Zachary S.
Yelp
What goes on in Olton, Texas? A simple drive through tells you not much. However, this small town boasts a Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue spot, so if you are like me and trying to get stamps on the passport, you inevitably have to make the drive.
Funnily enough, it is both the northernmost and westernmost spot on the list, so everywhere after this is quite literally downhill from here.
We drove in on a Friday and arrived just before 1:30 pm, which is a sin at most barbecue joints. Rejino, however, only had a small line and still a full menu while being pretty busy. They were excited to add a stamp to my book and even gave me a free Rejino sticker to take with me. I love places that go the extra step.
One thing I want to note right away is how affordable their barbecue is compared to most places. The Texas Trinity fed both my girlfriend and me and came in around forty dollars, with half pounds of ribs and brisket, a sausage link, and a side.
My girlfriend and I ordered their Texas Trinity, two sides, and a dessert. I will share my thoughts on everything below.
Brisket: It was well done. There was good flavor throughout and the slices were nicely cut. The balance between the lean and fatty parts was exactly what you would expect and on par with others on the list.
Pork Ribs: My girlfriend loves a pork rib and she really enjoyed these. In terms of tenderness and candying, they landed right in the middle. The meat did not fall off the bone, but it was still excellent. The bark was well seasoned.
Jalapeño Cheese Sausage: Compared to most joints, their sausages were shorter but thicker. The jalapeños actually had a crunch, which was surprising. I really enjoyed this sausage.
Baked Potato Casserole: I thought this was a great side and a solid portion for five dollars.
Bacon White Cheddar Mac and Cheese: My girlfriend said this was her favorite style of mac and cheese, extremely creamy. I thought it was good, but I let her eat most of it since she liked it so much.
Broccoli Cheddar Cornbread: Unlike most barbecue joints, the cornbread here was free. I really liked the hints of cheese and the broccoli pieces mixed throughout.
M&Ms Brownie: I sometimes get dessert at a barbecue joint. When I am with my girlfriend, that percentage jumps to always. Here we ordered a massive M&Ms fudge brownie. The M&Ms were intentionally stale, so instead of being crunchy they were chewy on top of the brownie. It reminded me of a Cosmic Brownie.
In Texas, there are smoke cathedrals everywhere for those willing to look, and places like Rejino make stops in small towns completely worth it.
RIYL: top notch barbecue that also happens to be pretty affordable