Epic BBQ Adventure for the Texas Monthly #1 BBQ Joint 2025



Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints list just dropped and I pulled a stunt! My friends Sean Thatcher and Kenneth Cunningham and I went in search of the new #1 joint Burnt Bean Co. and its Chef/Pitmaster Ernest Servantes in a rented Suburban plastered with mics and cameras! Come along for the ride with us on this epic barbecue adventure!

Check out Kenneth: North Texas BBQ Addicts /
Check out Shawn:

My video featuring Shawn:
My video featuring Jay Stearns:

Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints List:

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🔴 If you liked this video, you’re going to LOVE these!:

🎥 I Got SCHOOLED by the Abilene Oil Man Turned Pitmaster

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🎥 I Got Schooled by the Best BBQ Joint in East Texas

🎥 I Got Schooled by The Best New BBQ Joint in Texas – Bar-A-BBQ

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30 Comments

  1. Al,
    Fun video! It is definitely a solid list. I was expecting LeRoy & Lewis to be very high after opening the brick and mortar. My surprise was for the first time not seeing Franklin’s and Snow’s in the top 10. This is rather sad for Texas tradition. I understand that this list is based on food quality only. Robert Moss’ Southern Livjng list considers overall experience. Also, Terry Black’s, Fege’s, Blood Brothers, Zavala’s, and Micklethwait (after opening a real place) fell to honorable mention. Barbs and Bar-A were clearly internet favorites, but were denied the top 10.
    I just heard Daniel Vaughn interviewed. He pointed out how many of the people who trained and worked with Jirby/Goldee’s are now on the list. Jirby did predict years ago that the next list would be dominated by Goldee’s products!
    Keep up the great work!👍

  2. It's a shame that 95% of the so-called Top 50 BBQ places alll charge over THIRTY DOLLARS a pound for brisket which is outrageous. This "craft" style BBQ is simply over the budget of most working folks. And most retired folks would MUCH rather cook themselves and their family some nice thick RIBEYE STEAKS on the grill at home for FAR less money…..Brisket has never been or ever will be in the same class of beef as a ribeye steak or rib roast.

  3. So you made a comment I want to address…. I don’t read Texas monthly and could care less. Tell me your top five to visit when I make the trip. It could be top 10. I have followed you long enough that I know I would enjoy the trip.

  4. Love a good road trip – Meat Force 1 was a great choice (saw the post on FB) – great company too

    Interesting how you said they kinda went chefy / craft style results but then Ara only being an honourable mention. I’ve done a couple of cooks with Sumac in the rub now, niiiiiice – with a pulled pork Monday / Tuesday (need to get my sauce ingredients list checked off)

    Hope the recording at Hutchins and the other place went well, and good call by Ernest for waiting til a few weeks to give you a 110% when you record with him

    Another fun video Al

  5. I'm always amazed and impressed how kind and gracious all of these guys are. The kindness is in their soul and that is reflected in the incredible food. Thanks for sharing all of their stories over the years!

  6. In my opinion a few of the best bbq restaurants in the state were left outside the Top 50….. But that shows just how great Texas bbq really is!
    A few of my favorites left off the list were Hutchin’s, Hurtado’s and Tender Smokehouse in Celina.
    The next time you’re in the DFW area you should seriously consider driving to Pilot Point to Yearby’s, they made the top 50! I’ve eaten there a few times now. Pilot Point is about 1 hour north of Dallas.

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