WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
Top Fort Worth pitmasters to join lineup at 2023 Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
Full lineup from Brix Barbecue
For Texas barbecue fans, chasing down the best can be daunting. There are gas costs, waiting in line, and lodging. Rural towns may produce exceptional brisket, but few are well-known for luxurious hotels.
A better way to sample the BBQ scene is the second annual Texas Monthly BBQ Fest, the meatopia hosted by Texas Monthly magazine, slated to blaze into Lockhart, Texas, on November 4-5.
The 2023 lineup includes some of the most celebrated pitmasters in the state, and that includes nine of the top barbecue spots in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Drawing from barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn's "Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas" list as well as the recent "New and Improved" update, the invitees reflect Texas' deep culinary traditions and growing diversity.
The shindig kicks off on November 4 with the BBQ World's Fair, a free street fair featuring live music, artisan vendors, cooking demos, and an array of vendors from Texas Monthly's barbecue lists and Taco Trail. Those wanting a more VIP experience can purchase an "Around the World" punch card entitling guests to exclusive bites from featured barbecue joints.
The honor roll includes the following, with more to be announced soon:
- Barbs-B-Q (Lockhart)
- Brix Barbecue (Fort Worth)
- CM Smokehouse (Austin)
- GW's BBQ (San Juan)
- KG BBQ (Austin)
- Khói Barbecue (Houston)
- The Original Black's BBQ (Lockhart)
- Sunbird Barbecue (Longview)
The weekend continues on November 5 with the giant Top 50 Picnic, a celebration of the finest craft makers in the state. The stellar lineup adds:
- 1701 Barbecue (Beaumont)
- 2M Smokehouse (San Antonio)
- Baker Boys BBQ (Gonzales)
- Blood Bros. BBQ (Bellaire)
- Brett's BBQ Shop (Katy)
- Brett's Family BBQ (Rockdale)
- Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue (Pflugerville)
- Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin)
- Cattleack Barbeque (Farmers Branch)
- Convenience West (Marfa)
- Dayne's Craft Barbecue (Fort Worth)
- Desert Oak Barbecue (El Paso)
- Eaker Barbecue (Fredericksburg)
- Evie Mae's Pit Barbecue (Wolfforth)
- Feges BBQ (Houston)
- Goldee's Bar-B-Q (Fort Worth)
- Guess Family Barbecue (Waco)
- Hays Co. Bar-B-Que (San Marcos)
- Helberg Barbecue (Woodway)
- Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington)
- Hutchins BBQ (Frisco)
- Interstellar BBQ (Austin)
- Killen's Barbecue (Pearland)
- LaVaca BBQ (Port Lavaca)
- LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue (Austin)
- LJ's BBQ (Brenham)
- Micklethwait Craft Meats (Austin)
- Miller's Smokehouse (Belton)
- Mimsy's Craft Barbecue (Crockett)
- Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth)
- Rejino Barbeque (Olton)
- Slow Bone (Dallas)
- Smokey Joe's BBQ (New Braunfels)
- Snow's BBQ (Lexington)
- Teddy's Barbecue (Weslaco)
- Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (Tomball)
- Terry Black's Barbecue (Lockhart)
- Truth Barbecue (Houston)
- Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ (Buda)
- Zavala's Barbecue (Grand Prairie)
Although VIP tickets and weekend bundles have already been gobbled up, a few general admission tickets and punch cards remain for the weekend events. Snag them at texasmonthly.com.
