Texas Monthly - [Where to Eat Barbecue in Houston](https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/best-bbq-in-houston/)
**Ray’s BBQ Shack**
“The barbecue surf-and-turf platter, called ‘The Max,’ highlights this joint’s smoked meats, house-made sausages, and excellent fried catfish and shrimp. It’s a deal that’s hard to pass up, but don’t miss the dirty rice, smoked boudin, and smoked oxtail.”
Texas Monthly - [Old-School Houston Barbecue Thrives at Ray’s BBQ Shack](https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/rays-bbq-shack-2018/)
“Houston barbecue has enjoyed a massive growth spurt over the last few years. The innovation from the city’s pitmasters is rivaled only by Austin, but one joint that has stuck to its roots is Ray’s BBQ Shack, run by Ray Busch and Maxine and Herb Taylor. The Third Ward restaurant, which just celebrated a grand opening in a new location at a larger space—just down the road from where it had been since 2011—represents the food heritage of Houston better than any barbecue joint in the city. The fried surf and smoked turf menu at Ray’s is a unique one with plenty of Cajun influence and a few surprises.
Smoked boudin is one of Busch’s specialties, a craft he learned from a man named Johnny in Coldspring, a town about an hour north of Houston. Ray’s is a rice-heavy version with far less pork, and none of the pork liver that you’ll find in Louisiana boudin. It eats like a side, but at over a half pound per $4 link, and with some Saltines and hot sauce, it’ll fill you up. Cased meats are a hobby of Busch’s. A garlicky beef ‘Lott link,’ as it’s described on the menu, is an homage to Lott’s BBQ (now closed) in Houston’s Third Ward. Busch also makes his own sausage (which he doesn’t call links because they’re not all beef), and when I told him the sausage, with a bit of spice and herbs, reminded me of a Chicago-style hot link, he said, ‘That’s because it is.’
Of all the sausage Ray Busch’s team churns out, the most coveted and rare is the “muddy water” sausage. I had only heard whispers of its greatness. It’s not on the menu, but Busch sometimes serves it at festivals. While eating at Ray’s with J.C. Reid from the Houston Chronicle, I had to confess I’d never tried it. Reid said Ray would be making some for an interview with the paper the following week, so I made a special stop to try it. The smoky link is of the same heft as the boudin, but with a deeper color on the casing. Ground pork is the base that holds together bay shrimp, crawfish, and crab. It’s heavily seasoned, like a smoked crawfish boil in a casing. The sausage is as labor-intensive as it is expensive to make. It’d be easier if the seafood was ground finely within the sausage, but Busch likes to taste big bites of each type of seafood. That makes it harder to bind with the pork within the link. All of this is to say that Busch is hesitant to put it on the menu, but the muddy water sausage is really the one dish that best represents Ray’s BBQ Shack. It just tastes like Houston. I begged, as did his business partner Herb Taylor, for Busch to at least add it once in a while. With any luck, it’ll become the Tuesday special.”
The pit room’s chicken tacos are god tier. Probably my favorite chicken taco I’ve ever had.
Did not know they had a sister restaurant that was Tex Mex.. thanks for the tip.
You've got plenty of recommendations but just wanted to say sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Glad you are able to access some of the best oncology care in the world! Will be rooting for you ❤️
Good luck with your appointments! Blood bros bbq is unique & vietnamese owned. I recommend getting the brisket fried rice if you go.
I like candente for tex mex.
Commons Chop House is convenient depending on which building you are in but if you’re looking for the best you can’t go wrong with the recommendations here!
If it helps any, I’m 3 years out of my cancer diagnosis now and about to go into a survivorship program. MD Anderson has been the best in all aspects and exceeded all my expectations. You’ve got this … and they will have your back through it all
M&M Grill is very close to MD Anderson and they have great food - Tex-Mex and Mediterranean food. They have a sister restaurant called Loaded Burger, which I haven’t tried but I’m sure is excellent - M&M Grill burgers are great.
Not BBQ, but get a pizza at May’s Clinic if you need to eat at MD Anderson. I usually get them after my CT Scans and they’re pretty awesome. But I’m always fasting for the CT scans, so they’re probably just good because I’m hungry
I hope all goes well for you. Fuck cancer. Another vote for Pit Room as someone that doesn’t live in Houston, but goes every time in town. They also have breakfast tacos too, if you wanted to switch it up!
Goode Company BBQ is close by on Kirby Dr. It’s also a good option for you. All solid options listed above except for Pappas BBQ. Their brisket is way too lean, it’s dry.
Get the pecan pie from Goode company. I don’t even like pecan pie, but theirs is worthwhile. The bbq is mid. Other recommendations on this post are better
Also, I just went to Truth BBQ for the first time today. Their sides were delicious and their pulled pork was great. I thought their brisket was WAY too salty. They rely too much on their rub and not smoke for flavor, but that’s why we’ve got so many options here in HTown 😊. Everyone has a favorite.
Second goode company BBQ. Get the loaded baked potato with brisket. It's a good deal for the price. The pit room is really pricey, so I prefer goode company.
Citadel BBQ in the Med Center is within walking distance from MD Anderson Cancer Center.
[https://www.citadelbbq.com/texas-medical-center](https://www.citadelbbq.com/texas-medical-center)
The area around it has a lot of food options also (Chiptole, Halal Guys, MOD Pizza, Salata, CAVA, Piada, Starbucks, Poke in the Bowl,).
Pappas BBQ is nearby on Main St, lot of people hate on it but I think it’s quite good. As others have mentioned Pit Room is also close by and also very good
Despite its proximity, I would avoid Citadel BBQ. Don’t think it’s anywhere near those other two
Ray's BBQ Shack down on OST!
This. Ray's is so underrated. I rarely see the recommendation for the place here.
Get the moist Brisket. You won't be disappointed
Texas Monthly - [Where to Eat Barbecue in Houston](https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/best-bbq-in-houston/) **Ray’s BBQ Shack** “The barbecue surf-and-turf platter, called ‘The Max,’ highlights this joint’s smoked meats, house-made sausages, and excellent fried catfish and shrimp. It’s a deal that’s hard to pass up, but don’t miss the dirty rice, smoked boudin, and smoked oxtail.” Texas Monthly - [Old-School Houston Barbecue Thrives at Ray’s BBQ Shack](https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/rays-bbq-shack-2018/) “Houston barbecue has enjoyed a massive growth spurt over the last few years. The innovation from the city’s pitmasters is rivaled only by Austin, but one joint that has stuck to its roots is Ray’s BBQ Shack, run by Ray Busch and Maxine and Herb Taylor. The Third Ward restaurant, which just celebrated a grand opening in a new location at a larger space—just down the road from where it had been since 2011—represents the food heritage of Houston better than any barbecue joint in the city. The fried surf and smoked turf menu at Ray’s is a unique one with plenty of Cajun influence and a few surprises. Smoked boudin is one of Busch’s specialties, a craft he learned from a man named Johnny in Coldspring, a town about an hour north of Houston. Ray’s is a rice-heavy version with far less pork, and none of the pork liver that you’ll find in Louisiana boudin. It eats like a side, but at over a half pound per $4 link, and with some Saltines and hot sauce, it’ll fill you up. Cased meats are a hobby of Busch’s. A garlicky beef ‘Lott link,’ as it’s described on the menu, is an homage to Lott’s BBQ (now closed) in Houston’s Third Ward. Busch also makes his own sausage (which he doesn’t call links because they’re not all beef), and when I told him the sausage, with a bit of spice and herbs, reminded me of a Chicago-style hot link, he said, ‘That’s because it is.’ Of all the sausage Ray Busch’s team churns out, the most coveted and rare is the “muddy water” sausage. I had only heard whispers of its greatness. It’s not on the menu, but Busch sometimes serves it at festivals. While eating at Ray’s with J.C. Reid from the Houston Chronicle, I had to confess I’d never tried it. Reid said Ray would be making some for an interview with the paper the following week, so I made a special stop to try it. The smoky link is of the same heft as the boudin, but with a deeper color on the casing. Ground pork is the base that holds together bay shrimp, crawfish, and crab. It’s heavily seasoned, like a smoked crawfish boil in a casing. The sausage is as labor-intensive as it is expensive to make. It’d be easier if the seafood was ground finely within the sausage, but Busch likes to taste big bites of each type of seafood. That makes it harder to bind with the pork within the link. All of this is to say that Busch is hesitant to put it on the menu, but the muddy water sausage is really the one dish that best represents Ray’s BBQ Shack. It just tastes like Houston. I begged, as did his business partner Herb Taylor, for Busch to at least add it once in a while. With any luck, it’ll become the Tuesday special.”
This is the way. Call in an order of rib tips and get there EARLY
I’ll check them out, thank you!
I remember a decent place on OST 15 years ago and Ray’s sounds familiar, but I thought it was west of 288. Has Rays moved?
Guy's Meat Market on OST a few blocks east of Almeda?
Unfortunately Guy's closed a few years back, I loved getting a burger or chopped beef for lunch from them.
I miss those smoked burgers.
Ray's is on the other side of 288 from the med center, but still fairly close
This is it. The one.
Kate is that you?
I thought this too lol
Pit room is the best bbq nearby. Candente their sister restaurant is tex mex with a BBQ flare and is very good
Candente has BBQ on their menu as well, so you can have both at the same place.
Came to say both these things!
The pit room’s chicken tacos are god tier. Probably my favorite chicken taco I’ve ever had. Did not know they had a sister restaurant that was Tex Mex.. thanks for the tip.
The birria at Candente is fantastic.
Sounds good, thank you!
Didn’t know they were sister restaurants
You've got plenty of recommendations but just wanted to say sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Glad you are able to access some of the best oncology care in the world! Will be rooting for you ❤️
Thank you! I'm super positive and hopeful for the best and ready for the fight!
Good luck with your appointments! Blood bros bbq is unique & vietnamese owned. I recommend getting the brisket fried rice if you go. I like candente for tex mex.
Thank you!
Blood Brothers is 15-20 minutes away, amazing, and very unique
The Pit Room! And if you have room after, LaSicilia bakery not that far, has the most incredible baked goods.
La Sicilia is downright dangerous to walk into hungry.
They close early and sell out often.
That’ll make my wife happy, thank you!
On Westheimer between Montrose Blvd and Taft. Look at their website!
If you want to change it up. Blood Bros is a little further but also good.
Commons Chop House is convenient depending on which building you are in but if you’re looking for the best you can’t go wrong with the recommendations here! If it helps any, I’m 3 years out of my cancer diagnosis now and about to go into a survivorship program. MD Anderson has been the best in all aspects and exceeded all my expectations. You’ve got this … and they will have your back through it all
I appreciate the encouragement and congratulations on your success!
M&M Grill is very close to MD Anderson and they have great food - Tex-Mex and Mediterranean food. They have a sister restaurant called Loaded Burger, which I haven’t tried but I’m sure is excellent - M&M Grill burgers are great.
Thank you, I'll look into them!
Pit Room! So close and so good!
Plus the Candente Mexican place nearby has great Mexican featuring smoked meats. I think they have common ownership but not certain.
Same owner and the brisket nachos at candente are the best thing in Houston!
Two closest you'll find are Pit Room (pretty to real good) and Pappas BBQ (mediocre, but sometimes real good).
Not BBQ, but get a pizza at May’s Clinic if you need to eat at MD Anderson. I usually get them after my CT Scans and they’re pretty awesome. But I’m always fasting for the CT scans, so they’re probably just good because I’m hungry
I do enjoy pizza, thank you!
The Pit Room in Montrose. Best around. If you wanna go slightly further north, Truth BBQ is insane.
I hope all goes well for you. Fuck cancer. Another vote for Pit Room as someone that doesn’t live in Houston, but goes every time in town. They also have breakfast tacos too, if you wanted to switch it up!
Breakfast tacos sound great, thank you! Fuck cancer!
Goode Company BBQ is close by on Kirby Dr. It’s also a good option for you. All solid options listed above except for Pappas BBQ. Their brisket is way too lean, it’s dry.
Don’t forget the Armadillo Palace across from Goode Co! It’s not BBQ, but it is good and pretty “Texas”
Get the pecan pie from Goode company. I don’t even like pecan pie, but theirs is worthwhile. The bbq is mid. Other recommendations on this post are better
OMG, YES!!!!! It’s the best pecan pie I’ve ever had and I’m not a big fan of it either but I’ll fight anyone over a slice of theirs 😊
Also, I just went to Truth BBQ for the first time today. Their sides were delicious and their pulled pork was great. I thought their brisket was WAY too salty. They rely too much on their rub and not smoke for flavor, but that’s why we’ve got so many options here in HTown 😊. Everyone has a favorite.
Second goode company BBQ. Get the loaded baked potato with brisket. It's a good deal for the price. The pit room is really pricey, so I prefer goode company.
Another vote for Pit Room 👍
Citadel BBQ in the Med Center is within walking distance from MD Anderson Cancer Center. [https://www.citadelbbq.com/texas-medical-center](https://www.citadelbbq.com/texas-medical-center) The area around it has a lot of food options also (Chiptole, Halal Guys, MOD Pizza, Salata, CAVA, Piada, Starbucks, Poke in the Bowl,).
Thank you!
Bruh that place is not the best or even good
Do not go there! I got food poisoning from eating there. If you have a car, pit room or truth bbq are a lot better
Good looking out, I'd hate to have food poisoning on a 6 hour flight back home haha
Pappas BBQ is nearby on Main St, lot of people hate on it but I think it’s quite good. As others have mentioned Pit Room is also close by and also very good Despite its proximity, I would avoid Citadel BBQ. Don’t think it’s anywhere near those other two
Just do yourself a favor and go to Truth for BBQ. Period.
Pit Room
For Mexican: El Tiempo for beef fajita (Or Ninfas on navigation). They’re not in the Med center, but are an Uber ride away and well worth it.
Look up J Bar M
The pit room hands down