J.C. Reid, Texas
@jcreidtx.bsky.social
Barbecue columnist for the Houston Chronicle. Polymath. Carefully vetted. Barbecue/BBQ/Bar-B-Q. Retweets, follows, likes ≠ endorsement. Views are solely my own.
Truboy BBQ Market in Missouri City brings unique barbecue and business model to Missouri City. My latest for @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/3qN9Jmk
November 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Truboy BBQ Market in Missouri City brings unique barbecue and business model to Missouri City. My latest for @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/3qN9Jmk
It’s a long way from Houston, but Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque @eviemaesbbq near Lubbock serves some of the best barbecue in Texas. My column for @houstonchronfood @houstonchron https://loom.ly/NNbHPt0
November 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It’s a long way from Houston, but Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque @eviemaesbbq near Lubbock serves some of the best barbecue in Texas. My column for @houstonchronfood @houstonchron https://loom.ly/NNbHPt0
John Baker and Baker's Brisket Co. outside of Austin, never made any lists and wasn't a destination for the barbecue glitterati. But he was one of the most decent, generous and selfless people I've ever known. He passed away this past January, but his legacy lives on. https://loom.ly/e3G1t30
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
John Baker and Baker's Brisket Co. outside of Austin, never made any lists and wasn't a destination for the barbecue glitterati. But he was one of the most decent, generous and selfless people I've ever known. He passed away this past January, but his legacy lives on. https://loom.ly/e3G1t30
Houston pitmaster Joey Victorian trades city life for slow smoke in small-town Mart. My latest for @houstonchronfood @houstonchron #houbbq #martbbq https://loom.ly/h0O2f5k
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Houston pitmaster Joey Victorian trades city life for slow smoke in small-town Mart. My latest for @houstonchronfood @houstonchron #houbbq #martbbq https://loom.ly/h0O2f5k
There's a brief epoch in Texas barbecue history when hanging a portrait of John Wayne was de rigueur for a Texas barbecue joint. They still exist and haven't changed much. How to spot an old-school TX BBQ joint. My latest for @houstonchronfood. https://loom.ly/VBQu8-8
October 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
There's a brief epoch in Texas barbecue history when hanging a portrait of John Wayne was de rigueur for a Texas barbecue joint. They still exist and haven't changed much. How to spot an old-school TX BBQ joint. My latest for @houstonchronfood. https://loom.ly/VBQu8-8
One of the best barbecue sandwiches in America is made by an Armenian-American baker in a ghost kitchen located in a business park outside of Los Angeles. Check out III Mas Bakery in Glendale. My latest for the @houstonchronfood https://loom.ly/04XSN0o
October 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
One of the best barbecue sandwiches in America is made by an Armenian-American baker in a ghost kitchen located in a business park outside of Los Angeles. Check out III Mas Bakery in Glendale. My latest for the @houstonchronfood https://loom.ly/04XSN0o
You could say the boys from La Cruda Brand BBQ in Crosby are on a roll. From pop-ups, to a trailer and now to one of the hottest brick-and-mortars in greater Houston, they earned every bit of their success. That's what #HOUBBQ is all about!
October 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
You could say the boys from La Cruda Brand BBQ in Crosby are on a roll. From pop-ups, to a trailer and now to one of the hottest brick-and-mortars in greater Houston, they earned every bit of their success. That's what #HOUBBQ is all about!
Texas and Louisiana continue to trade barbecue techniques and inspiration with delicious results for all smoked meat fans. From Cajun meatballs to dirty rice: How Louisiana shapes Texas barbecue. My latest for @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/B16h1JY
October 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Texas and Louisiana continue to trade barbecue techniques and inspiration with delicious results for all smoked meat fans. From Cajun meatballs to dirty rice: How Louisiana shapes Texas barbecue. My latest for @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/B16h1JY
David Welch & team from Fire Craft BBQ placed in both Judge's and People's Choice in this year's Throwdown, continuing a successful streak of wins with Goodstock by Nolan Ryan as both their beef supplier & sponsor of the Throwdown. Thanks to @firecraftbbqtx & @goodstockbeef for being a part of it!
September 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
David Welch & team from Fire Craft BBQ placed in both Judge's and People's Choice in this year's Throwdown, continuing a successful streak of wins with Goodstock by Nolan Ryan as both their beef supplier & sponsor of the Throwdown. Thanks to @firecraftbbqtx & @goodstockbeef for being a part of it!
Brisket & Rice opens in a new location, but it wasn't without it's challenges. My latest for the @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/Uj7eXqs
September 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Brisket & Rice opens in a new location, but it wasn't without it's challenges. My latest for the @houstonchronfood. #houbbq https://loom.ly/Uj7eXqs
Big changes are coming to Houston's East End barbecue scene, with Willow's Smokehouse & Tavern leading the way. My latest for the @houstonchronicle.com #houbbq tinyurl.com/yk7vy2a5
August 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Big changes are coming to Houston's East End barbecue scene, with Willow's Smokehouse & Tavern leading the way. My latest for the @houstonchronicle.com #houbbq tinyurl.com/yk7vy2a5
Galveston’s beloved pitmaster Leon O’Neal looks to pass the torch. Until then, you can still get your Leon's Cut and Downtown Links.
www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...
www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...
Galveston’s beloved pitmaster Leon O’Neal looks to pass the torch
At 84 years old, Leon O’Neal still rises early, fires up the smokers, and greets the customers who’ve made his Galveston barbecue joint a culinary landmark.
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 3, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Galveston’s beloved pitmaster Leon O’Neal looks to pass the torch. Until then, you can still get your Leon's Cut and Downtown Links.
www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...
www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...
Before there was a 4th slice, there was a Leon's Cut. 85 year-old Leon O'Neal has been trying to retire for a few years now. Though still open, Leon's Bar-B-Que in Galveston is up for sale: building, equipment, recipes & BBQ training from Mr. Leon himself.
July 30, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Before there was a 4th slice, there was a Leon's Cut. 85 year-old Leon O'Neal has been trying to retire for a few years now. Though still open, Leon's Bar-B-Que in Galveston is up for sale: building, equipment, recipes & BBQ training from Mr. Leon himself.
Ron Kennedy combines the Caribbean flavors of Trinidad with Texas barbecue at his modest but ambitious trailer in Baytown. Worth a visit for #HOUBBQ fans. My latest for the @houstonchron. https://tinyurl.com/3y92944d
June 30, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Ron Kennedy combines the Caribbean flavors of Trinidad with Texas barbecue at his modest but ambitious trailer in Baytown. Worth a visit for #HOUBBQ fans. My latest for the @houstonchron. https://tinyurl.com/3y92944d
Reposted by J.C. Reid, Texas
Our 2025 list of the Top 50 barbecue joints in Texas is here! Thank you, @bbqsnob.bsky.social and team. 🙏🍖🙌🤠
Feast your eyes (and then feast)! 👀 www.texasmonthly.com/interactive/...
Feast your eyes (and then feast)! 👀 www.texasmonthly.com/interactive/...
The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2025 Edition
Is there such a thing as too much good barbecue? If you’re trying to determine the fifty best barbecue joints in the state, the answer is yes.
www.texasmonthly.com
May 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Our 2025 list of the Top 50 barbecue joints in Texas is here! Thank you, @bbqsnob.bsky.social and team. 🙏🍖🙌🤠
Feast your eyes (and then feast)! 👀 www.texasmonthly.com/interactive/...
Feast your eyes (and then feast)! 👀 www.texasmonthly.com/interactive/...
Between Adolescence, The White Lotus, and The Pitt, just some remarkable TV entertainment available right now.
March 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Between Adolescence, The White Lotus, and The Pitt, just some remarkable TV entertainment available right now.
Reposted by J.C. Reid, Texas
The New Yorker takes on the current state of TX BBQ, and @rachelmonroe.bsky.social gets it right. www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
Texas’s Barbecue Schism
As the state becomes more urban, so does its barbecue. So why does a small-town family feud feel so important?
www.newyorker.com
February 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The New Yorker takes on the current state of TX BBQ, and @rachelmonroe.bsky.social gets it right. www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
Not all Texas barbecue pit rooms are built the same. Who can build what, where? Depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure: Houston has the strictest pit room regulations in the state. My latest for the @houstonchron #HOUBBQ (gift link) bit.ly/40ICw8c
Why rural Texas barbecue pit rooms look a lot different from those in big cities
In general, urban areas implement stricter interpretations of health and building codes, while rural jurisdictions tend to take a more lenient approach.
bit.ly
January 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Not all Texas barbecue pit rooms are built the same. Who can build what, where? Depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure: Houston has the strictest pit room regulations in the state. My latest for the @houstonchron #HOUBBQ (gift link) bit.ly/40ICw8c
Beloved Central Texas barbecue joint Brotherton's gets a new lease on life. My latest for the
@houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/3PRrU0J
@houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/3PRrU0J
Beloved Central Texas barbecue joint Brotherton's gets a new lease on life
Houston's Russel and Misty Roegels have partnered with John Brotherton's widow Brenda to keep his barbecue joint and dream alive.
bit.ly
January 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Beloved Central Texas barbecue joint Brotherton's gets a new lease on life. My latest for the
@houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/3PRrU0J
@houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/3PRrU0J
Specializing in barbacoa de borrego estilo Hidalgo — smoked lamb prepared in the traditional style of Mexico’s Hidalgo region — Javier Vargas has crafted one of the most distinctive barbecue experiences in Texas. My latest for the @houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/4fIA9Xb
El Grandpa in Georgetown brings barbacoa de borrego to the masses
Javier Vargas has crafted one of the most distinctive barbecue experiences in Texas with smoked lamb in the traditional style of Mexico’s Hidalgo region.
bit.ly
January 9, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Specializing in barbacoa de borrego estilo Hidalgo — smoked lamb prepared in the traditional style of Mexico’s Hidalgo region — Javier Vargas has crafted one of the most distinctive barbecue experiences in Texas. My latest for the @houstonchronicle.com (gift link) bit.ly/4fIA9Xb
In Southeast Texas, the tale of barbecue crab reads like a family saga, peppered with secret spice mixes and coastal mythologies. Here's a quick history & where we are today. My latest for the @houstonchron. (gift link) bit.ly/4fruuoo
This Beaumont restaurant is serving up a taste of history with barbecue crab
Judice's 1927 in Nederland is famous for barbecue crab, a dish steeped in Gulf Coast traditions and family legacy.
bit.ly
December 23, 2024 at 12:51 PM
In Southeast Texas, the tale of barbecue crab reads like a family saga, peppered with secret spice mixes and coastal mythologies. Here's a quick history & where we are today. My latest for the @houstonchron. (gift link) bit.ly/4fruuoo
Mout’s in Winnie brings the Bolivar Peninsula to Texas barbecue. My latest column for the
@houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/41AR4HO
@houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/41AR4HO
Mout’s brings the Bolivar Peninsula to Texas barbecue
A new contender for must-visit dining has emerged in Winnie: Mout’s Barbeque, owned by Winnie locals Eric and Jessica Mouton.
bit.ly
December 18, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Mout’s in Winnie brings the Bolivar Peninsula to Texas barbecue. My latest column for the
@houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/41AR4HO
@houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/41AR4HO
Care for some barbecue? houbbq2025.eventbrite.com
December 5, 2024 at 10:15 PM
Care for some barbecue? houbbq2025.eventbrite.com
How Texas barbecue continues to incorporate global flavors. KG BBQ in ATX is working on a brick-and-mortar, with a possible #HOUBBQ location on the radar. My latest column for the @houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/3ZAIXZp
How Texas barbecue continues to incorporate global flavors
One of the most prominent new barbecue joints to open in Texas in the past few years is KG BBQ in Austin that incorporates Egyptian flavors.
bit.ly
December 3, 2024 at 3:26 PM
How Texas barbecue continues to incorporate global flavors. KG BBQ in ATX is working on a brick-and-mortar, with a possible #HOUBBQ location on the radar. My latest column for the @houstonchron (gift link) bit.ly/3ZAIXZp