It's Labor Day. I'm driving back from Granbury to Hutto, and I think about my Texas Monthly…read morepassport. I'm addicted to stamps. I'm addicted to putting points on the board. What BBQ place on the list happens to be open on a Monday (and quite frankly, seven days a week)? Miller's Smokehouse in Belton. Miller's Smokehouse has one of the longest tenures on the Texas Monthly Top 50, making the list four times in a row (the third-highest behind Louie Mueller and Snow's). They've got their business down. As I arrived, I parked in a free parking lot just across the street and got into the line around 12:30. The line moves pretty efficiently, and you order separately from the barbecue line. I think this immediately felt disheartening as a barbecue fan. You kinda expect to get your food while in line and watch the assembly of workers put it together, instead of them being in a separate location in the back giving you order numbers. It doesn't feel like a true Texas barbecue experience and more like a Dickey's Barbecue Pit. Instead of going for a tray, I opted for one of their specialty sandwiches, the El Gallo Picante. It has their spicy hot link sausage and their smoked chicken topped with coleslaw, onions, jalapeños, pickles, and barbecue sauce. I also got a side of their broccoli salad out of curiosity and a roll of their homemade cornbread. I got my drink and sat down with my roll of cornbread. It wasn't long until my tray came to me. The sandwich stood on its own as a behemoth. So much chicken and sausage fell out of the bun. The sandwich was less concerned about being a sandwich and more focused on creating a space to try and contain a mixture of ingredients. It wasn't bad, but it was hard to say anything other than that I felt uninspired by the entire thing. The sausage was fine, the chicken was kinda dry, but everything together with all the separate ingredients masked the meats' faults. The broccoli salad was a unique side that I had never seen before at a barbecue joint, so I wanted to try it. It was cool, but not something I'd get again. As for the cornbread, it was quality, but if that's the most impressive part of the meal, then I'm questioning the establishment's ability to create a good barbecue experience. I think it's so cool to have so many special barbecue places near me and the ability to try so many, but I'm starting to wonder if the places that stay on the list for four editions start to lose their oomph. Do they become complacent knowing they already have their business and are established? Is there any need to try and push the envelope when you're just a recurring guest on top barbecue lists? Is it a me issue? Is it my fault I went to Burnt Bean a week prior and now I'm trying a place that sells all-day barbecue? With your big brick-and-mortar and your TV screen menus, you're not as hungry as you used to be.

I really like this place. Second time visiting, and they hit the mark for me again. I had the…read morepulled pork sandwich with a side of coleslaw. My family tried the ribs and enjoyed them as well. The restaurant has a cool vibe, and downtown is super cute. The service was friendly and didn't take long to get our food. Highly recommend!

Great service had a table of about 12 people from our church after we had helped at the Food…read morePantry. Place is very nice and our waitress did a very good job getting all the orders out to us quickly. My wife had the Steak finger basket with Mashed potatoes and gravy. She loved it and everything was great for her. I had the Grilled pork chops and you get two with the meal. Cooked very good not dry as a bone when I cut into it. I had the side salad which was very good with Thousand Island dressing, also had fries with no salt/seasoning which was spot on. we had a very enjoyable time while we were there I did not provide any pictures being we with a large crowd. We will be back again in the future. Keep up the great work.

This is a very rustic-looking Texas barbecue restaurant. I ordered the chopped beef sandwich with a…read moreside of potato salad for pickup. It was $14. I really liked the sandwich, and I am glad I asked for extra barbecue sauce on the side because there was barely any in the sandwich. The beef was really good. The potato salad was not that great, and I really had to encourage myself to finish it. It was just very bland and unappetizing. The time was inaccurate because it said it would be ready 30 minutes after I ordered, but after waiting a bit I went in early, and it turns out it was already ready. They just needed to bag it. I would imagine the wait time should be pretty short because they usually have everything prepared at barbecue restaurants like this.

The service was quick, friendly and pleasant. I ordered a couple of meals to go. The loaded Bubba…read moreTator was perfect, plentiful, and delicious! My second order was very disappointing! The chicken fried steak was so over cooked it was crunchy, tough, and no taste! I thought everyone in Texas knew how to make chicken fried steak! The whipped potatoes with cream gravy and the fried okra was perfect! Now I know what to order, if I am in the area again! The restaurant was very busy!

Good First: Great service, friendly people, food was served hot and quick. My wife enjoyed the…read moreranch, and her sweet potato fries. I ordered the three meat combo and the jalapeño cheese sausage was phenomenal. Bad Next: The brisket was mostly dry and not flavorful compared to other bbq places around. The pulled pork was fatty and not in the good way. The sides seemed to be store bought, for example the green beens were definitely canned and the potato salad was store bought and premade. The prices were a bit high for the quality of the food but portions were decent I guess. If I came back it would be to try a burger, but with a price of $17 a piece I will not be back.

We ordered pulled pork, regular sausage, jalapeño sausage, potato salad, and mac n cheese…read more Everything was delicious! The potato salad was on point. We will definitely be ordering again. Fantastic!

From the owner: We are a small Veteran and family-owned business who sells BBQ in MO’s Railyard and Saloon on…read moreSaturday and Sundays. We strive to smoke the best BBQ in central Texas and strive to do better each week

I love Schoepf's BBQ- and miss it ever since I moved back to Houston. Every meal was perfection…read moreand their potato salad is what I compare all others to. I dream about it and sadly have never been able to replicate it myself. Food costs are insanely high and margins are slim- their prices are fair for the quality you receive. To compare their prices to that of a mid BBQ chain restaurant makes no sense. If you want quality- you have to be willing to pay for it. Complaining about loud chairs, limited choices close to the end of the day , or a less than five star service is wild to me. If youre looking for a quiet meal with a highly attentive wait staff- a BBQ joint probably shouldn't be your first or even third choice. If you want great food , friendly (and busy) staff and a lively atmosphere- here's your place. They stay busy for a reason.

I definitely enjoyed my meal here. I went after lunch when nobody was there so it was nice and…read morequick service. The place looks cool too. Felt like I was in a small town out in the country. It was clean and smelled great! The food was awesome! Nothing lacked and I'd definitely go again. Got to experience a concert here as well. Had no idea how big it was out back. All around great spot!

We chose Backporch to meet my family for lunch and exchange Christmas gifts. It was the perfect…read morespot! Everyone loved their food. Our waitress was super helpful. I don't know if I would necessarily come back (it's a 2 hour drive lol), but I would recommend it.

Food was great. I had the 'Urban Cowboy' burger and their house chips. Service was pretty good. A…read morecouple of hiccups, but you could tell they were trying hard on a relatively busy Saturday night. No complaints.

Great place to eat had the burgers hands down!! Service was…read moreamazing! Has many Options to choose from.

$45 for this is not worth it. Burnt and dry cornbread. Catfish is decent and the rest. Disappointed…read morefrom the reviews I read.

Delicious! Brisket fresh and moist with just right smokiness and great value! Good sausage…read more Peppery beans and good potato salad and bbq sauce. Great fresh brewed tea! A hidden gem. 2418 General Bruce Drive.

I can't believe I've lived here for 10 yrs & this is the first time I have tried this place! Lots…read moreof room to eat inside. The plates are reasonable in price & friendly staff. Huge parking lot for large vehicles. I'll def be stopping by here again!

We love this little gem! It's tucked away, but well worth the effort…read more It's quality BBQ without the long lines or high prices

Fat Boys looks quite run-down from the outside, but we were pleasantly surprised by the interior…read more It was so cozy inside. I had the sandwich combo with one side and one drink. I got the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. The sandwich was small, but it was packed and very tasty. I got a side of mac and cheese, which was very liquid-y. It was drowning in liquid. I didn't enjoy it very much, but I did find my friend's broccoli salad interesting. I don't really like raw broccoli, but the dressing tasted good. They have an extremely limited and somewhat abnormal soft drink selection.

L O O K at that burger & tell me you're not drooling right now! That, ladies & gentlemen, is the…read moreREAL DEAL!! The taste of this meat concoction makes Ronald McDonald, Wendy & The King shrink back into a hole so deep you'll ask, what's that? Dare I say it? .... even Whataburger will bow down to this one. This isn't an average patty. This is absolute max on taste, texture, & thoughtful composition. Nothing over the top or overdone. Simple & really, just masterfully put together & toting that perfect smoked flavor. That nice bun holds it all stacked without slipping for the just-right & complete bite. Combos are simple with chips & canned soda. Plenty of room to sit inside the cool A/C out of the wind & heat. That's all you need really because this burger is THE SHOW the tongue & your hunger is dying to get. This ain't fast food & you're going to tell everyone you know, guaranteed. GO get you one, FRIDAYS only at the moment. But one day Pustka Family, this is going to be your daily banger!! I know they put out the 'cue but everyone around me that got something other than this burger was honestly jealous. That sausage y'all ..... there's a reason this joint made the honorable mention Top Texas 100 BBQ (the top 50 is coveted) & this is it. The flavor & oozy cheese just pops outta that juicy, snappy skin eliciting spicy goodness like nothing else ever could. Doesn't even NEED sauce. Just by itself can render your palate wild. I KID YOU NOT. Don't miss that one & it serves as a perfect side to the burger I had. Absolutely, fast, friendly & kind service by gentleman who essentially could be your favorite neighbor. They're definitely pushing out Temple's finest BBQ. I mean I just can't think of anyone else.... wait, sorry Best Quality, they got you beat for now. Even if there were 15 other joints in town, they AIN'T beating this meal right here. Just get here already Friday & get there before they sell out. You can't drool forever. Get satisfied 'Dustin' the bottom of your plate & you'll be dreaming about this one a long time, 'Mark' my words!! Update: Sadly, Yelp can't keep the pictures loaded properly for prior & current review, they lost them and my captions. So I had to add them again all in this one. Dunno!??

Our Review: A Solid Standard BBQ Meal from a Texas Monthly Top 100 Contender…read moreThis food truck, proudly holding a Texas Monthly Top 100 BBQ award, delivers a reliable and satisfying barbecue experience that settles comfortably into the realm of "nice standard BBQ." The operation is traveler-friendly, offering both indoor and outdoor seating to escape the heat. We found the prices to be reasonable, sharing a three-meat plate and a drink for $26.74, which is solid value for the quality. The Meats: Hits and Misses The selection of meats provided a good showcase of the pitmaster's skill, though consistency was the key challenge. The star was the Jalapeño and Cheese Sausage. It featured a nice double grind and boasted a perfect, audible snap on the casing. It was wonderfully cheesy, packed with a flavorful blend of cheddar and jack cheeses that made every bite decadent and satisfying. The Brisket delivered excellent smoke flavor, complete with a prominent smoke ring and a great, peppery bark. However, the texture was a letdown, as the meat was noticeably a little dry and chewy in places, suggesting it either rested too long or was sliced from a less-moist section. The Ribs were juicy but tough. They were nice and juicy in flavor, but the overall texture was a little tough and not consistent across the bone, leaving some parts more enjoyable than others. Creative Sides: The sides attempted to be innovative and added welcome brightness to the heavy meats: * Jalapeño Cole Slaw: The addition of green apple was a brilliant touch, offering a great, refreshing flavor contrast. While the jalapeños gave it a much-needed kick, the heat did not integrate well with the overall mix of flavors, feeling a bit separate from the main slaw profile. * Charred Corn Elote Salad: This side was a hit in flavor, presenting a delicious nice mixture of corn and cream. The only slight drawback was the temperature; serving this side warm would dramatically elevate the richness and texture of the cream and charred corn. Final Takeaway: This award-winning food truck offers a good, affordable, and nice standard BBQ meal. While the sausage is a must-try, the brisket and ribs need minor consistency improvements to truly climb the Texas rankings. Given the reasonable pricing and dual seating options, it's a great stop for a dependable BBQ fix.