Of Yelp’s top 100 barbecue restaurants in the U.S., California had 14 restaurants listed compared to Texas’ 13.

TEXAS, USA — Yelp just released a new list of the top 100 barbecue restaurants in the U.S., and according to them, California has more quality barbecue spots than Texas.

Of the top 100, California has 14 spots, beating Texas’ 13. Not to mention, California has two barbecue restaurants ranked higher than Texas’ highest ranked spot — that being the No. 6-ranked Franklin Barbecue in Austin.



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No Texas restaurants made the top 5, with restaurants in California, Arizona, South Carolina and Hawaii beating out Texas. According to Yelp’s list, the best barbecue in the country is found at Little-Miss BBQ University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Of the Texas restaurants that made the list, most are found in Austin and Houston. Only two North Texas barbecue restaurants made the list — those being Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth, ranked at No. 20, and Tender Smokehouse in Celina, ranked at No. 67.

Here’s what Yelp had to say about those two restaurants:


Goldee’s Barbecue

“In Fort Worth, Goldee’s draws crowds with its sought-after brisket—premium Black Angus smoked over local post oak and served melt-in-your-mouth tender. Open just a few days a week, this buzzy spot pairs its standout meats with homemade bread, signature sauces, and fresh sides, making the long wait feel like part of the tradition.”


Tender Smokehouse

“Step up to the chalkboard menu and pick from quarter-pound servings of brisket, pulled pork, and jalapeño-cheddar sausage, or load it all into a sandwich or stuffed potato for extra comfort. Friendly touches, like surprise samples from owner Dante Ramirez, make every visit feel like a neighborly treat, and the buttery Texas toast and house pickles keep folks coming back for more.”

Texas does have one thing it can hang its hat on that no other states can at the moment. There are only four American-style barbecue restaurants in the world — and they’re all in Texas.

What do you think? Does Yelp have it right or wrong?