Photo courtesy of Killen’s Barbecue

Ask a local for a good place to eat barbecue in Pearland and you’ll get an enthusiastic recommendation with menu suggestions (and, if you need them, driving directions). Prepare to hear words such as; “the best”, “spicy”, “juicy”, “lean”, “tender”, “smoky” and “a lot of food”.

It’s been said you could spend a week in Pearland eating nothing but BBQ and never tire of it. Texas-style barbecue is rubbed with secret house spices and slow-cooked for hours until the meat is thoroughly smoked and fall-off-your-fork tender. What can make one barbecue place stand out are the homemade sides and desserts. We spotlight a few at each stop that are popular with patrons. Suffice to say, leave your diet at home.

Our BBQ Trail features restaurants that are distinctive in ambiance, food quality/variety, and price. You’ll probably have a favorite along the trail, but give them all a try, if time allows. They’re all good.

Pearland BBQ Trail

Most of the BBQ restaurants in Pearland serve meat by the pound, but combination plates of beef, pork ribs, sausage, ham, turkey, and chicken are also on most menus. If you like sauce, be sure to ask for the house special sauce. Plates are Texas-size and portions are generous! A huge stuffed potato with meat on top is a meal.

Big Horn, 2300 Smith Ranch Road, 281-741-3289, bighorn-bbq.com
Ambiance: Rustic Texas, gift shop and store, live music Friday and Saturday
BBQ and Burgers: BBQ plates and sandwiches, Texas-sized burgers
Favorite Sides: Loaded potato, BBQ beans, broccoli salad
Desserts: Pecan pie, peach cobbler, cheesecake
Price: Meal packages, moderate

Burns BBQ Bistro, 11003 Shadow Creek Parkway, 832-515-0572, burnsoriginalbbq.com
Ambiance: Casual eatery located inside of the Shadow Creek Kroger location
BBQ: BBQ plates and sandwiches, specialty lemonade
Favorite Sides: Dirty rice, boudin, and mac and cheese
Price: Affordable

Central Texas Barbecue, 4110 West Broadway, 281-485-9626, centrabbq.com
Ambiance: Texas casual, relaxed
BBQ: Hickory-smoked, slow-cooked, delicious
Favorite Sides: Home cooked, family recipes
Desserts: Banana pudding, Texas chocolate brownie cake, peach cobbler, ambrosia fruit salad
Price: Moderate

Killen’s Barbecue, 3613 East Broadway, 281-485-2272, killensbarbecue.com
Ambiance: Casual indoor and outdoor patio, relaxed
BBQ: Slow-cooked, multi-award-winning BBQ, huge beef ribs are a favorite
Favorite Sides: Potato salad, mac and cheese, creamed corn, fried onion rings
Desserts: Bread pudding, carrot cake, seasonal cheesecake
Price: Moderate

Skeets Barbecue, 10228 Broadway, 713-436-0012, skeetsbarbq.com
Ambiance: Casual, family-friendly
BBQ and Burgers: Nice variety of BBQ, burgers & salads
Favorite Sides: Mac and cheese, Texas rice, jalapeno pinto beans
Desserts: Brownies, peach cobbler, pecan pie
Price: Affordable

It’s a good idea to check websites for current information or call for hours and days open. Enjoy the Pearland BBQ Trail — and come back often!