Best Barbecue in Tomball, TX: 8 BBQ Joints Worth the Drive

Tomball has eight confirmed, currently open barbecue joints within city limits — zip codes 77375 and 77377 — making it one of the most concentrated BBQ corridors in the Houston suburbs. You’ll find everything from a Michelin Guide–listed restaurant where a former chocolatier runs the pit, to a drive-through that has been smoking ribs since 1984. Every pick here was verified on its own official website or authorized ordering page as of October 2026.

The quick list

• Michelin Guide: Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue, Old Town
• Banana pudding (Texas Monthly said so): 2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ, Spring Cypress Road
• Open at 7 am, every day: Harris County Smokehouse and Rudy’s Country Store
• Longest-running: The Original Rib Tickler, smoking since 1984
• Farm-raised beef, burnt ends: Bexar Barbeque (Wednesday–Saturday only)
• Best everyday spot: Uncle’s BBQ, open seven days a week

How we chose and how we define Tomball

All eight picks carry Tomball, TX addresses (zip codes 77375 or 77377) and were confirmed open on their own official websites or authorized pages. We excluded Killdeer’s BBQ (listed as closed on Yelp as of November 2025), Trail Boss BBQ (a catering and food-truck operation with no dine-in location), and Spring Creek Barbeque at 21746 Tomball Pkwy (a Houston 77070 address outside Tomball city limits). Reveille Barbecue Co. in Pinehurst is close on TX-249 but technically a different city; we mention it in the FAQ.

Hours change and kitchens often sell out of premium cuts by early afternoon. Verify hours on each restaurant’s official site before you go.

Old Town Tomball

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue — 200 N Elm St

Order: USDA prime brisket, chile relleno sausage, carrot soufflé. On Fridays only: the beef rib (pre-order recommended).

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t happen often. Owner Scott Moore Jr. trained as a chocolatier before he ever lit a smoker — and his restaurant is the only one in Tomball in the Michelin Guide. Cocoa works in a brisket rub the way coffee does: it deepens the crust without adding sweetness. The Friday beef rib is the signature draw: one massive bone, salt-and-pepper bark, and threads of fat that melt by the time it reaches the table. They sell out before noon. The carrot soufflé is one of the best sides at any Texas BBQ joint — sweet and savory without wobbling toward dessert.

Pre-order the Friday beef rib through the restaurant’s official site at tejaschocolate.com if that’s the reason you’re making the trip.

Typically open: Monday 11 am–5 pm, Tuesday–Saturday 11 am–9 pm, Sunday 11 am–7 pm.

TX-249 Corridor

Three BBQ joints sit along State Highway 249 north of Old Town, within a few miles of each other. Any one is a solid destination on its own; all three together make a full afternoon.

The Original Rib Tickler — 28930 State Hwy 249

Order: ribs by the pound, pulled pork sandwich

The Original Rib Tickler opened on TX-249 in 1984 — before the highway bypass, before the suburb grew around it, before anyone was calling Tomball a food destination. More than 40 years of slow smoke later, it’s still locally owned. Weekday specials rotate: brisket tacos on Tuesdays, pulled pork or chicken sandwiches mid-week, catfish and shrimp on Fridays and Saturdays. Ribs by the pound are a constant. There’s both a drive-through and patio seating.

Typically open: Tuesday–Thursday 11 am–8 pm, Friday–Saturday 11 am–8:30 pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Daniel’s Old Tomball BBQ — 30042 State Hwy 249

Order: brisket plate, sausage, cornbread

A family-owned operation since 2014, Daniel’s keeps the menu focused on Texas barbecue basics: brisket, sausage, pulled pork, ribs, and chicken, assembled into combo plates with two sides. The cornbread and mac and cheese are standout sides. It’s a no-frills neighborhood spot where the meat is the point and the line moves quickly. Note they’re closed on Tuesdays.

Typically open: Monday, Wednesday–Sunday 11 am–8 pm. Closed Tuesdays.

Bexar Barbeque — 28301 State Hwy 249, Suite 800

Order: Bexar Burger with burnt ends, brisket tacos

Bexar Barbeque is connected to Bexar Beef Co., a farm-raised beef operation — meaning the cattle goes from pasture to smoker without a middleman. The Bexar Burger, loaded with burnt ends, is one of the most talked-about items in Tomball BBQ. The brisket tacos use a hybrid tortilla that regulars call a game changer. Bexar is open Wednesday through Saturday only, which keeps the kitchen focused and the smoke fresh.

Typically open: Wednesday–Saturday 11 am–8 pm. Closed Sunday–Tuesday.

Kuykendahl Road and Spring Cypress Road

Uncle’s BBQ — 23211 Kuykendahl Road, Suite D

Order: smoked ribs, Two Meat Plate, Texas Philly sandwich

Uncle’s is one of the most flexible spots in Tomball: open every day, with a menu wide enough to satisfy a mixed group. The Two Meat Plate lets you mix brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, carnitas, turkey, and more with two sides of your choice. The Texas Philly — grilled cheese loaded with cheddar, Monterey Jack, and brisket — is the go-to sandwich option. Smoked ribs are consistently the top-rated item among regulars.

Typically open: Monday–Saturday 11 am–8 pm, Sunday 11 am–7 pm.

2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ & Catering — 11711 Spring Cypress Road, Suite I

Order: USDA Prime brisket, the Chriswich, Nana’s banana pudding

Texas Monthly highlighted 2 Guys 1 Pit for the banana pudding. That’s the kind of mention that follows a restaurant for years, and the rest of the menu earns it. The USDA Prime brisket is consistently praised for tenderness. The Chriswich stacks brisket with mac and cheese and BBQ chips into one sandwich. Nana’s banana pudding is what keeps people coming back.

Typically open: Tuesday–Thursday 11 am–8 pm, Friday–Saturday 11 am–9 pm, Sunday 11 am–8 pm. Closed Mondays.

FM 2920 and Tomball Parkway

Harris County Smokehouse — 14243 Farm to Market 2920

Order: brisket, ribs, breakfast plates

Harris County Smokehouse is the only pick on this list that opens at 7 am, every day. That makes it the right call if you want BBQ with breakfast, or if you want first pick of the brisket before the afternoon sell-out window. Reviewers consistently cite the smoke ring on the brisket. The restaurant serves breakfast and brunch plates alongside the full BBQ menu all week.

Typically open: daily 7 am–9 pm.

Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q — 24503 Tomball Parkway

Order: chopped brisket, sausage, cream corn, peach cobbler

Rudy’s is a Texas chain — if you’ve spent time in this state you’ve probably eaten there. The Tomball Parkway location is the most convenient stop on this list: drive-through lanes, open at 7 am, and consistent smoked brisket and sausage by the pound. Order the chopped brisket or a tray of sliced brisket with sides. The cream corn is one of the best-known items in the chain’s lineup. Peach cobbler if it’s on the counter.

Typically open: Sunday–Thursday 7 am–9 pm, Friday–Saturday 7 am–10 pm.

Save this: before you go

• Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue is in the Michelin Guide. Pre-order the Friday beef rib online — it sells out before noon.
• Most kitchens sell out of brisket and premium cuts by early afternoon. Arrive by noon if that’s the priority.
• Bexar Barbeque (Wed–Sat) and The Original Rib Tickler (Tue–Sat) are both closed Sunday and Monday.
• Harris County Smokehouse and Rudy’s open at 7 am — the only two that serve breakfast alongside BBQ.
• Daniel’s Old Tomball BBQ is closed Tuesdays; 2 Guys 1 Pit is closed Mondays.
• All eight spots are open on Saturdays.

More eating in Tomball and nearby

For the full picture of the suburb, see Best Restaurants in Tomball, TX and Best Brunch in Tomball, TX. The Tomball area guide has neighborhood context for first-time visitors. Hungry for more suburban BBQ? Barbecue in The Woodlands, Cypress, and Spring are all within 30 minutes of Tomball.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tomball a good barbecue destination?

Yes. Tomball, TX has at least eight verified BBQ restaurants within city limits, including Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue, which is listed in the Michelin Guide. It’s one of the most concentrated BBQ corridors in the greater Houston area.

What is the best BBQ in Tomball, TX?

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue at 200 N Elm St is the most acclaimed, with a Michelin Guide listing. Their USDA prime brisket and Friday-only beef ribs are the signature draws. The Original Rib Tickler has been open since 1984 and is the longest-running spot in the city.

What are the hours for Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball?

Typically Monday 11 am–5 pm, Tuesday–Saturday 11 am–9 pm, and Sunday 11 am–7 pm at 200 N Elm St in Old Town Tomball. The Friday beef rib is a sell-out special — pre-order it through tejaschocolate.com before you go.

Which Tomball BBQ restaurants are open on Sundays?

Uncle’s BBQ (11 am–7 pm), Harris County Smokehouse (7 am–9 pm), Rudy’s Country Store (7 am–9 pm), 2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ (11 am–8 pm), and Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (11 am–7 pm) are all open Sundays. Bexar Barbeque and The Original Rib Tickler are closed Sundays.

Is there a BBQ restaurant in Tomball open early for breakfast?

Yes. Harris County Smokehouse at 14243 FM 2920 and Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q at 24503 Tomball Parkway both open at 7 am every day. Harris County Smokehouse serves breakfast and brunch plates alongside its full BBQ menu.

Is Reveille Barbecue Co. in Tomball?

Reveille Barbecue Co. is at 32360 TX-249 in Pinehurst, TX 77362 — technically a different city, though it’s just north of Tomball on the same highway and is listed on tomball.com as part of the area. It’s known for beef ribs and is worth the short drive if you’re making a day of the TX-249 corridor.