My father was a true grillmaster. But I learned what good grilled meats should taste like. For me,…read morebuying grilled meats has always felt like a foreign concept. To my mind, it was always a DIY endeavor--partly because a host of culinary sins can be hidden under those ubiquitous, heavy-handed sauces. That said, a recent stop in li'l ol' Buna, Texas, introduced me to Black Gold Barbeque, a spot whose work stands among the best I've ever tasted. They serve it right--no sauce involved, brave enough to let the meat stand entirely on its own merits. Their sides are solid, too; you don't need fancy, overloaded sides when you're doing this well on the pit. The atmosphere hits a great balance: it's not too polished and not a hole-in-the-wall, striking that sweet spot that says they're fully okay with you making a mess while you enjoy the grub. Top that off with genuine Texas hospitality, from a fun crew behind the counter who clearly enjoy each other as much as they do welcoming first-timers. They were featured in Texas Monthly back in April 2025, which, in a state practically built on the altar of smoked and grilled meats, is more than enough to earn my attention. You can check out that article here: https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/black-gold-barbeque-buna/. A word of advice: it hits you with a paywall if you aren't quick with the clicks, but I've got a downloaded copy, so let me know if you run into the wall and I'll make sure you get to see the writeup. Nowadays, barbecue isn't cheap, so it's important to get a leg up on a good place to chow down. Do yourself a favor and make the trip.

Wow the food was excellent. Texas Twinkie was a must have. Absolutely do not skip dessert! The…read moresheet cake was the best I have ever had...I need this recipe it blew us away. Clean and family friendly vibe we absolutely loved it. We are traveling across the country and this was one of our best stops! Thank again for the hospitality.

Charlie's is worthy of being a Top 50 BBQ joint and I would support that. But Charlie is more about…read moretaking care of the business he has. His BBQ Is the best example of True East Texas BBQ, the kind I was raised on. You know, where a link is a link, not sausage. And the rice is dirty rice, not spanish rice. And the brisket is the best!

The Food is great and the people are very friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount…read moreof food they give you.

You can tell a lot about a place from how they act when things aren't easy…read more We showed up about three minutes before this place closed and everybody was so incredibly nice and welcoming. We actually tried to take the food to go so that we didn't hold them up and they said no it was fine. They'd be there cleaning anyway, and that we should sit and enjoy it, which was awesome. The wonderful service was also reflected by the food. My wife is still commenting on how delicious the brisket was. Get out here as soon as you can hopefully before 1:55 PM.

1701 Barbecue lived up to every bit of the hype. And then some…read more We came to Beaumont because I had business involving TDCJ and had my mom and brother in tow with me. Mom needs to be entertained, and she loves to eat. So while researching things to see, eat, and do, 1701 Barbecue kept showing up over and over again. Now I know why. Wow doesn't even begin to describe it. We ordered a pound of brisket, brisket boudin, pit beans, pepper jack mac & cheese, chocolate chip cookies, banana pudding, canned sodas, Boerne Original Jalapeño Everyday Sauce, and Hot Rodeo Sauce. Every single thing was delicious. (Well, I didn't eat the sauce. Both are gifts for friends.) The brisket was unbelievably tender. My mom is 84 years old and actually said it was the best meat she has ever eaten. She spent half the meal trying to figure out how they get it that tender and then asked. They cook it for 14 hours. The brisket boudin was fantastic, the pit beans were loaded with flavor, and the pepper jack mac & cheese was every bit as good as everyone says it is. Even the desserts were outstanding. The banana pudding is homemade and disappeared quickly, and Mark devoured the made-on-site chocolate chip cookies. We got there just in time before an afternoon downpour, and while it was busy, it wasn't the chaos some online reviews had led me to expect. Everything was excellent and definitely memorable. The only negative thing I can say has nothing to do with the food and everything to do with online ordering. Skip the online premium. Seriously. Every website suggests to skip the line and absolutely order ahead because it's a MUST. Nope. The prices online were noticeably higher. For example, the Friday half chicken special was $8 online but only $6 in person. The banana pudding was $5 online versus $3.50 in the restaurant. When the line is reasonable, it's simply not worth paying the extra markup. Save your money and order when you get there. Food this good doesn't come around often. If you're in Beaumont, 1701 Barbecue is absolutely worth the stop.

So this place has history so there is something to be said there. However the brisket I had I think…read morewas from opening day. Super dry brisket. Sausage is okay. But again dry. Overall this place has potential to be something simply because of its time. But man we need a legit BBQ guy/girl here.

We got the baked potatoes. They are so good and big enough for me to eat several times.read more

This is our go to bbq place! Everything is so so good and they are so nice! We've never eaten a bad…read morething here

Best dang BBQ around here. The owners are kind and take care of you. The quality and amount of food…read moreyou get is more then you get from anywhere. If you are looking for great BBQ make that drive and give them a try. You won't regret it.

A Delicious Trip Down Memory Lane! I haven't been to Chuck's…read moreBarbecue in years, but stepping back in today proved that some things never change--the food is still absolutely delicious! Eating here completely took me back to my old 4-wheeler days, trailing around and hanging out with good friends and family. As for the food? Wow. The Double Cheeseburger : Absolutely awesome. Juicy, perfectly cooked, and hitting all the right spots. The 2-Meat Plate : Incredible flavor! Paired with their potato salad , it's a classic combo done completely right. The Fresh Fry Chips: Such a great addition to the menu! Crispy, fresh, and highly addictive. To top it all off, the staff is always incredibly great and friendly. They make you feel right at home the second you walk through the door. If you want amazing BBQ, killer burgers, and a great atmosphere, Chuck's is still the place to be. I won't wait years to come back next time! A Delicious Trip Down Memory Lane! I haven't been to Chuck's Barbecue in years, but stepping back in today proved that some things never change--the food is still absolutely delicious! Eating here completely took me back to my old 4-wheeler days, trailing around and hanging out with good friends and family. As for the food? Wow. The Double Cheeseburger : Absolutely awesome. Juicy, perfectly cooked, and hitting all the right spots. The 2-Meat Plate : Incredible flavor! Paired with their potato salad , it's a classic combo done completely right. The Fresh Fry Chips: Such a great addition to the menu! Crispy, fresh, and highly addictive. To top it all off, the staff is always incredibly great and friendly. They make you feel right at home the second you walk through the door. If you want amazing BBQ, killer burgers, and a great atmosphere, Chuck's is still the place to be. I won't wait years to come back next time!

Bland is a good word for the food.. just not my pick when I get hungry.. my hubby likes the cowboy…read morenachos there though ‍

Barbecue brisket was flavorful and tender. Service was fast and friendly. Would recommendread more

Stop in at the pinehurst BBQ and steak. I ordered a Rack of…read moreBabyBack ribs alacart. He said he did not carry them anymore and he has some sort of St. Louis style rib. They were actually Baby backs like I thought. I took him to the table and came back to pay the bill, I he charged me $43.65 ‍ he straight up told me the where $22 and then he changed it to by the pound. Changed my Daughter $17.83 for a loaded bake potato and a small soda. To every other person.please do not eat here! Place is a straight up RIP-OFF

Hot date with the Hunny - the late December temperature was 75 - and where did we go? When going to…read moreand from a one-night campout at Toledo Bend Reservoir, I saw Fausto's Fried Chicken on the west side of the highway. It looked like a choke-and-puke that I enjoy going to: locally owned, very casual, unpretentious, low-priced. It's a 30 minute drive from us, so I suggested it to her, and she said yes. The inside of Fausto's is like what is to be expected from the outside. Enough tables & booths to seat 50, TVs on the wall, plastic plants, old license plates and a Bob's Big Boy sign for decor. It's the kind of place where local celebrity Micah Tyler would feel at home. If you want luxury dining, drive two hours to Houston's Galleria area. For a smidge under $20, we got a thigh & a leg each, she got fries, I got coleslaw, two Cokes. We sat down and got situated - and then someone brought out our dinner one minute later! Now THAT is fast food, and this isn't even a fast food joint. We both enjoyed the chicken. It was hot but not too hot, moist meat, light crunchy skin. Hot sauce bottles are near the drinks, I didn't see them until we were leaving :-( , the chicken would have tasted better with either Tabasco or Texas Pete's. The coleslaw was okay, a little dry. The Hunny wolfed down her fries. Fausto's is a good place to eat, whether for dates, families, sports teams, larger groups, or Micah Tyler. Its casual atmosphere is a good fit for the little Piney Woods town of Buna. It's likely a good fit for you too. Fausto's: making fried chicken great again.

Not the same chicken since the new owners took over. Not the same burgers either. The chicken used…read moreto have the right amount of spice to it, not now. The burgers also used to be a lot bigger too! We used to get three burgers and the family fries for take out, but the last time they were the size of something you'd get from Micky D's. Just a little disappointed from what it used to be.