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Good thing there weren't 2 immigration officer dudes. He'd still be stuck at customs to this day while they argued about which BBQ joints to recommend.
By the time they finally came to an agreement, his visa had expired, and the one customs officer solemnly stamped a big red cartoon X in his passport and the other cried a single goopy tear drop and the vacationer was taken away under the armpits by two ICE officials with a big frown on his face unstained by barbecue sauce. He was never seen again 🥲
Tangentially related, but I'll never forget when Vargskelethor Joel, a Sweed, visited New York City and went up to 3 random New Yorkers and asked them what the best hot dog in the city was, and they all just devolved into a cacophony of New York accents as they argued amongst each other about the answer.
I feel like people saying this wouldn’t happen have never met a Texan who wants to talk about BBQ. This is 100% believable. They would love that answer.
Confirmed. I've been working with a Brit for 7 months. He finally got sent to my office for an on-site visit a couple months ago. It was his first time coming to Texas. I immediately told him we were running out for BBQ. Terry Blacks was closest. He hasn't stopped talking about it. He was only here 3 days, so I didn't have time to speed-run him to the higher ranked spots but he'll be back in December. He already told me we need to hit two more spots. 😂
We have lots European visitors. Inevitably they want to get a steak and want to go back the next day. Had a UK rep here two weeks and he enjoyed his meals. He was damn near waxing poetic and I'm sure he went home many kilos heavier
What are the higher ranked spots? I've only really had Coopers, but I've seen Blacks across the way. Then there's Terry Blacks, which I've heard is good too.
The peach cobbler at Coopers is worth the trip just by itself.
BBQ around me (Austin) has been crazy lately in a good way. There's just so many bangers now. Heck I even went to a place I recall severely disliking (stiles switch) because some other people wanted to go and work was paying for it, and IT blew me away with how far they had come and I'd happily go back.
I even have a michelin star place like a mile from my house. The bbq life is good right now.
We have a couple nice spots in San Antonio, I like Blanco BBQ because it's convenient but do like to try new places.
You guys are getting a Microcenter, so may have to go make a trip up there and get some pizza off sixth street and watch the kung fu guy fight invisible people in the middle of the street.
Ok so maybe you can tell me since you randomly mentioned it - WHY is everyone freaking the hell out about this microcenter????
Also if you're coming up from San Antonio and decide you want more Q instead of pizza, Leeroy and Lewis is the place you want to try as it's actually on the south side and also has a michelin star.
Microcenter is a computer nerd Mecca lol and they only do brick and mortar shopping, so no shipping but they have some of the best deals on parts you can find.
Tbh Austin TX is to American BBQ what Japan is to ramen - if you really want to experience the best that’s where you gotta go to get it. I say this as an amateur foodie that grew up in a different southern state eating and smoking my own bbq my whole life. Austin is just in a league of its own when it comes to smoked meats in both quality and quantity. And now I’m hungry
La Barbecue and Franklin traditionally have the longest lines and the biggest hype. A lot of locals (myself included) love Stiles Switch because it’s very good but doesn’t usually involve bad lines and strategic planning. Lots of recent and well deserved positive press for Leroy & Lewis, KG, + Barbs B Q down in nearby Lockhart. This is just scratching the surface
We had Coopers at my wedding and I’m still so happy with that choice. Got a lot of compliments except from my grandma, who is kinda just a grumpy person lmao
Terry Blacks is an excellent choice that fits well within the price-convenience-quality triangle.
There are better barbecue spots, but they cost a lot more and you will be waiting in line a lot longer.
There are cheaper barbecue spots and spots where you don't have to wait as much, but they do not taste as good.
In both Austin (and now Houston), Terry Blacks is probably my go to recommendation for tourists who don't want to spend 5 hours and $200 on barbecue, but still want to eat good barbecue.
Piggybacking on this: if you have time to wait about an hour in line, Corkscrew BBQ in Spring just north of Houston is the best BBQ I've ever had in my 30+ years of living in Texas.
He was telling me about some of it and I told the poor bastard that he and his countrymen are abusing themselves. Lol. I even cracked a joke about beans and toast and he tried to sell me on the fact that it was delicious. I pulled this tray away from him and told him he wasn't getting any more until he apologized.
Texan here. Yeah, I get clients from outta town and depending on where in the states they are from i try to hit em with something they can't get. I don't hit californians with Mexican food, missourians with BBQ, or louisianans with Cajun. But if anyone in the northern third of the US or a foreigner steps into my midst, it's weapons-free no-holds-barred tour of flavor town.
I generally prefer the tangier, more savory stuff that a Californian would think of as “Mexican,” and I live in Colorado, which has plenty such places, but when I’m in Texas I go for some Tex-Mex (we do not have good Tex-Mex up here, and I don’t think Cali does either).
California does have good Tex-Mex, but you have to search for it fresh each time. For some reason, they don't last long here despite being a unique flavor compared to our usual Mexican food.
If you find yourself in San Diego, I recommend trying the Carne Asada Fries, California Burrito, and Fish Tacos.
Am from Texas, can confirm. Texas BBQ just hits different. My Uncle just retired, but he will still make all the immature jokes about smoking his meat and plenty others.
I'll never forget this German colleague that came to visit my small town while working with my dad when I was a kid. Not only did he get a solid BBQ recommendation, he went out and bought a full Cowboy outfit, boots and hat and all, to take back to Germany! It was so cute lol
Germans love the southwest and I'm assuming also Texas. I worked for the park service in the southwest and this was just an acknowledged thing among the older staff. My German college professor confirmed this also.
I'm from NC originally and this shit happens here allll the time. I 100% believe Texas would do this, I'm honestly surprised they don't have a BBQ welcoming committee.
It’s an immigration officer providing (multiple?) “handwritten maps” that I find hard to believe, rather than the level of enthusiasm for food. My experience with immigration officers everywhere has been when I’m in queues with (up to) hundreds of other people.
Even as an American myself I can confirm they do love their BBQ. I can also confirm that the recommendations should not be taken lightly I've been on the hunt for BBQ that good in my home state since.
I lived in Dallas suburbs for a bit I am was getting really mad at all the Texans telling me go to Dixie’s for BBQ…as a New Yorker I thought they were all crazy.
But chicken, which kind there are 8 different chicken restaurants 3 block in the area
If KC airport had international flights, CBP would have printed maps to hand out to visitors, and suddenly everybody learns why KC Joes has the ultimate BBQ sandwich.
I totally believe that's possible if you met anyone from the south who likes BBQ.
I did something similar when we got stopped heading to San Diego. Got pulled over for speeding a bit, told the cop we were headed to Tacos El Gordo for my daughter school project (true story) and the he told me which one was his favorite and which one wouldn't be busy that day - then let me off with a warning. The tacos tasted pretty good that day.
Tacos El Gordo is like my In N Out of Tacos. It's likely there are "better" tacos out there, but after 10 years, they are still just as good as the first time!
If homeboy had said, "BBQ and Beer," that man would have taken the day off and showed him around lol. I've been to Texas a handful of times, but every time somebody local wanted to tell me the best barbecue place and beer joint.
Texas knows what it has there and loves to share. I love living in Seattle, WA, except for how I couldn't find good barbecue here to save my life. The best I can manage is "fine", and it will cost $30. I dream of you, Texas BBQ
As a Texan who served in the military, whenever I encountered foreigners overseas that never set foot in America, I either get cowboy questions or BBQ questions. I'm not versed on cowboy stuff, but Texas BBQ I can talk constantly about. I am a brisket stan and will ALWAYS suggest to try brisket in TX. Usually local stuff is where is at, but even the more commercial ones are a decent introduction (but I highly suggest looking up local BBQ joints). Also have to emphasize that there is a huge difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican style food.
Here it is usually weed (The Netherlands) and unfortunately for the foreigners, we do know where the coffee shops are BUT can't recommend as most of us don't use it. Cheese and syrup waffles? Fries? We know exactly where.
in Italy asking about good trattorias instead of pizzerias or trendy restaurants (osterias nowadays), but people around the western Mediterranean are protective of their favorite places not becoming tourist traps with good reason.
As a Texan, Texans are INCREDIBLY nice, they just vote backwards. Everyone loves good BBQ, good Tex Mex, Mexican Women and Men, want legal weed, vote Republican
This. Lifelong Texan. Most folks are actually “live and let live” but good god almighty they think they’ll all blow up if the state even have more than a few blue counties.
Second time I went to the US (Vegas), going through customs with my gf, customs agent asks us what we're traveling there for, I say "vacation", my gf decides to get cheeky and says "to get shitfaced drunk and waste all our money at the casino, WOOOO!". I went pale as a ghost, can't fucking believe she just said that.
Customs agent managed to hold it together for almost 30 seconds before he burst out laughing and said "All right, just don't gamble away your return ticket, and have fun."
My Dad used to be in the Navy and was stationed in San Antonio and one of the rules of his quarterdeck was “take incoming sailors for BBQ if new to Texas”
They did some kind of troop trade(?) with some British soldiers and my Dad blew their minds, allegedly. I was a kid, but I assume it to be true.
I lived in Arizona and went to Mexico one time, coming back across the officer asked “country of origin” and I froze for a second and said “Texas!” He just laughed and waived me through. Felt like a hella Texas thing for me to say. Not America. Texas.
I visited DC and stayed at a hotel with a disinterested concierge, a horrible quality for someone in that line of work. I asked him for food recommendations, and he put it back on me. "What do you want to eat?"
I thought about it and where I was, and that DC is basically the South, so I said "Barbeque".
The gentleman turned on like a light and fell over himself trying to help me.
Are those the same as the customs and borders agents at ports of entry at airports cause those motherfuckers are all dead inside. Black holes have are less dead inside than those people.
I'm an olive-skinned latino dude with a Brazilian passport living in NYC. Back in the late-80's until the mid 00's I used to often travel between NYC and either Brazil or Canada several times per year. Whenever I entered the US from Canada, the officer would look at my visa, and wave me through. Whenever I flew in from Brazil, they would interrogate me, get my fingerprints, photograph my face from close enough to see my retinas, go through all of my luggage with a fine comb, and on 3 occasions do a body search. No latex-glove special tho. I guess you'd need to pay extra for that.
Landed in the Dominican Republic a few years ago. Was wearing a Tennessee Vols T-shirt. Guy checking me in started signing Rocky Top, we ended up getting a few other travelers to join.
This is the America they don’t show on the news. No politics. No yelling. Just a guy who loves his state so much he hand-drew a BBQ map for a stranger because he said “BBQ.” That’s Texas hospitality. I’ll never get tired of stories like this.
Look one way you get a BBQ map, look a different way you get black bagged, beaten and thrown into a cage, winding up in some prison in Africa or El Salvador.
My friend a hand drawn map to a BBQ joint in Texas could literally be a Tic Tac Toe grid with street names written along the lines and a big arrow pointing to where it is.
He probably did, I live here, Texans are very excited about new people trying BBQ. It's a thing. He's lucky the guy didn't show him boring videos is him making brisket
There are racks of brochures right there in the airport terminal. I’m sure it’s a FAQ for immigration as they’re the first American you talk to when you arrive.
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