Best BBQ Near Washington Avenue, Houston: 6 Verified Pits

The best BBQ near Houston's Washington Avenue comes down to six verified stops a short drive apart. Truth BBQ, Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue and Henderson & Kane General Store sit within a few blocks of the avenue. Terry Black's Barbecue, Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar and Pinkerton's Barbecue are a few minutes north in and around the Houston Heights. We checked each one against its official website.

Washington Avenue is where Houston goes out. The smoke is a few blocks off it.

The quick list

• For brisket with two chances a day: Truth BBQ, 110 S Heights Blvd, Houston 77007.
• For Houston barbecue history: Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue, 1703 Shepherd Dr, Houston 77007, on Shepherd Drive since 1935.
• For brisket at breakfast or late afternoon: Henderson & Kane General Store, 715 Henderson St, Houston 77007.
• For Central Texas barbecue from a Lockhart family: Terry Black's Barbecue, 1329 N Shepherd Dr, Houston.
• For smoked brisket and a cocktail at the same table: Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar, 1001 W 11th St, Houston 77008.
• For a Heights-area regular: Pinkerton's Barbecue, 1504 Airline Dr, Houston 77009.

Where is the BBQ near Washington Avenue?

Most of it is just off the avenue or a few minutes north in the Heights, not on the strip itself. Washington Avenue runs west from near downtown Houston toward Memorial Park and is best known for bars, patios and restaurants. That makes it a great place to finish a barbecue day, and a less obvious place to start one.

For this guide we counted three spots within a few blocks of Washington Avenue and three in the Heights and just east of it. Each is roughly a 10-minute drive from Washington Avenue and Heights Boulevard in normal traffic. Every pick has a published street address and was confirmed operating on its official website. We left out anything we couldn't confirm that way, including a Heights listing whose website gives a ZIP code but no street address.

On and just off Washington Avenue

Is Truth BBQ worth the line?

Yes, if you plan around its two service windows. Truth BBQ at 110 S Heights Blvd, Houston 77007, sits just off Washington Avenue and is the anchor of this guide. The Houston location of Leonard Botello IV's barbecue operation advertises "18 hour cooks on wood burning offset smokers" on its official site, and you can taste the time in the brisket.

According to the Truth BBQ locations page, lunch typically runs Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until sold out, and a separate dinner service typically runs Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until sold out. Monday isn't listed. Phone: (832) 835-0001.

Insider tip: Most barbecue joints sell out once. Truth BBQ in Houston can sell out twice, because lunch and dinner are separate services. If the lunch line beats you, a second chance opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Also good to know: Truth's official online shop sells whole briskets shipped, a handy gift for anyone who has eaten here and moved away.

Best for: first-timers, out-of-town guests, and anyone pairing brisket with the bars on Washington Avenue.

How old is Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue?

Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue at 1703 Shepherd Dr, Houston 77007, has stood on Shepherd Drive since 1935, according to its official site. Hand-built brick pits are still at the center of the restaurant.

I didn't know that: The official Pizzitola's site credits those hand-built brick pits to the Davis family, not the Pizzitolas. The pits carry the history of the place as much as the name on the sign.

Pizzitola's is known for its ribs, and the menu also covers brisket, sausage, pulled pork and classic sides such as potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread. Hours are typically 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Phone: (713) 227-2283.

Best for: ribs, Houston food history, and taking a visiting relative somewhere that feels like it has always been there.

Henderson & Kane General Store

Henderson & Kane General Store at 715 Henderson St, Houston 77007, is a neighborhood general store and kitchen in the Old Sixth Ward, a few blocks south of Washington Avenue. It isn't a dedicated barbecue joint, but its smoked meat menu runs deep: a Pitmaster Plate (brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs, smoked chicken, sausage or boudin, and three sides), a brisket plate, a sliced brisket sandwich and a smoked brisket taco.

The real advantage is the hours. Henderson & Kane is typically open 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, per its official site. Breakfast tacos can come with smoked brisket, so this is the one spot on the list where brisket in the morning is normal. Phone: (832) 852-0290.

Best for: brisket outside standard barbecue hours, a Sunday stop, and a bite before the Washington Avenue Arts District.

The Heights: three pits a few minutes north

Terry Black's Barbecue

Terry Black's Barbecue at 1329 N Shepherd Dr in the Houston Heights brings the Black family's Central Texas style to Houston. The family is "born and raised in Lockhart, Texas," per the official site, and the brand also runs restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Waco, Fort Worth and Lockhart. Expect brisket, ribs and the usual Central Texas lineup.

Insider tip: The Terry Black's Houston page takes reservations for "The Terry Black's BBQ Experience," which pairs a reserved table with time with the pitmasters and a private tour of the pits. It's worth booking for a visiting barbecue fan or a birthday.

The official Houston page doesn't list hours, so call (346) 680-0123 before a special trip.

Best for: groups, visitors who know the Austin location, and anyone who wants to see the pits up close.

Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar at 1001 W 11th St, Houston 77008, comes from two James Beard Award winners: chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, per the Loro Heights page. Smoked brisket is listed among the items smoked daily, alongside an Asian-influenced menu, boozy slushees, beer on tap and cocktails.

Loro isn't a traditional barbecue joint, and that's the point. It's the easiest pick on this list for a mixed group where some people want brisket and others mostly want a drink. Happy hour typically runs 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours are typically 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone: (713) 930-2326. Our Heights restaurant guide has more nearby.

Best for: mixed groups, couples, and a weekday happy hour with smoked meat.

Pinkerton's Barbecue

Pinkerton's Barbecue at 1504 Airline Dr, Houston 77009, just east of the Heights, is the original location of Grant Pinkerton's barbecue operation. The official site says it was established in 2016. Hours are typically 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Monday, with service "until sold out." Phone: (713) 802-2000.

Go on a weekday if you can, and go early on weekends. Our Pinkerton's guide covers the restaurant in more detail.

Best for: a barbecue dinner on a weeknight, when the official hours run to 9 p.m.

Save this: a Washington Avenue BBQ day

Plan the day around Truth BBQ's lunch window and finish in the Heights. Never drive between stops after drinking. Use a rideshare or a designated driver.

1. Start at Truth BBQ on South Heights Boulevard. Arrive before 11 a.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
2. Walk it off at the galleries and studios of the Washington Avenue Arts District.
3. Grab a drink on the Washington Avenue bar strip.
4. Head north for dinner at Terry Black's on North Shepherd or Pinkerton's on Airline Drive.

Want it more relaxed? Swap dinner for Loro on West 11th Street and start during happy hour. Want it older-school? Make Pizzitola's your lunch instead, but remember it closes at 8 p.m. and doesn't open Sundays.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• Mondays: Truth BBQ and Pinkerton's Barbecue don't list Monday hours. Pizzitola's, Henderson & Kane and Loro do.
• Sundays: Pizzitola's is closed. Truth BBQ serves lunch only.
• Sell-outs: Truth BBQ and Pinkerton's both serve until sold out, so earlier is safer.
• Early birds: Henderson & Kane opens at 8 a.m. daily.
• Terry Black's: Hours aren't on the official Houston page, so call ahead.
• Hours change: Check each official site before you go.

More eating and drinking near Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue does nightlife better than it does barbecue, so pair the two. Start with our guide to the best bars on Washington Avenue, or go citywide with the best cocktail bars in Houston and the best happy hours in Houston. For the full citywide picture, start with our best BBQ in Houston guide.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best BBQ near Washington Avenue in Houston?

Our top pick is Truth BBQ at 110 S Heights Blvd, Houston 77007, just off Washington Avenue. It typically serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m., each until sold out.

Does Truth BBQ in Houston sell out?

Yes, Truth BBQ in Houston serves both lunch and dinner until sold out. Lunch typically starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and dinner at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, so arriving before the window opens is safest.

How long has Pizzitola's been on Shepherd Drive?

Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue at 1703 Shepherd Dr, Houston 77007, has stood on Shepherd Drive since 1935, according to its official site. It is typically open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.

Where is Terry Black's Barbecue in Houston?

Terry Black's Barbecue in Houston is at 1329 N Shepherd Dr in the Houston Heights, a few minutes north of Washington Avenue. Its official Houston page doesn't list hours, so call (346) 680-0123 before you go.

Where can I get barbecue near Washington Avenue in the morning?

Henderson & Kane General Store at 715 Henderson St, Houston 77007, typically opens at 8 a.m. daily and serves smoked brisket, including brisket breakfast tacos. It stays open until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Who is behind Loro Asian Smokehouse in the Heights?

Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar at 1001 W 11th St, Houston 77008, was created by chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. The menu includes smoked brisket alongside cocktails, slushees and beer on tap.