MUNICIPAL BEEF

Yelp names San Antonio No. 2 best barbecue city in the United States

Spots like Reese Bros Barbecue make San Antonio the No. 2 best barbecue city in the nation.

Reese Bros Barbecue/Facebook

San Antonio is finally seizing the spotlight as one of the best barbecue cities in the United States. A new ranking by review giant Yelp says Alamo City is the No. 2 top metro to score delicious smoked meats, second only to Austin.

The report gives San Antonio its due after a barbecue snub. Despite recent raves from the Michelin Guide and the James Beard Awards, Yelp’s rundown of the Top 100 Barbecue Spots in May 2024 failed to name a single San Antonio business.

Yelp said its users “frequently highlight the mix of classic BBQ spots and new fusion-inspired restaurants” in San Antonio, shouting out favorites like Curry Boys BBQ, Smoke Shack, Garcia Barbecue, and Reese Bros Barbecue. It also gave props to the thriving food truck and casual barbecue scene.

Austin, home of the world-famous Franklin Barbecue, took the top spot. Yelp users were gaga over cult spots like Interstellar BBQ and Micklethwait Craft Meats and established standbys like The Salt Lick BBQ.

“Yelp users praise Austin’s barbecue for its simple seasonings, which let the quality of the meat shine,” the review site wrote. “Trays of tender brisket, flavorful ribs, and pulled pork sandwiches are among the most photographed dishes.”

To rank its barbecue hot spots, Yelp factored consumer interest in barbecue, the total number of barbecue joints, and average business ratings. Only two cities per state were considered to ensure geographic diversity. Sorry, Houston and Dallas.

The top-rated spots did show a disconnect between critics and the dining public. Michelin Guide-honored joints like The Barbecue Station and 2M Smokehouse weren’t cited as part of San Antonio’s barbecue equation. Instead, the report named lesser-known food trucks like Brisket Boys and Cake-N-Que.

The rest of the top barbecue cities were spread throughout the country. The complete list of meaty municipalities includes:

No. 1 — Austin, Texas
No. 2 — San Antonio, Texas
No. 3 — Kansas City, Missouri
No. 4 — Memphis, Tennessee
No. 5 — Charleston, South Carolina
No. 6 — Greenville, South Carolina
No. 7 — Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 8 — Tulsa, Oklahoma
No. 9 — Durham, North Carolina
No. 10 — Nashville, Tennessee

yelp barbecue food trucks rankings

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

A burrito bust and new taco truck wrap up San Antonio dining news

Iguanas Burritozilla/ Facebook

Iguanas Burritozilla has gone belly-up after less than two years.

San Antonio is kicking off Memorial Day weekend with a fresh batch of restaurant news, including the unexpected closure of Cali import Iguanas Burritozilla and a new taqueria from celebrated chefs Gaby Hinojosa and Charlie Gonzalez. Meanwhile, the culinary calendar is booking up quickly with a fajita plate benefit for bar veteran Aaron Peña and a chili cook-off at Pullman Market.

Here are the juiciest bites of San Antonio dining news this week.

Openings and closings

Less than two years after expanding into San Antonio, California mini-chain Iguanas Burritozilla has apparently slinked out of the city. A visit during normal operating hours showed no signs of life and signage said the location was closed. The San Jose-based business, known for its oversized Cali-style burritos, took over a former Balcones Heights Taco Cabana in January 2024. The company has yet to make an official announcement about the shutter. A request for more information was unreturned at press time.

The team behind the acclaimed Panfila Cantina and the sadly shutteredSan Taco has quietly opened a new food truck, according to a new report from Texas Monthly Taco Editor Jose R. Ralat. When San Taco closed in late 2024, owners Gaby Hinojosa and Charlie Gonzalez hinted at a new project. Taqueria San Peter (the Spanglish name comes from the 5322 San Pedro Ave. address) is now serving lonches, taquitos, and asada fries. Bring your own bag of chips or Cheetos, and the restaurant will load it up with meat, fries, and toppings for $10.

Mediterranean chain Taziki’s opened its first New Braunfels restaurant at 1058 FM 306 #101 on May 21, according to a press release. The Birmingham, Alabama restaurant, which is also making inroads in San Antonio, serves grilled meat plates, gyros, stuffed pitas, and hummus.

$Fajita Lounge Aaron Pe\u00f1a San Antonio$ A Memorial Day weekend benefit at Gimme Gimme will help owner Aaron Peña with medical bills.Photo courtesy of Fajita Lounge.

Other news and notes

San Antonio’s hospitality community is coming together to support Gimme Gimme and Amor Eterno owner Aaron Peña. On May 25, Gimme Gimme will hold a benefit to help offset medical bills from an April cancer diagnosis. A $20 suggested donation will give guests a fully loaded fajita plate with sides and all the fixings and raffle tickets can be purchased for prizes like a 55-inch television and a Yeti cooler. All proceeds will go to the veteran barman as he begins chemotherapy in June. The event takes place between 5-9 pm.

Homegrown seasoning company Twang has released two new additions to its ever-growing arsenal of flavored salts — orange beer salt and hot pickle. The new varieties come in handy mini pocket shakers and tabletop jars and can be ordered online.

Pullman Market isn’t waiting until fall to launch its first chili cook-off. During the event, from 7-9 pm on June 7, competitors will vie for bragging rights and gift cards in two categories: traditional San Antonio-style chili and creative. Those interested in participating in the cook-off can reach out to Pullman Market's Event Coordinator, Kyle Lopez, at info@pullmanmkt.com to sign up. Those who just want to taste the spicy creations can buy $40-$75 tickets through Eventbrite.

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