The Most BBQ-Obsessed Cities in Texas

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Texas and barbecue go hand in hand, but which cities are most fired up about it? Payless Power’s new study crunched the numbers to find the most BBQ-obsessed cities in Texas, using data from Yelp and Google to uncover where the passion for smoked meats really sizzles. The results might surprise you, with several smaller cities topping big-name favorites. From brisket searches to budget-friendly bites, here’s where Texans are truly living the BBQ life.

Key Takeaways

• New Braunfels, Sugar Land, and Lewisville are the most BBQ-obsessed cities in Texas.
• Austin has the highest per capita search interest for BBQ terms, followed by Lewisville.
• Sugar Land, Pasadena, and Pearland have the highest number of BBQ spots per capita.
• New Braunfels, Brownsville, and Waco have the most highly rated BBQ restaurants.
• Tyler, San Antonio, and Brownsville have the highest share of affordable BBQ joints.

Where BBQ Obsession Burns Brightest

To find the cities most obsessed with barbecue in Texas, we created a meta-rank score based on how often locals searched for BBQ, the number of BBQ joints, and how highly those places were rated. We also factored in how affordable it is to enjoy BBQ around town by factoring in Yelp price ratings.

• New Braunfels, Sugar Land, and Lewisville top the list of the most BBQ-obsessed cities, with Austin coming in fourth overall.
• Laredo and Midland are at the bottom, ranking as the least BBQ-obsessed cities in Texas.

The Best Texas Cities for BBQ Variety and Value

From search habits to Yelp ratings, Texans’ love for barbecue shows up in more ways than one. Here’s a breakdown of which cities lead in each of our categories, plus a look at those that fall to the bottom of the BBQ rankings.

• Austin has the highest search interest for BBQ terms per capita, followed by Lewisville and Dallas.
• Sugar Land, Pasadena, and Pearland have the most BBQ restaurants per capita, serving up plenty of smoky, savory options for both locals and visitors alike.
• New Braunfels leads with the highest number of top-rated BBQ joints on Yelp, followed by Brownsville and Waco, where barbecue favorites also earn strong reviews.
• Tyler, San Antonio, and Brownsville have the highest percentage of affordable BBQ spots.

Search Data Confirms Austin’s BBQ Obsession

Texans take their barbecue seriously, and it shows in their search history. This chart highlights the cities where people are most often Googling their next BBQ fix.

• Austin often ranks among the top 3 cities searching for BBQ-related terms, hitting No. 1 for “BBQ restaurant near me,” “brisket,” and “pulled pork.”
• Dallas ranks among the top 3 cities searching for “brisket,” “pulled pork,” and “ribs,” but Houston residents are most often looking for ribs.

Methodology

To determine the most BBQ-obsessed cities in Texas, we analyzed those with populations of 100,000 or more. Each of these 40 cities was evaluated across four key metrics that were weighted as follows:

• Number of BBQ restaurants per capita listed on Yelp (30%)
• Google search interest per capita for BBQ-related terms from 2023 to 2025 (25%)
• Percentage of highly rated BBQ spots (4 stars or higher) on Yelp (25%)
• Affordability (the percentage of affordable BBQ restaurants, classified as $ on Yelp) (20%)

Limitations & Disclaimers

• City selection was limited to Texas cities with 100,000+ residents, which excludes smaller towns that may have rich BBQ traditions (e.g., Lockhart or Taylor) but didn’t meet the population threshold.
• Search interest data reflects relative per capita activity, not actual purchase behavior or consumption, and can be influenced by population demographics, internet habits, or tourist traffic.
• Yelp data was collected using the Yelp API, which may pull results from a standard radius around each city center. As a result, some BBQ restaurants located just outside official city limits may be included, particularly in cities with sprawling metro areas.
• Affordability rankings are based on Yelp price categories, which are crowd-sourced and not always consistent across listings.

About Payless Power

At Payless Power, we believe every Texan deserves affordable electricity, whether you’re grilling up dinner outside or keeping cool indoors. Our prepaid energy plans make it easy to take control of your budget without deposits or long-term contracts. With savings and flexibility built in, we help power the moments that matter most.

Fair Use Statement

If you’d like to share these BBQ rankings, feel free! Just be sure to include a link back to this page and credit Payless Power for the original research.

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