Some of my Favorite BBQ Shacks on My BBQ Journey

JW’s Barbecue Jacksonville TX

You can never have too many great BBQ joints within driving distance. A few months ago I heard about a new place down in Jacksonville, Texas called JW’s Barbecue. Took me a while to get down there to try it out but I finally made it. When I walked in the door I felt right at home with that wonderful Hickory Smoke aroma. If you can’t smell the smoke it ain’t barbecue.

The Pitmaster Jonathan Wilson hails from Jacksonville and stays true to his roots. Smoking up Texas Style BBQ paying homage to the smoked meats he loved growing up in the Tomato Capital of the World. JW’s offers not only fantastic food but a clean, comfortable and friendly environment to enjoy my favorite food group.

Checking out the pictures on the website I was pretty darn excited about the prospect of getting some tasty Brisket and Pork Ribs. Sometimes pictures can be deceiving but not in this case. The hard part was deciding which three meats to put on my plate. Lucky for me there were no wrong answers.

My Three Meat BBQ Plate

Sliced Brisket
Pulled Pork
Pork Ribs
Mac N Cheese
Potato Salad

3 meat plate brisket pulled pork and ribs — **3-Meat BBQ Plate**

I always have to try the Sliced Brisket when I check out a new BBQ Joint so that was an easy choice. Pulled Pork is one of my favorite meats. I would usually get the smoked sausage on a first visit but I had been looking at the picture of those Pork Ribs for two days. I rounded out the plate with Mac N Cheese and Potato Salad.

The color on the Sliced Brisket screamed Texas Style with a nice Bark. That first bite confirmed the flavor profile and was very satisfying. Everything about it was on Point. By the way I had them slice me some of the Point, I like a little fat in my Brisket.

The Pulled Pork was juicy with a savory pork flavor. I poured a bit of the house BBQ Sauce on the shreds for a little extra punch. Pulled Pork is often overlooked when folks are dining out for BBQ. The Brisket and Ribs normally get all the glory. If you find a place with tasty Pulled Pork it makes a great compliment for a two or three meat plate.

Let’s talk Pork Ribs. I chose the Wet Ribs, I like a little sweet and some glaze on my ribs. The Ribs on my plate looked just as good as the Ribs in the pics. Juicy and tender with just enough bite to make a BBQ judge happy. I could taste just a hint of the brown sugar used to finish the ribs. I can be partial to my own Pork Ribs but these definitely beat mine on appearance and maybe just a nose on tenderness. Next time I might try the dry ribs.

The owner stopped by our table to make sure we enjoyed our food and see if we needed anything. I appreciate it when the Pitmaster/Owner takes the time to visit with patrons about their craft. We talked about smoke, sauce, meats and the effect Covid has had on the BBQ industry.

jw's barbecue jacksonville — **JW’s Barbecue Jacksonville Texas**

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

While we chatted he asked me if I would like to try something he was testing out, Pork Belly Burnt Ends. Why yes I would! I love Pork Belly and Brisket Burnt Ends. The Pork Belly Burnt Ends were a new experience for me. He brought us out a tray with several nuggets of pork goodness.

Popping one in my mouth the combination of pork, smoke and sauce exploded with flavor. They were tender and flavorful. One or two could have been left to render the fat a little longer. I had three cubes left and took those home for a snack later. They might have been even better reheated. I smoked a Pork Belly once before giving it a nice rub, a smoke bath and glazed with a little sauce.

I hope the Pork Belly Burnt Ends make it to the regular menu of Smoked Meats. Maybe a combo basket of Brisket and Pork Belly Burnt Ends with some Fried Okra, if you are reading this Jonathan. Oh wait it’s Jacksonville maybe the side for the combo basket should be Fried Green Tomatoes.

I’ll have to head South again real soon to try out the sausage and get some more of that great brisket. No matter where you are in East Texas make the short trip to Jacksonville and JW’s Barbecue for some outstanding Smoked Meats from a local Pitmaster that cares about his craft.

Terry Black’s Barbecue Deep Ellum

As usual when I am away from home I seek out a new BBQ Joint to try out. After touring Globe Life Field the new home of the Texas Rangers it was time to get some Brisket. Searching for “bbq near me” on my phone turned up several choices including Terry Black’s Barbecue in the Deep Ellum district in Dallas. I had heard of Terry Black’s Barbecue down in Lockhart, Texas so it was an easy choice.

Being located in Deep Ellum I would have assumed parking would be tough but as it turns out there is a decent parking lot on the restaurant property and a paid lot across the street. We arrived just after dark on a Saturday night and the streets were bustling with people. I was happy to see that the line was short and there was a good amount of seating available even during the Covid era.

I normally get a two or three meat plate when I am trying a new BBQ restaurant but Terry Black’s doesn’t offer plates. They sell their meats by the pound. The cool thing about that is it allows you to really sample a variety of meats. Mix and match any of their five meat choices and create your own plate. For you BBQ Sandwich lovers don’t worry they do offer your favorite meats in a sandwich as well.

Normally I have a plan when I try a new place but on this occasion I was shooting from the hip. I totally forgot what they are famous for, Monster Beef Ribs. I realized my mistake when I toured the Pit Room after our meal. When you get in line to place your order you will choose your sides and any dessert choices first. Then you make your way to the cutting blocks where the magic happens.

By the way the picture above is not all for me. My son-in-law Chance was with me and he chose the creamed corn, potato salad and banana pudding. I chose the creamed corn and mac-n-cheese. For our meats we had Brisket slices and Sausage. I’ll be more prepared next time and get a wider variety of meats including those famous Beef Ribs.

Starting with the star, that Central Texas Styled Brisket. The Brisket had great color and a nice bark. Picking up a slice I knew it was going to be tender and juicy. I was not disappointed. The flavor was fantastic with that salt and pepper traditional rub with a little bit of that hickory smoke flavor. I could eat that Brisket every day.

When it comes to BBQ I really can’t pick a favorite meat but I do love a good sausage. The sausage at Terry Black’s is awesome. Just the right amount of snap and packed with flavor. I could eat it like chips at a party. Sometimes sausage can be an afterthought for but these guys really have a great sausage prepped and cooked right. Taste, texture, color its all good.

Terry Black’s Barbecue Menu

The menu at Terry Black’s is focused and they are not trying to serve everyone’s favorite items. Their menu stays true to their Family BBQ Heritage covering the meat and traditional sides. You might say the Mexican Rice and Creamed Corn are a bit off the rails but it works. I didn’t try everything on the menu but I am confident its all good.

Meats

Brisket – Sliced or Chopped
Beef Ribs
Pork Ribs
Sausage
Turkey

Sides

Mac-N-Cheese
Pinto Beans
Baked Potato Salad
Cole Slaw
Creamed Corn
Mexican Rice
Green Beans

Desserts

Banana Pudding
Peach Cobbler
Pecan Pie

Terry Black’s Barbecue was a complete BBQ experience for me. I enjoyed the food, atmosphere, service and the tour of the pit room. Be sure you take a tour of the pits before you go. You don’t need a ticket, just walk outside to the patio, turn left and walk up to the Pit Master. They will explain the process in as much detail as you want. Ask plenty of questions about the meat, wood, fire, rubs and pits.

If you find yourself in Big D and have a hankering for some BBQ check out Terry Black’s Barbecue in Deep Ellum. Go for the great BBQ and stay for the experience. You’ll be glad you did!

brisket and sausage — Terry Black’s Pit Room

Naaman’s Championship BBQ

Over the last few years traveling through Texarkana headed for destinations in the North or the East I would see signs for Naaman’s Championship BBQ. They were cool looking billboards touting their Championship BBQ. Much of the time we would be passing through on a Sunday and they are closed or too early or late to catch them during service hours.

Once again I was passing through Texarkana on my way to Northern Arkansas… on a Sunday. No Barbecue for me. I looked over at my friend and said if they are open on our way home later in the week we are stopping. It finally happened, a few days later the sun was shining the birds were singing and the cows were mooing. We pulled off the interstate donned our facemasks, (Covid-19 Era) and were greeted with the smell of smoke and meat.

When I was handed the menu I had a good feeling the cue was going to be pretty good. I was also pleasantly surprised at the prices on the menu. Sometimes BBQ can be pretty darn expensive especially with the meat shortages we have experienced the last few months with the Coronavirus. I have been seeing brisket prices over $20 a pound lately.

They have all the BBQ staples you expect to find in a great BBQ Joint. You can get your favorite meats in a sandwich, plate or by the pound. They also offer in house Dry Aged steaks as well as pork chops. On Friday and Saturday you can get Beef Short Ribs. They have some of the classic BBQ sides like beans, cole slaw, mac n cheese and potato salad. They also serve twice baked potatoes and what they call cheesy corn. But, the star of the sides to me are the Green Beans. Their green beans pack the most flavor I have experienced with the normally plain vegetable. Our waitress wouldn’t give up the secret to the flavor profile though. Next time I will get double green beans for my sides.

When I visit a BBQ restaurant for the first time I normally get a two or three meat plate so I can get a good sample of their meats. I chose the three meat plate at Naaman’s with sliced brisket, pulled pork and their house grind sausage. The three meat plate comes with ¾ pounds of meat, two sides and two slices of bread.

naaman's three meat bbq plate — **Naaman’s Three Meat Plate**

If you are familiar with my site you know I love some good bark on my brisket. My slices had a nice bark with a little crunch. The brisket had a good traditional flavor, tender with a nice smoke ring. The Pulled Pork was outstanding. It didn’t have a lot of bark but it was very tender and juicy. The strands were melt in your mouth delicious. They grind their own sausage with Pork Shoulder and Certified Angus Brisket. On my plate the sausage looked a bit dry and visually not what I expect in a top shelf sausage. However, the flavor of the sausage was really good. It wasn’t dry and had that snap to the casing.

A great barbecue joint needs to have quality food and a fun, friendly atmosphere. The staff at Naaman’s was super friendly and I enjoyed bantering back and forth about BBQ. The decor of the restaurant has lots of unusual features you will want to check out. Get up and walk around after your meal and don’t pet the animals, they are already dead. You’ll notice the truck in the picture I took as well as the Jack Daniels display built into an old television. The bathroom has an old door on the vanity with the water flowing out of the mail slot. There are a couple of other features in there that young folks might have not have ever seen before.

Naaman’s has a variety of seating ranging from antique tables, high tops and benches. I recognized a couple of the tables from my childhood visiting my Uncle on the farm and eating tea cakes with my Granny. Naaman’s Championship BBQ is the kind of place you can feel at home enjoying some great food and friendly folks.

I am looking forward to my next trip through Texarkana and another visit to Naaman’s. If you are a BBQ Fan traveling through Texarkana and you see one of their billboards I would encourage you to stop. Pick your barbecue favorites and make sure you get some of those tasty Green Beans.

**Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Display**

Brisket Love Barbecue and Icehouse

Brisket Love Barbecue & Icehouse offers some great tasting BBQ with a splash of Live Music along with Craft Beers and Spirits. As they say, “come for the food but stay for the experience”. As a huge fan of great BBQ, no amount of “experience” can make up for the lack of tasty food. Good thing you get both at this little gem tucked away in the Piney Woods between Lindale and Hideaway Lake in East Texas.

One of my favorite BBQ Joints in East Texas, Brisket Love offers all the BBQ favorites you love plus a few surprises. The menu gets a tweak here and there from week to week whether it’s a new veggie of the day or a new pile of delicious meat served in a different way. I have yet to find a smoked meat on the menu that I didn’t enjoy. I even asked for a side salad once with Blue Cheese dressing. Even though Blue Cheese dressing wasn’t offered at the time he made some up from scratch that was pretty darn tangy and tasty.

The Pitmaster is Craig Wood, he and his wife Lee Ann have created not only a restaurant with great food but also a place you want to hang out and chew the fat so to speak. The staff has always been friendly and willing to help make my visit enjoyable. If you are like me and like to talk to the Pitmaster about their craft Craig has always taken the time to talk cue. To me that is part of what makes BBQ not just a food but a lifestyle, hobby and a passion all packaged up together.

I’ve only been there for lunch so I haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the Live Music and Hackberry Hall. I have friends that have experienced the Brisket Love night life and said it was a great time. As I am writing this we are still in the middle of the Covid-19 outbreak so I imagine that is affecting the Live Music scene a bit. Speaking of Covid-19 they have done a nice job of providing hand sanitizer and social distancing.

brisket love 2 meat plate — **Two Meat Plate Brisket and Pulled Pork**

Brisket Love Menu

You will find the traditional BBQ fare as well as a pretty diverse menu with a few surprises including house made sausage. Of course the star of the show is the Brisket but pork, turkey, sausage and hamburgers are all part of the supporting cast. There are also creative items on the menu making cameo appearances for limited runs. I always have to check the Brisket Love menu board for any new creations to try out.

The Brisket is tender with a nice bark on the slices. The flavor profile is not hard core Central Texas Style but you still have that nice salt/pepper and smoke flavor. The flavors of the house made sausage are wonderful. They grind their own meat and they don’t pack it full of fillers. If you are like me you will find the texture just a bit grainy but man the flavor is spot on. I also enjoy the tender and juicy pulled pork.

I love it when a BBQ restaurant serves their sauce warm. Squeeze bottles on the table are okay but if you want to take it to the next level serve your BBQ sauce up warm. Also, I am not a vinegar guy so I appreciate the sauce at Brisket Love not screaming at my taste buds. The sauce walks the tightrope of sweet, smokey and tangy.

Whether you are enjoying a Sandwich, Meat Plate or even a Hamburger you are in for some good eating. Barbecue isn’t for everyone but for those that enjoy good cue Brisket Love is a great choice for lunch or dinner. They also have a kids menu if your little buckaroos haven’t developed a love for BBQ yet.

Smoked Meats

Brisket
Pulled Pork
Pork Ribs – Beef Ribs on Occasion
House Made Sausage
Turkey

Side Dishes

Vegetable of the Day
German Potato Salad
Mustard Potato Salad
Pinto Beans with Meat
Bacon Mac and Cheese
Cole Slaw

On my most recent visit they served Collard Greens with Bacon. I had never tried Collard Greens before so I gave it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised, it may have been the bacon that got me but I won’t hesitate to have them again.

Odds and Ends

Baked Potato With or Without Meat
Hamburgers
Sausage Wrap
Onion Rings
French Fries

Salad Choices

Brisket Love Salad with Brisket and Turkey
Grilled Chicken Salad
Smoked Turkey Salad
Garden Salad – No Meat

Desserts

They keep it traditional when it comes to the desserts offering Blackberry and Peach Cobblers. You can also get ice cream.

Still on my To Do List for Brisket Love is to try the ribs, a hamburger, bacon mac and cheese and have dinner with a side of live music. Hopefully I can complete the To Do List in the not too distant future. So, if you find yourself in the Lindale, Texas area and feeling a bit on the hungry side go see the crew at Brisket Love. You’ll be glad you did.

brisket love barbecue sandwich — **Brisket Love Barbecue Sandwich**

Poke In Da Eye BBQ

From time to time I’ll do a Google search to see if any new BBQ offerings are available near me. On one such occasion I stumbled upon Poke In Da Eye BBQ on HWY 64 between Tyler and Chapel Hill, Texas. We decided to try it out on a Sunday after church for lunch. It’s an interesting little place that not only serves up BBQ but also live music on Friday nights.

The Pitmaster, Joseph Koricanek began his BBQ journey with his wife competing in competitions in the Houston area. Over the years he has competed all across America including the American Royal in Kansas City. To learn more about his career in BBQ check out his website by clicking here.

Arriving at 1:00 PM we managed to miss the larger lunch crowd but that also meant they were out of a few things like ribs. I ended up trying the sliced brisket and sausage and my wife had her usual chopped beef sandwich. The sliced brisket was tender and juicy with a nice hickory smoked flavor. I can eat sausage like potato chips and I enjoyed the snap on this sausage. They serve three kinds of sausage, regular, pepper jack cheese and hot links.

Watch out for the BBQ Sauce before you pour it on your meat or plate. My wife picked up the closest bottle and covered the brisket on her sandwich. She got lit up like a Christmas tree, she had grabbed the spicy hot bottle. When presented with more than one bottle of sauce I taste a small bit before I pour it on my cue. My routine paid off today.

Unlike most BBQ shacks in East Texas, Poke In Da Eye doesn’t serve Pulled Pork. You can get a smoked tenderloin but you won’t find a traditional pork butt. Also, their beef is Certified Hereford which made me think of my Uncle Doc. Growing up I spent a lot of time on my Uncle’s farm where he raised Hereford cattle, watermelons, tomatos, beans and potatos for miles it seemed.

Just the Meats

Brisket – Sliced or Chopped
Pork Ribs
Chicken
Pork Tenderloin
Sausage – Regular or Pepper Jack Cheese
Hot Links
Turkey
Ham

Side Items

New Potatos
Baked Potatos
Pinto Beans
Mac and Cheese
Mixed Veggies
Corn and Corn on the Cob
Green Beans
Potato Salad
Coleslaw – Sweet and Creamy or Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette

If you still have room for desert Poke In Da Eye serves up pies, cobblers, cakes and banana pudding. You won’t find the same desert every day as the lineup changes often. You can also buy whole pies and cakes to take home and enjoy later.

The atmosphere here is typical for a family owned BBQ shack offering indoor and outdoor dining options. The decor feels like a BBQ joint and they have found a way to incorporate some cool seating and design elements. You’ll have to check it out when you visit.

Ribmasters BBQ Whitehouse

Just around the corner from my house is Ribmasters BBQ location in Whitehouse, Texas. David has been serving up BBQ for about a decade. First from a trailer before opening dine-in restaurants in Whitehouse and Bullard. He serves up traditional BBQ favorites including his popular All You Can Eat Ribs on Friday nights. An old friend of mine called the term all you can eat, “pitch till you win” dining. I’ve pitched a complete game or two on Ribmasters ribs.

When you pull up to the building you can smell the smoke welcoming you inside. If I’m there on a Friday I’ll get the All You Can Eat Ribs. On a regular week night I’ll get either the three or four meat plate. I usually choose sliced brisket, pulled pork, sausage and ribs. I think the pulled pork is probably my favorite meat from Ribmasters.

Smoked Meat Lineup

Brisket – Sliced or Chopped
Pork Spare Ribs
Pulled Pork
Smoked Turkey
Sausage
Hot Links

You can get all of the meats as a sandwich as well. A popular choice is the Danny Special which includes chopped beef, sausage or hotlink, onion and peppers on a bun. You can even buy the fillings for the Danny Special by the pound and you can make your own sandwiches later. Other items available include BBQ baked potatos and redneck frito pie, redneck nachos.

Side Items and Desert

Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Green Beans
Coleslaw
Pinto Beans
Smoked Corn on the Cob
Blackberry Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
Pecan Pie
Chocolate Pie
Lemon Pie
Ice Cream Float

As an added bonus for families Kids Eat Free on Wednesday and Thursday nights after 5:00 PM. Ribmasters offers solid BBQ and a comfortable atmosphere. The staff is friendly and David loves to talk Barbecue. That is something I love about BBQ, many of the Pitmasters don’t mind taking the time to answer questions about their craft. If you find yourself in the Whitehouse, Texas area and have a hankering for some BBQ stop by Ribmasters get yourself some BBQ.

Branson BBQ Tour

My wife and I went to Branson, Missouri for a much needed vacation. We had often talked about going to Branson but just never got around to it. Of course no visit to a new city would be complete without trying some local BBQ. We had some fantastic barbecue on our Branson BBQ Tour. We ended up having BBQ four times in six days.

There were plenty of options to choose from and after a little online research and a visit to the Branson Visitors Center we had our first target. By the way if you are going to Branson be sure and pick up a coupon book from the visitors center. Just about everywhere you might want to eat will have a coupon for free appetizers, discounts or free dessert.

Gettin’ Basted

Gettin’ Basted is located where much of the action is on Highway 76. Our little coupon book had an offer for a free appetizer. We cashed that sucker in for a free order of Basted Nachos. A huge pile of crispy fried wontons, pulled pork, jack cheese sauce, slaw, onion straws and drizzled in BBQ sauce showed up at our table. We were off to a great start with this delicious appetizer.

When I saw Burnt Ends on the menu I knew I had to get some of those. They did not disappoint. It was my wifes first time to try burnt ends and she loved them. The menu was a bit confusing as I normally order 3 or 4 meat plates upon visiting a new BBQ restaurant. The friendly waitress helped me out and ordered the burn ends, sliced brisket and ribs. Being a low carb kind of guy I appreciated the seasonal veggies and pork rinds. My wife’s favorite is a traditional chopped beef sandwich. .

We both can say that this was the best BBQ we have ever had the pleasure of eating. The brisket was tender, juicy and flavorful and the burnt ends were heavenly. I kind of wish I had eaten there every day. We did end up eating there twice as we went out of our way to go back for lunch on the way home. This time it was sliced brisket, sausage and more burnt ends for me. My wife had the Blackout with a full pound of meat including brisket, sausage, pulled pork and turkey. Often smoked turkey will be dry but not here.

gettin basted branson mo — **Gettin’ Basted Branson MO**

This all may sound a bit over the top but we really were blown away by the taste, tenderness, juiciness and diverse menu at Gettin’ Basted. If I ever make it back to Branson I’ll definitely get in line for some awesome cue.

Danna’s BBQ and Burger Shop

This little gem is off the beaten path in Branson on Hwy 165. We checked out Danna’s BBQ and Burger Shop for dinner on our way to see Sampson at the Sight and Sound Theatre. They were pretty busy but we managed to order just before the flood gates opened. This rustic location kind of has the feel of a catfish place near a lake. Don’t let the modest appearance fool you this place is hopping with people and great food.

Their BBQ menu is not the typical fare you see at most BBQ joints. For example, for beef they only serve it chopped. They do offer pulled pork, ribs and a half smoked chicken. Based on what I saw most people ordering the Burgers and the Catfish are the stars here. We had the Danna Burger that comes with a patty piled with pulled pork, cheese, lettuce, tomato and BBQ sauce.

The burger patties are fresh and hand pattied cooked to perfection. The pork was tender and moist with a nice smoky flavor. I added some sausage too that had that perfect snap. We were in a rush to get to the show but we really enjoyed the food at Danna’s.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que

The third stop on our BBQ Tour of Branson was Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que located down on Branson Landing. I’m sure most of you have heard of Famous Dave’s before. I’ve seen Dave compete on a BBQ show before and if I remember correctly he won. Anyway, this was the first time I had been close to a location so I had to check it out. Plus, it was just a short walk from our hotel across from Branson Landing.

We got there just as they were opening for lunch service. We were the first customers in the door so we got to pick our table. We picked one with a view of the zip line that runs across the lake. I ordered St. Louis Style Ribs and Sliced Brisket. My wife ordered her traditional chopped beef sandwich. The ribs and brisket were good but not the kind of good that you tell your friends you have to go try. Maybe because the bar had been raised so high on the 1st day at Gettin’ Basted anything less would not measure up.

The next time a Famous Dave’s crosses my path while traveling I’ll give it another go. But if I’m ever in Branson again you know where I am going for Barbecue. If you plan a Branson BBQ Tour let us know how your trip went.

famous dave's bbq — **Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que**

CowBurners BBQ and Taproom

My favorite lunch spot while working in Mineola, Texas is CowBurners BBQ and Taproom. Since I love me some good cue its nice having a solid choice so close by. CowBurners is located on Johnson Street in Historic Downtown Mineola, Texas. It is a comfortable little BBQ joint tucked into the corner of an old building with a young but very friendly staff. I almost feel like Norm from Cheers when I walk in, sometimes three days in the week.

Jason Herring is the Owner and Pittmaster and is there most of the time. Be sure to introduce yourself and chew the fat discussing BBQ. The entire staff is welcoming and more than happy to learn your name and visit a spell. Jason serves up a nice variety of traditional BBQ along with some creations of his own from time to time. CowBurners also features a couple of popular recurring themes each week like Taco Tuesdays and Wingsday on Wednesdays.

Just the Meats

CowBurners serves up BBQ staples like Brisket, Sausage and Ribs. The ribs are only available for the weekend though. You will also find Pulled Pork and Smoked Turkey. A popular item that is only available on Friday and Saturday is the Rib Candy. This delectable little morsel comes from the rib trimmings and is rubbed and smoked with a little sauce.

On Taco Tuesday and Wingsday Wednesday you will find some additional meats and menu items to choose from. The tasty street style tacos are available with a choice of meets including pulled pork, chicken adobo and pork al pastor. The wings are of course chicken available in several flavor profiles and sauces.

Show Me The Sides

When it comes to sides you get several choices here as well. You’ll find the traditional sides you would expect from a BBQ restaurant but several of them are done with a bit of a twist. You can enjoy potato salad and coleslaw but the flavor profile is different from the ordinary. The cole slaw surprised me with one of its ingredients. Another not often seen BBQ side is creamed corn.

On the traditional side you’ll find pinto beans, green beans, french fries, chips and okra. If you like fried okra be sure to order the okra. They fry it up when you order it and it is some of the best fried okra I have had.

My favorite side which I ordered as my meal most days is the Pork Rind Nachos. You get a generous portion of fried to order pork rinds surrounded by a bowel of white queso. You can also choose a chopped meat to be added into your queso. Most people get the brisket but I normally got the pulled pork in mine. When they bring the tray out to you the pork rinds are still popping from the fryer, it is kind of like sizzling fajitas from a Mexican restaurant.

BBQ Sandwiches and More

Who doesn’t love a good BBQ Sandwich? At Cowburners you can get any of the meats in a sandwich from small to large and two meat choices like me. To round out the menu you can choose a Gut Bomb which is a baked potato topped with your choice of meat. Something called Q-Fries is pretty popular which is a pile of fries topped with meat, queso and sauce.

The Pitmaster also gets creative from time to time and whips up limited time menu items. During the winter months you will sometimes find brisket chili available. I haven’t had the pleasure before but you might get the chance to try the hatch chili mac & cheese. You never know what you may find on the board on any given visit.

Craft Beer in Mineola

For those that enjoy a flavorful craft beer with their barbecue Cowburners keeps a cool selection on tap and in the cooler. They tend to feature Native Texan beers brewed in the Great State of Texas. The brands can change with the seasons and availability but if you are a beer fan you will probably find a couple of labels you will enjoy.

Besides great BBQ I love a place where you can enjoy tasty food and meet some cool people to boot. CowBurners BBQ and Taproom is one of those places. You will find a cast of regulars at the tables enjoying some delicious food or at the bar exploring the world of craft beer. Next time you are near Mineola, TX be sure and save room for some good ole BBQ.