Dining Out Texas-Style: BBQ in Houston

By Jonathan Berohn

I’m happy to admit that one of the first things I do when planning a trip is to scope out the local cuisine. If a place I’m going has a specialty, I’m there. To my mind, there’s nothing worse than traveling somewhere and not eating the best food the locals have to offer.  In Houston, that’s easy to figure out.  You can’t go to Texas without trying the Barbecue.

Texas Style

Texas barbecue is best known for its smoked beef brisket.  Brisket is ordinarily a ferociously tough piece of meat that turns into the food of the gods when cooked low and slow over a wood fire.  When that brisket also has a tangy spice rub and is finished of with sweet yet spicy tomato-based barbecue sauce, you’re talking serious eating.

Otto’s

One of the 2 best-known barbecue joints in Houston is Otto’s.  Otto’s has been around for over 50 years and boasts that it’s the place “Where the President eats beef.” I can’t vouch for that, but I will say that I was happy to eat beef there.  Otto’s offers all kinds of meats, including hamburgers—which I understand are also pretty good—in a separate building, but I stuck to the brisket.  And I’d advise you to do the same.  It cost me an additional $20 in cab fare, but it was well worth the trip.  The meat is smoky and tender, and the sauce has just enough zip to make the whole thing come alive in your mouth.

Goode Company

The other Houston barbecue establishment you have to make sure to hit is Goode Company. Again, stick with the brisket.  I tried the pork, too, and was a little disappointed.  It was a bit fatty.  The beef, on the other hand, was, if anything, a little moister than Otto’s.  Goode’s also has an edge when it comes to extras.  Get your sandwich on the jalapeno cheese bread, and make sure to try the pecan pie.  It’s the best I’ve ever had at a restaurant.

All in all, Houston is a beef barbecue paradise.  Now if I can only find an excuse to travel to Memphis.