BBQ Battle

Houston crowned best BBQ city in America in surprising new survey

Texans love to argue about barbecue.

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

Houston is the best city in the country for barbecue. Congratulations, Houstonians, we've conquered the state's top cuisine.

This surprising conclusion comes courtesy of a report by the website BBQ Revolution. Titled "The Most Popular BBQ in the U.S.," the website proclaimed Houston as America's top city for barbecue.

Methodology is everything, of course. For its survey, BBQ Revolution has selected quantity over quality. To compile its ranking, the website analyzed Tripadvisor data and counted the number of barbecue restaurants in each city. With 167 establishments, Houston edged out noted barbecue destination Los Angeles (162) for the title.

San Antonio (135) ranks a surprising second in the state and third overall. Austin (113) and Dallas (109) come in at fifth and sixth nationally, respectively. Chicago ranks fourth with 124, and New York City takes sixth with 94.

Certainly, Houstonians will be pleased with that result, but the notion that Austin might be Texas' third best city for barbecue will likely cause considerable agita in the state capital.

Then again, why not Houston? The city's is home to top restaurants like Truth BBQ, Roegels Barbecue, and Gatlin's BBQ and a lively pop-up scene that includes the Vietnamese-influenced smoke masters Khói Barbecue and the decadent birria tacos of JQ's Tex-Mex Barbecue. Houston's own Blood Bros. will soon open their new location in a Las Vegas casino alongside some of the top chefs in the country.

As a point of comparison, consider Texas Monthly's 2017 list of the state's top 50 barbecue joints, which are based on actual visits by the magazine's staff. Austin landed seven in the top 50, including two in the top 10.

Houston proper had four — three more if Pearland, Tomball, and Spring are included — while Dallas had three and San Antonio only had two. Admittedly, a lot has changed in barbecue over the last four years, but that certainly feels more in line with the conventional wisdom around the state's barbecue universe.

One thing every Texan can agree on — any ranking that has Los Angeles ahead of anywhere in the Lone Star State should be viewed skeptically at best.

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a taste of Nola

French-trained Houston chefs team up for one-night-only Mardi Gras dinner

Courtesy of Chardon

Suckling pig porchetta muffuletta with olive salad, smoked ham demi-glace, and provolone sauce.

Two top Houston chefs are teaming up for a one-night-only salute to the flavors of Mardi Gras. Taking place Friday, February 6 at Chardon, the Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler dinner unites chef EJ Miller of Chardon with New Orleans native Dominick Lee, who will open progressive Creole restaurant Augustine’s later this year.

The three-course, $95 dinner (optional beverage pairing, $55) begins with an starters for the table that include poached shrimp with Muối Ớt Xanh (Vietnamese green chili dipping sauce) and bread service of a po’ boy roll with duck fat butter. Appetizer choices consist of escargot Rockefeller, Creole bucatini, and hog head cheese pâté en croûte.

Entree selections dive deep into Louisiana culinary traditions with choices that include gumbo Americana with duck breast, suckling pig porchetta “muffuletta,” and chicken-fried rabbit. A bone-in New York strip is available as a supplement. For dessert, choose from king cake profiteroles, sweet potato and black lime Mont Blanc, and “Zydeco crunch.” Everyone leaves with a warm beignet for the ride home.

“This dinner is about celebrating shared roots, creative freedom, and the joy of the season,” Miller said in a statement. “Chef Dom brings an exciting, modern Creole perspective that pairs beautifully with our Texas French approach. It’s festive, indulgent, and meant to be enjoyed together.”

“Creole and French cooking are inherently entwined. They come from the same place but tell different stories,” Lee added. “Chef EJ and I share a respect for tradition and a love for pushing these narratives forward, and this dinner is a chance to bring those two conversations to the same table.”

Miller has been Chardon’s executive chef since the French restaurant opened in February 2025. His resume includes time at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, Riel, Muse, and International Smoke, celebrity chef Michael Mina’s short-lived, smoke-infused restaurant in CityCentre.

Two years in development, Augustine’s will open later this year at the Hotel King David in Third Ward. Lee brings a diverse array of experiences to his role, including working as the executive sous chef at Indian fine dining restaurant Kiran’s, the executive chef of globally-inspired Poitín Bar & Kitchen, and two years working and studying in Italy.

Seats for the Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler dinner are available on OpenTable.

news-you-can-eat dinner