Zachary S.
Yelp
If I look back on what motivated me to start writing Yelp reviews, LeRoy and Lewis represents the perfect intersection of my passion for food, barbecue, and detailed, introspective writing.
The weekend following my birthday, I gathered a group with the plan of returning to the Michelin Star-rated, Texas Monthly #2-ranked, and my personal favorite BBQ joint I have been to so far: LeRoy and Lewis.
We arrived there earlier than most. At 9 am, we were the second group in line, but I'd rather wait on the front end than the back. Last time, I arrived late at 12 pm and waited until 3 pm to get my food. I would NEVER make that mistake again. As it reached closer to 11 am, the line grew more and more. By 10 am, there was a small line, and by 11 am, the line had wrapped entirely around the restaurant.
While in line, we were able to plan our order with the help of one of the staff members, who made sure we weren't overdoing it.
The people ahead of us in line had a game plan, ordering for their large group and spending just over $400 off the rip for just the meats. For the five of us, we spent just over $200. We sat down with our food at 11:14 am
Once everything was sliced up, we got to the table to gaze at our masterpiece. We ordered some drinks from the bar, including their excellent blueberry lemonade and a Big Red-flavored frozen sangria. Their bar is always top notch which really adds to the entire L&L experience.
I'll run through everything we tried:
Beef Cheeks: We were told that if you're in line this early, you get the beef cheeks. They were right. I dropped my fork after the first bite. They are so rich and tender with a seasoning that feels heavenly. It's rare and falls apart once it hits your tongue. You can tell it had been slowly cooked over an extensive period because of how it just melts in your mouth. Truly insane.
Flat Iron: The flat iron is basically their brisket. You don't get their brisket; you get their flat iron. It's tender, lean, and full of flavor. It's similar to the beef cheeks, but the flavors are entirely different. It feels more in line with traditional brisket but a little beefier.
Bacon Ribs: Holy hell, this thing is worth every dollar. On Saturdays, LeRoy and Lewis sells their bacon ribs by the rib (not by the pound), and if you're in a group, you NEED to grab a rib to share. It's a crossroads of the delicious fattiness of pork belly mixed with the savory bark of a traditional pork rib. Yes yes yes.
Oktoberfest Sausage: Their specialty sausage was best compared by our group to an Oscar Mayer hot dog. There was something nostalgic about its flavor, especially how it hit the back of the cheeks after swallowing it. It's good, but it doesn't compare to the...
Jalapeño Cheese Chorizo Sausage: It still remains one of the best sausages I've had on this BBQ journey. There is such a strong flavor here, and it is heavenly. The spice is there, but it doesn't overpower the meatiness of the sausage. Very few have come close to this.
Cauliflower Burnt Ends: How do you make cauliflower meaty? I have no clue, but they did it here, and this dish is the perfect side or entrée for the right people. It's nice to offer vegetarian or vegan options at a restaurant that also can play the role of a side. A perfect two-way player.
Chori-Papas: I think this is easily the best side at LeRoy and Lewis by a long shot. This is the peak of all food.
Texas Red Chili Frito Pie: Bean-free chili is the American dream. It's really quality as well. I'm not the biggest Frito pie guy, but everyone else LOVED it.
Banana Pudding Tiramisu: If you somehow have room for dessert, their Banana Pudding Tiramisu is a perfect send-off to the excellence of meats they offer. It's hard to describe, but it's maybe the closest we can get to a perfect dessert.
As a whole, LeRoy and Lewis is still the best BBQ in Texas and in the world. My personal number one, I can't think of anything better that's firing on all cylinders and playing all sides of the ball perfectly. Offense (meats), defense (sides), and special teams (dessert and drinks) are all hitting on a level never done before.
This is the current peak of Texas barbecue. I don't care what Instagram influencer or disgruntled food critic says about the wait or the price tag. If you don't find this immaculate, maybe you need to find a new cuisine, because I hate to tell you, but Texas BBQ isn't for you. This is the zenith of smoked meats of old and all things yet to come.
RIYL: The best food money can buy