2M Smokehouse grabs spot on New York Times' best dishes of 2025 list

2M Smokehouse's picadillo macaroni and cheese lit up the New York Times' food critics. 2M Smokehouse’s picadillo macaroni and cheese lit up the New York Times’ food critics. Credit: Instagram / 2msmokehouse

San Antonio barbecue staple 2M Smokehouse landed on the New York Times’ list of the 23 best restaurant dishes its critics sampled this year.

Times food writer Priya Krishna praised 2M’s picadillo macaroni and cheese for its similarity to zinged-up version of a Middle American pantry staple: Hamburger Helper. But to hear her explain it, that’s high praise indeed.

“Imagine Hamburger Helper, but spicier, punchier and even more luxuriously creamy,” Krishna wrote. “It’s not easy to one-up the singular, thickly spiced brisket here, but the picadillo mac and cheese — which runs as an occasional special — holds its own and then some.”

Such praise is nothing new for 2M Smokehouse, 2731 S. WW White Road, which has drawn frequent accolades for pitmaster Esaul Ramos’ deft hand at mixing the flavors of traditional Texas barbecue with those of his Mexican heritage.

To that point, 2M pulled a spot on the Recommended list in this year’s Michelin Guide Texas, and it’s also picked up two James Beard Award nominations since opening.

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2M Smokehouse grabs spot on New York Times’ best dishes of 2025 list

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