was just passing through on our way to Eagle Pass, Tx and was looking for somewhere to have late lunch and saw a big sign that says BBQ. We decided to stop and check it out. And thank goodness it did not disappoint. We've been wanting some real Texas bbq and we found the right spot. The place is clean and the staff were friendly. We ordered two and three meat combos and we were super excited to seat down and try. Our meals were spot on. The bbq ribs and meats were just smoked and grilled so good. The sides of potato salad and mac and cheese and bbq beans were delicious! We are so glad to have come across this place. I truly satisfied our hunger and we are highly content. read more

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This is real Texas bbq no frills no glam just a simple building with good food. Order at the counter & take it to your seat. Prices are very fair for the portions. I got the "heavy d" add cheese. This was a big plate of chopped beef & sausage topped with beans sauce cheese onions & pickles. Just a mess of an offering but so good. My sisters had the loaded baked potato which was huge as well. read more

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While visiting the area we noticed this barbecue spot as we were driving out of town to head back into the city. My mom and I were pretty hungry so we decided to stop in and get a couple of brisket sandwiches and a side each. Walking in we were greeted immediately and saw the special for the day. We chose to have a brisket sandwich each and it came with a side of your choice. My mom opted for beans and I got potato salad. Ordering and paying for our meal went quick and we were able to seat ourselves before the lunch rush hour. When our food was ready and we came back to our table my Mom noticed she had a dead fly that had JUST landed on top of her beans. We both saw it just land there (maybe by accident?!) and it was no bother to my Mom as she just scraped it off with her spoon and enjoyed her meal. I noticed many flies coming in and out of the entry door when folks would come in and go. This was the only downfall on the ambiance here especially since everything else (service and food) were nice. Its a safe bet to come here and you will no doubt be full as the portions here are generous and it seems like everyone knows everyone else. We saw many people coming in for their lunch special or picking up orders of their food to go. read more

Great BBQ and service! Order at the counter and pick up right after. They run out fast so come early. They only had brisket and sausage left when we arrived around 3pm on a Saturday. Both were tender and juicy. I had side of green beans and creamed corn. We also had the Frito pie. It looks small but they pile on chopped brisket and beans. Price is good for quality and quantity of food. Will need to come back early to try the rest of the menu! No room for dessert. read more

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First off...my 4 is based off my experience of tasting thousands of briskets over the decades. Not everyone can do it to the level some have had; if you've been around. That being said, Heavy's does NOT disappoint. Friendly staff, knowledge, engaging, close to their counter so they can talk and not yell at you. Comfortable atmosphere of 11 tables for 4-8, and some outside seating. Seems to be a local favorite too as my short biz stop while in Hondo turned out to have a steady line of locals knowing the crew and moving in and out. Between the staff and location, A+ 5-stars. The food: I opted for a brisket sandwich today. Tried some burnt ends (they probably know who I am by now), and a couple sides. Brisket was cooked perfectly, and tender. Good smoke ring and very marbled as I like. The ONLY thing I wanted more of was the flavor. I'm not sure if it's the wood or possibly the rub, maybe a combo (with cook temps and time), but more of it would have made me jump for joy. I gotta be firm on my review of the brisket. I will say many would put this in their 5-star category...but today wasn't that day for me. Great BBQ sauce, which tasted homemade, but definitely not your average blend of flavors off the shelf. Sides looked good. I tried the beans and potato salad I liked the potato salad as it's mayo-based and had some great flavors to balance the spices outside the normal stuff other places buy from the food distro. Don't get me wrong, I'd stop back in a heartbeat next time I'm in the area and I highly recommend you do too! Pitmasters have off days and maybe I just caught one of those, but due to the fact that this was just shy for my tastebuds on the main, I wanna give a little to be desired for next time. My 4-star would be many of your 5-star, so stop in and dive in. I'm pretty sure you're gonna love it! read more

They need to update their hours online. was planning to go on Sunday with my family & it said it was closed. After eating elsewhere, we passed by on the way home & found out it was open! Been raving about it to not be able to take my family! read more

I got the brisket sandwich. It was very delicious and alot. The owner was very nice person. Typical bbq place. I will go back.

Darn good bbq!! Texas style! Brisket, sausage, turkey, ribs with all the sides. Great family owned and always a line. That is always a good sign in my book. Country, quaint, rustic interior. Seating inside. We tend to be bbq critics as we do like our bbq, so Heavy's rates really well on the list. Generous portions. We will definitely drop by their place again. read more

We got brisket, sausage, and chicken. The sausage and brisket were both moist and nicely smoked. The chicken was slightly dry (nicely smoked, tho), thus the 4 star review. We didn't order sides. Heavy's is our go to pit stop when headed thru Hondo. read more

I've eaten here many times prior. I stopped in yesterday to pick up a pound of marbled brisket. That's all I picked up. I was disappointed that for 27.01 out the door this wasn't even quality enough for chopped. It was a roast. If you're gonna charge high prices, you should use a prime or minimum choice, need to use more quality meat than select. read more

Simple menu but the food is amazing. The ribs and brisket is my go to selection with potato salad. The staff is really friendly too.

Been trying to finish this damn review since 2017 when they made Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ joints. Everytime i go to Eagle Pass, I drive through here. And I stop every single time. Had pretty much everything on their menu but my faves are the frito pie, the Heavy D, their beans and their smoked chicken. The frito pie is made with burnt ends and their beans and cheese and served in the frito bag. Delicious. Add jalapenos for good measure. The Heavy D is similar but they add chunks of beef and sausage topped with beans and sauce add the extra fritos and jalapenos to ensure you able to share (or not) Their beans are exceptional: peppery and with small pieces of brisket. Their chicken is smoked to perfection with the crisp skin lightly dusted in salt and pepper. Biting into that chicken just takes you to another place. A place where you're happy and puppies remain puppies forever. Make a day out of it and go hit them up. Totally worth the money and drive. read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Frito Pie - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Brisket bland and dry, sausage same and the chicken had real bad smoke on it. Dryer than a pissed off baby momma. Tater salad was pretty okay tho. read more

So we went there for the first time over the weekend. I got the baked potato with brisket and it was relatively inexpensive. On a scale from 12 ten the brisket was about a seven , but with the Is baked potato?It was a good deal. The service was was fair. And the restaurant itself was rustic. But if we're going through hondo I would stop there again and have lunch. read more

Wowza, worth the drive. This is the Wednesday lunch special at Heavy's in Hondo. 2meat plate includes 2 sides and tea. I chose the pork ribs and brisket. Very good, loved the potato salad. $14.95. I bet there's half a pound of brisket under those ribs. -- eating lunch at Heavys Bbq. read more

Heavy's Barbeque - 2 meat plate with Mac and cheese and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Here we go again with the reviews fooled us. I don't know if it's reviewers lack of trying other places or the locals reviewing. We have done the bbq trail, and have been to llano and Lockhart. We travel constantly with my sons martial arts tournaments. We've had bbq in Dallas, Houston, the valley, the panhandle. We stopped on our way back from a tournament in Uvalde. This unfortunately is my families least fav place. The meats were dry, the sides were either over seasoned or overcooked. The brisket was ok. Why not a one? I believe In atmosphere. The staff and customers were all friendly and kept asking about my sons medals. If I could only vote on ambience I would give it a ten. It would be a disservice to others reading reviews if I scored any higher. We will one day try again if can convince my wife. I know sometimes there are off days in the kitchen. read more

2017's Texas Monthly BBQ Top 50 has not really lived up to the hype. I was a little disappointed. As you walk in the place is full of locals and passer by's. The meat is stored in a glass warmer under a heat lamp. Although the brisket looked promising it had a very nice bark on it. I asked the nice young man for some burnt ends to go along with my two meat plate of brisket and ribs. I picked the Mac and cheese with green beans. The brisket burnt ends was very fatty with a kind soft crunch. Brisket had a very strong oak flavor. The ribs were somewhat better. Nice flavor, but I was turned off by the membrane still stuck to it. The Mac and cheese was very underwhelmed with a flavor of generic box cheese powder mixed in a crock pot. Which is what it was served out of. The green beans tasted like they were once frozen and left to thaw in a pot with no flavor. Despite my taste shortcomings, the service was very nice and cordial. read more

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Wow! Couldn't get enough of the three meat plate! The brisket was so tender. The ribs are tasty. The sausage is well seasoned. Barbecue sauce is a good compliment, but not needed. I had the green beans and beans. They're good as well. If you're in town, try this barbecue place. read more

Excellent BBQ and sides. I love the flavor provided by the tasty dry rub and the mesquite smoke. I was going to be in Hondo for a few hours so I did some research to find a good local place for lunch. Heavy's jumped out at me as a must try kind of place. I wanted to try as much as possible so i opted for the 3 meat plate. I had it with no sauce as I wanted to just enjoy the meat. Brisket, Sausage and Pork Ribs were my protien options. I liked all three very much and find it very hard to choose a favorite. Though if pushed my taste buds give the ribs a tiny edge. For sides I got the beans and potatoe salad and both are very solid accompaniments to the meat. Worth a trip to Hondo for!! read more

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Full disclosure: I've visited more than three dozen Texas barbeque joints and I'm a pretty tough judge of BBQ. Having said that, lunch at Heavy's was a particularly disappointing end to an hour-and-a-half road trip. Heavy's definitely aims for the Texas rustic look, with heavy wooden tables and wild game trophies on the walls. The friendly people behind the counter bantered with the locals and served up generous portions of brisket, ribs and sausage at reasonable prices. So far, so good. The disappointment set in when I took my first bite of my sliced beef sandwich - tender, moist but almost no flavor. No pepper, no salt, no spice, no smoke. It was so bland that it reminded me of the pot roast meals of my Midwestern youth. I'm usually not one to sauce my brisket, but after a few unexciting bites I went back up to the counter to ask for a side of BBQ sauce. It didn't help. I also ordered a quarter pound of the beef & pork sausage. While better than the brisket, and a very generous quarter pound, it was on the dry and bland side. My companion had the three-meat plate with moist brisket, lean brisket and ribs. The lean brisket was tough and visibly dried out. The ribs were moist and meaty but lacking in flavor. In Texas, it's saying a lot that the highlight of the 3-meat plate was the side of green beans - bright, fresh-tasting and flecked with pieces of stewed tomatoes. The pinto beans were solid but unremarkable. read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Stopped by for lunch and noticed the signs proclaiming it to be in the top 50 of Texas Monthly so we decided to give it a try. It's small and homey with a very family run atmosphere. We both ordered a sandwich and two sides plus two Ribs a la carte. My brisket was dry and tough. The sandwich was big for $6.50 and I included pickles and onions plus bbq sauce. The sauce was very light and I barely noticed it. The sausage sandwich was better. The ribs were seasoned nice and seemed fine. The beans and potato salad was middle of the road but both homemade. As far as top 50 I'd be a little pressed to say that. read more

Best BBQ around bar none! We were told about this place by some locals, and we were absolutely amazed at how good the food was. It fills up every day at lunch, which tells you something right away. read more

On a pilgrimage to the ancestral homestead in Del Rio, I noticed a billboard I hadn't before, "Heavy's BB, Texas monthly 50 best bbq joints in Texas ". Well well well ... Hondo is a one horse town best known for its sign on old Hwy 90 that says, "This is Gods county, please don't drive through it like hell". Now you have a reason not to... one of the best loose cut brisket sandwiches I have ever had. Place is old school cute as hell. Heavy wood tables and chairs, tv in the corner, good old boys and working men everywhere. Order at the counter, meats on display in front. Had the usual. Cole Slaw was nice, had a little pepper to it, not too wet, nice. Sanny? A good half pound...if not, it was kicking the door down, regular old hamburger bun. Perfect, I mean perfect, mix of fat and lean. No sauce necessary...but... the sauce was my fave ever. Came hot, great flavor, bit of pepper heat, incroyable! Wait, SW Texas, er... damn fine. Haven't had a better brisket sandwich in Houston... yet. We'll see. Oh and the kicker, keeds..? $6.50 Don't know why you'd be going to Hondo, but if you do... read more

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Great food and service! Stopped in on way home from a river trip. So good! My husband thought it was some of the best brisket he has had and he is very picky. read more

For many barbecue enthusiasts, Texas Monthly's "Top 50 BBQ Joints" list (updated annually) is a veritable road map of places -- some iconic, others relative upstarts -- to sample pit-smoked meats from across the state. For *this* barbecue fanatic, however, the list is often the editorial equivalent of an episode of "Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives," a hastily compiled lineup betraying a dearth of insight and criticism. I sometimes consult the list out of curiosity, but I seldom heed the recommendations. I prefer instead to survey the social media landscape (user photos, Yelp reviews) and determine if a place warrants a road trip. Heavy's Barbecue in Hondo -- a frequent "Top 50" honoree with an overall 4.5-star rating -- struck me as a place with potential, a no-frills operation manned by a "heavy" dude (Darryn "Heavy" Bernal, to be exact) with many years of experience at the pits. What I experienced this past Saturday mostly lived up to the hype, with above-average meats and sides. I'm not sure when or why rotisserie barbecuing fell out of fashion among the 'cue cognoscenti (my euphemism for barbecue snobs), but the technique *can* produce superlative meats. When done correctly, the rotisserie can produce juicy poultry with desiccated skins, moist briskets with rendered intramuscular fat, and crusty pork ribs with a bit less give than the lamentable "fall-off-the-bone" variety so beloved by legions of simpletons accustomed to overcooked Bill Miller fare. The stainless steel rotisserie smokers at Heavy's produce ribs with a succulent crustiness and an intense mesquite flavor. Heavy's ribs strike the ideal balance between tenderness and firmness, with meat that pulls away from the bone with minimal effort. The two hulking ribs on my plate were moist, but a dollop of the vinegary house sauce added some zip and helped tame the almost overwhelming mesquite smokiness. The moist brisket was indeed moist throughout, with pockets of rendered intramuscular fat and collagen. The rotisserie contributed a black, well-seasoned bark but failed to completely render the one-inch cap of subcutaneous fat. Every slice of brisket should have an equal balance of bark, fat (both subcutaneous and intramuscular), and meat, but the slices on my plate were cut unevenly. One particularly egregious slice consisted of equal parts meat and subcutaneous fat. Heavy sources his sausages from Pollok's, a fifth-generation operation based in Falls City, Texas. Leslie Pollok uses the same pork/beef mixture and proprietary blend of spices that his great-great grandfather used in Poland over 170 years ago. Pollok's typically smokes their own sausages prior to distribution, but Heavy orders his raw, opting instead to smoke them over mesquite. A generous portion of Polski kielbasa picked up lots of snap from the pit and was bursting with flavor (garlic, black pepper, mesquite-imbued fat). No sausage can match the snappy, intensely garlicky horseshoe rings from Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, but the links at Heavy's come to those dizzying heights. Chalk up that success to a marriage made in barbecue heaven: Pollok's unwavering standards (nothing artificial) and Heavy's prowess at the pit. Sides of coleslaw and stewed green beans -- albeit pedestrian in appearance -- won me over in unexpected ways. The traditional coleslaw (creamy but not wet, sweet but not cloying) was a welcome respite from the slimy, sugary, mass-produced industrial garbage so common at other barbecue joints. The verdant vibrancy of the green beans proved that they were fresh (or at least fresh frozen, the next best option), and the stew was an umami bomb of seasonings (a hint of cilantro) and bacon drippings. At this point, you have likely noticed the dichotomy between my review (mostly superlative praise) and my three-star ("A-ok," or mediocre) rating. Were I to rate Heavy's on the merits of its food alone, then I would award four stars, but my experience was marred by an unfortunate interaction with Heavy himself. When my father and I entered the building, we asked the matronly woman at the counter if we could consume our "to-go" meals outside on a bench. She replied in the affirmative, rationalizing that doing so would not violate Governor Abbot's policy regarding social distancing. About halfway through our meal, however, Heavy stormed out of the back and reprimanded us for violating the law. I understand that the ever-evolving (and increasingly draconian) government mandates have put a financial (and psychological) strain on small business owners, but I would have appreciated more tact from Heavy. He could have at least acknowledged his staff's error in judgement and thanked us for our patronage. Alienating a new customer is never the right approach. I have more to say, but Yelp is telling me that my review is too long. Consider going here if you are nearby, but be wary of Heavy; he likes to throw his weight around (bad pun intended). read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Three-meat plate with ribs, brisket, sausage, coleslaw, and green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

The best bbq I have ever had! Must order the ribs! My family had a great time at Heavy's. Everyone was so friendly and the food is phenomenal. Cannot wait to visit again. read more

We had a great lunch here after attending the corn maze. Quick service, hot food and fun folks. It's a small place inside but definitely worth a stop to look around and have a bite. The chopped brisket sandwich was delicious and my kids ate all their turkey. If little ones eat it all and like it, you know it's good. Plus, I tried it and it was tasty and moist. My husband also said his frito pie was good. It had to be, he cleaned his plate. read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Chopped beef sandwich with coleslaw and green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

After reading about Heavys BBQ I decided to give it a shot while I was passing thru Hondo. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was classic Texas BBQ joint. I ordered a sliced brisket sandwich, turkey sandwich and a BBQ Frito pie. The sandwiches are large and a good value for the money at 8 to 9 dollars each. The turkey was tender, flavorful and moist. Very good. The brisket was moderately tender but not as tender as I like it. The fat to meat ratio was good. Although that sandwich was good, I would have liked more BBQ, chared taste. I felt it lacked enough smoke flavored for my liking. The frito pie was a surprise hit. It contained Frito chips, cheese, BBQ sauce, pinto beans and chopped brisket. It was really good!!!! I wish I would have had more stomach space to try the chicken and ribs. Heavys BBQ is a good spot!!!. I plan to return for the chicken and ribs.. good job Heavy's!!!! read more

Heavy's BBQ catered a party of 50 for me. The food was not only amazing, but the staff went above and beyond to make sure that we were well taken care of. The food was hot, there was plenty, and those in attendance did not leave the party hungry. Next time a trip takes you west of San Antonio, it's worth a stop. It's worth a trip just to go have lunch!!! Thank you Heavy's. You will always get my business. read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Chicken, brisket, beans and potato salad..... and the sauce. Wow. It was amazing!!!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Best BBQ in Texas! We can't help and stop by Heavy's every time we drive by Hondo. The brisket is superior to any other and the pork bbq ribs are exceptional too! Best sides are definitely the green beans and potatoe salad. A little bit of heaven on earth, thank you Heavy's BBQ ! read more

Heavy's Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Once rated in the top 50 best bbq in Texas Monthly, and should still be ranked in the top 50! I had the smoked turkey breast, green beans and Mac and cheese. Turkey breast was out-of-this-world juicy and great flavor! Whatever they did for the brine it was on point! The green beans had nice flavor and texture and the Mac and cheese tasted like homemade that grandma used to make! Love the food here and will definitely be back!! read more

Heavy's Barbeque - One meat plate with turkey breast, green beans and Mac and cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Very good food. My chicken was moist and falling off the bone. My friends brisket was moist and tender. Workers were very friendly and helpful. Had to wait a few minutes to get seating but not long. Very clean restrooms.This is the only BBQ place between Castroville and. Uvalde so load up with your baby backs, sausage, brisket, turkey and chicken before you go to the Frio river in Con Can or Garner Stste park. read more

What a great little place in Hondo! We stopped in for a late lunch and was greatly surprised how delicious everything was. Definitely a home style place, just holler out your order while they cut the meat and scoop the beans onto your plate. I ordered the sliced turkey and brisket. The turkey was incredibly juicy and the brisket cuts were tender and a little fatty. I really enjoyed the sides as well! They were simple: green beans, pinto beans, potato salad, and slaw. I definitely suggest this little hide away to anyone looking for a simple yet delicious platter of food! Seriously, they definitely don't short you on food! I will be back!! read more

Heavy's Barbeque - 2 meat combo with brisket and turkey - Barbeque Near Me - Hondo, Texas

Amazing meats!! Fall off the bone chicken and the ribs fell off too and had beautiful bark on them . Brisket was tender and had great color as well. Bbq sauce was exceptional! Dont miss this place!! read more

Amazing BBQ worth the drive from San Antonio every time! Real smoked Brisket not oven roasted with pellets or smoke flavoring. Tender but not roasted Brisket. Do yourself a favor eat Heavy's. read more

PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS BY::: ok boys and girls if you follow my page, you know I will go out the way for good BBQ. Well Heavy's did not disappoint. The best part is the BBQ is not covered in sauce. The brisket is amazing, sausage is great my only negative comment I would have is a personal one...I like my ribs sweet and these were not. Not a deal breaker for me, but to me 5 stars is perfect... read more

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This restaurant is absolutely my favorite barbecue place. The ribs are so tender and the brisket is to be remembered.

On two separate occasions within one week, drove 30 miles one-way to visit the establishment. The first time they were closed due to a catering event. The second time, I called at 415pm, asked if they had anything special going on- the young lady said that they close at 7pm and have 3 briskets left among other things. Told her we should be there in about an hour. She said "Oh, you'll be fine". We arrived at 5pm and they were already closed. Both times, nothing was stated on their website about closing early. Not a great way to do business IMO. Won't be going back a third time. read more

BBQ is great, proportions are very big. They have some unique meals, Like the Heavy D, one of my favorites

Very well known bbq. Let's not forget the potato salad and the coleslaw either. I have been coming to heavies ever since I moved into the area years ago. It is known as the best barbecue place and it is one of the top barbecue places in Texas. I love the ribs, but my husband loves the brisket. No matter what you get it is always delicious. Just thinking about it makes me want to go there now. read more