Texas BBQ Road Trip – Kirby’s – Miller’s – City Meat Market – Zimmerhanzel – Kreuz – Black’s – Pecan Lodge

I went to convention in San Antonio for two reason, to stuff myself with BBQ and hang out with one of the most brilliant and intense people I’ve met in a long time. I could have done without the piping sunshine up my @ss from corporate but I guess it let me write off the entire trip.

It was an ugly drizzly day and I started off around 8:30 am. I drove a little over a couple of hours to get to Kirby’s located in Mexia, TX. It was early and there were only two other people in the restaurant.

Kirby's Barbeque 4592 Texas 14, Mexia, TX (254) 562-5076 — Kirby’s Barbeque
4592 Texas 14, Mexia, TX
(254) 562-5076

2 Meat Plate with 2 sides $9 Briskette, sausage, beans and potato salad.

Kirby's brisket was dry and they dumped a bunch of sauce on the plate. There was no option to get the more desirable flatty cut. Overall best potato salad. Sauce tasted like it was from a bottle. — Kirby’s brisket was dry and they dumped a bunch of sauce on the plate. There was no option to get the more desirable flatty cut. Overall best potato salad. Sausage was good. Sauce tasted like it was from a bottle and beans were blah.

I had to skip Whadup’s in Marlin since they were closed and I headed another couple hours to Belton to go to Miller’s Smokehouse. Belton and Lockhart are both considered the best BBQ cities in the state and I was really tempted to try every smokehouse I drove by but I stuck to my plan of keeping on the 50 best.

Miller's Smokehouse 208 North Penelope Street, Belton, TX www.wildmillers.com (254) 939-5500 — Miller’s Smokehouse
208 North Penelope Street, Belton, TX
http://www.wildmillers.com
(254) 939-5500

I think 2 meat & side plate was about $11

Anyone who asks fatty or lean already goes up a few notches in my book. Miller's had a great smoke ring, flavor and super moist. BBQ sauce was the best out of all. — Anyone who asks fatty or lean already goes up a few notches in my book. Miller’s had a great smoke ring, flavor and super moist. BBQ sauce was the best out of all. Sausage was good and sides were okay.

Drove 30 minutes to Giddlings to checkout City Meat Market. The place was pretty divey which I loved and showing up after lunch, I was limited to the tiny bit of brisket they had left.

City Meat Market 101 West Austin Street, Giddings, TX citymeatmarket.biz (979) 542-2740 — City Meat Market
101 West Austin Street, Giddings, TX
citymeatmarket.biz
(979) 542-2740

Brisket, ribs and sausage with a side of bbq no sides $13

I got the last bit of brisket they had left so it was super dry and sauce was decent. Sausage was good but the ribs were dry and bland.

Another 30 minutes to Smithville to Zimmerhanzel’s.

Zimmerhanzel's 307 Royston Street, Smithville, TX zimmerhanzelsbarbeque.com (512) 237-4244 — Zimmerhanzel’s
307 Royston Street, Smithville, TX
zimmerhanzelsbarbeque.com
(512) 237-4244

I got 3 sides and 2 meats for $9. Brisket, sausage, slaw, potato salad and beans.

Brisket was dry and very little flavor. Good beans and sausage was also good. Sauce not so good.

45 minutes to Lockhart to Kreuz.

Kreuz 619 North Colorado Street, Lockhart, TX www.kreuzmarket.com (512) 398-2361 — Kreuz
619 North Colorado Street, Lockhart, TX
http://www.kreuzmarket.com
(512) 398-2361

I was buring out on sides so I just grabbed the meat. $13. — I was burning out on sides so I just grabbed the meat. $13.

This was the biggest disappointment. Brisket was super salty and had no other flavors. It was also dry. The sausage looked great but meh.

Black’s the oldest single family owned and operated BBQ join in Texas.

Black's 215 North Main Street, Lockhart, TX blacksbbq.com (512) 398-2712 — Black’s
215 North Main Street, Lockhart, TX
blacksbbq.com
(512) 398-2712

I was bbq overload and only got the brisket. The guy let me sample their beef ribs, sausage and sides. I pulled out my bag from the car and let him taste what I thought were decent.

Matthew suggested I only go to Blacks and he was right. Brisket was super moist and flavorful. It just melted even hours of sitting in a bag it just fell apart. Sausage and ribs were also amazing.

After being disappointed at Kreuz, I decided to skip Smitty’s since they’re feuding siblings and I didn’t think that it would be that impressive. I was later told by my friend Ron that Smitty is better than Kreuz. I also decided to skip Luling since it was close to closing time and I could feel my arteries starting to clog. I headed to my hotel in San Antonio.

I think my entire floor smelled like BBQ.

I got to hang out with another one of my favourite people in the whole wide world, Brian and we went to Pecan Lodge with his fellow foodie cousin Chi. We waited in line for 45-50 minutes and it was well worth the wait.