There is a lot of barbecue in Dallas and much of it is fine. Lockhart Smokehouse is the one worth the drive.
Lockhart Smokehouse draws on the barbecue tradition of Lockhart, Texas, a town famous for its smoked meats, and it keeps the experience simple. You queue at a counter. You order by weight. It arrives on butcher paper. The focus is firmly on the meat. Order the brisket — ask for moist, not lean — and add a jalapeño cheese sausage link for the table.
It suits a group better than it looks. Ordering by the pound means you are not negotiating twelve separate menu choices, and the sides are ordinary in the best way: beans, slaw, potato salad. Children who claim not to like barbecue will eat sausage.
Going earlier in the day is a good bet. Popular meats can sell out, especially on busy weekends. When you’re finished, Bishop Arts is nearby and worth exploring before you head back.
