The B12 (XII) Forum, home of the 'Front Porch, y'all' at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Yeah Meat Church looks legit.  

Here's a convenient map that someone put together of the current 2025 Texas Monthly Top 50, plus Honorable Mentions.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1HCkAP53eHa6-BcpVB-QfaIXnn6zDWAg&g_ep=CAESBzI1LjIwLjEYACDdYip0OTQyNzUzMTIsOTQyMjMyOTksOTQyMTY0MTMsOTQyMTI0OTYsOTQyMDczOTQsOTQyMDc1MDYsOTQyMDg1MDYsOTQyMTc1MjMsOTQyMTg2NTMsOTQyMjk4MzksNDcwODQzOTMsOTQyMTMyMDAsOTQyNTgzMjVCAlVT&skid=047d04f2-82e7-49ae-9c77-2230d955525b&shorturl=1&ll=32.00430442495891%2C-96.78385774088203&z=7
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1HCkAP53eHa6-BcpVB-QfaIXnn6zDWAg&g_ep=CAESBzI1LjIwLjEYACDdYip0OTQyNzUzMTIsOTQyMjMyOTksOTQyMTY0MTMsOTQyMTI0OTYsOTQyMDczOTQsOTQyMDc1MDYsOTQyMDg1MDYsOTQyMTc1MjMsOTQyMTg2NTMsOTQyMjk4MzksNDcwODQzOTMsOTQyMTMyMDAsOTQyNTgzMjVCAlVT&skid=047d04f2-82e7-49ae-9c77-2230d955525b&shorturl=1&ll=32.00430442495891%2C-96.78385774088203&z=7

That's interesting. Looks like about 80% of the restaurants recognized are from San Antonio eastward. Is that more a function of population distribution or varying popularity of BBQ?

Dallas is so hoity-toity that it just seems like a place that wouldn't have good BBQ.  But I've managed to sufficiently avoid the DFW metroplex enough that I haven't partaken of most of the BBQ establishments, and am strictly speaking from perception rather than reality.  

There's a rather good BBQ joint in Luling that I'm surprised isn't on the list.  We used to go eat there a fair bit when I worked out of an office in Seguin, or when family came to visit and wanted to try some BBQ that I hadn't already taken them to in Austin. 

City Market in Luling?  It's pretty famous, used to always make the Top 50, but similar to the Big Three in Lockhart, has slid in reputation recently.

The last time I stopped by a few years ago it was pretty disappointing, I have to say. 

I think that's it.  I haven't been since I lived there, so probably 2009.  Wonder why it slipped. 

Probably the same reason the other old places did-- original owner sells or dies, new family member or new owner can't maintain.

Restauranting is a tough business.  I've been in this town for 8 years, and it's unbelievable how many places have come and gone in that short time--Including 3 BBQ joints.  Billy Sims is the only survivor at this point.

In this part of the world, finding help that isn't high and will show up for work for the pay the owner can afford, and have even a little bit of pride in it is truly the main problem, I suspect it's the same in a lot of places.

You forgot the part about finding employees who will "not steal from you."  Which is... not a lot.

We owned a BBQ restaurant throughout my childhood.  And the toughest thing to find, was employees that would not just steal from you.  They figure a restaurant owner can afford to miss a little here and a little there.  Nevermind that restaurant margins are razor thin and always have been.  That little here and little there, turns a positive margin into a negative one.

People moan about the current state of things, but it's really no different than it ever was, at least when it comes to finding good employees.  We had the exact same problems in the 70s and 80s.