Don’t Mess with Texas: Where to Find the Best BBQ in Plano

From casual, neighborhood barbecue joints to upscale restaurants with fancy menus, barbecue in Plano is a delightfully Texan art form. Each establishment has its own secrets to serving up savory, succulent smoked meat. Your challenge is to find your favorite among these places offering the best BBQ in Plano, TX.

1. Classic Central Texas Style

If you're looking for a taste of Central Texas, head to Lockhart Smokehouse. There's no need to wait in line for a table. Instead, go to the counter and choose the cuts you'd like. You'll be charged by the weight, so feel free to grab a bit of brisket, some chicken and a sausage. Then, it's time to get a cool drink from the bar and find a seat to enjoy some true Texas flavor. You don't need a fork to eat this BBQ—all you'll need are your fingers and plenty of napkins.

2. Touchdown Win on a Combo Play

The family that operates Winners BBQ comes from a sports background, and they score big off-the-field with classic Texas dishes. The playbook includes delicious smoked meats and sides. Order your favorite cut of meat and try some potato salad, baked beans and mac and cheese, along with the restaurant's signature dish—the MVP (Most Valuable Potato)—it offers up a heaping mound of barbecued meat on a baked potato with all the fixin's.

3. Simply Burnt, yet Grilled to Perfection

While the restaurant attests to cooking their barbeque to perfection, they recognize that sometimes their patrons like their dishes a little crispier than usual. When you sample the food at Burnt, you'll savor the authentic taste that's made Texas barbeque legendary. The food coming out of this restaurant's kitchen ranges from classic to crazy, showing their flavors are anything but ordinary. The highly-rated eatery has been around since 2020. What makes this place truly unique is their range of bbq-inspired tacos, including brisket, pork belly, smoked turkey and grilled arepas.

4. Where Hickory and Mahogany Meet

Beautiful mahogany wood accents the brick walls of Kenny's Smoke House, where you'll find some of Plano’s best BBQ. But it's the hickory wood used for smoking that's the secret to this restaurant's mouthwatering menu items. It's convenient location at The Shops of Legacy makes this a perfect spot for lunch or dinner. If you're dining with folks who don't eat red meat, they can enjoy seafood dishes and salads. There's also a full bar stocked with fine liquors and cocktails—giving you a reason to linger longer after a day of work or sightseeing.

5. Texas Heritage With Music and BBQ

Head to Love and War in Texas to immerse yourself in a true Texas experience. From Barbara Bush's fried green beans to roasted boar and Alamo chicken, the menu is a grand tour through Texas cuisine. Fresh fish and seafood, loaded hamburgers and Texas pecan pie round out the choices, along with barbecue favorites. Live performances by musicians from around the state give you a peek into the regional music scene. The setting is an eclectic combination of industrial and old-time architecture, but it's always packed so make sure you call for reservations.

6. Legends of the Barbecue Pit

Although barbecue is known for slow cooking, the service is quick at several chain restaurants that have made a name for themselves in Plano. Dickey's Barbecue Pit works well when you're in a hurry but don't want to miss a chance to eat some Texas-style barbeque. The beef brisket, kielbasa and poultry are smoked on-site with techniques developed in Dallas back in the 1940s. You can also taste saucy Memphis-style barbecue—without heading out of state—at Red Hot and Blue. Settle in to enjoy some soulful blues music and order a full rack of ribs or a hearty burger and a cool drink. If you're traveling with kids, they'll enjoy the games on the “Little Piggy Menu” at this family-friendly eatery.

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