Teddys BBQ: A Disappointing Experience Unworthy of the Top 50…read moreTeddys BBQ, a celebrated winner of the "Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Awards," arrived with high expectations that were, unfortunately, decimated by the actual experience. Arriving at 11:10 AM, just after opening, we anticipated fresh, high-quality smoked meats and homemade sides. What we received was an uninspiring meal that leads me to question the legitimacy of its Top 50 status--and frankly, its place in the Top 100. This visit was a letdown, especially compared to the twelve other far superior BBQ joints we tasted this past week.
The Meats: Misses and One Minor Hit
The foundation of the barbecue here was weak, suggesting corner-cutting or, worse, reheating of old product.
* Brisket: This was the biggest disappointment. The slice was terrible--dry, lacking juice, and with a bark that was chewy rather than crisp. It looked and tasted suspiciously like leftovers reheated from the day before, which is unacceptable minutes after opening.
* Ribs: Nothing special here. They lacked the depth of smoke flavor and suffered from a distracting, undesirable "hammy" taste. There wasn't much meat on the bone, and the glaze was applied too lightly, failing to add any necessary sweetness or texture.
* Jalapeño Cheese Sausage: This was the sole highlight of the meat offerings. It was a nice standard sausage with a good peppery snap to the casing and a satisfying ooze of cheddar cheese. It offered a nice, reliable counterpoint to the lackluster smoked proteins.
Failed Opportunity: The Texas Twinkie
The infamous Texas Twinkie completely missed the mark. While the basic concept of a bacon-wrapped, cream-cheese-stuffed jalapeño is sound, the execution here was poor. The filling was overwhelmingly cream cheese, which completely sucked the flavor out of the jalapeño and bacon. It was a great opportunity wasted by failing to include a bit of smoked brisket or chicken to give it complexity.
Sides: Bland, Bland, Bland
The sides tasted uninspired, suggesting they were prepared from a can or box rather than crafted from scratch--an unforgivable sin for a purported Top 50 establishment.
* Creamed Corn: It was creamy but utterly bland. It needed significant elevation--perhaps charring the corn kernels or adding some diced jalapeño pieces for heat and brightness.
* Mexican Rice: This was mushy and flavorless. It desperately lacked the savory depth and spice expected of Mexican rice. A small addition of pork or brisket trimmings would have provided necessary flavor and prevented it from tasting so generic.
Dessert: An Unprofessional Finish
The Grapefruit Pie was the final letdown. The filling tasted okay, but the crust was clearly store-bought. To be considered a Texas elite, every component should be homemade and excellent. This felt like an amateur concession.
Final Verdict
Overall, Teddys BBQ was profoundly uninspiring. Given that we arrived right after opening, expecting the freshest quality, and having recently toured 12 genuinely great BBQ places, this location falls far short. It simply does not belong in the Top 50, or even the Top 100. Teddys has a lot of room for improvement if it wants to justify its ranking.
