Any person who decides to open a bbq place in Texas must be pretty bold…read more When we got out of the car, I could smell the smoke. It was promising but I've been fooled before. This was good barbecue. The bark on the brisket was consistent and peppery but not overwhelming. The rib meat didn't quite fall off the bone, but close to it. The turkey had a good Smokey flavor. I also got the charro beans and the jalapeño creamed corn. The corn was good but it was fabulous the next day! I don't think this is the best barbecue in Texas but it was pretty good barbecue and better than some of the supposedly famous places in other parts of the state. I also liked eating listening to praise and worship music! I'll almost certainly go back when I'm back in town.

To finish out the 2023 Texas Monthly New and Improved BBQ Joints list, I headed to the The Rio…read moreGrande Valley to explore the last three. Today I visited Vargas BBQ in Edinburg. I was the first customer to arrive and had the pleasure of talking to Nidia Vargas, the Boss Lady, and learning how the establishment developed over time and how they made it onto the Texas Monthly list. She was very personable and the dining area was comfortable. I ordered the Texas Trinity and was not disappointed. The brisket rub is Pitmaster Ram Vargas' special blend. It made a great addition to the perfectly smoked, tender brisket. The sausage reminded me of the Black's Lockhart sausage that I grew up with. It did not resemble store bought sausage either in flavor or texture. I would definitely order this meat again. The ribs had a savory sweet glaze. They were smoked well, meaty and tender. For the sides I had Nidia Vargas' signature creamy green spaghetti, charro beans, potato salad, and Mexican rice. The green spaghetti is pasta bathed in pureed jalapeños, poblanos, and cilantro. It started off with a mild heat which built up as I continued to eat it. It was a great complement to the delicious meats. The charro beans were probably some of the best beans I have had. The potato salad brought back pleasant memories of my mother-in-law's potato salad that, in my opinion, is second to none. The Mexican rice was well seasoned as well. Honestly, there wasn't a thing that I ordered that I would not try again. This joint gets an A+ in my books.

A quaint family owned bbq place. It's a small, but very personalized place with excellent service…read more I was seated right away and noticed families, seniors, and young people all enjoying their meal. I ordered the fresh made lemonade, which for me was the only real downfall. The "lemonade" had no lemon flavor. It's like what you would find at a fair, all sugar - no lemon. Definitely not worth the 3.75 I paid for it. For my meal I ordered the lean brisket sandwich. They make their own bbq sauce which is vinegar based, but just a hint on the sweet side. A really nice flavor balance! The sandwich comes with your choice of two sides, beans, rice, or potato salad. I'm not a fan of any of those, so I had a bag of chips. The sandwich was 8.75 - very reasonable for home smoked brisket. Over all, a good place to eat! I love supporting the little guys, and small businesses with good food. This place fits the bill!

I came all the way from california & it's been so long since I've had texas brisket. Uncle Roy's…read moredid not disappoint. The brisket & bbq sauce was absolutely phenomenal. Everything was delicious. It was definitely worth the stop.

Coudnt wait had to take a bite, just the smell alone makes you want to pull over and start eating…read more This place has been a regular of mine for years and it deserves more recognition, the fresh biscuits to the brisket down to the egg and cheese , its always a 10/10 for me! Service is always great also great place overall

El Sancho Tex Mex BBQ: A Texas Monthly Top 100 Surprise Hiding Behind the Coffee Shop…read moreFinding true Texas barbecue glory in an unexpected place is one of life's greatest pleasures, and that's exactly what happened when I pulled up to this humble food truck. Tucked away in a lot behind a local coffee shop, this operation specializing in breakfast tacos and smoked meat by the pound is more than just a roadside stop--it's a bona fide culinary experience, holding a coveted spot on the Texas Monthly Top 100 BBQ Awards list. This isn't your typical street taco joint; it's a full-on, unique blend of Texas smoking tradition and vibrant Mexican flavor. The Smoked Meats: Quality Beyond Expectation The foundation of any great BBQ joint is its meat, and here, the quality is exceptional. * Brisket: Simply put, wow. I never expected a breakfast taco food truck to serve such a delicious slice of brisket. It boasted a phenomenal, peppery Texas bark that crackled with flavor, and the meat itself was perfectly rendered, staying consistently nice and moist throughout. It was a flawless execution of smoked beef. * Pork Belly: The pork belly was delightful--tender, rich, and packed with great flavor. It had a wonderful depth, though I noted it was just slightly on the dry side, preventing it from achieving perfection. Still, a delicious, high-quality offering. The Tacos: Full-Fledged Adult Fare The genius of this spot is how they integrate their exceptional smoked meats into what they call a "Texas Mexican Taco culinary experience." The tortillas are incredibly fresh, and the combinations are unique and satisfying. * The El Rey Taco: This is the ultimate breakfast champion. It layers that incredible, moist brisket with chilaquiles verdes, cheese, creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and a perfectly fried egg. What a combination! It struck just the right balance of richness and expected spice. I particularly appreciated the decision to include a full slice of brisket rather than chopped or shredded meat--a clear sign of quality and respect for the smokehouse star. * Taco de Chicharron: This taco elevates the pork belly experience, combining it with avocado, bright pickled onions, cilantro, crispy pork rind, and a kick of jalapeños. The harmony of flavors was masterful. This is precisely what a great Mexican-Texas fusion taco should taste like. With large, thick pieces of pork belly filling the seven-inch tortilla, this is absolutely not a street taco; it's a full-fledged, adult taco experience built for maximum impact. The Verdict What a super surprise this place turned out to be. The dedication to quality, from the perfectly smoked brisket to the thoughtful, layered flavor combinations in the specialty tacos, is evident in every bite. The staff were also incredibly friendly, offering great food suggestions that proved spot-on. If you find yourself in the area, a visit to this unassuming food truck is definitely recommended for a unique and top-tier Texas BBQ and taco mashup.

A nice little family run restaurant that serves good portions of great tasting BBQ. The folks are…read morefriendly and make sure you are taken care of. This will definitely be on my list to stop at when I'm in McAllen. Thanks for providing such a good tasting and filling meal.

Ribs were nicely cooked but flavorless.... Very uncomfortable seating. ig the people are nice but…read morethey aren't gonna ask you if you need anything else. And it was $40 for 2 people and very mid food mid service

We were driving from Progreso, Texas to Weslaco, Texas and we saw a sign that said: "The Best BBQ…read morerestaurant in town, half a mile west". We were hungry and we decided to give this place a try. We arrived at the location that has a large paved parking lot, and we see a grey building built like an old west saloon. Nicely decorated inside and out. We ordered some brisket Panchos to share (large plate of Nachos, topped with cheese, tomato, onions, jalapeños and a very large portion of chopped smoked beef brisket). The chips were not crunchy as we expected, slightly stale for my taste. The star of the plate was the chopped beef brisket, and it had plenty of meat, that was juicy and nicely smoked, it did not disappoint anyone. To better this plate, I would suggest checking your chips are fresh, add more fluid cheese instead of straight cheddar. The next plate was a mushroom and Swiss hamburger, it was a large juicy hamburger, was nicely cooked and delicious. The next plate was a one meat plate: Baby Back Ribs, with a side of potato salad and a side of beans. Comes with two slices of wheat bread and a portion of sliced onions and sliced pickles. The ribs were beautifully smoked and flavorful. The potato salad was fresh and on point. The beans were nicely seasoned (but they had more liquid than beans). The last plate was a two meat plate: Smoked Beef Brisket and sliced sausage, with a side of potato salad and a side of creamy coleslaw. The sliced beef brisket was a flavorful as the one topping the panchos. It had a generous amount of meat, that was smoked to perfection. The potato salad was beautiful. The coleslaw I saved for last, it didn't look like your common coleslaw, it was slight purple in color and smooth (no thick cut cabbage), the cabbage was finely sliced and it looked totally different than any other coleslaw I ever had. When I first put the coleslaw in my mouth, ///////// I COULD NOT STOP EATING IT!!!!!! I realized that the color was from purple cabbage added, but the best part of it, was that it was packed with chunks of fresh apple (I could have eaten a whole bowl of it). If I could improve on this plate, your meats are top notch, but your sausage quality was not there, a good sausage needs to have texture, your sausage was almost like a hotdog texture, and it lacked smokiness and flavor. One more suggestion, add sweet and unsweet brewed tea, we were disappointed you didn't offer it. Now, is this the Best BBQ in town???? You be the judge.

This place has been closed for months! Junk cars stored in the parking lot. Wasn't that good when…read morethey were open anyway.

I will never understand how any other experience in my life could ever top this one. My brain…read morecannot begin to fathom the idea of any surreal experience being able to take this memories place as the champion. The bacon slider was so good that when I bit into it, I got the greatest satisfaction both physically and physiologically. Had I been having a bad day, this burger would have flipped it around and given me every reason to never have a bad day again. The only bad day ever again in my life from here on out, will be if I ever hear this place is no longer around. The service was fast and the vibes were amazing. The sax man was great too.

My husband and I had a coupon and decided to try out the restaurant. I was impressed, the…read morerestaurant was nicely decorated, pictures and western decor. The waitresses were working hard and very attentive! The food was good. It may be a little pricey but it is meat and what bbq place isn't. We order a half chicken plate which came with two sides and the fixings. The plate was big enough to share, so we ate for $17. We tried their peach cobbler with ice cream. It was more of a peach dumpster cake but very good! We will be back.

Pretty basic bbq with Mexican flare, good ribs & brisket; sides fairly basic nothing really…read moreoutstanding; had potato salad & ranchero beans & rice, good service & nice wait staff.

Small unassuming place where you walk up to place your order at the window. Had a brisket sandwich…read more Delicious and meaty. Owner came out and chatted with us for a bit. Invited us and the dogs to eat in his detached diner to get out of the heat. Really nice guy. If you want great Texas BBQ, you can't go wrong with this place.

Delicous and amazing brisket!!! lovely owner, small house to eat in with ac, dogs allowed and…read morebathroom w fun historical memorabilia.