Pecan Lodge

Texas is locked in an eternal, fiery struggle for BBQ supremacy with Kansas City, Memphis and the Carolinas. But if each contender was forced to put forward a champion for a national grill-off, Pecan Lodge could (and in our opinion should) fly the Lone Star flag. The pit-smoked food at this restaurant in hip Deep Ellum is absolutely out of this world—as evidenced by the lines out the door, round the corner and into the parking lot. The handmade jalapeño sausages and beef brisket with southwestern seasoning are particularly excellent, while the “hot mess” (sea salt-crusted sweet potato topped with barbacoa and chipotle cream) is deliriously good. If you’re a meat eater, don’t miss this place or you’ll never forgive yourself. (If you order more than five pounds of meat you can skip that long line too. Well, it would be rude not to.)