Mark

Pinkertons was great we waited about 40mins but it was worth it. The food was amazing very big portions you can choose how many slices or pounds you would like. My personal favorite was the brisket. Highly recommend 10/10

Daniel Silver

While in Houston, I needed some Texas bbq and ended up at Pinkerton’s Barbecue a Top 50 BBQ restaurant by Texas Monthly. We got there at about 12:30 and there was a decent line in front, but it moved quickly and we were ordering by about 1. My fiancée and I shared a platter of brisket, turkey, jalapeño cheese rice, cole slaw, banana pudding, a sausage, and of course, a beef rib. The beef rib was very good and nicely fatty. It was also incredibly tender! The brisket was super moist, but I wish the seasoning had penetrated the meat more. Unless I got a bite with the bark on top, the meat tasted underseasoned. The turkey was one of the best I’ve had anywhere! It was super moist with great flavor. The jalapeño cheese rice was good, though it could have used an extra spice or flavor to elevate it. The potato salad was really good, with lots of onion, and ended up being my favorite side. For dessert, the banana pudding was decent, but I wish it had fresh bananas. The banana flavor could have been stronger overall. Overall, this place is worthy of being a Top 50 BBQ restaurant!

sunny a

Awesome excellent great flavors taste spices everything blends in together don’t even read just go there. Enjoy the good aroma Taste flavors Beef rib is one of the best. It falls off the bone soft taste. and don’t forget to take the bone for your dog lol

+2

Ray Davis

The food was absolutely incredible and truly made my day. From the very first bite, my stomach was doing flips of joy,meat so tender, so perfectly seasoned, and so superb that it speaks for itself. Every bite was a reminder of how good food can lift your spirit, satisfy your soul, and leave you smiling long after the plate is clean. No second opinion needed,this was pure excellence from start to finish. 🔥🍽️

Samuel

During my recent trip through Texas, I was on the hunt for some authentically tender BBQ, and Pinkerton's BBQ did not disappoint! I indulged in their mouthwatering pork ribs, accompanied by a side of jambalaya and the jalapeño cheddar sausage—each bite was a flavor adventure. The ribs were perfectly smoked, offering that tender, fall-off-the-bone goodness that true BBQ lovers crave. The jalapeño cheddar sausage added just the right amount of spice and richness, balancing the smoky flavors with a creamy touch of cheese. The jambalaya was delightful, though I found myself wishing for a bit more heat to kick up the spice level. That said, it was still wonderfully flavorful and satisfying. Overall, my experience at Pinkerton's BBQ was a fantastic culinary journey. If you’re looking for excellent BBQ in Texas, this spot is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back for more!

Avishai Adato

Pinkerton’s BBQ is hands down one of the best barbecue spots in Texas! The brisket is unbelievably tender with that perfect smoky bark, and the ribs practically fall off the bone. Every side dish from the jalapeño cheese rice to the beans is packed with flavor and made with care. The atmosphere has that true Texas BBQ vibe, and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. You can tell they take pride in what they do. Their brisket Mac and cheese is a must try. Whether you’re a local or just visiting Houston, Pinkerton’s is an absolute must-try you’ll be thinking about it long after the meal

Justin Graves

Impressive BBQ. Chicken thighs were the best BBQ chicken I’ve had. Pork ribs very good. The sandwich (pulled pork) was too bread-heavy, and dry. For sides, the jambalaya is incredible! My favorite thing we tried. Cheesy rice was bland, Mac and cheese average. Long wait, line moves slowly, but not so bad. Certainly worth it now and then!

Przemek Lodej

Phenomenal buttery soft brisket, pork ribs, jambalaya, tangy coleslaw and Texas beans. We didn't make it in time for beef ribs. Awesome service and fantastic Texas atmosphete. Very highly recommended 👌

+2

Vincent Lewis

This is hands down the best BBQ I all of Texas. Opens at 11:00am and you better be in line. The choices were diverse for meat and sides. Service was fast and friendly. I got pork ribs $66.00 dollars but we'll worth if your in Houston, Don't pass on this one.

Piggly Wiggly

Amazing Texas BBQ! The brisket was tender and juicy, not dry at all. Pork ribs fell right off the bone, beef rib was huge and flavorful, and the jalapeño cheese sausage was excellent. Sides were okay, but the meat was the real star. 2 people ate 100 for that much in my picture.

+3

Devon Lemay

OH MY GOODNESS! Pinkerton’s is a true Texas BBQ experience. The brisket literally melts in your mouth, the beef ribs are gargantuan, and the glazed chicken is juicy and full of flavor. The sauces enhance the smokehouse magic without overpowering it. The sides hold their own too, that bacon mac-n-cheese is a must-order (I’d come back for that alone). The portions are generous, the atmosphere is rustic and lively, and the staff keeps the line moving even when it’s packed. Yes, your wallet will be lighter and your belt a little tighter, but every bite is worth it. Pinkerton’s easily ranks among the best BBQ I’ve had anywhere.

+4

We are traveling cross country (FL to CA, rt) in our RV and I insisted we stop for dry-rub BBQ (like we had at the Houston Rodeo yrs ago) before we exit Texas. \n\nComing up on Houston, I researched …

We are traveling cross country (FL to CA, rt) in our RV and I insisted we stop for dry-rub bbq (like we had at the Houston Rodeo yrs ago) before we exit Texas. \n\nComing up on Houston, I researche…

I can honestly say I am surprised they had any bbq left. It probably has something to do with the fleet of pits and smokers they have out back. Everything was delicious and we tried just about everyt…

I can honestly say I am surprised they had any bbq left. It probably has something to do with the fleet of pits and smokers they have out back. Everything was delicious and we tried just about ever…

The glazed ribs were the best I have ever had. Don't mess around with the sides, just stick to the meat. The bartender, Terrence was excellent! Tried my first ranch water-yum! Highly recommend!

The glazed ribs were the best I have ever had. Don't mess around with the sides, just stick to the meat. The bartender, Terrence was excellent! Tried my first ranch water-yum! Highly recommend!

The glazed ribs were the best I have ever had. Don't mess around with the sides, just stick to the meat. The bartender, Terrence was excellent! Tried my first ranch water-yum! Highly recommend!

Our fave bbq spot in Houston!! The meats are delicious (shout out to the pork ribs and sausages) and the sides are great (jambalaya is perfection!). We love going for lunch and sitting at the bar. …

Our fave bbq spot in Houston!! The meats are delicious (shout out to the pork ribs and sausages) and the sides are great (jambalaya is perfection!). We love going for lunch and sitting at the bar…

I went here grand opening day since it's one of my top 5 favorite bbq places with Franklin Bbq in Austin and some others down here. The other one is very far from me and the parking is certainly di…

The food was wonderful and the service was excellent. You must get there early bc of the crowd. The vibe is really nice

Everything, chefs kiss! Line out the door, and into the streets most hours. I like to sneak a seat at the bar with the friendly staff, and wait until the line is manageable; to be clear: there is n…

Everything, chefs kiss! Line out the door, and into the streets most hours. I like to sneak a seat at the bar with the friendly staff, and wait until the line is manageable; to be clear: there is n…

Came on Christmas Eve around 11:40am and waited in line for a little over an hour to get food. We were one of the last guests to get brisket for the day, and they were out of smoked chicken by the …

Worth the wait. Line moved quickly Brisket was moist and not fatty. Ribs were tasty. Outside smoke is intoxicating. Outside tables relaxing to have a beer.

Had my 35th anniversary there. Great atmosphere, piano player background music. drinks at the bar is comfortable and warm. The food was upscale and tasty. I was surprised at how good the spaghetti …

Wow, best barbecue in town. However, parking is limited and the lines out the door or excessively long. Seating is also limited. Well worth the wait and hassle.

All I can say is wow. The BBQ is incredible. The manbearpig sandwich (chopped beef and pork combined on a fresh-baked bun) was fabulous. The glazed pork ribs were superb. Sides were all excellent too…

All I can say is wow. The bbq is incredible. The manbearpig sandwich (chopped beef and pork combined on a fresh-baked bun) was fabulous. The glazed pork ribs were superb. Sides were all…

All I can say is wow. The bbq is incredible. The manbearpig sandwich (chopped beef and pork combined on a fresh-baked bun) was fabulous. The glazed pork ribs were superb. Sides were all excellent t…

All I can say is wow. The BBQ is incredible. The manbearpig sandwich (chopped beef and pork combined on a fresh-baked bun) was fabulous. The glazed pork ribs were superb. Sides were all excellent…

Oh my goodness! It was soooo good! We had the regular smoked sausage, the barbecue chicken, the beans, the bacon, macaroni and cheese, the coleslaw, and the potato salad with a side of bread. Or de…

Oh my goodness! It was soooo good! We had the regular smoked sausage, the barbecue chicken, the beans, the bacon, macaroni and cheese, the coleslaw, and the potato salad with a side …

I ordered the pork ribs and pulled pork. Unfortunately, they've run out of the much lauded prime brisket. But fortunately, the couple sitting at the same table very kindly shared some with me (fo…

I ordered the pork ribs and pulled pork. Unfortunately, they've run out of the much lauded prime brisket. But fortunately, the couple sitting at the same table very kindly shared some with me…

The line to order was long, but the wait was worth it. I had the jalapeño cheese rice (melt in your mouth), brisket, pork ribs, and jalapeño sausage. Everything that I ate was amazing. I cannot wa…

Was a great old school place. Was in town for a weekend. Was worth the wait in the line. Took about 40 min. Family style seating.

Their beef brisket is cooked to perfection, moist, and flavorful. It's the best I've had. The beef ribs and sides were great, too. The place is always crowded. The service is quick. The entire st…

We got there late enough to miss out on Brisket but it was still outstanding. pork ribs and pulled pork were excellent, beans were great, bread pudding was over the top. So glad we went

Loved the casual dining, the food was just amazing our favourites were the pulled pork and the Brisket. It is a 20 minute Uber from downtown Houston.

Outstanding BBQ but better get there early or risk missing out on sold out items like the brisket or ribs. Sauce is outstanding and well worth a bottle purchase. parking can be tricky so be prepa…

Great barbecue in a friendly family atmosphere. The pulled pork and the brisket were tender and tasty. service was excellent and very helpful to us as first time visitors. The desserts were delic…

The food was really good, not out of this world. The two of us had 1 lb brisket, 2 ribs, 1 jalopeno cheese sausage, bread pudding, Mac and cheese, Jambalaya all for 95.00. If we return, we'll just get the brisket sandwhiches. The brisket was really good. We each ate a slice. Ribs were also great and sweet. We each ate one. Sausage was good too. The sides were good, not great. Bread pudding was good, not great. We also purchased pimento cheese which was good. It didnt knock our socks off. We did have some leftovers which I will make stretch later. Overall we would give this a 7 out of 10. We were here on a Sunday and arrived just before 11:00. There was a wait, but not bad. The employees were all nice. We didnt have to wait for a place to sit. They are cramped inside so a wheelchair is out of the question.Someone also said how good the sweet tea is. Its average sweet tea that you can get anywhere.

We, a party of two, stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. The line for entry was long but it moved pretty smoothly for the most part. The staff was polite and gave us instructions on what the odering process was like. It's not a buffet style, but you order dessert, sides, and main meat while in line and then you pay and pick up at the end of the counter after they pack your food. We decided to eat in so we had to wait for other customers to finish their meal, which in our case was not too long. The ribs were delicious and tender, the mac and cheese was extra cheesy while the baked beans were just ok. We would love to visit again in order to try the brisket next time.

Jewelz Garcia

After an hour wait ….. we finally were able to dig in and see what all the rave was about. 1st - grab a drink from the bar while you wait. 2nd - study the me ur and know what you’re going to eat. This helps with the pace of the line. Now, down to the food details: Okay, I did a ton of research on where to eat the best bbq in H-town. So this place kept coming up in our search so we said let’s go for it and tried it. We ordered the beef rib, 1 regular sausage, 3 slices of brisket & 4 pork rib - along with a small jambalaya, rice, mac & cheese, and beans. The meats were good, the sausage for me was the least favorite ….. it seemed overcooked and dry. The best meat for me was the pork ribs and brisket. The sides were BANGING 💥💥💥 But all this to say, do I think it’s worth $160…… no not from my perspective. However, we’re willing to try something once. It’s not bad but I’ve personally had better bbq for much less.

+8

Sameer Rao

Visited this place on a Sunday when most BBQa are closed for the evening, this place had a line up when we got there after 6pm, the BBQ Ribs were off the chart, juicy, moist, fall of the bone soft and tasty. The brisket did not live up to expectations as it was dry and not moist. The sides of mac and cheese, cole slaw and jalapeno rice were all excellent though the rice felt a bit undercooked. The dessert, bread pudding was good, would not say excellent. Not a bad place overall but there are better BBQ in Texas.

+2

Ronald Freitag

As a Texas Monthly Top 50 Award winner, Pinkerton’s BBQ left a mixed impression on my recent visit. Located in a busy part of the city, the venue was a bit crowded, but the service was impressively quick. For a fast bite, it gets the job done, but I'm not sure it's a place for a lasting, memorable experience. The sliced brisket was above average, with a decent flavor profile and a good bark, but it was a little on the dry side. It was satisfactory, but it didn’t have the moist, melt-in-your-mouth quality I was hoping for. The ribs were also a bit underwhelming. The dry rub was a bit too salty for my taste and lacked the subtle sweetness that can really elevate a rib. The jalapeño and cheddar sausage was fairly standard. It had a typical sausage texture and flavor, lacking the coarser, double-grind quality that makes a homemade sausage truly special. The sides didn't fare much better. The jambalaya was not my favorite; it was very salty, the rice was quite bland, and there wasn't much sausage, which didn't add to the flavor as it should. While the quick service and location are a plus, the food itself didn't quite live up to the high expectations set by its award. I would personally place it in the "next 50" rather than the top tier. It's a fine option for a quick stop, but if you're looking for a truly outstanding barbecue experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

Alexander Collins

I am by no means a texas bbq expert, so my review is probably moot. We waited maybe 15/20 minutes and got seated comfortably inside with the blistering A/C. We got the pork ribs, brisket, sausage and boudin. The brisket is probably the best of these choices. The sausage is kinda ok, but seemed tough and quite average in flavour. We also had the Boudin, unlike any boudin i’ve ever had, strange rice filled spicy oddity. Pork ribs where nice. All in all, not the explosion of flavour I was hoping for.

Cam Agner

After waiting for about an hour with the line wrapped around outside the building, we ordered the brisket, glazed ribs, jalapeño cheddar sausage, with sides of mac and cheese and coleslaw. I found the meats to be very tender. I’d say the star of the show was the brisket, it had a good texture and flavor. The jalapeño cheddar sausage was alright. Had a smokey flavor and a snappy casing, not the best I’ve ever had but very solid. I found the mac and cheese to be good but a little salty for my taste and I really liked the coleslaw. Overall, I’d say this experience was good, the line was a little long, but that is to be expected from a popular barbecue place.

Josh M.

I was in town briefly and wanted to get some Texas BBQ more than anything else. It would've felt like a failure to visit Houston without getting BBQ. Pinkerton's had great reviews and was close to my hotel. I was a bit confused walking in to the restaurant and had to be guided to where and how to order. You order by weight, which feels deceptively confusing. 1/4 lb of pork ribs was ONE rib. They were delicious, and fell off the bone. The slice of brisket I got was well seasoned, but drier than I would've preferred. The recommended bacon mac & cheese was creamy and delicious, as was the Texas BBQ beans. Overall, I was a little disappointed with the experience. For a $50 dinner, I was still hungry when I left. The food was fine, but nothing mind-blowing. I think it was made worse because I had to Uber there and back, making the night close to $100 (not the fault of the restaurant).

Great brisket.\nSeating is a crap shoot. So be ready to wait or break up your group.\nBoudan is great. pork ribs are ok.\nThe bar is small but is fun.

Great brisket.\nSeating is a crap shoot. So be ready to wait or break up your group.\nBoudan is great. Pork ribs are ok.\nThe bar is small but is fun.

This was my first stop after landing in Houston! On this trip, I also tried pit room and truth bbq. Pinkerton's comes in second. Pretty solid and the staff are really helpful. The sides are very re…

Best bbq we had in Texas. Everything was tasty and delicious. Some cons is that most items were sold before 3 pm, and line can be up to an hour wait. Place has a parking lot and space inside is dec…

Good authentic texas bbq! Small restaurant located on a street corner in Houston. First thing we noticed was the small parking area, just enough spaces for the customers inside. Once inside we no…

Good authentic Texas BBQ! Small restaurant located on a street corner in Houston. First thing we noticed was the small parking area, just enough spaces for the customers inside. Once inside we noti…

Did not disappoint. Our 1st time in Houston and right off the plane we went to Pinkerton bbq. Simple place, easy option. Buy buy the pound, eat off of butcher paper nothing better. We had the ribs…

Food is good but not worth the trouble to park. The parking is terrible and i had to double park. I told the bartender my situation. He said I could get towed and then said don’t be a “dick”. Needl…

Like everyone else, we found this place mainly because of reviews. It didn't disappoint! At 830pm on a Friday night, though, it was a 1hr wait in line. It wasn't because the line was that long …

Kevin Wang

Solid but expensive BBQ For meats, we tried the brisket, pork ribs, and sausage. The brisket quality was inconsistent. There were some pieces that were super juicy while others were on the dry side. The pork ribs were tough and not fall-off-the-bone tender. Sausage was pretty good! For sides, we tried the brisket mac and cheese and jambalaya. Jambalaya was primarily rice and could’ve used more protein. The brisket mac and cheese was super salty but tasty.

+1

Glazed pork ribs wre fantastic. Brisket was good. Don't order a beef rib unless you want a pound of neat and bone for $50. Only the coleslaw was a good side dish The jambalaya and jalapeño cheesy …

Glazed pork ribs wre fantastic. Brisket was good. Don't order a beef rib unless you want a pound of neat and bone for $50. Only the coleslaw was a good side dish The jambalaya and jalape…

Glazed pork ribs wre fantastic. Brisket was good. Don't order a beef rib unless you want a pound of neat and bone for $50. Only the coleslaw was a good side dish The jambalaya and jalapeño…

Sunshine Draper

In town from Ohio and had high expectations on getting some Texas bbq. Definitely disappointed. The ribs were good. The brisket had no flavor, but it was juicy. My husband and I didn't like or eat any of the sides. The potato salad was tangy and tasted just like mustard,too much mustard. The beans tastes like a fresh pepper straight from a garden. The added green peppers or jalapeño peppers in the beans is the only flavor you taste, not what you would expect from a baked bean. Like no baked bean flavor at all. The jalapeño rice was bland. They were out of mac n cheese, but that's understandable considering we went 2hrs before closing. This restaurant was actually our 2nd choice. We were told to try Triple J's smokehouse but they were closed.

The trophies this place has clearly aren’t for customer service. First time in the area and this place so wasn’t sure how things went. Walked in to a bartender buried in his phone, when asked where…