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    Big Barbecue Win

    Houston's best barbecue makes a big impression at major festival after marathon, all-night cooking grind

    Eric Sandler
    Sep 15, 2014 | 4:33 pm

    Only one Houston-area pitmaster served food at the fifth annual Texas Monthly BBQ festival in Austin on Sunday, but the Bayou City was still well represented.

    After a 4.75 star review from the magazine's barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn earned Killen's Barbecue the title of Newcomer of the Year, Ronnie Killen closed his restaurant for a day to bring his crew to Austin for the festival.

    "We're hoping to represent Houston well," Killen told CultureMap about 30 minutes before the gates opened. "We have a ton of food. It's cooked good. Hopefully, we do a good job."

    Killen says he was up until 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and his crew started back up at 5 a.m.

    Rather than focus on only one or two meats, Killen aimed to make an impression by bringing some of every meat he serves at the restaurant that's already considered one of the best in Houston. "We have 51 briskets, six cases of beef ribs, 20 racks of bone-in pork belly, which is about 400 pounds. We have sausage. We have turkey. We have pork ribs," Killen explained.

    They towed two pits to Austin and stayed up almost all night in order to cook the meats. Killen says he was up until 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and his crew started back up at 5 a.m. All the preparation paid off once the general admission attendees entered the festival at 1 p.m., because Killen's featured a consistent line of people eager to try a restaurant they'd mostly only read about.

    Although only Killen's was serving, three Houston pitmasters also attended the event as eaters: Greg Gatlin of Gatlin's BBQ, Wayne Kammerl of The Brisket House and Nichole and Will Buckman of CorkScrew BBQ in Spring. In all, that means four of CultureMap's Top 10 Houston Barbecue Restaurants were represented at the festival on Sunday, or five if one counts Killen's employee Patrick Feges, who's a skilled pitmaster in his own right.

    Asked about why he would drive 200 miles to eat barbecue on his day off, Gatlin explained. "This is my one time in the quarter that I can eat barbecue, and I don’t have to cook it myself."

    "I think it's great to see everybody come together to try a bunch of amazing places from across the state. It’s crazy to see these long lines," Kammerl added.

    While The Brisket House is becoming well-known for its beef ribs, Kammerl still hoped to pick up a few tricks. "The way these guys play with the different spices is really interesting. Everyone’s fairly similar in how they smoke their meat, but the spicing is what makes it unique."

    Gatlin offered a similar thought. "You can always learn something. If you’re not growing and you’re not learning, you’re dead," he said.

    An unofficial poll of the pitmasters and a few other Houston attendees produced a quick consensus about the best bites of the day. For brisket, no one could touch Austin's la Barbecue. Killen's scored with its spicy, juicy jalapeno sausage. A cherry-glazed rib from San Antonio's Two Bros. BBQ Market was an unexpected surprise. Naturally given its James Beard Award-winning pedigree, Louie Mueller Barbecue delivered spectacular beef ribs and a special lamb chop with jalapeno mint jelly.

    Regardless of any person's favorite bite, the spirit of camaraderie that's an essential part of the barbecue scene pervaded the entire festival. Whether someone had driven three miles or 300, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Credit the pleasant temperatures and high quality meat for keeping everyone happy even when some places ran long lines.

    Ain't Texas great?

    la Barbecue's John Lewis served one of the festival's best bites.

    21 Texas Monthly BBQ Festival September 2014 John Lewis LA Barbecue
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    la Barbecue's John Lewis served one of the festival's best bites.
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    where to eat on Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving procrastinators: Reservations remain at these Houston restaurants

    Eric Sandler
    Nov 24, 2025 | 4:44 pm
    Leo's River Oaks Thanksgiving spread
    Courtesy of Culinary Khancepts
    Dine on a three-course meal at Leo's River Oaks.

    Houstonians who still don’t have plans for where they’re eating on Thanksgiving, which will be observed this Thursday, November 27, need not worry. With more and more Houston restaurants open for the holiday, procrastinators still have plenty of choices available.

    This roundup includes some fine dining options with prix fixe menus, a couple of decadent buffets, and a few lower priced, a la carte options, including one that can be picked up from a drive-thru. All of the establishments listed below had reservations available as of Monday, November 24, but that will change as Thanksgiving approaches.

    Leo's River Oaks Thanksgiving spread

    Courtesy of Culinary Khancepts

    Dine on a three-course meal at Leo's River Oaks.

    Note that this guide focuses on restaurants serving a version of traditional Thanksgiving fare. Dozens of restaurants in Chinatown and other Asian-focused districts will also be open — and busy — on Thursday.

    Amrina
    Put a masala-spiced spin on Thanksgiving with this restaurant’s five-course, $95 menu. Choices include pumpkin-spiced pani puri, Mulligatawny velouté with turkey kofta, and turkey kebab. Entree choices — including roasted turkey breast, filet mignon, and tiger prawns — are matched with family-style sides such as mashed potatoes, cranberry chutney, and spinach and corn casserole. Pumpkin mascarpone cheese mousse leads the three dessert options.

    Bar Bludorn
    The Memorial tavern is serving a three-course, $75 menu that begins with starter choices such as oysters, steak tartare, endive salad, and squash soup. Entree selections include roast turkey, steak frites, and branzino, all of which can be paired with sides such as pommes puree, cranberries, and stuffing. Finish with one of three dessert selections.

    Chardon
    Visit this French restaurant in the Thompson Hotel for a three-course, family-style Thanksgiving meal. Priced at $75 per adult and $25 for kids five and above, it includes shareable portions of cornbread, deviled eggs, chestnut and celeriac soup, fennel and apple salad, and smoked duck and cranberry terrine. For the entree course, diners will share herb-roasted turkey, turkey leg cassoulet, and beef cheek bourguignon paired with traditional sides. For dessert, the restaurant will serve apple tart, maple profiteroles, and chocolate and hazelnut cake.

    Cleburne Cafeteria
    For those looking for a more affordable option, this Houston favorite will be open for both dine-in and to-go from from 11 am-8 pm with a full range of starters, sides, entrees, and desserts. Keep in mind that lines may be long.

    Fielding’s River Oaks
    The European-inspired restaurant will supplement its usual menu with Thanksgiving add-ons such as grilled turkey breast with garlic confit and sage gravy, orange cranberry chutney, brown butter sweet potato mash, and green bean casserole ($49), as well as Peking duck breast ($46), pumpkin spice parker house rolls ($18), and apple cinnamon crisp ($17).

    Himalaya
    On Thanksgiving, chef-owner Kaiser Lashkari adds masala-spiced turkey and dressing to his extensive menu of Indo-Pak fare. Remember, the restaurant is BYOB, so plan accordingly.

    Juliet Steakhouse & Fine Dining
    The Galleria-area restaurant will serve a Thanksgiving buffet from 12-9 pm. Priced at $59.95 for adults and $29.95 for kids, it includes a carving station with turkey, salmon, and filet mignon as well as sides such as mashed potatoes, green casserole, mac & cheese, and more. Additional items include lobster bisque, Caesar salad, and desserts.

    King Ranch Texas Kitchen
    The Galleria-area restaurant’s Thanksgiving Day buffet ($59 per adult, $25 per child), includes a carving station with turkey, ham, prime rib, and brisket, as well as spinach dip, Caesar salad, deviled eggs, King Ranch chicken empanadas, shrimp cocktail, and an extensive selection of sides and desserts.

    King Steak
    The recently-opened Galleria-area restaurant will serve a four-course, $70 Thanksgiving menu. The family-style meal includes shared appetizers including vegetable “charcuterie,” deviled eggs, and cornbread. Entree options include turkey, ham, and tenderloin ($10 supplement) paired with sides that include mashed potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, candied yams, roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce. Finish with pumpkin pie and pecan pie.

    Kitchen Rumors
    The eclectic, Indian-inspired eatery is serving a four-course, $65 menu. Begin with dishes such as lobster dumplings, crispy kale and wasabi peas, and blue cheese chicken kebab. Entree choices include turkey breast, filet mignon, shrimp and pumpkin stir fry, and two vegetarian options, all of which are paired with family-style sides such as mashed potatoes, cranberry chutney, garbanzo beans, and garlic naan. The meal concludes with either pumpkin halwa pie or chocolate cremeux.

    Leo’s River Oaks
    Winner of the Best New Restaurant in the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, the restaurant will serve a three-course menu that begins with lobster bisque or kale salad. Choose turkey ($75) or chateaubriand ($85) for an entree, both of which are paired with family-style sides that include pomme puree, brown butter green beans, butternut squash stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a parker house roll. Dessert is pumpkin pie.

    Navy Blue
    The Rice Village seafood restaurant is offering a three-course, $85 menu (children 10 and under, two courses for $55). Starter choices include shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, seafood gumbo, or crab cake. For an entree, select turkey roulade with sweet potato and stuffing, hanger steak with bone marrow herb butter, branzino, seared scallops, or tagliatelle with mushrooms, plus optional sides. The meal ends with one of four desserts.

    Pappas Bar-B-Q
    Get a Thanksgiving plate with turkey, ham, and sides for $21.95. Served from 9 am-6 pm, it’s the only meal on this list that can be picked up at a drive-thru. The restaurant will also be serving its full menu, which means people can pick up brisket, ribs, or pecan pie to supplement their Thanksgiving table.

    Perseid
    This French-inspired restaurant at the Hotel Saint Augustine will serve a three-course, $85 menu. Starter choices includes chicory salad, sunchoke soup, duck terrine, and hiramasa crudo. Go traditional with turkey roulade or mix things up with mushroom risotto, hanger steak, or salmon. Dessert choices include pumpkin pie and maple cake.

    Saltgrass Steak House
    The family-friendly restaurant will serve a Thanksgiving plate that includes roast turkey breast, dressing, gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and choice of salad or soup for $23.99.

    Willie G’s
    This seafood restaurant next to the Post Oak Hotel will serve an expansive Thanksgiving buffet that’s priced at $69 for adults and $29 for children. Expect a full spread of traditional Thanksgiving fare such as turkey, honey-roasted ham, stuffing, candied yams, and green bean casserole. In addition, diners will have access to a raw bar with oysters, smoked salmon, peel & eat shrimp, deviled egg, and spicy tuna rolls. Breads, pastries, and a couple of kid-specific dishes round out the offerings.

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