Where to Find the Best Barbecue in Texas - AFAR
"Barbs B Q, which was founded by friends Chuck Charnichart, Alexis Tovías Morales, and Haley Conlin, opened in May 2023 to much fanfare and curiosity. It’s one of the few women-owned ‘cue shops in the state and it opened in the barbecue capital of Texas: Lockhart. It’s a big deal considering that they serve cutting edge “new school” barbecue, and the town is well-known for being a bastion of traditional barbecue smoking. Located in the town’s square, across from the gingerbread-esque courthouse, it’s hard to miss Barbs B Q thanks to its bright pink signage. Here, diners will find menu options that reflect Charnichart and Tovías’s upbringing in the Valley, specifically, in the border town of Brownsville. The ribs are sprinkled with lime zest and while Central Texas–style brisket is typically seasoned with just salt and pepper, the brisket at Barbs is slathered with Mexican spices and is delightfully fork-tender—some might say it’s the juiciest in town. And rather than the usual slice of Mrs. Baird’s that usually accompanies a barbecue plate, the bread here is baked in-house and features spelt flour and a cinnamon swirl. House-made corn tortillas using masa sourced from nearby Austin is also available for impromptu brisket tacos. Don’t skip on the puddings for dessert—their choco pudding is topped with a bit of magic dust (aka cookie crumble) while the concha pudding is like the best bread pudding you could imagine but only better—it’s made with conchas." - Mae Hamilton
