Except for 407, most BBQ places are about the same (to me). Somedays great and somedays just Ok. What I want in a place is good tater salad, good tasty beans, and good ribs and brisket. And I sure want a good BBQ sauce. Most places have boring tasteless beans and mediocre sauce. Again, that’s just my experience and opinion. Maybe you like boring non-spicy beans. Some do.

Over the years, there have been many discussions here on BBQ and where to get the good stuff. But, in your opinion, what’s the difference between good and really good? What makes one place stand out - to you?

sides and desserts. gotta have a hook.

Brisket must be fork tender and juicy. Ribs should just about fall of the bone. Sauce should be more spicy than sweet, but a balance of both. Just my .02 cents.

I've only ate BBQ at a BBQ place a few times in my life. No matter how good their BBQ, BBQ sauce and sides are, they have to be consistently good all the time. I can`t smoke brisket as good as one of those places with a 1000-gallon smoke but mine is still damn good for a small offset and it doesn`t cost me almost 40 bucks a lb. Been making the same BBQ sauce for almost 20 years that I`m happy with as well and I`ll put my side dishes up against any of those places.

The Passion of the PITBOSS ( owner ). Is he cooking for the MONEY.... or is he cooking for the FOOD..

I'd agree with this.

Decent food and not cost an arm and a leg. I absolutely love bbq, but when it comes to eating out I’d rather just eat something else than pay the inflated prices. If I want good bbq I find a weekend drink some beer and learn the boy on how to do the same.

You said great rather than good so wagyu beef or kobe beef is what I consider great provided they know how to smoke and use real wood on an indirect fire.

ribs need to have a tug on the bite (fall off the bone is overcooked). good sides and an old school vibe.

I can get out of Hard 8 for under $10 typically. .25-35 lb of brisket, .5lb of pickle slices, a couple containers of free beans and water. I'd rate 7 out of 10 every time. Best part is my stomach is not hurting afterward with the light intake. I'm ever dietng I'll skip the okra.

Beans and rice, baby.

For me the brisket is a tie between 3 local places. 407, Sullivans (Lewisville) and Hutchins in Trophy Club. The side dishes are a close tie between Hutchins and 407. Nod goes to 407 based on price. Hutchins is great but we can't get out of there for less than about $75.00.

What makes all of these great to me are the sides. They are fresh and made in house. There are several more local places with good Q, but the sides suck.

For me its a large helping of onions and a spicy/tangy sauce. Doesn't matter which protein I'm getting.

A close second would be a stout glass of unsweet tea, I like mine almost as dark as coffee. Getting harder and harder to find.

I get where you’re coming from, but an owner that doesn’t balance his love of food with the hard reality of money is soon known as an ex-owner.

I always look for a dark bark and smoke smell. Light smoke and 90% oven cooked is not for me.

I don’t eat BBQ at too many places but the ones I eat at all have good brisket & ribs.
Zekes in Windthorst, Sonny’s in Olney and Daddy Bob’s here in Graham. The big thing is all 3 have good beans and potato salad.

What, great?

bbq sauce

meat falls off bone

majority of the sides are good, but do NOT have to be creative, just basic

free, all-you-can-eat desserts and ice cream, which does not help for the chubbs and the fats

no ridiculous prices

umm, burnt ends should not cost extra

Addendum: It would help if customers did NOT have to wait in excessively long lines, but ironically, long lines seem to equate with "good."

...------

My ticket at hard 8 is
Half chicken
drink
free beans and jalapenos

$12.75

Their sides are pre-packaged, I don't like this and they don't look appetizing. The lines in BBQ restaurants are their own marketing spots, If the food LOOKS good it will sell to the compulsive buyer thus the $75.00 price.

Another thing about some BBQ joints. First customers in sometimes get re-run meats (leftover from the day before). yuck, dry and un-inviting.

It damn sure begins with the Q. The brisket, burnt ends, or beef rib better be stellar. Honestly the sides don't matter much to me, I can make plenty of great sides at home for cheap/easy. I can't make world-class (or close to it) Q at home. I can make pretty decent pork ribs and for a heckuva lot less than they can-same with sausage. I completely miss on people spending $20+/lb for sausage.

I have been going to Louie Mueller's in Taylor since I was a kid - I still drive from Georgetown to Taylor twice a month for lunch - I was there today.
As I was in line waiting for them to open two guys walked up and asked me if I had ever eaten there - I said "since I was a child"

They said they travel all over Texas checking out BarBQ places. After I finished my meal and was leaving I stopped at their table and asked them what they thought - the both ate the brisket and said it was the best they have ever had - everybody like things cooked their way and I get that but LM's is top end in my book

^^^^^^

Just right!

i need to go and try

has been voted over and over by magazines like Texas Monthly as either the best or in the top ten in Texas

I think the food has been covered sufficiently, but the atmosphere plays a part too. Don't think there are any in Texas (a couple in OK), and while it's not a traditional Texas BBQ place, there's a company with locations mostly east of the Mississippi called Mission BBQ. Excellent service, mostly good BBQ, sauces and sides, but the atmosphere slays... military and first responder patches and pictures cover the walls, and every day at noon they honor our nation with the playing of the National Anthem.

When I lost a troop in Afghanistan in 2013, Mission BBQ catered the unit memorial service for free. The two owners are stand-up men and American Patriots.

They have to nail the Texas Trinity (brisket, ribs and jalapeno cheddar sausage). Great beans and make&cheese are a must. In addition, they need to be consistent. Oh yeah, good sweet tea and banana pudding.

I echo
this^^^^^^^^

Here in Jacksboro, we have Trevinos which has been in a trailer, but is moving to a brick and mortar currently. His product is great, I put it up there with Daynes and 407. I know a lot of you guys hunt in this area and pass through, give him a shot, we need to keep our locals going. (I know, shameless plug )