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Tony's BBQ Tour, 421 W Main St., Grand Prairie, TX (2026)

03/02/2026

Its been a long time and I have a lot of updates, but some may be out of date. In no particular order I'll post a few when I get a chance.
The new list amd the new stamp book.
A llttle after the list came out I found myself headed south on 175 out of Dallas and remembered there was a joint I'd heard of in Mabank. Low and behold it made the list. B4 Barbeque looks like a feed store from the outside, because it is a feed store. But go on in, look around at the usual farm and ranch supplies, but once you make the corner you'll know you've arrived. Now rememeber yall, I dont do sides. Standard fare is 1/2 # brisket split fatty snd lean and 2 or 3 ribs.
Brisket was good enough, but not really my style, ribs were excellent. We went on a Friday just about lunch time. No lines, easy parking. I love the location and could be a regular stop if I was still making that trip 4o Dallas regularly.

09/02/2025

I have certainly been slacking on reviews, sorry about that.
Anyways, the new TM list is out yall, go get a copy. And get the stamp book.

B4 Barbeque and Boba in Mabank. Wheeled in there early one afternoon. Don't be surprised when you pull in, it IS in a feed store. I was there for one thing though and it wasnt feed or Boba.
Brisket was nice and moist with mild smoke flavor. Ribs had great flavor. Great selection and prices, pickled condiments were fresh. Parking was adequate as was seating. People were nice and pitmaster took time to sign my book.
Don't take my word for it, go check it out!

05/19/2025

A hidden gem, a sleeper. One of the best I had in DFW. Met the pitmaster and enjoyed cold Lone Star. Go get some

08/04/2024

Ok. Sorry everyone I haven't written a review in a long time. Still eating que, just not posting.

So, let's go back, way back. To the start of my addiction. This was probably 9 or 10 years ago. Franklins was #1 in the TM #50 list. We were in New Braunfels and had ridden the river the day before I guess. My good buddy Matt was with us. I can't remember the details but we decided to run to or stop in Lockhart Texas. Top 50 joints were on my mind and this was the mecca. We chose Blacks, not Terry Blacks, but the original Blacks. Man, I can't tell you how lucky we were for this to be the first stop. It was bbq heaven

I guess it was early and mid week, but no one was there. Plenty of parking, front row. Entering the doors was like a walk back in time. The wood was so smoked you could probably eat a splinter and it would smokey and tender. I ordered what would later become my standard fair, 1/2 pound brisket, both ways (1/4 lean and 1/4 fatty) and 1/2 # pork ribs. I mean, I'm here for the meat, not the sides right.

But there was a bonus. I knew that Blacks was one of the few that served beef Ribs everyday. Oh gosh, it was meat butter. It's the only way to describe it. Lol at the picture, that's a pound of meat on the plate. That Dino rib, just one is just incredible. Expensive, but incredible. This place was truly the eesence of Central Texas Style BBQ.

Go get some!

03/13/2022

Got a chance to stop in Pflugerville. It was just after opening, no line and plenty parking. Another one of these in a strip mall. The pits were clear across the parking lot.
Brisket had a nice and peppery bark. I think they added beef tallow after slicing, from the looks of it. The ribs, wow, not expecting the ribs. They put chilli powder on it. Made for a great first bite. However, about an hour later I still tasted chilli. I was on the run so had to get it to go and didn't stick around to visit, but the staff was very kind.

02/22/2022

Been a while, since I got out of town, so back to catching up.

Back, when working out of the Houston office, I got a chance to run into Tomball. Tejas Chocolate Craftory. Sounds weird doesn't it, in a BBQ review. Anyways, they popped up on top 10, on the 2017 list, along with another in Houston, which was great. They appeared at #7 but dropped into the top 50 in the latest list.

It was good to finally get there, late in the day and almost empty in the historic section of town. Parking was good. I was pleasantly surprised and the juiciness and flavor. You can see in the pictures. Also, the cupcakes were pretty special.

Also, first Moberg I got to see. Really nice and BIG pits.

02/01/2022

When I left Katy, I thought maybe I'd hit Burnt Beane in Seguin, but they closed before I could get there.
Next day, I finished before lunch and thought maybe today is the day I FINALLY get to the holy grail that is Franklin's. After a few texts I was assured that 11:45 was too late to get in line. So instead I took a chance on a short line at Interstellar.
I got luck, no line. I was amused to see 2 1000 gal pits on parking islands, like a cookoff or something. Got to meet John Bates and got some pictures, spent time talking with his main guy about bbq in general. He was pulling some pork belly and we talked about burnt ends and both agreed there is only one true burnt end.
Line was slow, inside, but I think it was because of most peoples indecisions. I finally got my 1/2 # order half lean half fatty and 2 ribs.
I wanted to love it, the atmosphere was cool, especially for the #2 on the list. But it was just so so.
Now I'm not usually into sides but when I see rice pudding on the menu, well, you have to get it. Mexican chocolate rice pudding. It was very interesting.
Parking was ok, it was large strip center. I parked right in front of the pits.
Fun times to be sure. I asked a guy to take a picture, he thought I wanted a picture of him. He had me and Bates laughing pretty good. I got my camera back with about 47 pics.

01/30/2022

I had to run down to Houston for a project with the boss. As usual, I think, he enjoys trying to kill us in the buggy, or at least get me muddy. Anyway, we wrapped that up quick and I was off toward New Braunfels, but I knew I was stopping for que for lunch.
Closest place, that I hadn't been, was Brett's BBQ shop. Oh man, parking is a trick. I missed the turn in and had to circle around. If you haven't been to Katy in a while, don't go. It was hectic. Anyways its in a little strip center, and I mean little.
It was on the backside of lunch, and I had read that they are a lunch service only. I wasn't prepared to find that they only had 1 # brisket left. And only lean. Well, I order half pound lean brisket.
Man great bark with lots of pepper, fork tender, plastic fork. I really wish I had their fatty and some ribs to go with it, but a man on the run gets what he can.
Seen Brett and was hoping for a signature or picture, but when he hit the door, he was gone. Even the counter lady was like "did Brett just leave?" It is what it is, I sure can't imagine doing que for a living, day in day out.
If I'm ever back that way, I'll try my luck again, only earlier

01/20/2022

Oh man. Good Que here. Been in the top 50 since 2013, when they were still in a food truck. Great central Texas style, but not too bold on smoke. Great parking, easy access off the highway and very roomy dining.

They cut it right in front of you and serve it up on a paper lined tray. I got lucky and got a new brisket, unwrapped from the peach paper. Yes, I got an end piece! Put that on a cracker dude. It was fiaa. Tender and good pepper bark.
Asked about what I was tasting on the back end, on the pork ribs. DJ let me know it was the sauce that they cook it in. Not just slathered and set, like most of us do, but actually cooked with in the 3-2-1 method. It was great. Much better than Randy Gay's favorite ribs.

Got to meet and sit down with Pitmaster Jesse Miranda. He used to live in Tyler, off of Paluxy, I think he said. Got to chat it up with him and his right hand man DJ. Got their autograph just for fun. Didn't get to finish our conversation though, as Jesse got called to the back. They were telling me about some festivals coming up this year, and they were excited to do them again after Covid. Y'all check them out Hays Co BBQ. Good meat. Oh yeah, open 7 days a week

01/19/2022

New on the TM list, opened in late 2020. Named after his grandmother.

Great open parking, very open seating, its an old ice house. Love the way they serve it up on paper lined metal trays. Good selection of pickled condements, cabbage, onions, dill and bread and butter pickles. All home made. No brisket boudin today, I really wanted to try it. Brisket was mildly smokey, not as bold as I like in a central Texas style. Bark was great, salty with hint of garlic. Very tender, but not fall apart. Ribs were awesome. Nice sweet flavor right off the bat. Good tenderness, you had to bite it off the bone.
Glad to try a new place out on the road. I would definately stop here again, down in Crockett.

12/28/2021

While working in Houston for a while, I got to try the 2 bbq joints on the 2017 TOP 10 list. This one was #7 at the time, but has dropped to TOP 50, (not ranked from 11-50). I was headed back home, and it was raining, so I was in a bit of a hurry. They had a number system, which is great. I sat in my truck until it looked like my spot in line was under cover (it was raining remember). Took my spot, ordered my usual, to go. Thus the alum foil wrap and truck seat photo

It was really good, solid Top 10. Parking was limited as it was Old Town, historic district. Overall I'd go back, if in Spring. Oh and the men's room art was nostalgic

I promise with the new reviews to get more descriptive on the meat

Tony's BBQ Tour

03/02/2026

09/02/2025

05/19/2025

08/04/2024

03/13/2022

02/22/2022

02/01/2022

01/30/2022

01/20/2022

01/19/2022

12/28/2021

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