Barbeque is a staple to any Texas gathering or family meal. Not just an American cuisine favorite, Texas barbeque is an essential food group, and in the heart of Central Texas, it's necessary to know where all the best barbeque restaurants are. Check these restaurants off your barbeque bucket list and find out what Bell County is all about when it comes to this local favorite.

Backyard Bar-B-Q

1695 Morgan's Point Rd.

Backyard Bar-B-Q Bar and Grill has everything you're looking for when it comes to Texas barbeque and American cuisine favorites. Enjoy delicious BBQ, burgers, and baked potatoes in a country-style dining room with picnic tables & a full bar. Guests can stop by for Happy Hour specials every Tuesday through Friday from 12 PM - 6 PM. This local hot spot offers a hometown-feel atmosphere and country flair. Stop by for some of the tastiest barbeque in town.

Best Quality Meat & BBQ

2410 Wilson Pl.

Best Quality Meat in Temple serves barbeque classics like chopped brisket, turkey, sausage, and ribs. Stop by the meat market for fresh sausage, poultry, and beef, or have lunch at the restaurant. Hometown pit barbeque smoked to perfection, Best Quality Meat will leave you satisfied.

Clem Mikeska's

1217 S 57th St.

Clem Mikeska's Bar-B-Q is a local favorite in Temple, TX. Featuring its signature jalapeno sausage, Clem Mikeska's is a family-style establishment with Texas flair. On the menu are barbeque meats like jalapeno sausage, turkey, chicken, ribs, brisket, and southern comfort sides. Visit Clem Mikeska's for a warm atmosphere and hearty food. Clem Mikeska's is a place you simply must try.

Fat Boys BBQ

2849 Scott Blvd

Fat Boys BBQ in Temple offers barbeque plates, sides, and meat by the pound. Enjoy American cuisine classics like mac n cheese, coleslaw, and potato salad, or save room for dessert with banana pudding and cobblers. Fat Boys BBQ offers everyday specials and a variety of meal options like ribs, sandwiches, family-size plates, and more.

Green's Sausage House

16483 TX-53

Green's Sausage House is a restaurant and store with character and rich history. Green's Sausage House offers 26 varieties of sausages, 0ver 40 menu items, and a daily variety of freshly baked fruit and meat kolaches, bread, pies, and more. Visit this local favorite for a variety of smoked meats and delicious food.

Johnny's Steak

301 Thomas Arnold Rd, Salado, TX

Johnny's Steak & BBQ is a family-owned and operated business located just a short drive away in Salado. Who doesn't love a restaurant that embodies Southern hospitality and hosts plenty of live country music concerts? Visit this restaurant during one of their concert nights and enjoy a cold drink and hot Texas BBQ. 

Kerley's BBQ

613 E Central Ave

Kerley's BBQ is a family-owned and operated restaurant in Temple. Kerley's makes their own tried-and-true homemade hot sauce. This local BBQ restaurant serves brisket, ribs, hot sausage, and more.

Miller's Smokehouse

300 E Central Ave. Belton, TX

Named Top 50 Best BBQ Joint by Texas Monthly Magazine, Miller's Smokehouse serves barbeque by the pound, delicious sides, flavorful barbeque, and sweet-as-can-be desserts such as banana pudding and sopapilla cheesecake. Miller's barbeque is smoked in-house, and baked goods are made daily to provide a fresh, hot meal. 

Pustka Family Barbeque

23330 SE HK Dodgen Loop

Family-owned & operated in Temple, TX, Pustka Family Barbeque is rooted in hometown feels and out-of-this-world food. Quality meats smoked low and slow over post oak is the name of Pustka's game. 

Scheopf's BBQ

702 E Central Ave, Belton, TX

As seen on the Food Network, Scheopf's provides delicious smoked BBQ, live music, and events year-round. Choose your meat right off the mesquite coal-filled pit and have it sliced or chopped to your liking. Customers can choose brisket, sausage, ribs, chicken, turkey, pork chops, sirloin, rib-eyes, quail, and much more! One of Bell County's more well-known barbeque places, Scheopf's, should be on your Bell County barbeque bucket list.