Such great BBQ with a great selection of sides. Their mac and cheese is my favorite ever!! Loveliest owners & people working there. A true gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Uncle Sean
We pulled into Brenham with stomachs growling and fingers crossed that LJ’s still had burnt ends. The sign didn’t say SOLD OUT, so we jumped out of that truck like we were running from a vegan potluck.
TL;DR: LJ’s BBQ in Brenham delivered on brisket bark, burnt-end brilliance, and a cold elote curveball that worked. Mac and cheese got the daughter’s stamp of approval, and I got my 31st Texas Monthly passport stamp.
It was midday on a Saturday and the BBQ roadtrip was rolling hard. My daughter decided to join me for a father-daughter bonding session forged in smoke and meat. We pulled into LJ’s around 1:45 PM, praying to the brisket gods, and were rewarded with the best news you can see on a Texas BBQ door: no sold out sign.
I’ve been here before, and last time I left with tears in my eyes and a sausage-less soul. But not today. The line was gone, the staff was smiling, and the counter was still slinging burnt ends. We ordered a two-meat plate with burnt ends and moist brisket, plus sides of mac-n-cheese and elote.
The burnt ends were barky, rich, sticky, and divine. If a cube of brisket and a candy bar had a lovechild, this would be it. The slice of moist brisket was textbook central Texas. Fat cap rendered just enough, deep pink smoke ring, bark that snapped back like a good comeback.
Now listen, this BBQ dad has a strict no-fly zone when it comes to mac and cheese. I didn’t even flinch in its direction. But my daughter? She dove in like it owed her money. One bite in and she gave it that look: eyes closed, slow nod, total reverence. She called it cheesy in all the right ways. I call it: not my business.
Then came the elote. We both bit in and paused like someone had hit the mute button. Cold? Cold corn? We hadn’t read the menu close enough. But then… we kept eating. It was creamy, cheesy, tangy, and hit different on a warm day. That cold elote snuck up on us and stuck the landing.
The vibe in LJ’s is old-school butcher paper, red-and-white checkered tables, and good tunes humming low. Before we left, we got the all-important stamp in the Top 50 passport and snapped a pic outside by the mural. I rocked my orange shirt like a man on a mission. And I am.
Why did the burnt end break up with the sausage? Because it needed space to meat its true potential.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jesse H
Great BBQ with a great atmosphere! Get there early or line can get long or they may run out. Got to try the brisket or brisket Mac n cheese!
The best BBQ I have eaten anywhere. Hey there early.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
R S
This place is on the Texas Monthly Top 50 so I had to stop in a while in Brenham. We got brisket, regular sausage, and turkey. All the meats were good. For sides, we went with potato salad, mac and cheese, and the street corn. If I could only pick two I would get the potato salad and the mac and cheese. I will definitely come back when I am in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Candy Tomato
The best barbecue that I have ever eaten. The turkey was incredible too and Lord have mercy for the mac and cheese it made my ancestors rollover in their graves when I shouted out that it is the best mac and cheese that I have ever had!!
That mac and cheese melted through every sensory in my body - so so delicious.
I picked up a meal for 20 yesterday and delivered it to my best customer- and I am still receiving text messages today wanting the address and phone number for this place.
We will definitely be back for seconds!! Again and again and again
Great job folks Sincerely Cindy Tamayo
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Troy Tindall
Great BBQ. Simply great. Prices are what you should expect. Pretty sad that they did not have sweet tea but that was my only complaint.
Honestly, not impressed. Pork ribs are my favorite at every bbq place. The pork ribs here were too salty and peppery. Not Smokey enough and didn’t have great flavor. I didn’t even finish them. Brisket was good. Sausage was okay. Husband and I both agreed everything was just kinda mid. The sides were better than the meat. Pinto beans and green beans were good. Mac and cheese was pretty good. Bbq sauce was very good. NO SWEET TEA. NO bread. No fried okra. Flimsy plates. Banana pudding was very good, but it counts as one of the sides so it was on the same plate and got pinto beans juices in it. Just expected way more from a place that’s supposed to be one of the best bbq places in Texas. I didn’t even take my leftover ribs home.
Chandler Bradford
Always loved LJs! Bbq is great and their banana pudding is some of my favorite. Just finished eating at their collaboration with brossa’s and it was absolutely incredible. Hopefully they do more!
The chicken leg quarters and the potato salad stole the show! The brisket, sausage, and ribs were solid. Very good BBQ and deserves the top 50. The 3 meat plate is 28$ and comes with 2 sides. The plate is shareable for 2. The line if there is one moves very fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bingbee W
The brisket does melt-in-your-mouth heaven. The staff are so friendly
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brisket Mac-N-Cheese, Beans
Mr. G
Its okay.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Howard Anderson
I have been to all of the top BBQ places in central Texas. LJ's certainly meets the standard. The ribs were absolutely the best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joshua Wright
LJ’s BBQ is a must if you’re traveling down 290! The brisket was moist and delicious. The place was busy, but the staff have the process down so that it was a quick wait. Plenty of great meat options as well as great sides. It’s right off the exit, so take the quick detour for an excellent experience!
Such great BBQ with a great selection of sides. Their mac and cheese is my favorite ever!! Loveliest owners & people working there. A true gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We pulled into Brenham with stomachs growling and fingers crossed that LJ’s still had burnt ends. The sign didn’t say SOLD OUT, so we jumped out of that truck like we were running from a vegan potluck.
TL;DR:
LJ’s BBQ in Brenham delivered on brisket bark, burnt-end brilliance, and a cold elote curveball that worked. Mac and cheese got the daughter’s stamp of approval, and I got my 31st Texas Monthly passport stamp.
It was midday on a Saturday and the BBQ roadtrip was rolling hard. My daughter decided to join me for a father-daughter bonding session forged in smoke and meat. We pulled into LJ’s around 1:45 PM, praying to the brisket gods, and were rewarded with the best news you can see on a Texas BBQ door: no sold out sign.
I’ve been here before, and last time I left with tears in my eyes and a sausage-less soul. But not today. The line was gone, the staff was smiling, and the counter was still slinging burnt ends. We ordered a two-meat plate with burnt ends and moist brisket, plus sides of mac-n-cheese and elote.
The burnt ends were barky, rich, sticky, and divine. If a cube of brisket and a candy bar had a lovechild, this would be it. The slice of moist brisket was textbook central Texas. Fat cap rendered just enough, deep pink smoke ring, bark that snapped back like a good comeback.
Now listen, this BBQ dad has a strict no-fly zone when it comes to mac and cheese. I didn’t even flinch in its direction. But my daughter? She dove in like it owed her money. One bite in and she gave it that look: eyes closed, slow nod, total reverence. She called it cheesy in all the right ways. I call it: not my business.
Then came the elote. We both bit in and paused like someone had hit the mute button. Cold? Cold corn? We hadn’t read the menu close enough. But then… we kept eating. It was creamy, cheesy, tangy, and hit different on a warm day. That cold elote snuck up on us and stuck the landing.
The vibe in LJ’s is old-school butcher paper, red-and-white checkered tables, and good tunes humming low. Before we left, we got the all-important stamp in the Top 50 passport and snapped a pic outside by the mural. I rocked my orange shirt like a man on a mission. And I am.
Why did the burnt end break up with the sausage? Because it needed space to meat its true potential.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great BBQ with a great atmosphere! Get there early or line can get long or they may run out. Got to try the brisket or brisket Mac n cheese!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brisket Mac-N-Cheese, Brisket Sandwich
The best BBQ I have eaten anywhere. Hey there early.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
This place is on the Texas Monthly Top 50 so I had to stop in a while in Brenham. We got brisket, regular sausage, and turkey. All the meats were good. For sides, we went with potato salad, mac and cheese, and the street corn. If I could only pick two I would get the potato salad and the mac and cheese. I will definitely come back when I am in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
The best barbecue that I have ever eaten.
The turkey was incredible too and Lord have mercy for the mac and cheese it made my ancestors rollover in their graves when I shouted out that it is the best mac and cheese that I have ever had!!
That mac and cheese melted through every sensory in my body - so so delicious.
I picked up a meal for 20 yesterday and delivered it to my best customer- and I am still receiving text messages today wanting the address and phone number for this place.
We will definitely be back for seconds!!
Again and again and again
Great job folks
Sincerely
Cindy Tamayo
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great BBQ. Simply great. Prices are what you should expect. Pretty sad that they did not have sweet tea but that was my only complaint.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
The LJs crew is awesome the Que is amazing!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brisket Mac-N-Cheese, Banana Pudding, Brisket Tacos, Three Meat Plate, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Barbecue Brisket
Honestly, not impressed. Pork ribs are my favorite at every bbq place. The pork ribs here were too salty and peppery. Not Smokey enough and didn’t have great flavor. I didn’t even finish them. Brisket was good. Sausage was okay. Husband and I both agreed everything was just kinda mid. The sides were better than the meat. Pinto beans and green beans were good. Mac and cheese was pretty good. Bbq sauce was very good. NO SWEET TEA. NO bread. No fried okra. Flimsy plates. Banana pudding was very good, but it counts as one of the sides so it was on the same plate and got pinto beans juices in it. Just expected way more from a place that’s supposed to be one of the best bbq places in Texas. I didn’t even take my leftover ribs home.
Always loved LJs! Bbq is great and their banana pudding is some of my favorite. Just finished eating at their collaboration with brossa’s and it was absolutely incredible. Hopefully they do more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The chicken leg quarters and the potato salad stole the show! The brisket, sausage, and ribs were solid. Very good BBQ and deserves the top 50. The 3 meat plate is 28$ and comes with 2 sides. The plate is shareable for 2. The line if there is one moves very fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The brisket does melt-in-your-mouth heaven. The staff are so friendly
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brisket Mac-N-Cheese, Beans
Its okay.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
I have been to all of the top BBQ places in central Texas. LJ's certainly meets the standard. The ribs were absolutely the best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LJ’s BBQ is a must if you’re traveling down 290! The brisket was moist and delicious. The place was busy, but the staff have the process down so that it was a quick wait. Plenty of great meat options as well as great sides. It’s right off the exit, so take the quick detour for an excellent experience!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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