"Houston's best brisket and a decade in Texas Monthly's Top 50: go early with the team before it sells out."
About Truth BBQ
Leonard Botello IV smokes what a good share of Houston will tell you is the best brisket in the city, and the awards back the argument. He opened the original Truth BBQ in Brenham in 2015 and brought it to a warehouse on South Heights Boulevard in January 2019. Since then it has held a place on Texas Monthly's Top 50 list for a decade and picked up a Michelin Bib Gourmand when Texas got its first guide in 2024. The brisket is post-oak smoked, fatty and peppery, and it sells out most days by mid-afternoon.
The Pit
Botello learned to cook from his family before turning a Brenham gas-station pit into one of Texas's most decorated barbecue rooms. At the Heights location the brisket is the headliner, smoked over post oak for the better part of a day, but the counter rewards a wider order. The brisket boudin is a Truth signature, smoked sausage stuffed with chopped brisket and rice, and the pastrami brisket and Carolina-style whole hog turn up as specials. Sides run to mac and cheese and collards.
Botello's mother's cakes are as much a reason to queue as the meat: towering layer cakes and a banana pudding that regulars order first in case it runs out. Barbecue is sold by the pound, brisket around 30 dollars a pound, with plates and sandwiches in the 18 to 25 dollar range, so most people eat well for 20 to 35 dollars. The address is 110 South Heights Boulevard, and Truth rates 4.5 on Google across more than four thousand reviews.
The Room
This is counter service, not a dining room. You queue along a warehouse-style space, order by weight at the line, and carry a butcher-paper tray to communal and picnic-style tables. The mood is daytime and casual, loud and family-friendly, with the smell of smoke over everything. There is no dress code and no reservations. Seating is plentiful, but the queue is the real wait, and the kitchen runs lunch only, opening at 11am and closing when the brisket runs out, often early in the afternoon. Come hungry and come early.
Best for a Team Lunch
Bring the team here for a midday meal because barbecue by the pound is the easiest group order there is. Get a few pounds of brisket, links of sausage and a stack of sides for the table, grab a long bench, and let everyone build a tray. It is fast, unpretentious and cheap for what it is, and the banana pudding closes the deal. Go before noon to beat the queue and the sell-out. See our best restaurants for a team dinner and business-lunch picks for more.
Not for
Not for a late dinner or a booked table. Truth serves counter-style from 11am until the brisket runs out, often by mid-afternoon, with no reservations and communal seating.
Frequently Asked
Is Truth BBQ worth it?
Yes. Leonard Botello IV's brisket is among the best in Houston, the room has held a Texas Monthly Top 50 spot for a decade, and it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024. Prices are fair for the quality, with most people eating well for 20 to 35 dollars. The only real cost is the queue and the lunch-only hours. Go early and it is one of the city's surest meals.
How do I skip the line at Truth BBQ?
Arrive before it opens at 11am, or come on a weekday rather than a weekend. There are no reservations, so the only lever is timing: the queue builds through midday and the most popular cuts, brisket especially, can sell out by mid-afternoon. Large group and catering orders can be arranged ahead by phone. If you turn up late, call first to check what is left.
What should I order at Truth BBQ?
Lead with the post-oak brisket, ordered fatty if you like it rich, then add the brisket boudin, a link of smoked sausage and a couple of sides like mac and cheese. Save room for dessert: the banana pudding and the layer cakes, made from Botello's mother's recipes, are a Truth signature. Watch the specials board for pastrami brisket or Carolina whole hog.
How much does Truth BBQ cost?
Barbecue is sold by the pound, with brisket around 30 dollars a pound, while plates and sandwiches sit in the 18 to 25 dollar range. Most people eat well for 20 to 35 dollars a head before dessert and drinks. A group sharing several pounds of meat and sides spreads the cost further. It is fair value for award-level Central Texas barbecue.
Is Truth BBQ good for groups?
Very. Ordering meat by the pound for the table is the easiest group format there is, the communal benches seat a crowd, and the bill stays reasonable. Go before noon so a sell-out does not catch you out, and order extra sausage and sides. For more rooms that handle a team, see our team dinner guide and the global best barbecue restaurants.
Visit Truth BBQ
Order & visit Truth BBQ
Counter service · no reservations · arrive early
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address110 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
NeighbourhoodHouston Heights
CuisineCentral Texas barbecue
Average Spend$20–$35 per person
HoursDaily from 11am until sold out
ReservationNone · counter service, walk-in
RecognitionBib Gourmand 2024 · Texas Monthly Top 50
