Bar-A-BBQ earns its spot on the "Top 50 Texas Monthly BBQ" list. The moment we walked in, the staff…read morewas incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, happy to discuss barbecue craft and recommendations. Their expertise and passion were evident, which made the experience even better. The brisket was excellent--very moist with a great bark, good flavor, and a satisfying pull. But if you only get one thing, make it the brisket burnt ends. They were absolutely awesome and I highly recommend them. The ribs were a bit too hammy for my personal taste, but that's a preference issue, as I prefer baby back ribs over the spare ribs they served. I tried two of their house-made sausages. The standard house sausage was pretty good, but the jalapeño and cheddar version was even better, adding a great kick of cheese and spice to their basic recipe. The sides were just as impressive as the meat. The dirty rice had some spice and was elevated with delicious shredded brisket mixed in. The cheesy tater casserole was fantastic--very cheesy with a nice peppery flavor and a great texture from the potatoes. For dessert, the cornbread bread pudding was an excellent choice. It was a gooey, decadent dessert with a perfect balance of cornbread and chocolate chips. We also grabbed a tallow chocolate chip cookie to go, saving it to savor later. Overall, this place is the real deal. From the knowledgeable staff to the top-tier brisket and sides, it's clear why they're so highly acclaimed. Very affordable as well!

We chose BAR A barbecue after carefully looking for what we hoped would be the BEST in the Houston…read morearea. We saw some great options ( Truth, Triple J, Killen's, and Brisket & Rice were all in the running, and we didn't try any of those so can't say on them). This was a thought out choice and I was super excited to try them! Being a family run operation was really awesome to me as well. First the good to great: the staff was super nice and helpful. The brisket was ah-mazing. Not too Smokey but cooked very tender and delicious! The barbecue sauce was on point. Sauces tend to range from too thin to too thick, too sweet to too spicy but Bar A's hit the bulls eye! Not too thin, not too sweet...I really enjoyed the brisket! Walking up, the smells were incredible! A nice outdoor spot to eat (it was a very mild day and just beautiful out..but I digress). Also, the Mac and Cheese...oh my!! Some of the best I've ever had! The downside: We drove an hour and a half especially to eat here...it was our primary reason for heading up to Montgomery! Getting there around 3pm, you would figure is a sweet spot for a restaurant open from like 11-6 on a Friday. When we went to order as we're trying to figure out the plate we want, you know, 2 meats or 3 meats ...sides, yum, as you're drooling, we were going for the TRINITY Plate. Brisket, rib and sausage...a nice cross section. Nope, we can't do a TRINITY. we only have brisket and turkey left. I know a lot of people love turkey. I'm not one of them and my heart was set on Beef. So now we're on a 1 meat and two sides track I guess. Ok, can we do brisket on the one meat? "Sure I can do that" was the cheery reply. So we got two plates brisket, and I asked could you make that moist cut brisket (my favorite, while my wife always prefers the lean). "Nope, sorry, we're all out of moist brisket". Ok, so one plate with cheesy potato casserole (doesn't that just sound amazing?) and Mac & cheese and one plate With cheesy potato casserole and pinto beans, that way we can get more great tastes and share, right? Oh, and bread, pickles, onions and jalapeños. (The bread is Martins and is always amazing if you know what I'm talking about...I think it's potato roll bread?). Got our plates and start to pay...two $20 plates and no drinks, just water. Over $50! Hmmm, well, the one meat tray with brisket has a $4 up charge. Hmmm. Sat down and got to chowing down! Here's where disappointment sets in. As I said, brisket and sauce was on point. The onions are maybe slightly pickled, not sure, but also very good. The meat, was 3 slices of brisket...4 would have been a sweet spot but eh, 3. The sides. Cheesy potato casserole had the texture of rice...I kept thinking it was rice as I ate it. It had some spice to it but very little flavor. Very disappointing. Mac & cheese--ah-mazing! Pinto beans were like a salt-a-holics take on ranch style beans. Not good. Almost not edible. But I was hungry. I put some sauce on the potato casserole and made it taste ok...still couldn't get Over the rice texture (I'm not saying it had rice, but just had the texture of a rice pilaf ). Two pieces of great bread rounded it out! So overall, disappointed that there wasn't more to choose (ribs, moist brisket, sausage) and I get it, They make so much and sell out then that's good business for them. To the customer who drove and hour and a half to eat there, not so good business. The sides were 1 for 3 in the good to great category and worst of all, after spending $50+ on lunch for 2, I was still hungry. I wouldn't have expected that for sure. I couldn't decide between 3 or 4 star but my missing stars shake out like this: 1 went because of availability and then ultimately being up charged for what was left. And 1 went for disappointing 2 out of 3 sides and portion size/value. Sorry, we didn't take any photos of the food.

We walked here from the Comfort Inn to have a meal. The food was great! We had a two and a three…read moremeat plate, with pulled pork, chicken, sliced beef, sausage, and ribs. Sides were Cowboy potatoes and beans. It was all excellent. My husband asked for hot bbq sauce and he said it was really good. Good service and a cool place.

Average barbecue. Chopped brisket is just a combination of leftovers soaked in sauce. No Diet Coke,…read moreno Diet Pepsi. Limited sides. Ver disorganized and less than friendly. Oh well I'll keep looking.

Wow! 4 of us just arrived from Boston. We were seeking local BBQ. This is not the New England…read moredefinition of BBQ. This place is heavily! We all agreed best Brisket and Ribs we ever had. The sides were outstanding. The people awesome! If you're in the area it is well worth the stop.

A BBQ Experience Worthy of Its Ranking! LJs BBQ is a Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ award winner, and…read moreit's clear this spot absolutely deserves the recognition. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming, with a nicely decorated dining area and plenty of seating. The staff was incredibly friendly, which made the experience even better. But of course, the real star was the food. Let's start with the brisket. I tried both the lean and the moist cuts, and they were both cooked to absolute perfection. The bark was fantastic--a deep, flavorful crust that gave way to incredibly tender meat. We were also offered a sample of the burnt ends, and they were delicious, a rich and savory bite that left me wanting more. The Hatch Chili Oaxaca sausage was another highlight. It had a smooth, mild flavor that let the sausage itself shine. The cheese had a nice texture and a subtle hint of chili that wasn't overpowering. The ribs were also outstanding. They had a great bite, just the right amount of pull from the bone, and a wonderful flavor. The classic salt and pepper rub was perfectly balanced, enhancing the meat without dominating it. For the sides, I was impressed with the potato salad. It was wonderfully creamy, loaded with big pieces of potato and bacon, and had just the right amount of onion for a nice tang. The mac and cheese was also great, with a very creamy sauce that had a fantastic flavor. While the noodles were a little on the softer side, it didn't take away from how delicious the dish was overall. Overall, this is a top-tier barbecue joint that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly great BBQ experience.

There's a reason these folks are on the TM best list! Ate here on a steamy Saturday, and we were…read morethankful for a short line, a covered waiting area and cold Lone Star beer for the wait. There is some seating available in the restaurant, but seating is mostly outside (largely covered, with fans going, thank goodness!). The service is fast and extremely friendly! We split a 3 meat (brisket, pulled pork, brisket boudin sausage) 2 sides (famous Brussels sprouts and pinto beans). The brisket and pork were dynamite! Brisket was a good mix of lean and moist, beautifully smoked. Pulled pork was soooo moist!!! Pintos were very flavorful classic Texas beans. Brussels were sweet and very lightly spicy. I love a good potato bread and they serve Martin's here. I could have eaten my weight in their house made pickles...they are the perfect foil to the richness of the meats. Both sauces were also fab --a classic bbq with a little extra vinegar than some, and a great mustard based sauce. We didn't have dessert, but the cakes look divine!! May have to come back just for those! Truth is a fantastic representation of classic Central Texas 'cue and we will certainly stop by next time we are in the area!

The whole experience was amazing. We went this Sunday, came a little early but no lines and easy…read moreaccess to the ordering the whole time we were there so coming early is not necessary . Food is amazing, one of the top two I have had in BBQ. Love the brisket and turkey the best and all the sides are right up my alley. I definitely would stop by again. The food, sides, hospitality of the business and staff, the outdoor dining was nice and clean. We had two small dogs with us and were not afraid of them eating or picking up anything by accident. Food is 5 stars, checking out my pictures, it's definitely worth the drive for this BBQ.

We went to Retreat Hill to enjoy the Bluebonnets and went to Hill Country Barbeque for lunch…read more Upon entering, you are greeted by a grizzly bear. There are lot of photographs along the wall of cowboys and bull riding action shots. Thought that was cool. It was not busy when we arrived and went straight to the counter up front. We ordered the family pack consisted of slices of brisket and sausages and side of fried okra and coleslaw. The brisket and sausages were decent for the price. It was not melt on your mouth tender but was also not chewy with plenty of fat. The fried okra was great... newly fried and crispy! Highly recommend as a side. Coleslaw was tasty... not a big fan of coleslaw overall but my liked it. The fountain soda was a little old as water was dripping on the side as I was filling up my Diet Coke. Place is clean. Containers are disposable including utensils so it's easy to cleanup after yourself. Glad we tried it. Lots of locals eating there which is a good sign. They have a pool table and stage in the other room.

Some of the best bbq I've had. Very casual spot and you can tell ownership runs it with love…read more Everything was super fresh and hot, just the right amount of fat on the brisket, and you could even tell the onions, jalapeños and pickles were fresh too. Loved that the beans came out steaming hot too. Overall 5/5 and would recommend especially with their friendly service as well!

Mimsy's serves up some impressive barbecue in a fantastic setting. From the moment we walked in,…read morethe staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The venue itself is great, with a nicely decorated space that offers both inside and outside seating, along with a kids' play area--a huge plus for families. Now, on to the food. The brisket was a definite standout. It had a wonderful, rich flavor, and the salt and pepper (SP) bark was spot-on, providing a perfect crust. A nice, prominent smoke ring and a healthy amount of rendered fat made for a tender and juicy bite. The ribs were also solid. They had a great pull from the bone, but I noticed a slightly overpowering "hammy" flavor that detracted a bit from the classic barbecue taste I was hoping for. The house-made birria sausage was a fantastic surprise. It had a delicious mix of pork and beef, complemented by melted cheese and a good kick of chili. The casing had a satisfying snap, which I appreciate. For sides, the Maple Sprouts were exceptional. They were perfectly charred and crispy, with the maple flavor coming through beautifully without being too sweet. The jambalaya was also a strong contender. It was loaded with flavorful sausage bits, and the rice was cooked just right. After all that, we were happy to see they also offer some nice desserts to round out the meal. Overall, I had a great meal at Mimsy's. The brisket and unique house sausage are must-tries, and the Maple Sprouts are a delicious side that stands on its own. While the ribs were a little off for my personal taste, the rest of the meal and the friendly atmosphere more than made up for it. I'd definitely go back for more.

I drove to Crockett for barbecue and left wondering why that banana pudding cheesecake doesn't come…read morewith a warning label and a choir. TL;DR: Mimsy's Craft Barbecue made my solo Friday road trip feel like a smoky sermon from the meat gods. The brisket? Juicy and proud. The ribs? Bold and tender. The sausage? Snapped like a firecracker in July. Potato salad with fried onion topping brought the crunch. And that banana pudding cheesecake? Sweet mercy. It deserved its own seatbelt on the ride home. Some folks ease into the weekend with a lawn chair and sweet tea. Not me. I hit the road with a cooler, a BBQ passport, and an appetite that don't mess around. Friday's mission: Mimsy's Craft Barbecue for lunch. Walked in to neon signage, wood-paneled comfort, and a menu that read like a love letter to Texas cuisine. I didn't hesitate. My order: * Brisket: Thick slices, perfect smoke ring, pulled apart with a gentle tug. Moist like a gospel hymn and seasoned like someone's grandma still works in the kitchen. * Ribs: Glazed just right, seasoned through the bone, and fell apart in my hand like a well-told secret. * Sausage: Thick, snappy, juicy. It bit back. I respected it. * Potato Salad: Creamy base topped with crispy fried onions. Whoever came up with that combo deserves a lifetime achievement award in side dish engineering. * Banana Pudding Cheesecake: Took it to-go for the Side Dish Queen. Got it home, opened the container, took one bite. We both stared at each other like we'd just witnessed a miracle. Smooth, rich, layered, and blessed with banana goodness. Got my 26th stamp on the passport and took a victory lap around the parking lot. Mimsy's didn't just meet expectations, it body-slammed them and then offered dessert. If you're on the Texas Monthly BBQ journey, don't you dare skip this stop. Worth every mile and every bite. I'll be back, probably for the Friday night ribeye... or just another slice of that cheesecake. Final Dad Line: That sausage snapped louder than a screen door in a Texas thunderstorm and I'm still dreaming about that cheesecake like it owes me money.

It's a food truck type of thing without any sit down bench or restroom. The rib was undercooked and…read morehard to bite.

Stated on here that business closed at 6pm. I drive out of my way to try this spot and when I…read morearrived at 4:50, it was closed already.

Great BBQ, don't let the atmosphere dissuade you. They also…read morehave a lunch menu that varies with good home style dishes and friendly staff.

What a homie restaurant. Literally take on the terms of "backyard bbq" nicely. On the way in, it…read morelooks just like a residential house but don't stop, make sure to pull in the drive way which has decent parking for your car. The restaurant has friendly staff and a quiet place to just chill with friends and family for some good old meals. And for the price, you can't beat that!

Mallet Brothers Barbecue in Madisonville, Texas, is a great stop right across from Buc-ee's on…read moreI-45. It's in a small strip center, not a huge place, but with plenty of seating. We visited around 7-8 p.m., and it wasn't busy--no wait at all. The girl at the counter asked if we wanted BBQ or grill; we all chose burgers. They were cooked perfectly. My son got a plain bacon burger, my wife had a cheeseburger with sweet potato fries, and the waffle fries my son ordered came out overcooked, but they kindly gave us handmade fries to replace them--for free. I loved the fries and the ranch dressing was outstanding. I judge a place by their ranch, and this one was spot on. I had a jalapeño ranch burger on jalapeño bread--soft, spicy, and delicious. Free drink refills, a salad bar, and fair prices make this a hidden gem I'd highly recommend.

We just ate and this place is so good! Great salad bar! Great bbq plates! Pictured is grilled…read morechicken sandwich with gluten free bun and sweet potato fries. They have great ranch also! We always eat here when coming thru town! Nice clean bathrooms also!

5.18.25 I know I have updated my review in the past 2 years…read morebut I don't see it anywhere. So let's do this. First, they have made the parking lot a little better and it looks like they are building a patio upstairs. Very cool. The inside had more decor and is even cuter than before. Now let's talk food. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and mac & cheese as my side. I never order Mac & cheese but decided to change it up today. The burger was great, and the m&c was good. I was thinking about ordering the mac and cheese with brisket but was not sure if I liked their m&c and I do; so maybe next time I will order it. My hubby ordered a Texas cheesesteak with charro beans. Of course he loved it. It had tons of jalapeños on it. He put a few of them in his charro beans to spicy them up some. Overall all our lunch was great! Now we need to talk about desserts. We ALWAYS order snickerdoodle cookies from here. (These were to go) The cookies are big and fantastic!! They have other flavors but we just love the snickerdoodles. We were going to eat a piece of pie there. I had a hard time deciding on a buttermilk pie, chocolate buttermilk, Oreo pie or key lime. (The other flavors had nuts) I chose the Oreo pie and my hubby ordered a piece of peanut butter pie. Homemade pies are the best! We liked both pies and would definitely order them again. I would also like to say Lauren was the person who rang up our orders and she is just so sweet and polite. She remembered I cannot have tomatoes! I was impressed. (We have not seen her for a while) Our experience today was fantastic. We will definitely drop here again soon.

The food here was great, and so were the folks working there. We enjoyed eating outside and hanging…read moreout with the chickens. I got the burger, husband got the veggie sandwich, the fries were crispy and the unsweet tea was refreshing. For good food and friendly service we recommend!