Baker Boys BBQ — Restaurant in Gonzales

My goal is to eat at all the 2017 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joints within a year. I feel like it is a rite of passage for true Texas barbecue fans. I am going to post a wrap up of all 50 and at each of the places that I have not written about before. I am already a dozen stops into the list so far. On this day, I had already gone to City Market (Luling). Gonzales is not too far from there so I made another stop at Baker Boys BBQ. I had been to Baker Boys before while researching for the list on behalf of Texas Monthly. I arrived around 3 PM that afternoon but remembered it being a good experience.

We ordered a little bit of brisket, pork ribs, sausage, chicken, turkey, pork loin, and stuffed chicken leg with a banana pudding. Most of the meats are cooked on vault smokers with oak lump charcoal. Everything had a good flavor. The brisket took a little effort to chew through. The pork ribs were nice and tender. The homemade pork and beef sausage surprised me. It had a good texture and taste to it. The turkey and chicken were juicy, but I prefer the skin of the chicken to be crispier. The highlights of the meal for me were the pork loin and stuffed chicken leg. The moist and flavorful pork loin ate very well. I loved the amount of smoke and seasoning on it. Phil and Wayne Baker (father and son) participated in competition barbecue before opening Baker Boys. The idea of the stuffed chicken came from that. They wrap the leg with the skin on around jalapeño and onion. They smoke it and then crisp up the skin on direct heat. It makes for one delicious bite. The homemade banana pudding rounded out the meal nicely.

Gonzales is only 14 miles south of I-10. Make a detour to Baker Boys BBQ if you are in the area. You will find a Top 50 worthy lineup. Do not skimp here. Go ahead and order a few of the meats. Your stomach and taste buds will thank you. With the menu prices that low, you...

A Mixed Bag of Smoky Delights and Simple Sides

Walking into Baker Boys BBQ, the aroma of smoked meat hits you like a warm, southern breeze. The star of the show is undoubtedly their brisket. It’s a masterpiece of slow cooking, with a smoky crust that gives way to tender, flavorful meat that practically melts in your mouth. Each bite is a reminder of what great barbecue should taste like.

However, the sides are where Baker Boys BBQ begins to lose its luster. They’re not bad by any means, but they lack the same passion and flair that the brisket so boldly carries. The sides are serviceable, but they’re forgettable companions to the main event. They fill the plate and the stomach, but not the heart.

But just as you think the meal will end on an average note, the banana pudding swoops in to save the day. It’s a delightful dessert that’s creamy, rich, and bursting with banana flavor, topped with just the right amount of vanilla wafers for a satisfying crunch. It’s the kind of dessert that makes you plan your next visit before you’ve even left your seat.

In conclusion, Baker Boys BBQ is a place of contrasts. While the brisket may be among the best you’ll ever have, and the banana pudding ends your meal on a high note, the sides are the weak link that prevent this BBQ joint from reaching perfection. Still, it’s a place worth visiting for those two bookends alone.

I hope this review captures the essence of your experience at Baker...

I had a 3 meat plate and ordered based on a local associate's recommendations. I got brisket, ribs, and turkey with cheesy potatoes and green beans. I had the banana pudding for dessert. My first reaction was that the sides were mediocre and the turkey wasn't nearly as good as I'd heard. However, the brisket was melt in your mouth good. One of the best brisket I've ever had. The ribs were perfectly smoked, slightly sweet, but without sugar in the rub. I could eat them all day.

I also ordered turkey, ribs, brisket, sausage, and chicken for my family. Mrs. Baker set that aside for me while I ate my lunch and it was all well packaged.

Brisket is amazing. Ribs are excellent. Turkey has a good rub, but is best for sandwiches later. Chicken was good, not the best I've had, but it all got ate. Sausage was a coarse grind filling and had a really nice smoke flavor. The sauce is vinegary but nice. It's also unnecessary for this barbecue but I think the chicken was better off for it. O5 went nicely on the cheesy potatoes. The green beans were better than average. The pinto beans were salty but bland.

The banana pudding was top notch. Very rich, not overly sweet. I could eat 10 of them.

I'd try Baker Boys before most Lockhart places. These boys really know what...