He calls himself “The Prophet of Smoked Meat” and via his blog, Full Custom Gospel BBQ (www.fcg-bbq.blogspot.com), Dallas-based architect Daniel Vaughn has become a master arbiter of taste in the eternal Texas barbecue debate. Whether judging in the Taste of Mesquite Barbecue Cook-off or “suffering through bad barbecue so you don’t have to,” Vaughn’s influential reviews have attracted a growing following from across the barbecue universe.
Vaughn launched his blog after experiencing a “barbecue awakening” that included visiting 16 barbecue joints in central Texas over three days.
“The quality of the meat was so incredible that I could no longer enjoy mediocre barbecue,” he explains. “Like a wine journal for barbecue, I wanted to document where I’d been and what I loved about Texas barbecue.”
According to Vaughn, Texas barbecue is truly judged on beef, and the meat must stand on its own.
“The effort and experience required to turn out consistently well smoked meat is truly impressive,” he explains. “Texas barbecue is the only regional style where sauce is secondary, which leaves little room for errors that sauce is meant to cover.”
To date, Vaughn has reviewed around 400 barbecue joints across Texas, with ongoing “epic smoked meat trips” to other barbecue hotbeds around the country.
Generally avoiding places with fried catfish or Caesar salad on the menu—“chances are they aren’t paying enough attention to the pits”—Vaughn shares his top five picks for the best barbecue in Texas:
- Franklin Barbecue, Austin
www.franklinbarbecue.com
My top choice in Texas. The brisket and ribs are phenomenal, and they take pulled pork to a new level. - Snow’s BBQ, Lexington
www.snowsbbq.com
Open only on Saturday mornings, but worth the 90-minute drive from Austin for succulent brisket and sausage, and warm service. - Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor
www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com
Don’t miss the giant beef ribs at this walk back into history, with smoky walls and hand-written menus on the same butcher paper your meat is served on. - Kruez Market, Lockhart
www.kreuzmarket.com
The state-proclaimed capital of Texas barbecue is a huge temple to smoked meat, known for smoked prime rib, jalapeno cheese sausage and incredible pork chops—and its no-forks, no-sauce policy. - Black’s Barbecue, Lockhart
www.blacksbbq.com
A family-run joint where the turkey almost makes you believe poultry is the house specialty, but the eternally tender beef ribs and fatty-good brisket will bring you back to your protein senses.
