Places Explorer

Only Michelin-starred BBQ near Houston. Melt-in-mouth brisket from Creekstone Farms, jalapeño sausage. Arrive before 11 AM.

Pork ribs, garlic sausage, Saturday beef rib. Dinner service Tue–Fri — best evening option near hotel.

Closest Michelin spot. Legendary glazed St. Louis ribs, beef rib, candy-paint pork. New 2026 Montrose location.

Open 7 days — most flexible hours. Brisket, wagyu ribs, venison sausage, elote. Also serves breakfast tacos.

Asian-Texan fusion. Brisket fried rice, gochujang glazed ribs, pork belly bao buns. Totally unique in Houston.

Famous pork belly burnt ends and monster beef rib. Open 7 days including dinner. Worth the drive south to Pearland.

Unique: artisan chocolate shop + award BBQ. Chile relleno sausage, brisket nachos. Open daily in Tomball.

Fine dining meets BBQ. Kid play area — great for family. Banana caramel pie, hog fat cornbread. Dinner Tue–Sat.

Vietnamese-Texan fusion. Signature brisket fried rice, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Highest rating (4.7) on this list.

Houston institution since 2010. Opens 7 AM — only place for BBQ breakfast. East Texas style dirty rice, collards.

#1 BBQ in all of Texas. Melt-in-mouth brisket, Korean beef ribs, queso mac, banana pudding. Worth every mile east to Seguin.

Highest rated on list at 4.8. Tex-Mex twist: queso fundido sausage, house-made flour tortillas, poblano mac. Sells out by 3 PM.

James Beard semifinalist. 18-hour smoked fatty brisket, pork ribs, chicharron mac. BYOB. Thu–Sun, arrive before 11 AM.

3-minute walk from your Hyatt! Glazed pork ribs, beef rib, duck jambalaya, full bar with beer garden. Open Tue–Sun.

Tied for highest rating at 4.8. Thai-Texan fusion: brisket curry bowl, pork belly dunkers. Open 7 days until 10 PM.

Most flexible hours in SA — open daily until 10 PM. Full bar. Chopped brisket sandwich, borracho beans, homemade pickles.

Most reviews on this list. Featured on Food Network. Brisket grilled cheese on Texas toast, spicy creamed corn. Mon–Sat.

Converted gas station since 1992. Michelin Recommended despite wallet-friendly prices. Excellent brisket. Mon–Sat only.

Opens earliest at 10:30 AM daily. Family-friendly live oak patio, casual atmosphere. Cherry-glazed ribs, marbled brisket.

Hill Country setting with playground — perfect for kids. Jalapeño cheddar brisket sandwich, cream corn. Tue–Sun.

Upscale hotel inside the Galleria mall. Mar 29–31 base. Walkable to Maggiano's and Galleria shops.

Right on the River Walk with breakfast included. Pinkerton's BBQ is a 3-min walk. GO RIO river cruise included.

America's largest indoor waterpark resort. Park passes included with stay. Apr 2–3.

Steps from the Stockyards rodeo and Cowtown Coliseum. Free breakfast. Apr 3–4.

Near DAL Love Field for early Apr 5 departure. Close to Galleria Dallas and Netflix House. Apr 4–5.

NASA visitor center featuring Apollo Mission Control tram tour, astronaut artifacts, and interactive exhibits.

Full-day zoo visit in Brackenridge Park. Over 750 species, children's area, and splash pad.

Texas's largest commercial caverns. Morning discovery tours, zip-line, and mining sluice. ~30 min from SA hotel.

World's only year-round indoor rodeo. Cowtown Coliseum, 7:30 PM. Bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping.

Interactive Netflix entertainment experience at Galleria Dallas. Free entry, immersive themed environments.

World-class natural history and science museum in downtown Dallas. ~2 hrs. Optional add-on.

World's largest honky-tonk. Fort Worth Cattle Drive at 11:30 AM & 4 PM. Optional morning at the historic Stockyards.