Terry Black's Barbecue Waco — Restaurant in Waco

Terry Black's Barbecue: Worth Every Penny (Even the Ones That Made My Wallet Weep) As a seasoned veteran of family vacations (my kids are 13, 18, 20, 23, and 29, so I've seen it all), I can tell you that finding a universally beloved meal is tougher than teaching an old dog new tricks. But when we rolled into Waco, Texas, with a mission to conquer some authentic Texas barbecue, Terry Black's came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, it was clear this wasn't our first rodeo, but it was their first rodeo in serving us. The staff was quicker than a hiccup and incredibly helpful, explaining all the smoky goodness and how to get the most bang for our buck. A huge shout-out to Brandon and Leilani, who were absolutely awesome and patient, guiding us through the meat-filled maze. Seriously, those two deserve a raise and maybe a lifetime supply of brisket. The barbecue itself? Oh, sweet heavens. It was so good, my taste buds did a happy dance. The brisket melted like butter on a hot Texas sidewalk, and the ribs… well, let's just say they made me consider moving to Waco permanently. And the sides! From the creamy, dreamy mac and cheese to the peach cobbler that tasted like a hug from your grandma, everything was a winner. You know it's good when your entire family, from the teenager glued to their phone to the adult debating their life choices, simultaneously lights up with that "this is excellent" look after the first bite. It was a beautiful moment. We left feeling fuller than a Thanksgiving turkey, which brings me to the only minor downside: the cost. My wallet may have shed a single, dramatic tear, and for a brief moment, I debated a four-star instead of a five-star rating. But honestly, the sheer joy on my family's faces, combined with the quality of the food, made me realize it was worth every penny. My internal accountant (the one who gets me to diet if I'm a pound overweight) was momentarily silenced by the deliciousness. Beyond the food, the experience was top-notch. Parking was plentiful, which is always a win, and the proximity to Magnolia Market was a nice bonus. We loved the ample outdoor seating, and it was super cool to see the massive smokers in action, knowing our meat was getting the royal treatment. Even the bathrooms were spotless, which, let's be honest, is a sign of a truly great establishment. The sauces were great too, adding another layer of flavor to an already perfect meal. If you're in Waco and craving some real deal Texas barbecue, run, don't walk, to Terry Black's. Just maybe bring a bigger wallet or at least emotionally prepare for the delicious...

Outstanding! The reviews brought me here and even as fantastic as they are described and written, don't give it enough justice. If you truly want unbelievably delicious barbecue you've got to come to Terry Black's! We arrived about 7:30 on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was pretty well filled and even when we left at 8:45 there were still plenty of people coming in to eat the delicious food. This restaurant is pretty unique. It is a barbecue style cafeteria restaurant. You walk through the restaurant almost like a maze and you get to the area where you pick your sides, we had the creamed corn which almost tasted like I was eating a dessert and it was unbelievable off the charts! We also had the green beans which were just as tasty as we expected. I got some cornbread and some banana pudding which were both wonderful. The banana pudding is probably the best that I've ever had and I've had lots of impressive banana pudding at barbecue restaurants. We also got some pickles to go with our meal. Once you finish with the sides you go over and you select what meats you want. They are priced by pound and you can get 1/3, 1/4, 1/2, or a whole pound of brisket, pork and beef ribs, turkey, sausage and chopped beef. We got one pork rib which was about a quarter of a pound and two slices of amazing brisket, fall off the bone type brisket!. Each slice of brisket was a quarter of a pound, so we had a half pound of brisket between the two of us. There were three types of sauces on the table, an original, a sweet, and a spicy sauce. I tried the original and the spicy and both were really good. I'm not a sweet barbecue person so I passed on that sauce. All I can say is this place truly brings it. I can't recommend enough coming here. The next time I'm back in this area I will go back. The food is great, the prices are reasonable for what you get, and the service is amazing. All the staff members are there to help you and they have a smile and a wonderful attitude. Kudos to Zoe and Steven as they really helped answer the questions we had being new to...

As a foodie and a native Texan who's not particularly fond of barbecue, I guess I might need to be escorted to the Texas border and shown the way out. But hey, my review brings a different perspective to the table.

I parked a block away and was greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of barbecue as soon as I stepped out of my car. Although the entrance was a bit confusing, a little wandering around the building led me to a spacious courtyard – honestly, it's quite the vibe. There's plenty of seating on the lower level and a covered deck up the steps. Being a lifelong Wacoan, I can honestly say we haven't had a patio setup quite like this before.

Once inside, I was once again impressed by the ambiance. There's ample seating, and they've done a fantastic job with the building's finish. My friends and I decided to go for a family-style approach, and I'm glad we did – it's definitely the best way to sample all the different flavors without filling up too quickly.

After selecting our sides, we made our way to the barbecue counter. I opted for the chopped beef sandwich, and let me tell you, it's probably one of the best I've ever had. The barbecue itself was spot on, and the bun truly elevated the sandwich. I couldn't tell you if it's made from something similar to a Hawaiian roll, potato bread, or manna from Jesus in heaven, but it was delicious!

The cream corn tasted like it was raised in a two-parent home and bathed in honey butter nightly. The coleslaw was white boy approved, the pinto beans were smokey and meaty, and the mac & cheese was cheesin' like it should. The staff were friendly, and the line moved quickly.

I paid about $18 for my chopped beef sandwich, a pint size, coleslaw, and a medium drink, So I’d say the price seemed a bit steep, but hell, I really don’t know how to gauge pricing anymore with this inflation.

Waco has its fair share of barbecue joints, but this one is definitely in the top three – and not just because of the taste alone. You’ll definitely want to add to the...