Alma Smokehouse BBQ Alma — Restaurant in Alma

About 40 miles south of Dallas, straddling I-45, sits the tiny town of Alma, Texas. Seriously, this place has a population that is significantly lower than 500. There’s really not much there besides the Love’s Travel Stop on the east side of the highway. On the opposite side, however, next to the Chevron gas station is a little storefront with two barbecue pits out front against the feeder road. Alma Smokehouse BBQ may not look like much. But fortunately they start serving food in the morning.

It was an early morning drive on very quick trip to Dallas, and I was really needing some smoked meat (I had tried stopping at Cole’s Bar-B-Que about 45 minutes earlier only to be told they didn’t have any meat off the pits yet – more on that later in a different post). So by the time I got to Alma I really wanted something smoky. When I asked if they had any meat ready yet, fortunately they had two different kind of sausage already off the pit and ready to go. So I got to enjoy a very nice breakfast of sausage. One appeared to be a beef-n-pork link. The other was a spicy hot link that they cut the long way for me. Both were very tasty, especially for 8:30am barbecue. There’s not much to this little joint – but it does appear they at least have a solid sausage game. And I hope that means good things for other meats as well. I was sad that there wasn’t any other meat ready. But now I have a good reason to stop again in the future so I can try their brisket...

I am a BBQ guy searching all over Texas for great findsu and this is truly a great find. A real gem. A small place next to a chevron off I-45.

I was extremely surprised at this place. The quality of food was outstanding and cheap compared to Dallas and houston. But they don't skimp. If you plan to go to Mcdonalds or one of those junk food places, come here. You won't be disappointed. They even have kids menu with grilled cheese, burgers and such. They also have chicken and tacos made with BBQ.

I had the 1meat plate with 2 sides and drink. $10!!! The brisket was a good portion and it tasted fantastic. There was 1/8" smoke ring but seemed smoke flavor spread through the meat. No roast beef flavor here. Just great brisket. The brisket was moist and fell apart. Not stringy, not tough. Just beautiful to eat. You don't even need BBQ sauce. The sauce was decent with a slight spice to it.

The Cole slaw was crunchy and fresh tasting. The onion rings were hot and crispy.

If going up or down I-45 to or from Dallas, this is a must.

UPDATE 1-18-18: Maybe a very off day but the brisket was just not there. It was tough and had absolutely no flavor. Even after getting some from another brisket. I should have had chicken fried steak or burger this time. However the saving grace was the delicious cole slaw and French fries. They were great. Iced tea...

OK I Like to be truthful as I was told one time I spend too much time tasting my food!That being said...ti the point..atmosphere great,service friendly etc great the food was Grease City! This was my 3rd stop in approx.5 weeks I'm a Truck driver so first time The sides were good potato salad,pinto beans,beans are beans a little bacon wouldn't hurt but whatever and I got a chopped brisket sandwich and I get the bbq sauce on the side so first bite ok add sauce ok and after that the bun was grease soaked and flavorless so I tossed the bun soaked the grease from the brisket and ate what I could ok yesterday 11/13/24 I repeated the same and it was the exactly like the first time...so I was laid over and said come on what's up?! I order the loaded bajed potato with brisket cheese bacon bits etc.....well I am now roughly 3.5 hours passed that slippery grease experience and it sucked the meat was lots of fat and total grease grease grease with no flavor at all....I frequent "smokehouses" some are dry ad can be some are grease as can be few have it down....I won't say my favorite out of respect hoping Alma figures it out less fat less grease!?! I been to smoke houses where they ask if you want fat?.. but that's a request to be asked not expected.....If you go to ASH...