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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🎥 I Got Schooled by the Best BBQ Joint in East Texas
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0:00 My Journey to Become the Best Cook I Can Be
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Epic BBQ Adventure for the Texas Monthly #1 BBQ Joint 2025
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What a fun video!!! I loved it!
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!👍
Jesus Christ, you guys did a lot of driving for that. Next time I suggest you stage yourselves in Waco
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.
I guess I have a road trip to Seguin in my future. Grats Burnt Beans! Good thing you didn’t have to learn how the locals pronounce Refugio Tx.
Next "I got schooled by…" video– Buc-ees.
No disrespect but maybe they need to change the magazine name to top fusion BBQ. It feels like they're going away from what traditional bbq is.
Loved this format. Felt like i was hanging out with the boys on a road trip and shooting the shit
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.
Aww i love this❤
I was just at Burnt Bean this past Friday and while a case can be made for any of the Top 10 to be the top spot, Ernest and Team showed they are deserving of that recognition.
Thanks a lot, you said Siri call Jay and my truck called a fucking Ex Jen 🤣🤣🤣🤦♂️
So happy for Jay Stearns and so many others making the list. I'm amazed at how many people you know, Al! So much fun watching this! So amazed at what a great dude Earnest is. Can't wait for his story!
Try Koops BBQ in Galveston TX!!
Repping Redbirds from Port Neches TX!
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
I found Slaughters BBQ through your channel and Bar A BBQ. It is local to me and I didn’t know it existed. Wow great BBQ. We bring everyone that visits us in east Tx to Slaughters.
Good videos
😅fun video.
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!
was surprised bar A wasnt in top 10…what a solid top 10
I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks Walmart when inside a Buc-ee’s 😂
Hey we're over 40k now here in Seguin
The Urban BBQ Assault Wagon
Man, I really need to get to Texas and try some of these places. I definitely live in the wrong part of the country. Anyway, great video, Al!
What a fun video!
The Pork Belly RV
Buc-ee’s is not like Walmart lol. I have never seen a Walmart that clean.
Say hey to Shawn for me. Good to see him on another of your videos. I was at Thatcher's about 3 weeks ago.
Steve Williams in Ky.
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.