Houston Barbecue Company

My wife made a recent visit to this restaurant and ordered some food to go. After overcharging her for the food, she brought this to the attention of George, the man who serves the food. My wife in her southern charm, called the man sweetheart and brought to his attention we were overcharged for food. He said, "Don't call me sweetheart b--ch."

My wife was appalled, I'm glad I was not there. What an unprofessional, insecure man, poor little George. I have talked to other African Americans who have also been treated poorly, but none have been called the B word to their face.

The issue was brought up to management thru e-mail, and they refused to apologize or correct the situation, and did not even give my wife a reply to her e-mail.

On top of it, this BBQ is nothing out of the ordinary that you couldn't get at any other BBQ joint that uses oak in the firebox Overrated, and extremely rude.

Cons: See Comments

Posted 06/20/09

while visiting the Houston area I wanted to partake in some of the great BBQ that Houston has to offer. I decided to try Houston Barbecue Company because of the high rating site visitors gave the restaurant. Unfortunately, the selection was small and did not induce appetite. If you're looking for an enjoyable and tasty dining experience, please keep looking.

Pros: food in a flash

Cons: limited in many ways

Posted 05/02/09

We went to this 'straunt based on the ratings here and man were we disappointed. Our first clue should have been that the place was empty - we were literally the only people there at 12:15 on a Saturday afternoon. We went through the line which was reminiscent of Luling City Market (IMO, the best BBQ joint in Houston) so I thought things would be good.

Wrong.

This place really kinda stinks. The meat was tough and the dude behind the counter cut it wrong so we needed the largest toothpicks ever. The ribs were tasteless and chewy. The beef sausage was unremarkable. In short, this place does not deliver.

Even Pappas' is better than this place.

My advice? Skip it and head down to Richmond for some real BBQ.

Pros: No wait to eat here

Cons: There's a reason

Posted 02/15/09

Wake up nothing, to the post below. This resturant is honest to goodness good BBQ. I go during lunch. I always get the jalapeno link sausage and potatosalad. They have BBQ sauce at the tables you sit at, and I wished I could take home that bottle everytime I went. It is priced decent too. The wait in line can sometimes be long but once you get up there it moves right along. They guy that cuts the meat, he's really nice too.

Pros: awesome BBQ sauce, good priced

Cons: lengthy line

Posted 02/12/09

Does anybody at City Search ever read the user reviews. The only two in 2008 were terrible but City Search still has a high rating on this place.. What I see from the reviewers is it's high priced, small or meager portions and not very good tasting. Wake up City Search

Posted 02/06/09

I do not know how this is priced with only one "$". i ordered 3 ribs and 3 slices of brisket and it cost 20 dollars. The food was descent but it is way too overpriced

Pros: brisket

Cons: price

Posted 08/28/08

Brisket: The pieces I had were good - moist, nice char (despite the almost complete absence of any seasoning) and plenty of smoke.

Ribs: Barely average. No rub in sight, smoky enough, but no flavor (and plenty of fat on my portion, unfortunately). Tad chewy, too.

Sauce: Way too vinegary and mustardy, it COMPLETELY masks all flavor of whatever unfortunate piece of meat happens to get so much as a drop on it. Good sauce enhances, not overpowers (and this sauce would overpower a jalapeno).

Potato salad: More like mashed potato salad, but I didn't mind. Nice tang, but too much onion.

Sausage: The links here are... Weird. I'm not sure how much meat goes in there, but it can't be much. My link tasted more like bread than any meat product - almost exactly like a hush puppy in a crackly skin.

Value: HA! WAAAAAAAY too overpriced - $11 for a single sausage, two slices of brisket, and one dinky side? Please. Like pickles? Hope you like paying for those, or jalapenos at 50 cents a pop.

Atmosphere: Nice enough, I suppose, they're trying to be rustic with the wooden walls and tables but the semi-fancy bar in the corner belies it's upscale West-side heart. Went twice at lunchtime during the week and these people know their customers: Stiff-collar yuppies from the nearby energy corridor who don't mind shelling out $15 for three ribs and three slices of brisket (as the guy in front of me did).

All in all, a place worth avoiding.

Pros: Clean

Cons: Terrible value

Posted 07/22/08

Just because it looks like a BBQ joint and smells like a BBQ joint doesn't mean it is going to be a good BBQ joint. The very first thing you see when you get in line to order is the fact that they are going to nickel-and-dime you death. Jalepenos - 10c each, pickle spears - 25c ea., just to name a few. Then I ask for the Friday special and it is $6.99 for a small pulled pork sandwich and an even smaller bowl of beans. I am assuming that the drink is over $2 beacuase my total was $9.53 for the daily speacil ($6.99) and a tea. The only think that I found to be "included" was the slice of pickles. Other than this if you are looking for over priced BBQ that is average tasting...Houston BBQ is your spot!

Posted 07/11/08

This is probably my favorite new barbecue joint. The sauce is awesome, and the ribs are pretty darn good as well. How can you not love a place where they serve your food on butcher paper?

Pros: Great sauce, good BBQ, good sides

Cons: A little pricey

Posted 01/01/08

To me BBQ is about the sauce and ribs. I like both here, my ribs were very meaty had lots of flavor. I like the sauce but may not be for everyone, it is central texas style. The prices are higher then some but all BBQ places are high now. If you like Luling city BBQ then you will like this place, if you dont then you will not.

Pros: Ribs...

Posted 12/11/07

Great look, decor. The meat is FANTASTIC. The sauce is NOT good, it's a bit creepy in fact. Yes I know the history behind this restaurant....doesn't change the taste and texture of the sauce though. Staff is mediocre. Wish they had onion rings.

Pros: tender beef

Cons: sauce...YUK

Posted 11/29/07

Where do I start. I will start with the dramatic, but true statement; "This was the absolute worse dining experience of my life.

Problem 1: No Plates, they served me on construction paper (no kidding) 2. Sides. Their "famed" potato salad was okay, but our only other options were Coleslaw and pinto beans. Along with their "complimentary" supermarket sliced white bread. I was just getting over the shock of no plates when I was offered white bread out of a bag by the register! 3. Portions. Their portions were not very generous. For a $6 ala carte order of ribs (price w/out sides or drink), I got two ribs.

The tragedy is that their ribs and chicken aren't horrible. It is slightly below average, but not horrible. Certainly not good enough to overcome the experience. As I diner, they made me feel as if I was begger being fed scraps of meat and few slices of old bread.

A lot more effort on the part of the owner and staff is needed to make Houston BBQ an adequate restaurant.

Pros: I can't think of any

Cons: Too Many to list

Posted 11/18/07

This is the best place in the country for ribs. If you've tried the others, come here and eat the best!

Pros: Best Barbecue restaurant in the country.

Cons: Don't forget to check the parking in the rear.

Posted 07/11/07

WOW!! I absolutly loved it!! The service was great, but even better at the bar. The night crew working there really know what they are doing, when it comes to BBQ. The only complaint that I have is the potatoe bowls, they really need to have a better selection of toppings. Other than that I will be going back several times a week. I highly recommend HOUSTON BBQ COMPANY!!!!!!!

Pros: everythin except

Cons: the potatoe bowls

Posted 06/27/07

All I can say about Houston Barbecue Company is it was adequate. The food was nothing special (brisket, sausage), and the sauce was bland. The potato salad was pretty good, though. Service, again, was adequate. They were not rude, but not very helpful either. Maybe they were ready to go home, but it was 7:30 on a Saturday night. I should have known better when there were only 3-4 other people in the restaurant at such a normally busy time. If you are in dire need of BBQ, it will hold you over, but I wont be back.

Pros: Location

Cons: bland food

Posted 06/03/07

$7.00 for a little "Loaded Potato Bowl"?? I ordered a baked potato bowl and I was extremely disappointed. The price was very, very high $7.09. It was just a little potato (not an actual potato), just "some" potato, cheese and cut up turkey meat that looked like lunch meat. No sour cream, no green onions, not even any butter. I will not be back.

Pros: Great location for people working in the area

Cons: Price is high and the quality is low

Posted 04/27/07

If you like Luling City Market you will LOVE Houston Barbeque Company. Sides, sauce, butcher paper, and everything else spells ?LCM.?It?s direct copy in a new building, but with the ambiance of a cafeteria. But that is a GOOD THING?. Try it you will like it.

Pros: Brisket, Ribs, Sauce

Cons: Shopping center ambiance

Posted 02/18/07

I had the pork ribs and my husband had the chicken. Both were tough, dry, and flavorless. I've had beef jerky that was easier to eat! Wanted to add some sauce to my bone dry ribs but after taking a cautionary taste I started to gag. It was almost pure vinegar! I just don't get how everyone could love this place. Maybe our timing was off (we went early Sunday evening seemingly before the dinner rush) but we are NOT giving this place a second chance to find out! On the other hand I have to grudgingly admit that the potato salad was the best I ever had.

Pros: Potato Salad

Cons: Everything else!

Posted 06/04/06

Head to the Swinging Door and do not stop at this place. HBC had terrible food, service, and selection. Not sure why people were rating it so high. The brisket was dry, the sausage was nasty, and the bbq sauce was terrible. The service people seemed irritated that we showed up as they would rather send text messages on their phone. Will not be going back to this place and will not suggest it to anybody either!

Pros: none

Cons: Price, Service, Location

Posted 03/04/06

I would have to say this my favorite bbq restaurant. Everythere is there is perfect; from the food to the servers. They are very polite and cut your food just the way you want it. I enjoyed the atmosphere, it's not to loud nor to quiet. The food of course was delicious, I had a jalapeno link with a couple ribs. The sauce just topped everything off. It was great, i would have to say I will be coming back for more.

Pros: great customer servic, cafeteria style, great sauce

Cons: bar was a little loud

Posted 12/26/05

I found this place on a whim early last year. After eating, I was amazed at how similar the food was to Luling Market, one of my favorites. I found out the whole story from my server. The links and the potato salad are the best in Houston. I also love their sauce. A must do.

Posted 07/22/05

We recently had an office reunion at HBC and it worked out great. The place is perfect for a no-host gathering. Everyone could eat when they wanted and order according to their budget and taste. The food is always exceptionally good. I recommend the ribs and sausage. There is no better in Houston.

Pros: Great for groups

Posted 06/12/05

This is simply the best barbeque on the west side of town. I'm a Memphis gal, longing for something similar to home, but....I can make do on their ribs and smoked chicken. The chicken gets VERY high marks!

The ambience is low-key, low-tech, but...not too...low-brow. An overall, unfussy, place to eat.

Cost is: Medium to Average for Barbeque.

Seat yourself, pour your own soft drink or tea, and listen to the music while you eat.

Pros: Good Food, Cafeteria Style Serv., Clean and tidy

Cons: Price, Tables too close, Can get loud

Posted 06/10/05

This is the only place I will eat BBQ. It just melts in your mouth. So far, everything I've tried has been good. Fortunately, it's right by work and I take home an order at least once a week. I would make the drive to pick up an order if it weren't, though. Once you taste it, so will you! It's not cheap, but the prices are about average, I think.

Pros: Quick, Courteous

Cons: Cigarette Smoke

Posted 05/18/05

Brisket was fatty, sauce was too spicy, perhaps to cover up the bland taste of the meat. Meat was served on paper, which makes this place seem even more pretentious-- most BBQ places were butcher shops, and this place obviously never was. The paper tears when you try to cut your meat. The sides and sandwiches are served on dishes, which makes the paper seem all that more ridiculous. The decor is a mixture of western, sports, and placards that laud their BBQ, which is nothing more than average at best. There is a bar in the middle of the restaurant, to appeal to the happy hour crowd as well, which was kind of rowdy when I went, so I won't be bringing the kids.

Pros: plenty of parking

Posted 10/10/04

While you are there eating the best BBQ ever ( and the best potato salad), sit at the bar and talk to Tina. She is the best bartender and makes you feel right at home even if you are eating alone. I eat there all the time ans so do my co-workers.

Posted 06/19/04

We wanted to surprise Mom on Mother's Day so we had the folks at Houston Barbecue Company send a package to her in Minnesota. I was concerned about the whole idea but my wife talked me into it. What a great idea it turned out ot be. Mom reported the food arrived and was absolutely delicious. I recommend this as a good gift for someone who has everything. We will use Houston Barbecue again for speical gifts to be shipped or delivered locally. When you call, ask for Kurt. He really knows what he is doing. Great food!

Posted 06/19/04

This sausage recipe is the best I have ever tasted. I have eaten in many barbeque joints and had several different formulas but Houston Barbecue is my favorite. They have the real deal on all their food.

Posted 06/19/04

You may not like th parking problem especially at lunch, but it is worth going early or late to get this wonderful bbq. HBC is popular with the energy crowd and they are usually packed everytime I go there. I highly recommend them for there fresh and well cooked bricket and ribs. Go there and you will see what I mean.

Posted 06/19/04

I don't know what to say except the barbeque at Houston barbecue is just the best. I especially like the ribs. And don't forget the brownie to go with it. The sign says Angelica makes them. She is a fine baker.

Posted 06/19/04

You need to try the sausage. Just outstanding and the sauce is unlike anything anywhere else. Great atmosphere and fast service, even at lunch.

Pros: great food, clean, friendly

Posted 06/18/04

You will be surprised at the presentation here. Everything is served on butcher paper but don't let that scare you off. This is just like the central Texas BBQ. The brisket is cooked just right and the cutter will slice you meat just the way you like it. Lean, cripsy, marbled or whatever you want.

Posted 06/18/04

Just moved here from Kansas City. There is good barbeque in KC too. Went to lunch at HBC with serveral guys from work about two weeks ago. I have been back 4 times since. Their brisket is just unbelievable. It just melts in your mouth. My wife always has the chicken. It is very juicy and tender! I recommend this place to all who do not know about it.

Posted 06/18/04

The new look outside and the innocuous name scared me off for a while. I believe all the really good bbq joints are old looking places with no decor.(Arthur Bryants of KC). Fortunately, this new place served some of the most tasty bbq I have had in houston. I had the pork ribs and the beef brisket and they were both excellent! If your bbq experience is luthers, papas, and goodes, check it out you will not be disapointed

Pros: excellent food, good parking

Posted 01/06/03

Real oak pit barbecue, homemade side dishes and homemade desserts are excellent at the "Houston Barbecue Company". Owners, Kurt & Treca Craig provide a pleasant atmosphere, service and great food. The brisket and ribs are the best.

Pros: food, service/delivery, owners

Posted 11/21/02