With the world’s largest livestock show and rodeo coming to an end, barbeque lovers from all over the state have flocked to taste some of the best that Houston has to offer.
But the ever-pressing question haunts us: who has the best barbeque in Houston? The New York Times says, “Identifying the best Texas barbecue in Houston is a fool’s errand.” But we like a challenge almost as much as we like barbecue. So, we have attempted the impossible: deciding which restaurant has the best barbeque in Houston.
Among the countless options, we narrowed it down to three of the most popular Houston restaurants: The Pit Room, Goode Company BBQ and Truth BBQ. We will be evaluating these restaurants based on pricing, atmosphere, location and, of course, the food.
But what to try? There are so many BBQ staples. The most iconic, however, is probably the pork rib.
The Pit Room
Honestly, it was underwhelming. The location was great. Right off of Richmond Avenue, it has ample parking and a rustic vibe. It was perfect weather to take advantage of the plentiful outdoor seating, especially since the interior was just a little on the cramped side. The first few bites of the ribs were fantastic. The rub was delicious, with a warm and slightly smoky flavor that just about punched you in the face in the best way possible. That was probably the best part. As we got closer to the bone, there was a lot of fat and the flavor dropped off pretty steeply which was not appealing. But while the rub was amazing, and the texture was meh but forgivable, the price put a sour taste in my mouth. $24 for a pound of ribs? Ribs that were more fat than meat? No thank you. While this BBQ would suffice for out of towners, there’s no fooling a born-and-raised Texan.
Rating: 4/10
Goode Company BBQ
Established in 1977, Goode Company BBQ is a Houston staple. The kitschy western themed restaurant has numerous locations. The interior of the restaurant has great ambience for those craving an old western feeling. With dim lighting, wagon wheels, old photos and even a giant red-eyed armadillo that guards the Kirby location, the ambience is top tier. But the ribs. While The Pit Room delivered three large ribs, Goode Company served up a plate stacked high with smaller ones. The sweet and smoky barbeque sauce perfectly complemented the juicy ribs. The texture of the Goode ribs outpaced the Pit Room by a long shot, not to mention less fat on the bone, which made them much easier to eat and enjoy. Not to mention, a pound of Goode Company’s quality ribs was only $18, compared to the standard $24. Still, there was a good portion of fat on the ribs that was not exactly appetizing. But all in all, Goode Company BBQ packs a solid punch.
Rating: 6/10
Truth BBQ
The first and most important thing to know about Truth BBQ is that the hype is basically unmatched. We were fully expecting to have wasted our time and money on overhyped, overpriced ribs. Still, we were excited. On our first attempt, we arrived at Truth three minutes after they opened. There’s a line out the door that’s spilling into the cramped parking lot. Any attempt to make it through the lot is thwarted, either by other cars or the single exit. As teens who can just barely do a three point turn, we weren’t having fun in that parking lot. You’ve been warned. It was so crowded that there was absolutely no way we were going to be able to get barbecue, so we left, swearing our return. On our second attempt, we show up half an hour before opening time (to beat the formidable line we’d witnessed) and still somehow managed to wait for an hour until the door was in sight. It was windy and cold, but the promise of good barbecue helped us stay strong. We got inside. We ordered. We took a bite. The texture was unmatched. Soft and flavorful, the meat literally fell off of the bone. There wasn’t any fat at all on those ribs. While The Pit Room’s rub was the best, Truth brings an intense smoky flavor to the table. Yes, a pound was $24, but it was obvious why. Those were some good ribs. But, please, Truth BBQ: fix your parking lot!
Rating: 8/10
After two days of full stomachs and driving excursions, there was no stone left unturned and no ribs left uneaten. If anyone has doubts about who has the best barbecue in Houston, look no further.
Houstonians don’t mess around with their BBQ. Neither does Truth.
