Anyone familiar with Houston Texas BBQ

Hey guys, new to the forum. In any event, I am going to HOUSTON in the fall for an NFL football game and was wondering....where should I go to get the "authentic" TEXAS BBQ (not this commercial restaurant chain stuff). I don't care if it is a whole in the wall, as long as I can get some good QUE. What is the best BBQ in the Houston area. I will be staying near downtown. I also heard that there is a good Cajun/Creole restaurant there called "Papadeaux". Has anyone been there? I know, my trip is several months away, but I wanted to get some info. early. Thanks in advance.

Just got back from art car weekend in Houston. While I'm hardly an expert or a local, I loved Goode Co. (reviewed on roadfood, which is how we found out about it). We ended up having dinner there Friday and Saturday. The Czech sausage, sweet water duck, and (of course) brisket were all amazingly good. Mmmm... smoky...

Skinsfan....The Houston area has several really excellent 'que venues, several of which can be found by drilling through a few of the forums here. Rodney is absolutely correct in his assessment of Goode & Co....really good (and affordable) BBQ is a great setting. Grab a cold "beverage" out of the cooler and move down the line picking what suits your fancy. Then head outside to one of the covered tables to take in the smell from the smokers. Do not bother with Papadeaux. They also are a chain, and the one here in the northern burbs of Chicago is overpriced and (IMHO) mediocre at best.

I was in Houston last year and went to Luling City Market www.lulingcitymarket.com The Brisket was good and the Smoked Sausage kicked ass. So far it's the best bbq I've had in Texas to date.

If you want good cajun, with a lively atmosphere, try the Magnolia Grill www.magnolia-grill.com I was quite impressed with the stuffed redfish.

Here is an excerpt of my trip report from last year
--
I finally arrived in Houston and realized I had very little time before the Astros game began, only a couple of hours. After finding out that my downtown hotel offers free shuttle service to the Ballpark, I chanced it and drove to the Magnolia Grill. I got there and it was packed and there was a life band on the deck. I decided to go for the Stuffed Red Snapper and started off with the seafood Gumbo. The fresh bread comes with a hint of butter and garlic, I promised myself I would only eat half, but ended up eating the whole thing (about 4 pieces) The Gumbo was ok and was generously loaded with Shrimp. But the Snapper stuffed with Crabmeat was absoluely delicious. It was Cajun spiced and came with Mashed Potatos (homemade) and a vegetable medely. Definetely one of the highlights of the trip.
--
I returned to Houston in the Afternoon and checked out Luling City Market on Richmond Avenue. I ordered the BBQ Beef Brisket and Sausage Combo which came with Potato Salad, Beans and White Bread. I added some Pickles and Hot Peppers and a Glass of Ice Tea (apparently unsweetened is the only choice in Texas) I'll tell you the Brisket was probably some of the Best I ever had, on Par with Leos in OK City. and The Sausage, let's just say it kicked ASS and had packed a punch like you wouldn't believe. The BBQ sauce was quite interesting, unusual for Texas had slightly sweet mustard/vinegar consistency but it was really good and complimented the smoked meet quite well. Again the sides were nothing special. But the Brisket and Sausage were definetly another highlight of the trip

Thelma's BBQ is also one highly recommended to me, although I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

LUVESTOEAT....thanks for the heads-up on Pappadeaux. Also, wanderingjew, thanks for the links. Already checked them out. Man I can't wait to get down to TEXAS to get the authentic stuff. It's really hard to get the down home, country BBQ here in a such an East Coast, cosmopolitan city like D.C.

I second the Magnolia Grill rec. Their duck special was very good.

Tourists go to Goode Company even though it is good. Best BBQ is Luling City on Richmond. It also has a clone (the guy used to run Luling but wanted his own place) on Eldridge near Memorial in a strip center called Houston BBQ Co. I will admit that the Chopped Beef (blocked chopped, not the bad stuff) Sandwich on Jalapeno Cheesebread at Goode's is one of the best but for Ribs, Brisket and Sausage go to Luling or Houston BBQ Co.

I found the Luling outlet on Richmond to be very overrated. I thought that the brisket was tough, but the ribs were excellent. My understanding is that this location is a shadow of the original City Market in Luling. I will try to make it there during my next visit to Central Texas to compare.

I liked Goode Co. It hardly seemed touristy to me....most of the folks that were there when I was there were dressed in business attire -- seemed to attract quite a local lunch following from that set.

I know that the sample size is small -- just one meal at each, but my recommendation would be Goode Co. over Luling City Market in Houston.

I agree about Goode & Co. The duck is great. Asked for slaw on a pork sandwich one time and was told I was the first to ever ask for that...standard in NC BTW.

Ott's is another place I would recommend. Their bbq sauage is out of this world. Ott's is the Bush family fav and pictures abound.

Another vote for Goode Company.

Thanks for you guys input. Any more? ? Well, I won't be in Houston for another few months (September 22-25), but you guys have definitely helped me.

Also, I found a good Houston food website www.b4-u-eat.com and they had all of the BBQ spots rated and a lot of good customer coments.

It seems like the Goode Company was getting really positive reviews (so was Luling). Ironically, Thelma's BBQ got great reviews for the food......but terrible reviews for the service (many say she is incredibly mean). Since I've never been to TEXAS, I cannot confirm or deny this....but who knows, I might soon find out.

quote:

Originally posted by skinsfan.06

I also heard that there is a good Cajun/Creole restaurant there called "Papadeaux". Has anyone been there?

As you may already have noticed, you'll get varying opinions on Pappadeaux on this website, especially since it is a chain.
Some, like me, love the place and others have said that they have been disapointed with their meals there.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5373 http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3563 .

Nevertheless, it's one of my favorite places to eat. Although they're aren't any in the Washington, DC area (where I also live), there is one in Albuquerque, which I travel to often for my job. I usually have one meal at Pappadeaux on each trip (along with visits to the Frontier, the 66 Diner, the Bobcat Bite on the outskirts of Santa Fe, and other roadfood places). The place is pricey (for a three-course meal with taxes and tip, one person can easily spend 40-50 bucks), but the portions are huge and the seafood is flown in fresh daily. Because the portions are so large (and to save a few bucks), instead of ordering an appetizer and a main course, I will generally order two appetizers, usually the Oysters Pappadeaux and the crabcakes. The Oysters Pappadeaux are steamed oysters served on the half-shell and covered by spinach, crabmeat and hollandaise sauce, and they are fabulous. The crabcakes are also delicious, and I know crabcakes, being from the Chesapeake Bay area. If you go, try to save room for dessert, too. My favorite is the sweet potato pecan pie a-la-mode, which is every bit as rich and decadent as it sounds.

http://www.pappadeaux.com/

Oh, and by the way . . . GO 'SKINS!

You might also consider Williams Smokehouse. I am not sure if it is reviewed here or in the latest edition of Roadfood.

quote:

Originally posted by rbpalmer

quote:

Originally posted by skinsfan.06

I also heard that there is a good Cajun/Creole restaurant there called "Papadeaux". Has anyone been there?

Oh, and by the way . . . GO 'SKINS!

Yeah, BABY! I like your style.

I think Papadeaux is pretty damned good. I quit going there, but only because I found a great hole-in-the-wall Cajun seafood place that was closer and much cheaper. It is called Cajun Town Cafe. They have outstanding grilled fish with a choice of sauces. The fried shrimp and oysters are wonderful as is the fried catfish.

There is a location at Little York at Bingle, and another one at Greens off I-45 (near Bush Airport), but I have not been to the one at the Greens location.

quote:

Originally posted by skinsfan.06

Hey guys, new to the forum. In any event, I am going to HOUSTON in the fall for an NFL football game and was wondering....where should I go to get the "authentic" TEXAS BBQ (not this commercial restaurant chain stuff). I don't care if it is a whole in the wall, as long as I can get some good QUE. What is the best BBQ in the Houston area. I will be staying near downtown. I also heard that there is a good Cajun/Creole restaurant there called "Papadeaux". Has anyone been there? I know, my trip is several months away, but I wanted to get some info. early. Thanks in advance.

A few thoughts on Cajun/Creole.

I was looking at the categories on b4-u-eat and saw Treebeard’s downtown. http://www.treebeards.com/ I’ve heard of these places for years but never been so can’t make a recommendation. I think it’s pretty pricey.

Brennan’s of Houston http://www.brennanshouston.com/ is owned by the same family that owns Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. This would be a short cab ride from downtown. I used to go occasionally, mostly on the company dollar, but haven’t been in many years. I’m sure it’s still one of the finest dining options in Houston. Very, very expensive.

I see Goode Co. Texas Seafood is listed as Cajun. I wonder why they call it Texas Seafood I think of it as more southwestern than Cajun and have liked everything I’ve ever had there. http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurant.aspx This is one of my favorite seafood places but it’s slipped beneath my radar and I haven’t been in a few years. All the Goode Co. Restaurants are kind of pricey. It’s not a coincidence they are all located convenient to some of the priciest enclaves in Houston, River Oaks, West U, the Memorial Villages.

I’m working on some other Cajun/Creole recommendations that are more down-on-the-bayou plus bbq. There’s one place I’ve been wanting to try for years but never gotten around to, Big Woodrow’s on Chimney Rock, just a block or so from Magnolia. I’ll try to get over there and report back.

Skinsfan - I noticed the Treebeard's website calls it southern but I've always heard it was cajun; the menu lists several cajun dishes; however, note the hours, this is a downtown lunch spot during the week only, the reason I've never been there and you won't be able to unless you're in town on Friday or Monday. Forget the comment about priciness -- I had gotten it mixed up in my memory with Trulucks Stone Crab.

Both my wife and I have had BBQ all over TX and all over the US and of course there are some amazing places everywhere (there are also some dumps too). But the singe best BBQ we've ever had is William's Smokehouse in Houston. WOW!! What an amazing experience. Super nice folks too!

Oltheimmer,

Have you tried Floyd's Cajun Boat (I am not entirely sure of the name) off of I-45 South at NASA Rd 1. The restuarant does look like a boat, but the food is very good. Floyd is usually wandering around talking to everyone waiting for a table. I know several Louisiana transplants who enjoy going there.

Rick

Yes I have, Rick76. I never got to the original location but always heard great things about it. I thought it was the best gumbo I've ever had tho it was surprisingly thin and watery. I had the seafood platter, which was way too much food for me. It's one of the down home cajun places I was going to recommend to skinsfan.06 even tho its 35-40 minutes from downtown Houston.

Skinsfan - Floyd Landry and Bret Floyd were two of the original principals in Landry's; the original group split up about 25 years ago and none of them have anything to do with Landry's Inc, as I understand it. Floyd's was originally on Durham, just north of Washington, on the near west side, about 2-3 miles from downtown Houston. They sold that to their employees a couple of years ago and its now known as Mardi Gras Cafe. If you use the search feature on b4-u-eat and enter floyd, it still pulls up the Mardi Gras. That's the closest to downtown Houston 'down-home' cajun place I've been able to think of but I've never been.

I had a waiter trainee on my visit to Floyd's in Webster and it took forever to get my food and I was getting rather agitated and thinking it was due to his incompetence, but reading the reviews on b4-u-eat, apparently that wait is characteristic of the place. I don't think Floyd was there the day I stopped in.

Rick, since you're from OH I guess there's not much point in asking if you've been to Ragin' Cajun or Big Woodrow's? How about any of your friends?

Oltheimmer,

I need to update my profile. I moved to the Houston area about a year ago. I did eat at Big Woodrow's 2 or 3 years ago. I remember the crawfish being good, but that was all my group ordered. I have never eaten at the Ragin Cajun.

Rick

quote:

Originally posted by oltheimmer

quote:

Originally posted by skinsfan.06

Hey guys, new to the forum. In any event, I am going to HOUSTON in the fall for an NFL football game and was wondering....where should I go to get the "authentic" TEXAS BBQ (not this commercial restaurant chain stuff). I don't care if it is a whole in the wall, as long as I can get some good QUE. What is the best BBQ in the Houston area. I will be staying near downtown. I also heard that there is a good Cajun/Creole restaurant there called "Papadeaux". Has anyone been there? I know, my trip is several months away, but I wanted to get some info. early. Thanks in advance.

A few thoughts on Cajun/Creole.

I was looking at the categories on b4-u-eat and saw Treebeard’s downtown. http://www.treebeards.com/ I’ve heard of these places for years but never been so can’t make a recommendation. I think it’s pretty pricey.

Brennan’s of Houston http://www.brennanshouston.com/ is owned by the same family that owns Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. This would be a short cab ride from downtown. I used to go occasionally, mostly on the company dollar, but haven’t been in many years. I’m sure it’s still one of the finest dining options in Houston. Very, very expensive.

I see Goode Co. Texas Seafood is listed as Cajun. I wonder why they call it Texas Seafood I think of it as more southwestern than Cajun and have liked everything I’ve ever had there. http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurant.aspx This is one of my favorite seafood places but it’s slipped beneath my radar and I haven’t been in a few years. All the Goode Co. Restaurants are kind of pricey. It’s not a coincidence they are all located convenient to some of the priciest enclaves in Houston, River Oaks, West U, the Memorial Villages.

I’m working on some other Cajun/Creole recommendations that are more down-on-the-bayou plus bbq. There’s one place I’ve been wanting to try for years but never gotten around to, Big Woodrow’s on Chimney Rock, just a block or so from Magnolia. I’ll try to get over there and report back.

Skinsfan - I noticed the Treebeard's website calls it southern but I've always heard it was cajun; the menu lists several cajun dishes; however, note the hours, this is a downtown lunch spot during the week only, the reason I've never been there and you won't be able to unless you're in town on Friday or Monday. Forget the comment about priciness -- I had gotten it mixed up in my memory with Trulucks Stone Crab.

Thanks for the info. I will definitely check out your recomendations.

We moved away from Houston 20 years ago, so I haven't a clue about what is there now, but I have eaten at the City Market in Luling, and if the Luling City Market in Houston is anywhere near as good as that one, I would say go there.

I haven't eaten at City Market in Luling, but have eaten at the one in Houston, and based on everything I have read and heard....it's not.

quote:

Originally posted by skinsfan.06

Thanks for you guys input. Any more? ? Well, I won't be in Houston for another few months (September 22-25), but you guys have definitely helped me.

Also, I found a good Houston food website www.b4-u-eat.com and they had all of the BBQ spots rated and a lot of good customer coments.

It seems like the Goode Company was getting really positive reviews (so was Luling). Ironically, Thelma's BBQ got great reviews for the food......but terrible reviews for the service (many say she is incredibly mean). Since I've never been to TEXAS, I cannot confirm or deny this....but who knows, I might soon find out.

Thelma’s - I’ve never experienced nor witnessed the rudeness, but I can believe it from what I’ve seen of her on TV. My recommendations: avoid the long lines, if there’s a line at 11am as some of the comments on b4-u-eat suggest, go after the midday rush; that’s when I always go. It’s one thing to stand in line 45 minutes for food, another if you’re also treated rudely. I’ve never had to stand in a line of more than 1 or 2 people. Best are her ribs and catfish. This is the closest to downtown. All food is served in to-go containers. Her sides are probably the best at any Q joint in Houston.

Luling City Market - Wow, some really positive comments on this thread. I’ve had excellent cue there and mediocre cue there. It’s not as good as the namesake in Luling but only a handful of places on the planet are and you asked about the best in Houston, not Texas. The mustard based sauce is the real thing; from what I understand, the original owners hired someone away from the place in Luling who knew the recipe. He didn’t last long and wasn’t welcomed back in Luling for some reason. BBQ connoisseurs/snobs in Houston hold the theft of the name and sauce against this place and look down their noses at it, but the original owners are long gone. They don’t keep the pit going all day, so go early. By mid-afternoon the focus is more on the bar, not the cue, the meat has been on the steam table for hours and the best cuts probably already used up; at least that’s what I think accounts for the difference. I’d say if you can’t get there by 2pm, skip it, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. Go before noon if you can. Here’s a link to an article on the two Lulings by Robb Walsh of the Houston Press, whose book Legends of Texas Barbecue is the best there is on the subject. The book pretty well echos my thoughts on the subject.

http://www.houstonpress.com/Issues/2005-05-26/dining/cafe_1.html

On the thing about the sausage: I think they’ve changed the recipe at LCM Houston; used to be very good, on my most recent visit, I was disappointed in the texture. They seem to have switched to a very fine grind of meat instead of coarse grind.

By the way, anybody in Central Texas tried the place in McMahan that’s mentioned in Walsh’s article?

Goode Co. has never been a favorite of mine; too touristy and too much hype, and probably the most expensive cue joint I’ve ever been in. Goode Co. is not bad, mind you, and I have no problem with sending tourists there, or for that matter most Houstonians, and I don’t mean that derogatorily, skinsfan. It is very consistent and dependable; Jim Goode has far too much invested in his image to let it slip. If you go I can give you an almost 100% guarantee you’ll leave with a very favorable impression of Houston BBQ but you will not have had Houston’s best .

quote:

Originally posted by Bluemaxx

Both my wife and I have had BBQ all over TX and all over the US and of course there are some amazing places everywhere (there are also some dumps too). But the singe best BBQ we've ever had is William's Smokehouse in Houston. WOW!! What an amazing experience. Super nice folks too!

Way to go Bluemaxx. The following is with apologies to David Letterman’s writers: According to data compiled by the US Census Bureau for the 2000 Census, 98% of the people who think Goode Co. is the best barbecue in Houston have never been to Williams Smokehouse . It isn’t well known even among Houstonians and some selfish people, myself among them, would just as soon keep it that way .

Williams is the best and belongs in the pantheon of the best in Texas and is the only place in Houston that does. Go for the ribs and brisket at Williams, sides are only so-so. Home made deserts are good. It’s closed Sunday and Monday so that may affect your choice.

Another one I like that I'll mention is Otto’s, which is reviewed on this site. Before any of the above even existed, Otto’s was long considered the best Q in the city limits and it’s comfort food to me after 40+ years. I didn't go for years but Michael Stern's review posted a year or so ago prompted me to visit it again and find I like it still.

Of the 100s of times I’ve been, only once have I ordered anything other than a sliced beef and sliced link sandwich. I load up on the pickles and onions at the condiments bar, have a feast and leave perfectly content with life. BBQ snobs never mention this place any more but I still like it. Go only to the Memorial Drive location, the only place they actually have a pit.

Last year I had excellent BBQ Brisket and Smoked Sausage at Luling City Market in Houston. I've never been to the BBQ Shrine capitol of Lockhart, however I thought that Luling was the best yet that I've experienced in Texas, however the sides were forgettable.

Glad you enjoyed it wj. Like I said I've had some really excellent cue there at times. My last visit was just a couple of weeks ago. If you'd never experienced the coarser grind sausage you might not find the stuff they serve now inadequate.

I've lurked here off and on for years but missed your trip. You'll have to come back sometime and I hope you make it out to Lockhart, Luling and Taylor some day.

O.L.