WARNING! This post will make you drool!
Lockhart, Texas has been proudly known as the Smoked Meat Capital of the state since 1999. We’ve driven out of our way on several trips just to experience the smoky flavors of this delicious town. For this trip, we couldn't pass by a chance to compare some of the top rated BBQ joints that Lockhart has to offer.
Our 2024 Smoked Meat Capital Taste Test began at Smitty’s Market. Walking into Smitty's, we were immediately hit with the heat from the brick oven smoke pit and our mouths began watering at the smell of the impending bbq feast. As this was our first stop and we had skipped lunch in anticipation of our dinner, we ordered 2 sides, brisket and pork ribs. The creamed corn and green beans were delicious, but the real star of the show is the meat. The burnt ends of the brisket are like bacon, and the ribs are almost candied in their sweetness. We couldn’t imagine that anything would be better than Smitty’s but we carried on in the name of fair tasting.
Our second stop was Terry Black’s BBQ. The brisket was amazing. It was dripping when they pulled it out to cut it for us. We had to rate Terry Black's brisket above Smitty’s due to the moistness and flavor. Terry Black’s ribs have a strong peppery rub. We rated the sweet flavor of Smitty’s ribs higher because of our personal preference.
Our third stop was Kreuz Market. The brisket is ridiculously moist and falls apart in your hands. But for overall flavor, we have to give Terry Black’s our number one spot. Kreuz and Smitty's will have to tie for second place in the brisket categoty. Kreuz because of the moist tenderness of the meat but Smitty's just couldn't be edged out because every time we've had their brisket we've commented that it tastes like bacon (and who doesn't love bacon!?) However, when it comes to ribs, Smitty’s with the candied sweetness of their sauce just can’t be beat. In the ribs category, we rated Kreuz with it's smoky flavor second over Terry Black's pepper sprinkled ribs.
There you have it! We have over purchased and over eaten, we will have leftovers for days, but our bellies are full and we had a great time exploring the smoked meat capital of Texas! We highly recommend adding Lockhart, Texas to your foodie list of places to explore.
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