The best barbecue within 30 minutes of the park

← Back to the journal

This corner of Collin County punches well above its weight for barbecue. You've got a couple of proper sit-down smokehouses, a few trailers that quietly outcook them, and enough variety that you won't run out of new places for a while.

Here's where to start.

Wood & Time Smokehouse — Farmersville

On the square in Farmersville, and the one most people around here name first. Competition-style barbecue, cooked over wood, ordered at the counter. Brisket and ribs are the draw; the peach cobbler is worth saving room for.

• Order: brisket, ribs, cornbread
• Good for: a proper sit-down lunch on the square

Redwine's BBQ Eats & Sweets — Farmersville

A trailer, not a restaurant, and one that regulars mention in the same breath as Wood & Time. Smaller menu, shorter hours, and the kind of place where showing up late means finding out what sold out first.

Motherwells BBQ — Princeton

Family-run, off Cottrell Lane, and serious about the fire — they're trimming and lighting well before sunrise. Brisket and sausage are the core of it, and the two-meat sandwich is a good way to try both without committing to a tray.

The rule with small-town barbecue: go early, go hungry, and don't assume they're open Monday.

Longhorn Barbecue — Princeton

A roadside setup out on the county road that's been at this a long time. Unpretentious, generous portions, and the sort of pulled pork and brisket sandwiches that make a good excuse for a drive.

One's BBQ — Lavon

Just down toward the lake, and an easy add-on if you're already headed that way for a morning on the water. Brisket that's moist without being over-smoked, which is a harder balance than it sounds.

Worth the extra ten minutes

If you don't mind stretching past the thirty-minute mark, McKinney opens up a lot more — including Hutchins BBQ, which is the big, busy, everybody-knows-it option. Different experience than the trailers out here, but a solid one when you've got family visiting.

A few things to know before you go

• Most of the smaller spots are closed Sunday and Monday, and some are only open Wednesday through Saturday.
• Trailers sell out. If you want brisket, aim for the first hour or two of service.
• Call ahead if you're feeding a group — several of these will do it, but not on short notice.
• Almost all of it travels well. Bring it back to the park, eat outside, skip the dishes.

Try one a month and you'll have a favorite by fall. That's about the right pace.