Several Texas BBQ joints make Southern Living's Top 50 BBQ Joints of the South

Editor's Note: The above video is from KXAN's May 27, 2025 newscast

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Seventeen barbecue joints in Texas made Southern Living's Top 50 BBQ Joints of the South, including Austin.

The last time Southern Living released a top 50 list for barbecue in the south, it was in 2023. But for 2025, the publication said the rankings "look quite different," according to the publication's article for the top 50 list.

While there is plenty of ribs, brisket, chopped pork and more to be had, the Top 50 joints offer other entrees with lamb chops, smash burgers, barbacoa tacos and more, according to Southern Living.

The following restaurants in the Austin area made the list, according to Southern Living:

• No. 47: Smitty's Market in Lockhart
• No. 38: Micklethwait Barbecue in Austin
• No. 31: Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin
• No. 28: Barbs BQ in Lockhart
• No. 20: Franklin Barbecue in Austin
• No. 13: Kreuz Market in Lockhart
• No. 4: Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor
• No. 2: Snow's BBQ in Lexington

Micklethwait Barbecue, Barbs BQ and Franklin Barbecue are all currently listed as MICHELIN star establishments, according to the MICHELIN website. All three barbecue joints are listed as Bib Gourmand restaurants, which means they have good quality and good value cooking.

A few of these Central Texas barbecue joints aren't new to the party when it comes to making top 50 lists. Burnt Bean Co., Franklin Barbecue, Barbs B Q, Louie Mueller Barbecue and Snow's BBQ also made Texas Monthly's Top Texas BBQ Joints in May.

The following restaurants outside the Austin area in Texas made the list, according to Southern Living:

• No. 46: Hurtado Barbecue in Arlington
• No. 43: Cattleack Barbeque in Dallas
• No. 42: Blood Bros. BBQ in Bellaire
• No. 40: Dayne's Craft Barbecue in Aledo
• No. 37: Goldee's Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth
• No. 27: Truth Barbecue in Houston
• No. 19: Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball
• No. 15: Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth