Thread by @TexasMonthly

1/ Texas BBQ is flourishing. The rate at which great joints are opening is staggering.

Our next top 50 list won't come until 2021, but we couldn't wait to tell you about our favorite new joints. Enter @bbqsnob’s Top 25 BBQ midterm report. #TMBBQmidterms txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

2/ There’s never been a simple definition of Texas barbecue, and now things are even more complex.

From brisket banh mi to kimchi instead of pickles, Texas BBQ feels more global than ever.

Check out the list of best new joints, in no particular order. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

3/ @LeRoyandLewis in Austin has been ahead of the curve with BBQ trends since day one.

Their sauce contains beets, kimchi is standard on their sandwiches, and you might even be treated to fried rice inside their smoked boudin. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

4/ Asian smokehouse @loroaustin pairs meats with sauces more likely to contain fish and herbs than ketchup and molasses, resulting in a fresh take on traditional Texas barbecue.

Pro tip: The smoked brisket is served only at dinner. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

@loroaustin 5/ Juicy smoked links are a tradition in Beaumont that goes back more than a century, and Charlie’s Bar-B-Que is doing them right.

Pitmaster Charles Brewer also turns out some of the best St. Louis–cut ribs in town. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

6/ @BloodBrosBBQ in Bellaire nails classic favorites, but dishes like Thai green chile boudin and smoked turkey banh mi offer an exciting vision of the future of Texas barbecue. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

7/ Many Texas barbecue spots focus only on the meat, while some try to wow you with their sides. At @LJsTXBBQ in Brenham, you get the best of both worlds.

Don’t miss the collard greens with bacon and the creamy macaroni and cheese. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

8/ Whether it’s the peppery pork ribs, smoky brisket, or juicy turkey breast with a touch of smoked paprika, the barbecue at @1775Bbq in College Station will keep you coming back for more. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

9/ For their second act, the folks who brought us Stiles Switch headed west to Dripping Springs.

After trying to spicy boudin at @theswitchbbq, cool it down with ridiculously good cobbler and ice cream. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

@theswitchbbq 10/ There are plenty of smoked meats to love at @panthercitybbq in Fort Worth, but the pork belly burnt end, paired with jalapeño + cheese and wrapped in bacon, is a standout. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

11/ John Mueller’s brisket at @JMBlackBoxBBQ in Georgetown is generously coated in black pepper and cooked hot and fast, giving it a bark that bites back.

His cheesy squash has its own loyal following. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

12/ Dustin Pustka at Pustka Family Barbeque in Hutto smokes a mean brisket, ribs, and half chicken.

@ Austin folks, check this place out the next time you decide to venture out of town for your barbecue fix. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

13/ At Houston’s @FegesBBQ, the barbecue menu is chock-full of quality Texas classics.

But the sides are wholly unexpected—think baby carrots with a Moroccan-spiced glaze and greens that taste straight from a Southern grandmother’s kitchen. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

14/ Reveille Barbecue Co. in Magnolia started as a passion project. Now it’s a weekend destination for loyal fans.

Try the peppery brisket, peppery turkey, or peppery beef ribs (there’s a bit of a trend with the seasoning here). txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

15/ Time to head west: Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue in Marathon (owned by @gagehotel) is one of the best options for BBQ in the Big Bend area.

We recommend pairing the cream ale w/ house-made sausages—they’re smoked until the cases have a proper snap. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

16/ Pitmaster Mark Scott is cranking out the best barbecue #Marfa has ever seen at Convenience West.

@bbqsnob says don’t sleep on the juicy half-chicken that’s smoked to perfection, and don’t skip dessert. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

17/ Butter’s BBQ in Mathis is so inexpensive that @bbqsnob urged pitmaster Andrew Soto to raise his prices.

He needs to stay in business so we can keep enjoying the beef and pork sausages wrapped in flour tortillas made by his mother. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

18/ Between Lubbock and Amarillo, you’ll find @rejinobarbecue and its smoky brisket, sweet baby back ribs, and peppery turkey breast.

Try to time your visit with the Thursday evening special of smoked fajitas. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

19/ You could eat at @PFTXBBQ in Pflugerville for a month straight and never tire of the barbecue sandwiches.

The crew makes a mean smoked cheeseburger, a pastrami Reuben that’ll easily feed two, and an excellent brisket banh mi. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

20/ Smokin’ Moon BBQ & Beer Garden pitmaster Joel Garcia has experience at Freedmen’s + Terry Black’s, so it’s no mystery why the monster beef ribs are fantastic.

Next time you’re in Pharr, try the brisket chili or the burger made from brisket trimmings. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

21/ @bbqsnob describes Harlem Road Texas BBQ’s pitmaster, Aremenian native Ara Malekian, as the “Indiana Jones of Texas barbecue.”

This joint is all about good meat, simple seasonings, and plenty of wood smoke. And the occasional smoked octopus. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

22/ Everything on the menu at @BBQBrett in Rockdale is good, but be sure to ask for the fruity rib sauce of the day. It will add a nice pop of flavor to the salty, peppery, smoky meat. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

23/ @sessionsbbq will hit the spot for Dallasites who are willing to drive an hour or so to Royse City. It’s worth the trip.

@bbqsnob never thought he’d enjoy a pulled-pork taco with chopped dill pickles and fried onions from a can until he tried it here. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

24/ Sisterdale joint Black Board Bar-B-Q features unconventional yet delightful options like Luckenbach Lollipops, which are quail halves battered and fried.

@bbqsnob suggests you get a cookie to go and warm it on your dashboard. You’ll want it later. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

25/ Until recently, @PitforksBBQ in Slaton was both an auto shop and a barbecue joint. Now it’s all barbecue all the time, complete with juicy turkey breasts and fantastic sides. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

26/ Guess Family Barbecue is helping to put Waco on the barbecue map. The ribs are smoky, tender, and savory—the ideal version of Texas spareribs.

@bbqsnob can’t wait to see what pitmaster Reid Guess will do with a full kitchen and bigger staff. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

27/ Also in Waco, @HelbergRanch does turkey like no one else in Texas, filled with herbs and spices then rolled up and smoked.

Pair it with some jalapeño corn, a smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese, or mustard potato salad. txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf

28/28 That’s all for this year’s list, but now we want to hear from you!

Let us know which new joints across Texas made your list, and if you visit one of @bbqsnob’s Top 25, post a photo on social with the hashtag #TMBBQmidterms.

Happy eating! txmnth.ly/2IPsdYf