Irene Estlund

Visiting Houston & decided to grab a bite to eat. So happy we did! Service was sweet & kind. Portions were enormous! So delicious!

Rina S

These potatoes were delicious and they kindly provided me to-go box for left overs. I would come back if I can.

Jordyn K

Pappas Bar-B-Q absolutely hit the spot! From the moment we walked in, everything smelled incredible, and the food definitely lived up to it. What stood out the most to me was how fresh everything tasted. You could tell the ingredients were high quality and made with care. I ordered a plate with fries, and I have to say — those fries were next level. Perfectly crispy, seasoned to perfection, and honestly some of the best I’ve had in a long time. They paired perfectly with the rest of the meal and definitely weren’t just a side dish — they stood out on their own! My husband ordered the fried catfish and couldn’t stop raving about it. He said it was crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, and full of flavor. It’s not easy to find fried catfish done right, but Pappas nailed it. The service was quick and friendly, the portions were generous, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. Whether you’re craving classic BBQ or something a little different, this place has it all. We’ll definitely be back soon!

Dj S

5 star BBQ! Atmosphere is authentic, especially for downtown, and service is Texas friendly and expeditious. Meat and sides were excellent. A special shoutout for the pork rib—tender and rubbed perfectly (no sauce needed!). I’d normally rate a BBQ joint that didn’t get the brisket just right (Pappas didn’t today, but it was a Sunday) but it was close; and the value overall ($17 for the meal pictured in Feb of 25) makes Pappas a must visit. Don’t miss it!

Ivan Teh

Dining Experience @ Pappas Bar-B-Q. . Known for its warm inviting atmosphere and delicious barbecue, Pappas Bar-B-Q operates 90 stalls across 8 states, with the specific Pappas Bar-B-Q here in Downtown Houston being one of the earliest. . With dishes scratch-made from the freshest ingredients, it's no surprise that Pappas Bar-B-Q is a restaurant of choice for Houston's finest (its police force), who regularly dine here. . Their Barbecue Sauce is house-made with 25 ingredients, taking about 7 hours to prepare. It has a tangy sour sweet savoury spice flavour, with a thick sticky texture. . The Watermelon Juice (USD $3.99) has a semi-thin grainy texture and fruity sweet flavour, nicely refreshing for a hot day. . Sampled the Platter Pork Trio (USD $17.95), which comprises 3 types of pork and 2 side dishes. Sufficient for 2 meals, I packed the remainder of this lunch, for a later dinner. . Their Barbecue Pork Ribs is light on seasoning, as expected of the Central Texas style of barbecue. The low and slow smoking infuses the pork ribs with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. Has a chewy tender texture to the meat, pulling clean off the bone. . Their Pulled Pork highlights the natural flavour of the pork through simple seasoning. The low and slow smoking means the meat has a chewy tender texture that separates easily, with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. . Their Coleslaw has the vegetables in roughly chopped pieces, making it look more substantial than other versions. Also sprinkled with crunchy nigella seeds. Has a crunchy crisp texture with vegetal sweet sour milky nutty flavour. . Their Macaroni And Cheese is righteous, just the right balance of cheesy goodness, with a soft gooey creamy texture and starchy cheesy salty sweet milky flavour. Indulgent and addictive. . Enjoyed the Grilled Pork Sausage, with its pleasant snappy juicy crunch and smoky meaty savoury salty herbal flavour. . Sampled the Platter Beef Trio (USD $25.95), which comprises 3 types of beef and 2 side dishes. Sufficient for 2 meals, I packed the remainder of this lunch, for a later dinner. . The Barbecue Beef Ribs are done in the Central Texas style of barbecue, simply seasoned then smoked low and slow over hours. This results in the short plate beef ribs having a chunky firm tender texture with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice fatty flavour, the meat coming off the bone with slight effort. . The Smoked Beef Brisket is simply seasoned then smoked low and slow over hours. The prime grade full packer beef brisket becomes tender succulent juicy in texture, infused with enticing smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice fatty flavour, the meat being so luxurious. . The Creamed Corn was a delight. Has a gloopy juicy crunchy texture, with addictive grainy sweet savoury salty buttery spice flavour. Kept reaching for more. . The fragrance of the Dirty Rice is nicely enticing. Not overly greasy with a good balance of ingredients, this carries a fluffy moist oily texture, with robust grainy vegetal sweet meaty salty savoury spice flavour. . Enjoyed the Grilled Beef Sausage, with its satisfying snappy juicy crunch and smoky meaty salty savoury herbal flavour.

+29

Satoko Boen

We were so tired at that time. The first time we were looking for another BBQ restaurant our hotel receptionist recommended but it was closed,we still looking for some BBQ restaurant. We did not know what this restaurant “Reviews” was. However it was “Bingo”! Taste was amazing wonderful! Next day we went to another brunch this restaurant on the way to home. My hubby said “this is now my favorite restaurant and also my fav. one. “ And my hubby hopes to build brunch one of the restaurant in Japan. He said 100kg more when they moved to Japan. And also the homemade cheese cake was delicious.

+4

Big size portions and classic bbq restaurant. Various options to pick from, including sides. potato salad is one of the best side dishes. ribs is the sure thing but the baked potatoes will b…

Big size portions and classic bbq restaurant. Various options to pick from, including sides. Potato salad is one of the best side dishes. Ribs is the sure thing but the baked potatoes will be a to…

Big size portions and classic BBQ restaurant. Various options to pick from, including sides. Potato salad is one of the best side dishes. ribs is the sure thing but the baked potatoes will be a to…

Great Food and the place looks just amazing country style. As a German here in Texas it’s exciting to sit here and watch the very different but all kind people.

Good little spot. I had a salad, brisket and pork ribs. The salad was good. The brisket was good. The pork ribs were a bit tough and chewy for my liking could have just been the batch as they were waiting for more to become ready. However they had a unique flavor a sweet cracked pepper very unique. I am visiting and decided to stop by since it's walking distance from the hotel. The restaurant was very clean. The workers were extra friendly and the sweet tea was good. I would try this place again.

Connie Kwok

My first Houston BBQ experience and conveniently located in downtown. I really loved the open atmosphere and the open seating with plenty of space on a Griday afternoon. I ordered the Rib trio and it was very delicious, and the staff recommended the potato salad and the creamed corn as the go-to sides and it was awesome! We also ordered a kids meal - and everything was room temperature - so the brisket and the fries were just ok. But the original sauce helped with the brisket! It was still nice to add and try it but the ribs were the best. The place was clean, staff regularly cleaning off the tables and floors. This place also has a drive thru, but it was really nice experience to just relax inside and eat. Enjoy!

+6

Cari Whitmer

Always amazing! And I would assume that they melt their cheese down fresh here because there's some sort of parchment paper mixed in my macaroni😵‍💫

Yelper Lou MC

I came to this Pappa BBQ restaurant in Midtown in the summer. It was near closing time. I was grateful that they allowed me to eat in while they were cleaning up. It took me a while to find the entrance. Ugh.

Claudius Rhoden

Stopped in for lunch while the movers handled everything, and Pappas BBQ hit the spot. The brisket baked potato was on point—though I think it could use some bacon. 🤷🏽‍♂️ I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the brisket, especially compared to other Texas chains I’ve tried so far. Solid choice for a quick, satisfying BBQ fix.

+2

Dimitri Schritt

I love the vibe in this place. The brisket had a beautiful crust packed with flavor. It was slightly on the dry side, for my liking.

My family enjoyed our meal at Pappas. The cafeteria-style ordering makes it quick to get a hot meal quickly. Friendly service, clean restaurant overall, and generous portions made it an enjoyable e…

My family enjoyed our meal at Pappas. The cafeteria-style ordering makes it quick to get a hot meal quickly. Friendly service, clean restaurant overall, and generous portions made it an enjoyab…

My family enjoyed our meal at Pappas. The cafeteria-style ordering makes it quick to get a hot meal quickly. Friendly service, clean restaurant overall, and generous portions made it an enjoyable…

I tried a combination plate with all the meats and a baked potato - side of green beans. The brisket was very dry and had no dry rub to speak of - flavorless. The sausage casing was very elasti…

I tried a combination plate with all the meats and a baked potato - side of green beans. The brisket was very dry and had no dry rub to speak of - flavorless. The sausage casing was very el…

I've been going here probably once a week for the past 6 months or so. The food has always good and at a very reasonable price for what you get. Initially, the service was average. On occasion, thi…

I've been going here probably once a week for the past 6 months or so. The food has always good and at a very reasonable price for what you get. Initially, the service was average. On occasion, thi…

I've been going here probably once a week for the past 6 months or so. The food has always good and at a very reasonable price for what you get. Initially, the service was average. On occasion, thi…

Arrived at a Friday night. Place was not half full but with good energy. You get your dish from a line, fast serving, Not expensive (24$ for 0.5lb brisket, 2 small side and a large ice tea) Bris…

We eat there 5-6 times a year and the experience has always been good. It's a convenient stop before a downtown ballgame, theater, or music event. The barbecue is tender and tasty (good, not great)…

Some really good bbq and affordable. I was told this was the original location and it did not disappoint! Make sure to get there early, they can sell out. We couldn’t get beef ribs because it was s…

Some really good BBQ and affordable. I was told this was the original location and it did not disappoint! Make sure to get there early, they can sell out. We couldn’t get beef ribs because it was s…

Eli Haboosh

I took the beef trio with 2 sides. The major thing was the portion size. I got 3 stripes of brisket which were ok, few sausage bits which were good and a rib which contained of mostly bone with very few meat on it. The sweet potatoes were great. It cost 33 Dollars with a glass of soda. I stayed hungry. The taste was ok but wasn’t sufficient in portion size

Judy B

It's been a while since I've been to Pappas Bar B Que. I used to go to the downtown location all the time when I worked downtown. I went to the Pierce St. location for lunch with family and was just disappointed. I ordered the Mixed Platter. The rib was dry\old. The brisket and other meat was okay. I didn't have any problem with the service and the place was clean, but I went for good barbeque and they just did not deliver.

Light

I’ve been a fan of this Pappa's BBQ especially for breakfast and lunch. The service is typically excellent, and the food is consistently delicious. The BBQ is good and the burgers are a surprise hit that I frequently recommend to my co-workers. However, my recent experience left much to be desired. During my last visit, I went through the drive-thru in the late afternoon, which I’ve found service around this time to be hit or miss in the past. Unfortunately, this time it was a miss. The person taking the order seemed distracted and was not listening when I placed my order. I had to repeat myself several times, and despite my efforts to clarify the specifics, there was no acknowledgment or response from the staff. So, I opted to go inside to speak with the manager. While I appreciated that the meal was comped, the experience had already soured my appetite. When I finally received my burger, it was burnt and dry, making it inedible. While I still believe Pappa's BBQ is a good option for a satisfying meal (I went to another location and got the same order, the burger was delicious) this experience was disappointing.

Shuntae Warren

I dont know if they changed cooks or what. Pappas was a big factor in my weight gain and I was okay with that. I use to leave work and pick up a order of Brisket and the Ranch beans on my way home. I use to get the the end cut/burnt ends which was seasoned well and greasy...what I loved. The last 3 times ive ordered food for some reason they don't know what end cut or burnt pieces is. They keep giving me dry, bland cuts of brisket. I picked up Pappas tonight expecting to be stuck at work for a couple days due to the weather 1/24/26. The food I got tonight was just nasty and wrong. The ranch beans was bland and watery and the brisket was dry and bland, they also didn't give me what I asked for Burnt ends

Ordered a breakfast taco with onions and potatoes. And water if they got some. Never heard my order back. Never heard the price. Sat there for at least a minute to hear my order back. Didn't hear anything back. Had to say "hello" into the mic just to get told to pull forward. Pulled forward. Only thing I got was a taco. -_-

Christopher Tucker

Visited this location in the past and it wasn't too bad, but on this evening It was worse! I guess it was closing time (around 8:00pm) I'd ordered the ribs and brisket combo. The ribs were super small and dried up and the brisket was small and dry as well. As I said I guess I arrived near closing times which probably entails the food is the last of the day, the bottom essential. Always been a customer. Please do better.

Courtney Horner

$21 for a small, stale, overcooked potato, grainy and stale tasting, the brisket was tender. The gave me a new potato that wasn’t much better. For the price, the size was tiny but add poor quality and it’s just not worth over $20 for 3oz of brisket and cheese