TX locals

McStew

I need to visit a customer in Houston area and I have the late afternoon/night to myself.  From what I see it looks like I have a couple of choices for some TX BBQ  Killens, Corkscrew and Gatlins if you live in the are what would you go to? 

Also if anyone has any recommendations on a good lunch place in El Paso would be great too it doesn't need to be BBQ. 

Thanks again 

EggObsessed

I live in Austin, and have always heard that Killen's is the best place to eat BBQ in Houston.  They are always ranked really high on "best of" lists.

McStew

@EggObsessed thanks 

Photo Egg

What part of Houston will you be spending the night? Weekday, Weekend?

Houston is really spread out and Killens is still a bit of a drive especially during peak travel time. Traffic is a bummer.

We have not been to Killens BBQ but hear it's excellent. Their high end steak joint is very nice as well.

"Tuesday thru Sunday 11 A.M. til we run out of Q"

til we run out is also a factor...

McStew

@Photo Egg Hotel Derek 2525 West Loop S, Houston, TX 77027 i'm not sure where exactly this is.  This is a weekday trip 

Photo Egg

Hotel Derek is very cool...
It's on the West side of Houston in the "Galleria".
610 Loop at Westheimer. Very upscale part of town, but lots of traffic.

Number 2 on this list is very close to The Derek.

http://www.10best.com/destinations/texas/houston/galleria/restaurants/luling-city-market/


http://www.hotelderek.com

cazzy

You have the 3 best listed.  Some people like Roegels, but I find the meat to be underseasoned.  

While Killen's is good, I think the chef in him kinda makes some of the food a let down.  The dude is an awesome chef, and he always has something else going on at his spot.  Fried chicken, pork chops, burgers, chicken fried steak, specialty sides/apps/desserts, catfish etc.  I think the extra stuff may be lowering the quality of some of his menu.  I thought his brisket and pork ribs left a lot to be desired, especially the ribs which I thought were embarrassing.  His beef rib is definitely one of the best you'll eat in the area.  

Photo Egg

Honestly, I would skip the BBQ and go here.

http://www.underbellyhouston.com

xfire_ATX

I have no idea what to say about this- quick Google Search by your hotel brings up
Lulings City Market BBQ
4726 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77027

Now to me the "City Market" in Luling is about as good as it gets.  Schmidts opened up in Austin as an offshoot of Smittys and Kruez from Lockhart so they could be related.

I always thought Goodes was decent and frankly Pappas is decent and its not too far.

Downside of where you are- traffic will be as ugly as any place you have ever been, it will be ugly all but a few hours in the middle of the night.  So plan on staying by hotel or be ready to fight some traffic for hours.

McStew

Thanks @xfire_ATX  and @Photo Egg I will look these places up.  
Traffic is not an issue I sit in it daily 

lewisj82

Corkscrew is going to be a hike from where you're at. It's up near The Woodlands, not a fun drive in rush hour.

cazzy

Photo Egg said:

Honestly, I would skip the BBQ and go here.

http://www.underbellyhouston.com

Underbelly is good!  44 Farms beef too, which you can't go wrong with either.  

Photo Egg

"Traffic is not an issue I sit in it daily "

I hear you, but I would rather spend my limited time enjoying unique local food than sitting in traffic for several hours just to get BBQ that may or may not be just slightly better than you can make yourself.

You will also be fairly close to the Museum Dist.

Travel safe...

McStew

thanks @Photo Egg I think I'm going to go with Underbelly food looks great 

Toxarch

Underbelly is a good choice. 
If a want a good unhealthy burger for lunch, I like to hit Lankford's.

nolaegghead

I worked in Houston every other week, commuting from NOLA, for about a year.   Clear Lake.  I raced in the the 24 hours of lemons years later south of Houston.  My recommendation - Mexican food.   They do it right there if you find an authentic restaurant.  I'm sure there's some excellent Q, but like many people say on the forum, you can do as well if not better.  When in Rome....

lewisj82

nolaegghead said: My recommendation - Mexican food.   

He's actually got a great point. Nothing like some good Tex Mex. Talk to someone and see what's good around where you're at. I'm never in the Galleria so I wouldn't know where to tell you to go. Papasitos is pretty much a standard everywhere in town, and while it's good, you can do better. Find a dive with good fajitas (or my preference, Tacos Al Carbon) and margaritas. You can't really go wrong with that.

Photo Egg

lewisj82 said:

nolaegghead said: My recommendation - Mexican food.   

He's actually got a great point. Nothing like some good Tex Mex. Talk to someone and see what's good around where you're at. I'm never in the Galleria so I wouldn't know where to tell you to go. Papasitos is pretty much a standard everywhere in town, and while it's good, you can do better. Find a dive with good fajitas (or my preference, Tacos Al Carbon) and margaritas. You can't really go wrong with that.

There are many good Tex-Mex places but I might send you to "Picos" for lunch and  "The Perfect" Rita (yes, that's what it's called). They are more true Mex-Mex with some excellent seafood dishes as well. Or Sunday morning Crab Cake Benedict is outstanding.

Their "yelp" reviews don't really do it justice.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/picos-restaurant-houston-2

McStew

Thanks everyone Houston is going to become a monthly stop for me, so if I don't get to it this trip I will down the road.  Any and all suggestions are always welcome 

McStew

Well as always plans changed on the fly and for dinner I was invited to RDG Bar Annie. I had one of the most amazing Foie Gras I have ever had very simple severed with a very nice olive oil and dates.  I'm pushing to make it to underbelly for lunch tomorrow.  

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I would highly recommend trying to meet up with cazzy, 20stone, caliking, or even photo egg (he's  an hour south but well worth it) rather than chasing bbq. It's the peeps that make it all worth while, not the food

McStew

@The Cen-Tex Smoker well 100% positive feedback from my customer so it sounds like I will be here more often so I will hit everyone up.... Food is always better with like minded people 

McStew

Sorry Texas this is un-explainable 

Photo Egg

If that little spotted suite bothers you then you in BIG trouble visiting Texas...lol

McStew

@Photo Egg no I just spent 20 min LMFAO 

Photo Egg

McStew said:

@Photo Egg no I just spent 20 min LMFAO 

Similar to my visit in Los Angeles and Holly-Weird back in 1985.   Ha...Ha

I'm not a native Texan so I laugh at them as well...

SmokeyPitt

That cow robe would find its way into my expense report. 

caliking

McStew said:

Sorry Texas this is un-explainable 

If you won't steal that, I will!

Must have missed this the first time around. Houston has great Asian food - Chinatown is HUGE. There are some great places I could steer you to if you're interested.

And holler at me whenever you're in town. Maybe we can meet up.

McStew

I asked the font desk how much my credit card would get hit if it turned up missing she laughed and said 200 bucks 

@calking I will be in the area again soon and for a longer stay but next time I'm in town I will put out a call so we can meet up 

Photo Egg

For $200...it better look like this...lol

McStew

@Photo Egg how busy is Underbelly on a Saturday Night.  I have an unexpected trip to Houston and i'm thinking of dropping in for dinner