Daniel Vaughn has a carnivore's dream job: He's Texas Monthly's barbecue editor, the country's only journalist working full-time reviewing barbecue joints. Vaughn loves the five types of Texas barbecue but will cross state lines to find some good meat. He likes the "big city barbecue" style, also called craft barbecue, at the Pit Room in Houston. Note the fancy sides.
Daniel Vaughn has a carnivore's dream job: He's Texas Monthly's barbecue editor, the country's only journalist working full-time reviewing barbecue joints. Vaughn loves the five types of Texas barbecue but will cross state lines to find some good meat. He likes the "big city barbecue" style, also called craft barbecue, at the Pit Room in Houston. Note the fancy sides.
Daniel Vaughn
East Texas barbecue has saucy ribs and tender brisket. Bodacious Bar-B-Q features the Mel-Man sandwich, which includes chopped brisket and sausage links. This sandwich is from the Mobberly Avenue location in Longview.
East Texas barbecue has saucy ribs and tender brisket. Bodacious Bar-B-Q features the Mel-Man sandwich, which includes chopped brisket and sausage links. This sandwich is from the Mobberly Avenue location in Longview.
Daniel Vaughn
Pat Gee's Barbecue in Tyler, which features these chopped pork and chopped brisket sandwiches, is another great example of East Texas barbecue.
Pat Gee's Barbecue in Tyler, which features these chopped pork and chopped brisket sandwiches, is another great example of East Texas barbecue.
Daniel Vaughn
Snow's BBQ in Lexington is a good example of Texas Hill Country barbecue, which is cooked directly over the coals. Snow's has octogenarian pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz cooking up a storm.
Snow's BBQ in Lexington is a good example of Texas Hill Country barbecue, which is cooked directly over the coals. Snow's has octogenarian pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz cooking up a storm.
Daniel Vaughn
Vera's Backyard Bar-B-Que in Brownsville features some of the best South Texas style barbacoa de cabeza.
Vera's Backyard Bar-B-Que in Brownsville features some of the best South Texas style barbacoa de cabeza.
Daniel Vaughn
The world-famous Franklin Barbecue in Austin, with this order of brisket and three sides, is classic Central Texas barbecue. This style originated in meat markets smoking leftover raw meat and serving it as barbecue, Vaughn said.
The world-famous Franklin Barbecue in Austin, with this order of brisket and three sides, is classic Central Texas barbecue. This style originated in meat markets smoking leftover raw meat and serving it as barbecue, Vaughn said.
Daniel Vaughn
Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor offers Central Texas style barbecue.
Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor offers Central Texas style barbecue.
Daniel Vaughn
These dry rub ribs at Peg Leg Porker in Nashville are cooked already, somewhere under that dry rub.
These dry rub ribs at Peg Leg Porker in Nashville are cooked already, somewhere under that dry rub.
Daniel Vaughn
Vaughn loves "just about anything" on the menu at Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta.
Vaughn loves "just about anything" on the menu at Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta.
Daniel Vaughn
Picnic Durham in North Carolina features whole hog barbecue on its menu.
Picnic Durham in North Carolina features whole hog barbecue on its menu.
Daniel Vaughn
Vaughn enjoyed this pork sandwich with slaw at Sam Jones Barbeque in Winterville, North Carolina. He also dug the Skylight Inn BBQ, another Jones family spot, in Ayden.
Vaughn enjoyed this pork sandwich with slaw at Sam Jones Barbeque in Winterville, North Carolina. He also dug the Skylight Inn BBQ, another Jones family spot, in Ayden.
Daniel Vaughn
Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina, features Texas big city style barbecue.
Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina, features Texas big city style barbecue.
Daniel Vaughn
There is good barbecue outside the South. Honey 1 BBQ in Chicago has some excellent ribs and rib tips, including these tips on the restaurant's smoker.
There is good barbecue outside the South. Honey 1 BBQ in Chicago has some excellent ribs and rib tips, including these tips on the restaurant's smoker.
Daniel Vaughn
Hometown Bar-B-Que, in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, serves up a good plate of brisket.
Hometown Bar-B-Que, in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, serves up a good plate of brisket.
Daniel Vaughn
The smoked salmon belly on the menu at Guava Smoked in Honolulu is "as good as any burnt end in Kansas City," Vaughn said.
The smoked salmon belly on the menu at Guava Smoked in Honolulu is "as good as any burnt end in Kansas City," Vaughn said.
Daniel Vaughn