Killen’s BBQ

Like the other reviews say, this is truly the best place to eat BBQ in Houston. It’s a bit tucked away in Pearland, but worth the drive none the less. I waited in line for 1.5 hours, had free beer and enjoyed the blue skies and company. The wait for worth every bite for the beef ribs, brisket and sausage was so amazing! I will definitely be going back again to indulge. Also, the pecan pie is to die for.

Carnivores — DELIGHT. What can I say that hasn’t already been said…
We got there at 12:30 on a Saturday, and the wait was about an hour. First plus: they started distributing cups of Lone Star beer (donation based) to the masses waiting in the heat — classy move. The line seemed pretty steadily a one hour wait after that, and I heard they can run out of food some days so I’d suggest the earlier, the better.
My family and I tried every meat on the menu, and let me tell you, any of these are well worth the wait. One thing I’ll say is that you can get similarly flavored brisket at many BBQ spots, but for me what set this brisket apart was its juiciness — they do a great job not to dry it out and it makes every bite all the better. The beef rib was unbelievable; the jalapeño sausage was a bit tough on the outside but incredibly delicious on the inside; the pork belly was equally great; hell, even the turkey, which might be the least exciting meat on the menu, was juicy and full of flavor. Solid potato salad, and perhaps the sleeper favorite of the meal were the pinto beans, of which I could have easily eaten several servings. Unfortunately had no room for dessert but hope to try some next time i’m in Houston.
Come hungry. Get ready to get your meat sweat on. The wait is well worth possibly the best barbecue meal you’ll ever have!

Definitely worth the one hour wait. My cousin bought 3 pounds of brisket, 2 pounds of beef ribs, and 3 pounds of spare ribs.
They were all delicious!

I’ve been wanting to try this place out forever and today on a whim I decided to make the trek out to Killen’s and am glad I did! With over 900 reviews on Unilocal alone this place has definitely developed a reputation as the place to go for good BBQ! After hearing so many good things about this place from friends who have frequented it I just never got around to making the trek out to Pearland but today I did and it’s not a bad drive at all!
I guess I was expecting something different but what I found was a nice homespun BBQ joint right across from a Dairy Queen located near some churches and non-​descript shopping strips. As I had heard it was just around the lunch hour and there was a pretty good line outside the door. But the wait was really not that long and the food was everything as described. Some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had! Now I’m not a BBQ connoisseur by any means but I know good tasting food when I eat it and this was pretty dang good! I especially loved the beef ribs. Crusty all around but so tender you found it melting in your mouth! Unbelievable! The brisket was really tender also!
The sides were just as good! The creamed corn, the macaroni with cheese… all really good! The prices were really reasonable in my opinion for the quality of the experience and the service was impeccable. Everyone was very friendly!
I was hoping I would get a chance to meet Ronnie Killen today but it was not meant to be. He has definitely achieved celebrity status especially in this town! Kudos Ronnie for making your place the bellwether for good BBQ in the area!
Now on my bucket list, a trip to Austin to visit the infamous Franklin’s BBQ! Hopefully that will happen soon. For this BBQ neophyte the fun part is «educating» the palate and today I feel I got a PhD!

4 Stars…
Waited about 10 minutes after the joint opened, but it was worth it.
My wife and I split the 3 meat plate which came with 2 sides. We tried the pork ribs which were tender and flavorful. We also tried the sausage which had a decent flavor, but a disappointing loose texture. The last of our trio was the brisket and it was fab! Smokey goodness with just the right amount of marbelling for flavor. We were eyeing the gigantic beef rib in line and made a game time decision to give it a try, and it was very good as well… coated with rub and smokey all the way through. For sides we tried the BBQ beans which were tasty, and the Mac& cheese which was pretty average. Sweet tea washed it all down perfectly. For dessert we tried the banana pudding and it was pretty good.
For that we were charged over $ 47 but I think there might have been a mistake, but I did not ask for a receipt, so that would regally be my only complaint.
As mentioned prices seem high, and ambiance is cafeteria classic.
If I’m ever in Houston I’ll be back, as this joint makes the list!

Came there 20 minutes early before they opened and there was already a line at the door. If you come during lunch hours expect to at least wait 30 minutes before getting your food.
I noticed that they had a baked potato special so I tried changing it up and ordering the Loaded Baked Potato with Pulled pork. You can tell how moist the potatoe is when you use a fork and the potato is smooth like butter. For the size and price of this, you can do this for 10.75 with your choice in meat. This enough is extremely filling with the carbs that you really don’t need to order extra sides.
⁴⁄₅ since it deliveries plenty of flavor, yet it still was missing something. Maybe I’ve had my share of better baked potatoes at the rodeo.
Next was the beef brisket. Each bite was packed with flavor and how it broke apart with each bite shows you how much care went into this. This one one of the best things on their menu. ⁵⁄₅
Finally my friend and I shared the carrot cake and bread pudding. ⁵⁄₅ they absolutely have the best carrot cake and bread pudding in town, there’s just no comparison.
Overall very satisfying experience that makes me crave what I should try next on my food adventure.

Let me start by saying I am one of those people that believed NO ONE makes better BBQ than my aunt… Auntie if you’re reading this I’m sorry you’ve been demoted!
So this is a place where you just got to get there before it opens if you have zero patience like I do. I got here around 10:55, they open at 11. The line went down the walkway then down the sidewalk. Seems pretty long but I was inside within 15 minutes. Once inside the line moves quick. Think of it cafeteria style. I chose to get the beef ribs with pulled pork, Mac & Cheese, and bread pudding.
I got it to-​go but I couldn’t resist just taking a little bite. Well… A little bit turned into ‘let me just sit down and eat all I can’. That first bite Into the pulled pork was MAGICAL! Tinker bell must be in the back sprinkling pixie dust on everything because my taste buds were flying! The beef ribs were exceptional and the Mac & Cheese was super cheesy. The thick kind of cheesy. They have 3 kinds of BBQ sauce on every table. Also a to-​go container station of you needed! The bread pudding was meh.
This place is deep in pearland but so worth the line & drive!

Showed up at 10:45am (15 minutes before it opens) on a Friday morning. We got our food and sat down at around 11:30am. The line does start growing a lot more the closer it is to 11am, so I would definitely recommend coming a bit earlier if possible.
Since this was my first time at the rodeo, I wanted to try everything so my friend and I basically ordered all the meats:
Beef Ribs — We couldn’t order these as part of the meat plates so we had to order the beef ribs separately. While they were good, I definitely wouldn’t order them again since they weren’t really all that special.
Brisket — Some of the best brisket I’ve ever had. Great smoky flavor and moist but not TOO moist where your tongue gets coated in fat like at Rudy’s (even though that can be delicious too). The brisket was very reminiscent of Franklin BBQ in Austin.
Bone-​In Pork Belly — Pretty good! I don’t think BBQ is my favorite way to enjoy pork belly, but I liked it. Again, it was fatty but not too fatty. The smokiness of the BBQ balances that out.
Sausage — Honestly, not my favorite. The sausage here kind of crumbles once it’s out of its wrapper and I don’t really like the texture when sausage is served this way. Sorry.
Pork Ribs — It must have an off-​day for Killen’s. I’ve read really good reviews about the pork ribs but they were incredibly dry and I don’t even think I finished it.
Creamed Corn — Reminiscent of Rudy’s creamed corn but with more pepper.
Green Beans — Pretty basic but I liked them. It was nice to have something green on my tray.
Bread Pudding — The best bread pudding I’ve ever had. Just like the brisket, it was super moist.
Overall, Killen’s was probably still some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had. Most places just can’t get it right. I’ll still give Killen’s 5 stars though because it’s such great value and the line wasn’t too crazy. We spent around $ 20/​person and went home with leftovers.

I’ve haven’t had Franklin’s, but I’ve heard a lot about Killen’s right up on that same caliber. Arrive early around 9 – 10 AM to make sure you get your share. They only make a limited amount. Doors open around 11 AM and it WILL wrap around the block. Pretty cool that they hand out beer for the people in line for donations. Plenty of parking in the back.
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DRY RUB BEEF BRISKET I HAVE EVER HAD! =O We came here with 10 guys and wanted to try everything and ended up over ordering a bit. Everyone had left overs. If you just want a modest order, just get the beef plate and add on as you want. Bread pudding and cream corn was AMAZING! =O Don’t sleep on this place, it’s a place you must check out.

No other BBQ will do for me anymore. It was ranked #2 in the nation for good reason!
Yes, there will be a line. YES, you’ll be glad you waited in it. Yes, it’s pricey. But when you’re the best in the biz? No complaints here.
While I have yet to try anything that was not great here, this is our go to order for friends & family:
Brisket
Beef rib
Creamed corn
Mac & cheese
Bread pudding
The banana pudding is also excellent and the collard greens are delicious (but have bacon so are no vegetarian friendly… if that was even a concern coming here?)
That usually totals around $ 50 – 70, depending on how large our sides are. We always have leftovers to bring home though & they just dropped the prices on the brisket and ribs significantly. To me, it’s well worth it.
Obviously, try to avoid Friday’s, lunch time, and weekends if you don’t like an hour+ line. Middle of the week, after 1 PM, you’ll be in and ordered within 20 minutes for sure.
Now GO! ;)

Bread Pudding: 5.0÷5.0 (Best of the Best).
Brisket: 5.0÷5.0 (Best of the Best).
Pork Ribs: 5.0÷5.0 (Best of the Best).
Pulled Pork: 4.5÷5.0.
Waygu Ribs: 5.0÷5.0.
Beef Ribs: 4.5÷5.0.
Pork Belly: 4.5÷5.0.
Sausage (Jalapeño): 3.5÷5.0.
Chicken: 3.5÷5.0.
Turkey: 3.0÷5.0.
My burps on the drive home were ‘smoky’.

My BF came home bragging about how amazing the beef ribs are here and then went two more times without me because I couldn’t wake up early enough to beat the rush of carnivores patiently waiting in line for their fill of the prize.
This past Friday, I finally got up early enough and went. We got there about 9:55am and there was one couple in front of us. About 10:30 the line began steadfastly grow longer and longer. About 10:45 they brought out the first batch of fresh free beers to quench our thirst from the heat.
11AM: I stepped into Killen’s for the very first time greeted by a cafeteria style layout. Excitedly, I grabbed a tray and began to order. I opted for the Prime Rib plate because it was one of their specials for the day. My BF ordered 3.47 pounds of their beef ribs. We ordered sides, paid and made our way to their outdoor dinning area.
We were greeted with more free beers and country music to get the entire Texas BBQ experience.
The verdict: the prime rib I wouldn’t order again. It was a bit of a disappointment. The beef ribs however… OH MY GOD. Juicy, fatty, tender off the bone meat just bursting all this amazing flavor in your mouth. I didn’t know whether to cry, or die right there.
So two days later and I am still eating the leftovers from Friday. I’ve literally made eggs Benedict with the prime rib and have been slowly cutting small pieces off the 2lbs we brought home.

Sooo much hype for Killen’s! It was neither a disappointment nor a huge wow place! Before making the drive over to Pearland and waiting in a line that may or may not take you longer than an hour make sure you go at a reasonable time because they close doors and stop selling once they run out of food for the day.
Prices were borderline nyc level but at the end of the day the combination of the quantity and quality of the meat they served is quite a bit better than nyc barbecue.
I ordered the two meat plate, opting for brisket and sausage. I definitely enjoyed the brisket more so than sausage but both required a heavy dose of sauce. The brisket just melts in your mouth, essentially the perfect cut of meat. But, honestly the favorite part of my meal was the creamed corn — super sweet and super delicious!
ps. Great craft beer selection!

Droolworthy succulent barbecue, definitely worth the wait! We waited about an hour from 11−12PM on a Saturday. Just kick back with friends and enjoy some beer, you’ll be at the front ordering before you know it.
With so many options, what was the star item off their menu? BEEF RIBS! This super tender meat will definitely change your view on BBQ and knock your socks off. Smoked and seasoned to perfection, these beef ribs will leave you wanting more. No wonder they limit the amount each customer is allowed to order! We also ordered the 2 meat platter to try the brisket and pork ribs. Don’t get me wrong, these two meats were great as well, but it was all about the beef ribs for me.
Do not leave this place without ordering their bread pudding! Consistency of the bread pudding was completely different than others I’ve had; custardy, light and airy, and not too overly sweet. While I kept my excitement to myself, the guy at the table next to me shouted, «WOO! THAT WAS GOOD» after taking his first bite. With all the amazing reviews, don’t need convincing to know this place is without a doubt one of the best barbecue joints.

This is easily one of the best barbecue places in the Houston area, possibly the best. When I showed up (on St. Patrick’s Day) the line was at least 100 people out the door. A lady was coming by with cups of beer and taking donations rather than selling them in honor of the holiday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that before.
When we got into the place, we were able to see a menu overhead well before we got to the serving line, which made ordering incredibly easy. My girlfriend and I opted for a couple of multi-​meat plates so we would get to try just about everything. As we made our way down the line, we felt that we had enough food not to order dessert, but one of the guys referred to the bread pudding as «life changing,» so we grabbed that as well. We were not disappointed.
Regarding the meats– The brisket was tender and lightly fatty, well smoked and seasoned. The sausage was slightly spicy and very juicy. The pork ribs were slightly dry for my taste, but were hardly disappointing. The pork belly was a perfect combination of meaty and fatty, with a thick crust of seasoning on top. The pulled pork was the only item that wasn’t amazing– it was way too dry. Perhaps we got some that had been on the edge of the heating tray for too long?
Regarding the sides– the Mac and Cheese was one of the best I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something considering it’s one of my favorite sides. The creamed corn was also amazing. My girlfriend opted for baked beans, which we were both very satisfied by. She kept stealing my macaroni because of how good it was.
When you get to the table, they have three sauces available. For some reason, the ones on our table weren’t marked, but other tables had some labels. The coffee one was solid and worked well with the pork belly. The mustard one was slightly sweet and provided a good compliment to the unfortunately dry pulled pork. The tangy one was the best– it had a slight spice and smoky flavor which complimented just about everything.
The bread pudding was hands down the best I’ve ever had. The sauce was incredible, the texture was perfect, and the flavor was incredibly balanced. I’ve had bread pudding at a lot of different places with mixed results, but I thought my expectations were too high for this one. They were not.
I need to come by to try the giant beef ribs, but the mac & cheese and bread pudding alone are worth coming back for. They almost overshadow the amazing brisket. Definitely returning, and I don’t mind waiting in line again for food this good.

Yep, believe the hype, this place is probably among the best BBQ I’ve ever had, and only one other small time place in Savannah, GA does a beef rib on this level, and they don’t serve it day in day out every day.
Guess we lucked out a bit since the weather today (Wed) wasn’t great, cloudy and rainy so when a coworker and I showed up around 12:30pm, the line was barely out the door and we were inside and had sat down in about 15 minutes.
We split a pound of beef rib along with a 3 meat plate consisting of brisket, pork ribs and jalapeño sausage. The meats were simply delicious, yes the beef rib has some fat in it, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The brisket wasn’t very fatty but still very tender. Pork rib was tasty and could be a headliner at many other places I’ve been to but kind of takes a backseat here. Sausage wasn’t fatty at all and had a perfect amount of spiciness. Really liked the sauces they had, although tangy would probably be my favorite. Sides took a back seat today but the green beans were good and the collards were tasty as well (leaves could’ve been cut up a bit more but I’m nitpicking here).
All in all a great experience and I’m seriously tempted to go back again tomorrow.

We came here for lunch. This is such a famous place, we had to try it, and it’s 10 min from home– so no excuse. We scouted the time the line begins and it’s before it opens. We were there early and stood in line FOREVER anyway LOL!
It’s super delicious BBQ though!!! They have the HUGE ribs that use to tilt Fred Flintstone’s car!!! The owner came to talk to us and he’s a very nice man. They have a pretty cool outdoor sitting area. We look forward to try Killen’s other restaurants. Come to Pearland to try this food!!!

Yup, the line does not lie. This is some fantastic BBQ.
Speaking of that line, don’t sweat it. Sure it’s long but the ice cold beer served while you wait gets you loose and primes you for the meat extravaganza that awaits. With a beer in hand we chatted, danced, joked and plotted our meal. About an hour later it was show time and we were on deck!
It didn’t seem to matter how much we discussed our order as all planning went out the window when we reached the front of the line. We ended up with two beef ribs, which were about the size of dinosaur bones, the six meat plate, some extra brisket and a few extra sides. After tip our shared meal was about $ 145.00 and we had enough to take home with us.
My faves? The brisket and the beef ribs. I guess this mean to go for cow since they were my top two picks out of all of the offerings. The bark was peppery and the mean was tender beyond belief.
Am I a BBQ expert? Absolutely not. I’m just a kid from California that likes to eat and knows what he likes. Killen’s not only did me right but is also worth the wait.

I don’t even like BBQ, but since its every locals favorite, I had to give this a try.
We were here around 1pm on Saturday and there was still a line. We probably waited a little over 30 minutes and took their offer for free beer, but mainly because I wanted the souvenir cup.
We ordered 1lb of brisket, 1lb of beef rib (which is really 99% bone and 1% meat), 1 jalapeño sausage, mac & cheese, and then topped it off with bread pudding.
TIP: Ask for slices of bread (its complimentary) with your meats
I tried the beef rib first because you can’t get them in the meat plates, so I figured it must be good? But then I tried the brisket and it was delicious. The ends were the best part. They look ugly and burnt, but it was really good.

This review will be short and sweet, so you don’t waste any time deciding if you should or shouldn’t go to Killens.
1. The brisket is out of this world — the best any of us have had ever and literally falling apart to the touch.
2. The sausage was dry — save the cals and leftover stomach space for the Mac and cheese
3. The Mac is the bomb dot com. Perfectly cheesy, dense and gooey. Perfecto
4. One beef rib was $ 25 and the pork ribs (which come on the meat plate) are far more divine. Don’t waste your $$$ just for a pic eating a huge rib that isn’t as good as their other meats
5. The bbq sauces (all 3 are just decent) I prefer rudys sauce or something more apple cider like.
Don’t expect bread to come with it. I guess you have to pay extra.
Lastly, be prepared to fork out some cash to try the things you want. We spent $ 75 for two people! Granted we did have lots to take home.
I’d come back. Solely for the brisket!!!

The bbq beef was very fatty and had thick bitter bark but the sides were awesome.

THEM BEEF RIBS THO…
Seriously one of the best beef ribs I’ve ever had, comes right off the bone — ahh yes, the same bone that goes on the scale that produces $ 18.00/lb (that’s the 1 star off)
Honestly I wouldn’t mind paying $ 18/​lb for those beef by itself without the bone.
****Since I started this review I’ve went back twice already. So far I’ve had tried
— Beef Ribs
— Pork Ribs
— Jalapeño/​Reg Sausage
— Pulled Pork
— Briskets
— Fried Chicken Plate
— Cream Corn /​Mac Cheese /​Green Beans
My favorite is the pork ribs but the surprise was how good the fried chicken was.
Definitely worth waiting in line but heard that the system has changed since I’ve been last year. Will have to go back one day and see if it’s still as good as it is.

I am not a big fan of BBQs but I can totally see why this place is rated 2^nd in the country. very tender juice meat.
The line is always quite long but the wait is worth it and the people on line have been friendly. all three times i have felt as thought it was a tailgate event rather than a line. i mean; the free beer helps. lol

Where do I start?!
Ok you definitely must get there early if you want a guaranteed chance of getting the Wagyu Beef Burnt Ends or the Wagyu Brisket. I would definitely recommend both if they have it available. Also bring a chair to sit in because you may be standing for a while.
I got the Wagyu Burnt Ends and the brisket. The burnt ends just melt in your mouth as you chew. All the juices and flavoring just give your mouth a field day as you eat and same goes for the brisket. I would definitely recommend it and it is worth the wait.
I also got a beef rib which was very very filling the meat just came off the bone very tender and juicy. No need for any BBQ sauce what so ever.
Prices are a tad high but I think it is good quality BBQ you’re getting for the price. It’s worth it to try it out and make the drive and well worth the long wait.

We often get this in office for lunch and I’m never overly impressed the meat always taste like its from the day before and I’m a big sauce person, theirs is in the funny side not thick how I think true Texas Bbq sauce should be.
The potato salad is always on point!

This spot was AMAZING! First time out in the Houston, TX area visiting a college friend and she took us out here for lunch. The wait in the line was long, but it’s something I’m used to. The extra bonus was while waiting in line you can get free beer from the keg they had out front. At first we weren’t gonna drink (because we didn’t have any cash to tip), but the couple in front of us gave us $ 3 dollars and told us to go enjoy ourselves.
Once we got to order we picked a little bit of everything. The food was sooOooOooOOooOOooo good! Just pure euphoria! Out of what I had I enjoyed the pork belly, mac & cheese and burnt ends. The bread pudding was also delicious! I just wish I had extra stomachs so I can enjoy more of the food in one sitting.

I finally made it to the GREAT spot that’s been bookmarked forever as I search for an additional reason to drive to Pearland Freakin Texas!!! So 2÷5÷16 was the day. I am no longer a Killens BBQ virgin!!! The rumor you’ve heard about the long line is true, but it’s because they are all good!!! BUT they treat you right while you wait. For those that are beer drinkers (not my thing), you can have free beer while you wait. Did I say free? I like free or as close to free as you can get it… lets talk about the BBQ. I ordered the 3 meat plate with ribs and double brisket, beans, and Mac n Cheese! For dessert I had the carrot cake.
That meat was well seasoned and so tender that you could eat it with 1 eating utensil of choice!!! The people here know what they’re doing with that meat I’m trying to tell you. Oooooh and the Mac n cheese is sooooo creamy and cheesy, just the way it should be. The carrot cake was warm and literally had long shredded pieces of carrots on top (that was a dramatic presentation)…lol!!! BUT it was good. I will be back, I will be back, I will be back AGAIN, Again, Again!!!

I’m honestly not sure what the big deal with this place is. The BBQ is good but not extraordinary. I would put it about the same level as Pappa’s and a little better than Rudy’s. Sides are also good, but nothing great.
I do want to comment about the line though. Everyone talks about having to wait in line for half an hour and I was no exception. The really irritating part though was to get to the front of the line and find that it was completely unnecessary. The whole reason that long line exists is because there is a bottleneck at a single cashier who is doing everything from ringing people up to selling shirts to handling take out to customer service issues to etc… You get the idea. If they added a second cashier and/​or split take out and shirt sales to a separate person, the line would completely disappear. Now, maybe they want a line. Maybe they need to slow down the pace to the point where the kitchen can handle it or maybe they think the line is good marketing. Regardless, it cuts their throughput in half and makes this a much more irritating experience than is necessary. (BTW — I think it also dramatically cuts their revenue and margin down but that is their problem).
Overall, the restaurant has good food but, for me, not worth the hassle. I won’t be back.

I was in town visiting and wanted real deal Texas bbq. My gf immediately suggested that I need to wait in line for an hour or two for Killens. I stared out blankly in response and thought, «Say what now?»
So, with heavy feet we arrived half hour before opening time. The line was already by the street… ugh. Folks, learn from my mistake and just show up earlier. Rolling out of bed on a Sunday morning just to wait in a line may not sound ideal, but your tastebuds will sing high praises once you consume the goods. Anyway, after the 45 minute mark, my group was zoning out into a bbq trance. So close to the door, yet still 20 ish minutes away from ordering. Luckily, the keg came out and we were given cups of Lone Star. It was the perfect victory drink to have in hand as we crossed through the double door entrance.
Once inside, I got the beef rib plate, a lb of brisket, and the mac and cheese and beans for sides. The last serving of bread pudding looked pathetic on it’s lonesome self, but I knew it was a must order.
Honestly, upon first inspection of my rib I was like umm it’s just one rib, i got this! Yeah, that was a total lie. I gave up after halfway and that was with help too! The savory taste and tender texture of the beef rib definitely coats your mouth with every bite. The brisket was delicious as well, but that beef rib had my full attention at first bite.
Finally, I approach the topic of dessert. Remember that last piece of mushy bread pudding that I forced myself to get? Well, it was the best decision ever!!! The silky, buttery, and sweet taste converged into a huge flavor party in my mouth. It’s been 3 weeks since I tried the bread pudding here and it’s deliciousness still haunts me. Why bread pudding, whyyyyyy?!?
TL;DR– Order the beef rib, brisket, and dessert (s).

I tend to agree with the majority of my fellow raters. Several visits in, I basically tasted all of the different barbeque meats, sides and the desserts they offer.
If I only ate the beef brisket, honkin’ huge beef rib and divine desserts and never came back… I would give it a 5 star and leave it at that. The brisket breaks apart upon touch since it’s so delicate, the intimidating looking beef ribs fall off the bone as you attempt to «fork it». Side order of collard greens are a go. Bananas foster and the bread pudding, so unbelievably rich that I am warning you not to eat one all by yourself; you could become a diabetic. If you ignore my advice, at least you enjoyed yourself before going into sugar shock, right?
Now the negative but not really negative news. Everything else: average to above average. The pork ribs, decent at 4 stars. Pulled pork, 3.5 stars. Turkey, alright. Sausage, okay. Barbeque sauce needs to be thicker and more bold, perhaps a spicy version also.
Summary? Come early, get the brisket, beef rib and dessert!

Not sure about the week, but there is always a giant line during the weekend. I’ve been twice and honestly, if the weather is nice, the line is pretty painless. When the doors open, things move quickly. I recommend coming before opening. 10:15 am on Saturday morning seems to be a good balance between a decent spot in line and not having to spend your entire morning waiting.
The BBQ is delish. Beef ribs all the way. And I love their sauces, which is really a rarity for me for TX BBQ. So if you’re wondering if the line is worth it, the answer is a resounding yes.

One of the greatest BBQ I have had in a while. I usually don’t let the hype cloud my judgement when trying a new place, but this place was superb. The bbq beef rib meat fell right off the bone and was seasoned very well. My favorite was the beef brisket. It was also soft and seasoned to perfection. It’s a little pricier than other Bbq joints but worth every penny.
Thank goodness my friend had to stand in line instead of me so be prepared for that!
I’m not going to let the banana bread pudding bring down my rating. It was too caramel-​y for my taste. But this is mainly a bbq place so I am still giving it five stars. Cannot wait to eat it again.

OMG!!! Why has it taken me so long to come here??? The absolute BEST Bar-​B-​Que this side of heaven. I usually don’t do beef ribs because it’s like trying to eat leather. Killen’s is a beef rib bar-​b-​que master!!! Super tender and tons of flavor. A must for all bar-​b-​que aficionados/​connoisseurs.
Time to get back to food!

Killen’s changed my life.
We were brought here by local recommendations and expected to wait in line due to it being a popular spot. We did the waiting — cool tip, Killen’s has a beer keg service outside for those waiting in line, so it made the wait much more bearable — very smart! And boy, was it worth the wait!
Once we got inside, we were assaulted by all the choices and couldn’t decide on one so… we got a little bit of everything! For two, we got some pork ribs, briskets, pork belly, collard greens, baked beans, Mac n cheese and cole slaw. But wait for it, the boyfriend was enticed by all the dessert options and ended up ordering a carrot cake and banana bread pudding on top of all the meat! And that’s even the end of it, Killen, himself saw that I wanted to try the fried chicken (which they don’t sell by the piece) and gave me an order of fries chicken on the house. Thank you, sir!
We doge in and everything was delicious! The grilled meat had amazing seasoning with tender meat that fell off the bones. Whereas the chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The sides? They add a dimension to the dish and are delicious on their own. This restaurant definitely put their heart and soul into the food and you can expect no less from the dessert. We didn’t finish everything, but you betcha, we packed it up.
The restaurant was busy the entire time we were there and it was such a great atmosphere to be in as everyone seemed so happy with their food.
My only complaint? Why aren’t you in Seattle? Now I can’t eat BBQ and look at the food the same way.

The BBQ is excellent… But how the restaurant is run suck… I guess they want to keep the line long… keep the people driving by guessing… hey it is working…
Don’t fix something if it ain’t broking. But I try it… but won’t be back due to the long 2 hour line.
It is a must try place if you can spare 3 hours of your time plus time driving from Houston.

Located in Pearland, this BBQ place is THE place to show out of towners what Texas BBQ is all about. The building has a homey feel, and plays some of the best country music selections. There is a nice sized patio, and the staff are very helpful.
Here is what I tried: Brisket– It cut like butter with a plastic knife. I want to eat it everyday for the rest of my life. Pulled pork– I shouldn’t have tasted the brisket first, but it was still really good. Creamed Corn– The texture is more diverse than I’m used to, which I love. There were whole kernels mixed in with the creamy ones so it’s not like baby food. Mac N Cheese– Next time I’ll get double. It was super cheesy with a crunchy topping added. Berry cobber– It was good, I was pretty full by then. Key Lime Cheesecake– Delicious! I almost keeled over from the amount of food I tried.
Five stars all the way. Final note, we got there at 9:45 and were 3^rd in line when they opened. They have free Loan Star beer while you wait (tip the man, he’s nice).

How to plan a trip to Killen’s: come hungry and if at all possible, come for a weekday lunch. The line is very manageable (max 30 min wait) and the food is just as excellent. If not possible, come on a weekend in the winter. At least you won’t melt while waiting and the heat won’t suck your appetite away if you sit outside. I’ve arrived at 10:45am on weekdays and sat down with my food by 11:10am but saw that the line was pretty much minimal by noon so you can really come anytime after they open and be served fairly quickly. I’ve also arrived by 10am on weekends and had to wait around 1.5−2hours. They have a ticket system which is nice to not have to stand in the sun– pull a ticket and go hang out in the shaded porch area in the back with some free beer.
What to order at Killen’s: always get the beef rib plate. If you buy the plate ($ 16) it comes with 2 sides and you aren’t paying by the pound ($ 20– down from $ 22). For 2 hungry people I usually order 1 beef rib plate, a half pound of brisket ($ 16/​lb down from $ 20), and a half pound of pork belly ($ 17/​lb). This is ample food for 2 people and we usually have some left over depending on if we ate dessert. The stars are definitely the beef rib and pork belly: tender, flavorful, and fall off the bone goodness. Sausage is nowhere near as good as these. Brisket is great but again, not beef rib quality. Sides are decent– I like the creamed corn and baked beans. Carrot cake is the best dessert I’ve had here– it’s super dense and carroty, it doesn’t even really need the cream cheese frosting but it still comes with tons of it. Share it, if you ate it by yourself you’ll probably pop.
Other things: do try the pickles, they’re house made butter pickles and little medallions of perfection. Ask for white bread in line if you want it. My favorite sauce is the tangy sauce. You can easily pack everything (sauce, condiments) to go with their handy to go station. Ask for your food to go in line if you know you’re taking some extra home.
Killens is always worth the trip. The BBQ is consistently excellent, if you plan well you hopefully don’t have to wait too long in line, and all the sides and condiments make your experience that much better.

my brother spent 3 hours on the road and waiting in line to get takeout from this place. I thought he was nuts. but then I ate a rib and I was converted. thankfully my bro was nice enough to get a spread for the whole family on his own sacrifice.
best ribs I’ve ever had.
these ribs are from the Shaquille of cattle. I truly don’t know how they found animals this big. you almost think it’s going to taste horrible since it looks grotesquely huge. but damn, it is even and tender all the way through. all gristle and fat has been nicely rendered. the rib makes a perfect crust that is not overly thick but carries just enough tanginess and char. these guys are meat artists.
I’ve heard the ribs are the highlight and the brisket are more hit or miss (I’ve only sampled the ribs)
definitely get the bread pudding. also one of the best I’ve had.

Sweet baby Jesus.
This place. This place right here.
This is a very strong statement, but I’m going to say it anyway.
This is the best barbecue place I’ve tried in Texas. Like ever. Like, for serious.
My family and I waited 2.5 hours out in the cold and there were no regrets after. I mean, why would there be regrets if they’re giving out free beer to those who wait?! God bless these folks.
The beef ribs look like they’re made for dinosaurs. Think 2 huge bones that are plopped on your plate, with big juicy meat on them. I’ve never seen anything like it!
My colleague recommended their turkey, and I was amazed at how juicy it was. I wish I knew their recipe!
For sides, everyone talks about the sweet corn, but I’m all about dat mac n cheese doe. Super cheesy and just the right amount of salt. Very creamy and not at all watery.
No one talks about the sausage, but I also found it very good as well. Order it if you’re doing multiple meats!
And then there are the sauces. Coffee sauce, tangy sauce– all amazing.
Throw in a cup of sweet tea and you’re in heaven. A must-​visit no matter where you’re living or staying in Houston.

Killen’s you are my one hope in the desert of Houston barbecue!
I’ve lined up here multiple times for Killens, and never has it disappointed! I’ve had to wait between 30 – 60 minutes for lunch here, which I don’t think is too crazy after spending a couple years in Austin. Good Texas barbecue is worth waiting for :)
When you come here, always get the beef rib. No doubt — there shouldn’t even be a question about it! You can try the other meats, but if you haven’t had the beef rib, get it immediately. I like the brisket and pork ribs too, but nothing compares to the massive slab of meat and bone they plop on your plate. If you want more, just order the rest by the quarter pound — trust me it’s worth it.
Aside from the barbecue itself, one of the best things about Killens? It’s not JUST barbecue. Top notch sides and desserts too. Mac and cheese, creamed corn, cole slaw — it’s a level above the rest. Rudy’s made me fall in love with creamed corn, but Killen’s creamed corn is king. Also, don’t forget about the desserts! Bread pudding and carrot cake are both excellent here, and I’ve heard amazing things about the banana pudding.
I’m sure Unilocal needs to convincing of Killen’s supremacy in Houston, but I’d like to add my personal recommendation to the list! I don’t know if I could wait for the full line on Saturday, but if you ever have a weekday off and you don’t mind a short wait, go for barbecue at Killen’s. You won’t regret it!

I’m from California, so the place I go to for the best BBQ is Phil’s BBQ in San Diego (10,000+ reviews on Unilocal with 4.5 stars). That’s solid. I was hoping this place would be as good because Texas is after all known for it’s BBQ… and this place did not disappoint! In fact, it was the BEST BBQ I’ve had.
This place doesn’t slather a bunch of BBQ sauce and call it BBQ. The meat is flavorful, tender, and smokey. I ordered Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, and Beef Ribs. My favorite has to be the Beef Ribs but the Pulled Pork is not far behind. The char on the Beef Ribs didn’t taste burnt or salty! The line is ridiculous (waited 60 minutes), so if I go back, it would have to be a weekday. They give free beer while you wait in line.
Sides:
MAC AND CHEESE: thumbs up
POTATO SALAD: thumbs up
Dessert:
BANANA PUDDING: good but nothing special
BREAD PUDDING: this one is special. It has sweet potato or some other secret ingredient. Not sure if I would order it again because I was overly stuffed (and ingested enough calories for a week) by the time we got to dessert.

Another remarkable meal at Killen’s BBQ on recent Sunday with friends. Spareibs, pulled pork, and brisket were fantastic, as well as the Sunday fried chicken special. This fried chicken is good enough to be the feature for a separate restaurant! Creamed corn and collard greens were spectacular. Always a good time when we get together and share a meal with my #BBQFamily.
Brisket here is a standout, with the lean and moist each being excellent in their own way. I’ve often asked Ronnie if he was eating today, what would he order, and on many occasions he’s said «pork ribs». He says he’s always been a fan, and one of the first things he was passionate about cooking and perfecting at his original BBQ place was pork ribs. House-​made sausage is fantastic – a coarse grind of brisket trimmings, a little pork and applewood smoked bacon.
Don’t skip on desserts! That bread pudding alone will haunt you in your dreams!

I’m reducing my rating because I ordered (pre-​paid) for a turkey. Came at 3pm (within the timeframe of 2−5pm) for pick up only to be told that the 2^nd round is not ready. I now have to wait an hour before the turkey will be available. Extremely annoying!!! I’ll never pre-​order from Killen’s again or come back to eat here.
And the most ridiculous thing to say to me… «we can give it to you and you can finish the cooking at home». WTH
See picture of smoked turkey. I hope my friend enjoy it as the order was a gift for her and her family.

So, you are wondering if this place has the BEST BOMB DIGGITY BBQ?! You wait in line for about 45 mins just to find out if this place is true to its reviews and if it’s honest to all the hype. Whatever you do, don’t ever never ever believe the hype.
get this, this place has good BBQ that’s true and the facts of life, but it definitely isn’t the best. Nope, it isn’t. Let me explain why it not.
Now, I am just gonna jump to the food. I ordered the 1 meat plate: I got the brisket (since the beef rib plate was $ 16!!!), with baked beans and potato salad.
The 1 meat plate was the cheapest plate, $ 11. With tax, $ 12.
I ate a bite of the brisket without the sweet bbq sauce and it was bland as ever. Just like cavemen food. Although, once I put that sweet BBQ sauce on it, the meat started to taste so good in my mouth. I had three sexy slices and they were tender.
I also sampled the turkey. I didn’t prefer the seasoning they had it was a mix between sweet, sour, and spicy that didn’t sit well with me.
The baked beans were no bueno. Seriously, it was more BBQ sauce than beans. Bush’s baked beans definitely taste better. I can literally eat Bush’s baked beans for life, but if I do that I’ll have a continuously amount of gas.
The potato salad was mustard based and didn’t have any flavor to it. It tasted OK nothing much to it just huge chunks of potatoes. My favorite is the brand St. Clair at Sam’s, it has so much flavor. Although, this one here lacked a lot of flavor. so much for it being the best!
I was able to sample the creamed corn, now that was the best! It definitely tasted like the corn that my grandma cooked. Its a good thing, I already know the recipe.
The pecan pie, now that was overly sweet and had no consistency in taste. It had a lot of Karo Syrup added to it and hardly any pecans; more sweet center. It wasn’t the best. It was OK that they attempted to master it.
Also, the guy serving desserts and sides was asking me way too many questions about what I wanted for dessert. He overwhelmed me because I really wanted to sample the banana pudding to decide if they add instant pudding in theirs or not.
One thing that really excited my taste buds were the homemade bread and butter pickles. They were so good! I even had to pack some with me for the go.
Now, y’all are asking is it worth standing in line for? Nope! Its not even worth it. My dad cooks way better BBQ every Sunday and plus its FREE for me. My mum’s pecan pie tastes a lot better too.
So, don’t believe the hype. All these reviews saying that the BBQ is the best, those are definitely subjective and I am assuming those people never had good home cooked BBQ before cooked by their relatives or parents. I mean, first time for everything.
All of desserts are $ 4.50 except for the key lime cheesecake which is $ 5.50.
The waiting in line isn’t a problem if you have a good book to read or someone whose a motor mouth.
I wouldn’t recommend the baked beans, potato salad and the pecan pie.
Also, additional parking is behind the restaurant near the school.

Oh. My. God.
We waited in line for an hour and honestly I would have waited for ten hours just for a bite of this amazing BBQ.
First of all, Killen’s manages to make even waiting in line fun — they provide beer! The people around us were friendly, too, so we were never really bored while we waited (and I was able to steal some wifi from the DQ across the street). Plus, as we got closer to the restaurant, the amazing, smoky and savory smell of Killen’s food wafted over us.
The menu is simple, yet fulfilling. We got way, way too much for the two of us. The only issue I took was that it doesn’t seem like you can order ¼ lb of anything… but at the same time, it means we get more leftovers :). We originally planned to get brisket, a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, and the beef ribs… but then we also saw that burnt ends were on special and we kinda had to get some (this decision was prompted by the fact that an employee was kind enough to let us taste the burnt ends… and then we really just were morally obligated to get them).
I honestly can’t decide if my #1 from the meal was the burnt ends or the beef ribs. The burnt ends had probably the best flavor of any meat I’ve ever tried. When warm, they were so soft, juicy, flavorful, and lightly crispy. However: once they cooled down, they got a little hard and didn’t taste as great. The beef ribs were also amazing — they were the most tender, buttery meat I had ever tried. They weren’t as flavorful as the tips but they maintained excellent texture throughout the meal. They were a little overly fatty but really not gonna complain too much about that.
I LOVED the pulled pork sandwich, though I felt it needed extra BBQ sauce. However, the buttery bun and the pork were A+. The only reason the sandwich didn’t make #1 on my list was because it just didn’t have that mind-​blowing goodness of the tips and ribs. However, there was a TON of delicious, juicy pork piled high onto this sandwich, and I loved it.
The brisket is everyone’s favorite, but to me, it was just OK. I didn’t think it was as fall-​apart-​juicy-​and-​tender as it should have been, and the flavor was a little plain to me. However, my boyfriend thought it was phenomenal so maybe that’s just getting a bad taste of it.
As for the sides: holy moly, the creamed corn was fantastic. Not too sweet but not too salty, I had to stop myself from eating it because I was supposed to be sharing. We should have gotten 2x as much. The mac n cheese was unremarkable — it was cheesy but kind of dry and nothing special.
For dessert, we got the banana pudding. I loved it and it came in an adorable little mason jar that with «Killen’s» on it. It tasted fresh and cool and sweet. As we were sitting outside, one of the employees, Manny, with whom we had talked before, came over to see how we were doing. He was surprised that we had not gotten the bread pudding and said «Wait right here», then came back with a little sample of it for us! There was seasonal pumpkin spice bread pudding and it was GREAT — the cream cheese frosting was stellar. We were so full, but we couldn’t stop eating. We got to meet a few more employees and they were all so kind and friendly, and let us take home the Killen’s mason jar (from the banana pudding) as a souvenir.
The atmosphere isn’t anything to write home about but that really didn’t matter. Inside it was pretty cold and plain (I didn’t want to eat there and thankfully did not have to) and we ate outside, with lovely wooden tables, paper towels, sunshine, and three delicious types of BBQ sauce to keep us company.
All in all, between the fantastic food, wonderful employees, and outdoor seating, I can’t have imagined a better experience at Killen’s or anywhere else. I left beyond words happy. I hope I return to Houston soon so that I can go back!

Not even sure where to start but Killen’s has got to be the best BBQ I’ve had in years… if not ever. It’s definitely the best I had since I moved to the East Coast over a decade ago.
Today, our party of 7 hit up Killen’s for lunch, with 5 of us being first timers here. To the man, we were all impressed and I don’t think any of us can say we’ve had better. Comparable perhaps, but not better. On top of that, 4 of us were out-​of-​towners so our exposure to BBQ is widespread and not limited to Houston, although we all grew up here.
I’ll skip all the instructions on when to get there, what happens if you’re late, etc. You can read the other reviews or Google it if you want to know more about that.
I had the rib plate which comes with 2 sides. I also grabbed a pound of brisket to go and bread pudding for dessert.
Simply put, the rib was the best I have ever had. I know some will argue that «so and so» has better ribs and that’s fine. Killen’s ribs are very smoky and peppery and super tender. Not overcooked but fall off the bone tender while still preserving a good chew (which I prefer over food you can just «gum and swallow»). It has enough flavor to where you don’t need to add any BBQ sauce but their sauces are all tasty and worth trying. But please don’t desecrate the food and drown it in sauce — that would be a real shame and you can do that at another/​lesser restaurant whose food needs the assistance of sauces to satisfy you. Killen’s ribs do not!
The mac & cheese and beans, too, were delicious but I came here for meat and the meats are the stars of the show here for sure. So the pound of brisket I got to go probably ended up being a ²⁄₃ of a pound because I sampled it and enjoyed it enough to take a couple of more stabs at it. Sorry, family, I truly did intend to bring the entire pound back for y’all. Maybe the next time. Nahhh — y’all better just come with me.
The bread pudding, too, was outstanding and generously portioned. Amply sweet and packed full of flavor but without being unnecessarily sugary. I wished I could have eaten the whole thing but I was too full and wanted to quit while I was ahead and before I regretted it later. The good news is that someone at home will be very happy. NOTE: today’s version was not their usual/“regular” version but a seasonal variety.
They also have sliced onions, sweet pickle slices, and pickled jalapenos to accompany your meal and help break up the taste and wake up your palate for another bite of meaty goodness.
My other mates ordered various things but my food coma is coming on strong now so I’m going to end this review and take a nap. I’m sure the nap will include a dream of returning the next chance I get. Maybe I’ll try some of their other succulent offerings like sausage or smoked turkey but I’d be more than content with a repeat of today.
Oh, and they have plenty of covered outdoor seating. On a lovely fall day like today, it was our preference over sitting inside.
My only complaint? Killen’s is a 4-​hour plane ride away from home. Dangit!