Suck it 512.

https://texas-barbecue.com/the-2026-texas-barbecue-top-50/


#36 Miller's Smokehouse & Muscovy Coffee Roasters
Belton

#34 Rossler's Blue Cord Barbecue
Harker Heights

#29 Pustka Family BBQ
Temple

#25 Hecho En Texas Barbeque
Cameron

#20 Band of Brothers
Killeen, TX

#19 Helberg BBQ
Woodway

#11 Cosper's Country Meat Market
Killeen

#10 Victorian's Barbecue
Mart

#1 Schoepf's BBQ
Belton


Scheopf's over Millers is a bit of a shocker. Haven't ate there in years. Not because I don't like it, but because my wife likes other things from Miller's more, so that's where we go.

Shopfs has rebounded, and so has the price. They are the best in TexMex BBQ, imho. Try the smoked tamales and street corn. It will cost about $20 and is only on Thursdays and Fridays.

Good to hear on the price. I think the last time I ate anything was during a concert there and I went in and grabbed two sausage wraps and brisket sandwiches and it was something like $50.

I could do get way more for less at Kyle Field or McClanes.

It's still pricey. The last few times I went in there it was only for the tamale and street corn. $20 is still pricey for one person, but we are cheap and split a meal.

These rankings are accurate for the ones I have tried. Backyard BBQ in MPR and Best Quality in Temple should probably be on the list. I would put those around the same level as Miller's, but much more affordable than the rest.

Backyard had less flavor the last few times I ate their brisket nachos. The Bubba fries were still great.

Best Quality Meat has recently started improving flavor comparable to when they first opened. I feel like most BBQ places go through waves of not tasting their own food, so the flavor suffers some.


Pustka should be opening their new location in the very near future. Possibly by the end of the month. That should help them get more business and recognition. The jalapeño-apple slaw was good. I want you get by there and try the street corn that they have on their website.

This list is suspect as hell. Lol

But, I'm all for supporting any and all BBQ places right now given the environment. Putska's has been my recent favorite, and I look forward to their new location opening.

500,000ags said:

---

This list is suspect as hell. Lol

But, I'm all for supporting any and all BBQ places right now given the environment. Putska's has been my recent favorite, and I look forward to their new location opening.

---

I was talking to a friend at church about the Miller's fire and mentioned this list and he had the equal shock about Scheopfs being ranked one nonetheless beating Millers.

Some interesting (and obvious ) omissions were Clem's, Guess, and Viteks.

Never been to Putskas. Where are they moving?

They are in a trailer over by Emporium Spice, but they are moving to the old Tanglefoot / Al's BBQ location off M. Probably still a few months off. They had special like 2-3 weeks ago, a sweet glazed pork rib steak with a side for $13. It was one of the best things I've eaten in Temple proper.

Local best is Helberg IMO, and it's kind of not even close. Next Friday, we are going to head over for their Fish and Chips special. I will tip my cap to Shoepf's for doing the Tex Mex thing, and doing it pretty well. Like the poster above, elote is hard to find in Central Texas and theirs is really good. I also used to really enjoy their weekend-only prime rib, but they ended it like 3-4 months ago. They needed to consolidate their menu tbh, so I get it. Shoepf's pricing is kind of wild though. I went last month with my mom and gf and we spent $80+. Nothing really crazy; 3 sandwiches; 2 shared sides, and 3 drinks. That's ridiculous considering it wasn't all beef cuts we got.

In my opinion, I liked Helberg more when it was at the old location before the fire. Now, it's kind of too bougie. Which I guess is appropriate for Midway and listing their address as Woodway instead of keeping it real in Speegleville.

I'm going to be up in Waco in a couple weeks. I think I'm going to have to try these smoked tamales in Belton. That sounds awesome.

That G Wagon in Academy is pretty legit too.

I think Guess closed? At least their location on Franklin closed. My gf and I really enjoyed that place our first year in the area.

Guess closed about a year ago.

Wait, we are talking about best BBQ rankings and not discussing brisket.

It has been a few years but Schoepfs brisket is not near as good as Millers. G Wagon is right there also. Also haven't been to Pruskas lately but again not close to near top. Best Quality also not near the top.

Get they all have other good things on the menu but I only get brisket and judge that when talking about BBQ rankings.

I need to try G Wagon.

Brisket is getting so good everywhere it's becoming a check the box thing. So if you check the box on brisket, the "best" places are now serving more plates and specials that are putting them near the top of all these lists.

Agreed, Miller's and Helberg is best brisket. I put Helberg over Miller's because Miller's has traded efficiency for menu creativity. That's why I'm high on Putska's, they are close to checking the box on brisket, but their chicken and jalapeño sausage are great. That combo from them is like getting a BBQ version of the church plates out in East Bell Co.

Places like Shoepf's and BQ don't really get anywhere near my top, but I still go to both probably once every 2 months. Shoepf's has menu creativity, which is why I tip my cap to them over Miller's. What's odd is that Miller's makes great tortillas. They could kill it adding a few TexMex options. I just assume it's that they don't want to step on Shoepf's toes. They have their lane and we have ours. Just guessing though.

Agree and I understand. I just don't go out to eat that much so if I'm at a bbq place I only get brisket.

G Wagon is good. I do think their prices are a little high (for brisket) seeing how they are a food truck/semi food truck.

I know I have a problem. Haha

We are a one-car household (paid off) so we can eat out whenever we want.

500,000ags said:

---

What's odd is that Miller's makes great tortillas.

---

Disagree, tortilla is the weakest part of their taco. somehow too fatty and crumbly/not soft all at the same time.

Their tortillas are good, you can damn near see through them from the beef tallow. If they serve them cold or left out too long, that's a different story.

Not the best pic, but it was really good. Went to Helberg's Fish & Chip special on Fridays.

HollywoodBQ said:

---

In my opinion, I liked Helberg more when it was at the old location before the fire. Now, it's kind of too bougie. Which I guess is appropriate for Midway and listing their address as Woodway instead of keeping it real in Speegleville.

I'm going to be up in Waco in a couple weeks. I think I'm going to have to try these smoked tamales in Belton. That sounds awesome.

---

I'm still a pretty big fan of Helberg. You can't beat their ribs IMHO. He's doing a "sausage of the month" deal where he tries out a different type of sausage each month. It's pretty cool, with some different flavors each month.

Is there another (or new) location?

500,000ags said:

---

Is there another (or new) location?

---

They built a new location closer to the twin bridges after the old one burned. It opened almost exactly a year ago.

Guess burned down?

500,000ags said:

---

Guess burned down?

---

Shoot...I meant Helberg. Will edit. It's a Monday. What can I say.

Ah, gotcha. All good. Yeah, I tried one last month at Helberg, the rojo enchilada I think, pretty good.

Helberg is very good, but takes me forever to get out there from where we live

I'm going to try GWagon this week, any recommendations?

Get the BBQ

rustyburban said:

---

Shopfs has rebounded, and so has the price. They are the best in TexMex BBQ, imho. Try the smoked tamales and street corn. It will cost about $20 and is only on Thursdays and Fridays.

---

Ugh... It's difficult for me to get up to Central Texas on a Friday and I was planning to go tomorrow to try the smoked tamales.

Now, I don't think I'm going to make it. Hopefully I can make it in the next few months.

The menu looks awesome. Thanks for the recommendation whenever I do finally make it up there.
https://schoepfsbbq.com/menu/

My son's birthday was yesterday and he wanted Helberg, so I ordered and brought home the "Shotgun" Pack, which includes 2 lbs of brisket (moist of course), a rack of ribs, four sides and banana pudding. The ribs were really large. And excellent. The brisket was tender as hell. The boy wanted double mac and cheese, baked potato salad and street corn. I'm not big on mac and cheese, but the other two sides were good.

Barely in the 512

#23 7 Bar Barbecue
Rockdale Aggie Owned