Given my immense barbecue knowledge, I'm often asked by family, friends and strangers "where is the best BBQ in Dallas?" The short answer is that the third largest city in Texas (remember San Antonio just jumped us) we are short on great 'cue. The long answer points to some of the hidden gems of Dallas BBQ. None of these joints would hold their own with the best that the state has to offer, but they might hold a candle in their individual categories.
Best Ribs - Big Al's Smokehouse
Best Brisket - Back Country BBQ
Best Sausage - Any place that serves Rudolph's sausage
Best Meat Overall - Smokey John's
Best Sides and Atmosphere - Baby Back Shak
Best Chain - Pappas BBQ (Sorry you Rudy's lackeys)
Most Consistent Quality - Baker's Ribs
Favorite Overall for no particular reason - Mac's Barbecue
Please discuss...
- BBQ Snob
7 comments:
Bakers Ribs is AWFUL! You must not have eaten at Mike Andersons yet, you need to try it. Also, Bartleys in Grapevine is pretty solid.
Mike Anderson's was just more of the same mediocre Dallas BBQ. Bartley's was damn fine when I tried it, but this list is purely for Dallas.
Baker's Ribs (relatives of the East Texas Bodacious BBQ family) is pretty solid. Decent sides (that can sit too long), good ribs and brisket, outstanding poultry (does that count?). I prefer the one in Garland because the owner hangs his hat there, and the quality seems a little higher (or more consistently high).
Baker's will smoke your turkey for you at Thanksgiving, in addition to selling you one of their own. They saved a family Thanksgiving for us once, by opening up the store to sell me a turkey (I won't mention the turkey responsible for our NEEDING to get a store-bought one on Thanksgiving morning), so I'm a pretty big fan of Joe Duncan.
In terms of Best Chain, I would have to adamantly disagree with your choice of Pappas BBQ. I at at the one on 35/Loop 12 with my extended family and we all agreed it was some of the worst BBQ we have ever eaten (including Dallas and Houston chains such as Luther's and Dickey's). As far as a comparison to Rudy's, although Rudy's ribs are downright average, I would put any Rudy's stores brisket up against any of the handful of Ppas BBQ locations in a blind taste test and Rudy's would win hands down. Pappas BBQ is just another big city BBQ joint that charges too much for average to terrible BBQ!!!
I have to agree with the choice of Al's for the best ribs. I have not eaten much Texas cuisine, but have eaten ribs throughout the Southeast and will say that Al's were the best I have ever eaten (that I did not make myself, that is LOL)
I have to agree with the vote for Al's for ribs. I have only been to Texas once and have not fully partaken of the cuisine. But I have eaten ribs all over the Southeast and have to agree that Al's were the best I have eaten anywhere.
Pretty evident there are ZERO good BBQ joints in Dallas based on this pathetic list. Go west to Ft. Worth if you want decent BBQ in north Texas. JR
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