they were good tasting but the fries were overdone and too crispy. I like dark brown fries but these were too crunchy and I didn't eat many. The baked beans were good tasting. I gave this meal a 3 as the shrimp didn't stand out to me and the fries were disappointing. I returned a couple of weeks later with a friend who insisted on wanting to try the chicken. On that visit I opted for the chicken fried steak (1/2 portion) with sides of mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans for $12.50. This meal was much better. I'm glad I ordered the 1/2 portion because this meal was plenty to satisfy my appetite. I really liked that white creamy gravy over the spuds with some skin mixed in and the tasty chicken cutlet. Also the green beans were flavorful and well seasoned. This meal was a 4 and one I would reorder for a return visit. I do like Barbecue Inn but more for the ambience and table service than the food. You will get a decent meal if you come here but I can only give a 3 score overall. read more

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Their BBQ is great! But oddly enough, their fried chicken is amazing. Served in a dimly lit and yesteryear setting that only adds to the experience, the waitstaff was attentive and could deftly answer our many questions, leading all of us to something good. read more

Everything is good. Salad, Fried Shrimp, Fries, iced tea. All good. The waitresses are phenomenal. Been coming here since 1988. A solid institution in Houston. read more

Service was good, the dinner not so much, I ordered the southern fried chicken after reading the reviews and safe to say is, the chicken was crispy but didn't have any flavor whatsoever, same thing with the white gravy, my boyfriend ordered a mixed platter of bbq and it was okay at best. Safe to say is we had to go somewhere else to eat afterward. read more

Good food and service. Love the atmosphere. Takes you back to a simpler time. Food is reliably good always.

We love everything about this place, the servers are so polite and friendly, the feel of going back in time, and the Food is awesome! Fried shrimp, chicken fried steaks at our table. read more

Another restaurant where staff is less than impressive! Food is ok , after visiting several times to keep getting it the benefit of doubt. This is a really old establishment, no music, old furniture and old uniforms. read more

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I have been dining at Barbecue Inn for over 50 years. I had never been disappointed. ​Last evening I had the Seafood Platter. I was so disappointed. The food was the worse I have eaten there or anywhere. The stuffed crab tasted raw and nasty. The oysters were nasty. They definitely were not fresh. The overall breading was different. It was not crispy..more like a hard coating. I guess they have new Cooks. I sure miss the old Cooks. The platter was over $30. It was not worth it. I won't be eating Seafood there again. So sad.​ read more

Food was solid. Chicken professes to be "world famous", i guess it depends on what world you live in. In mine, it was just ok. Baked potato was perfect and the slaw was different, but I enjoyed it. Also liked their ranch. Overall I'd come back to try other menu items.. This was a delivery so can't comment on service read more

We decided to take a drive and try to a new place. We liked the variety of the menu and the diner vibe. The servers were very friendly and the food was good. It is an older establishment and very casual atmosphere. Glad we made the stop. read more

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Wait staff was nice and attentive. The food was good and felt like a nice southern restaurant. I got the Chicken Fried Steak lunch platter and it was good and not terribly expensive. read more

OMG this is the best chicken ever! They give you plenty of warning that the chicken is made to order and your wait will be 25-30 minutes, so patience is a virtue but it's totally worth the wait. Fried chicken was crispy, hot and huge pieces. Potato salad is so good and unique because the potatoes are mostly mashed with sweet relish pieces and some onion. Green beans are awesome cooked country style with seasoning and melt in your mouth. Side salad was huge. French fries big portions And from what I have heard every side they have is awesomely delicious. So many happy eating faces in the restaurant. This was a take out order and the smell in the car was so wonderful you just knew it was going to be chicken heaven...and it was. 5 stars is not enough for this fabulous place of chicken nirvana. Remember, good chicken comes to those that wait. read more

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The service was extremely SLLOOOOWW ! And the food was boring and overpriced. They need to take some tips on salad making from our local salad restaurant that has more than just iceberg lettuce and a bit of flavorless shrimp on their salad. Incredibly, when we asked what was the hold up, they said that it was the big salads we ordered. I wonder if they were trying to take care of their regular customers orders before ours . . . . Who knows! read more

I arrived early to get us a table. Upon walking in I was a little taken back by the decor, it doesn't look like much has changed in probably 40+ years it definitely gave me old diner vibes. The menu is not vast with 20 different plates or platters it's pretty much to the point. Always a good sign it's saying here's what we do it's not a whole lot but we do these items very well. I got the fried chicken with dark meat a side mashed potatoes & a side of green beans. Everything was excellent I'll be back. read more

Barbecue Inn - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

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FRIED CHICKEN! OMG! My daddy always told me "Wherever you go, Order their specialty. If you go to a Seafood House, don't order a steak. If you to a barbecue stand, don't order pizza!" Well, daddy's advice doesn't hold water at BARBECUE INN, as they serve some of THE BEST fried chicken in Texas! One note: They're going to make it fresh when you order it, so allow 15 minutes or so for them to cook it up. Don't be impatient, and don't be in a hurry - - you're in for a treat, served by friendly ladies who will call you "Sweetie Pie!" read more

Chicken fried steak was fried hamburger patties. Shrimp and chicken were excellent. "..................................

An old blast from the past! Food is still good and service spectacular! Still wear uniforms. It may be call bbq inn, but their fried chicken and shrimp is why I go! read more

I wanted to get this famous fried chicken, so I did. No complaints from me, it's certainly very fresh and it's crispiness stands out. Spot on for classic fried chicken. read more

Barbecue Inn - Southern Fried Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ate there again yesterday Was the same old place But better Really was the best chicken fried steak going to start coming back So tender and delicious read more

I've worked nearby for about 10 years and have never visited since it seemed like a tourist restaurant. After hearing about a coworker visiting recently and reading about the amazing CFS from the news again, I decided to try it out. There's plenty of parking in the front and back. The exterior looks a little dated, but the inside is pretty cute from what I could see. It's pretty dimly lit inside with an interior that reminds me of Luby's x Saltgrass x Denny's x Japanese coffee shop. The waitresses wear a dark uniform. There's a counter in the front like other diners, but it seemed to be a place where the staff congregate usually as everyone sat at the booths or tables. The dining population is on the older side with a mix of business, friends and family gatherings. There were large historical photos about the restaurant on the walls. Glass panels separating booths depict Houston/ Texas motifs like the oil derrick and state outline. The furniture is well-used but not torn. There's (2) individual toilet rooms. The female room is lockable with a stall that also locks and a sink. I was surprised to receive crackers, instead of bread, with the butter-like spreads. The chicken fried steak was pretty good and arrived as (2) small patties. I liked how it was crispy and tasted like my grade school versions. The mashed potatoes were smooth with a little bit of skin. The warm green beans were cooked in a mix of oil, water, and black pepper, which was different to me. The coconut meringue pie was sweet, creamy, and cold. I was disappointed that the dish comes with a toasty slice of white bread instead of a dinner roll and that the white gravy didn't have a strong black pepper flavor. My waitress was pretty nice in offering recommendations of what she liked and what customers liked and offered to replace my green beans if I didn't like them. read more

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I love that this place is frozen in time and I don't want it to ever change. The fried chicken is outstanding! They have a large menu, but I never get anything but the chicken. Servers are all outstanding - love the unironic vintage uniforms and beehive hairdos. This place is cozy, homey, and perfect. read more

The chicken fried steak was tasty, the mashed potatoes delicious and the service was impeccable, our waitress Martha was the best!!!!

I just love this place. I like a good, old school American restaurant. The salad, though simple, was fresh and the homemade dressing was delicious. The French fries and green beans were homemade and I would recommend. We all ate the fried chicken because that was what we came for. It was piping hot. It did need a little salt and pepper, but it was perfect otherwise. Note: The fried chicken is about a 20 minute wait. The chocolate merengue pie and the coconut merengue pie were delicious as well. The service was charming. I really had a great visit and hope this place gets lots of community support read more

I read about this place having some of the best fried chicken in the country even though their name wouldn't suggest it. So on our trip to Houston, we made sure to check it out. I chose a salad as one of the sides for my fried chicken. I never eat iceberg salads and I usually find it insulting when restaurants serve them so I wasn't happy when it was placed in front of me. But their ranch dressing was so good, I ate the entire thing. Our waitress said it was homemade and they actually sell bottles of it, FYI. The chicken itself was cooked perfectly but the batter was bland. It was much better after adding salt and pepper but I prefer batter with more seasoning mixed in - a little garlic powder, paprika, maybe a dash of cayenne? It wasn't bad, but definitely not some of the best fried chicken in the country. We also ordered the buttermilk pie since we had never heard of it and Yelp photos made it look good. Neither of us cared for it. It just tasted like greasy fried chicken batter and seemed like more of an acquired taste or a novelty that you'd find at a carnival. Our waitress was excellent! read more

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