Making the perfect brisket is one of the most impressive (and unforgiving) culinary feats for pitmasters finding their niche within Texas' vast barbecue landscape. But if they can get it right, there will be lines out the door with hungry patrons waiting to get their hands on it.

Sometimes they even get famous celebrities or popular internet personalities to stop by – such as YouTube star and Austinite Joshua Weissman. This chef-turned-YouTuber recently went on a statewide expedition to try some of Texas Monthly's best barbecue restaurants, and stopped by two San Antonio-area barbecue joints to give his honest review. To keep things consistent across restaurants, the chef ordered only one meat, brisket, and three of the barbecue world's most popular sides: cole slaw, beans, and mac and cheese.

While many may snub the idea of "just another YouTuber" reviewing Texas barbecue joints, Weissman cut his teeth working in the restaurant industry, and was once the lead cook at Uchiko in Austin. His YouTube channel has amassed over 10 million subscribers, and he's written two New York Times Bestsellingcookbooks.

With Texas Monthly's2021 list (the newest edition will be released later this year) as his guide, Weissman documented his journey alongside new Texas resident and private chef Olivia Tiedemann. The duo also visited the four Texas barbecue restaurants that recently earned Michelin Stars.

Here are the local barbecue restaurants they visited, with their reviews:

Burnt Bean Co., Seguin
Brisket score: 28.4 out of 30 possible points (9.4 for brisket flavor; 9 for texture; 10 for salt level)
Sides: 8.7 out of 10 possible points

In 2021, Texas Monthly ranked Burnt Bean the No. 4 best barbecue in the state, lauding the brisket for "impressively thick crust covering a thin layer of translucent fat."

When Weissman asked owner and pitmaster Ernest Servantes whether he saw more competitiveness or camaraderie across Texas barbecue, the pitmaster said there's "nothing but love," and it's more about the uniqueness and creativity of each pitmaster's craft.

"Here in Texas it's the big pond, we're big fish, and we have our own little regions," Servantes said. "At the end of the day, we're not here to compete against each other. We're here to spread the love of what our cuisine is – which is barbecue."

Starting with the sides first, Weissman said the beans reminded him of a childhood memory, recalling his mother's upbringing in South Texas. While Tiedemann wasn't a fan of the Hot Cheetos topping on the mac and cheese, Weissman said he was, and they both enjoyed the sauce's creaminess.

Upon the first bite of brisket, both were rendered nearly speechless by its "unbelievably moist" texture, impeccable flavor, and top notch salt level.

"They did such a good job retaining the beef flavor, that it almost has an Umami quality," Weissman said.

Then the duo were also pleasantly interrupted by a surprise appearance by comedian Gabriel Iglesias, who some speculate has recently become a San Antonio-area resident.

2M Smokehouse, San Antonio
Brisket score: 24.8 points (8.3 for flavor; 8 for texture; 8.5 for salt level)
Sides: 8 points

This barbecue restaurant is led by pitmaster Esaul Ramos Jr., who previously worked at La Barbecue in Austin (which now proudly boasts one Michelin Star).

Texas Monthly commended 2M's brisket for its "spicy bark and a fine balance of smoky and beefy flavor that’s so tender it accordions open when you lift a slice" – which were the same qualities Weissman and Tiedemann called out when they took their first bites.

You can't go wrong with a big barbecue plate.2M Smokehouse/Facebook

The chicaroni macaroni was the standout side dish the duo preferred out of the three, although Tiedemann noted the elevated flavors all of the sides they tasted.

Other top Texas barbecue restaurants
Overall, Weissman ranked Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth the highest on the list out of the 17 total Texas barbecue restaurants he visited. He even invited Texas Monthly's barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn to join him there during their final tasting.

Weissman had nothing but good things to say about Goldee's classic side dishes and its brisket, giving them overall ratings of 9.5 and 29.2 points, respectively.

"The [brisket] seasoning is ridiculous, it's exactly where it should be," he said. "It's got the smoke flavor I want, but it's not overwhelmingly smoky. This is worth traveling back for."

Fort Worth's Goldee's Barbecue was the highest ranked Texas barbecue. fortworth.culturemap.com

The other Central Texas barbecue restaurants Weissman visited, with his ratings, include:

• Franklin Barbecue, Austin – 26.5 for brisket, 5 for sides
• Interstellar Barbecue, Austin – 26.9 for brisket, 9.3 for sides
• La Barbecue, Austin – 25.5 for brisket, 8.8 for sides
• LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin – 28.8 for brisket, no score for non-traditional sides
• Terry Black's BBQ, Austin – 24 for brisket, 6.5 for sides
• Snow's BBQ, Lexington – 27.2 for brisket, 8.7 for sides
• Louie Mueller, Taylor– 24.8 for brisket, 5 for sides