Texas-sized 10-inch mozzarella stick at Perfect Tender Hot Chicken

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Today on Texas Eats NOW: Trill (KSAT 2026)TRILL BURGERS

3607 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Trill Burgers, founded by Houston rap legend Bun B, serves a streamlined menu centered around crispy-edged smashburgers and bold, straightforward flavors. The signature OG Burger stacks two smashed all-beef patties with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and signature Trill Sauce on a soft potato roll. Diners looking for something bigger can opt for the Triple OG, which adds another beef patty and more cheese.

The restaurant also offers plant-based versions of its signature burgers, along with seasoned fries, fountain drinks, and specialty lemonades. The combination of well-seasoned beef, caramelized onions, tangy pickles, and Trill Sauce gives the burgers their signature flavor, while the potato roll holds everything together. With a focused menu and a connection to one of Houston’s most recognizable hip-hop artists, Trill Burgers puts a distinctly Houston spin on the classic smashburger.

CM Smokehouse (KSAT 2026)CM SMOKEHOUSE

2027 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

CM Smokehouse is an Austin barbecue food truck from pitmaster and executive chef Cade Mercer that combines Central Texas smoked meats with creative comfort food. Located at Bouldin Acres, the menu goes beyond traditional barbecue plates with inventive dishes like the CM Crunchwrap, a griddled creation packed with smoky chopped brisket, melted cheese, and crunchy elements. Other selections include smoked-and-fried Baby Back Rib Wings and the Smokehouse Blend Sandwich with chopped brisket, pork, barbecue sauce, slaw, and pickles.

The menu also ventures into burgers and shareable dishes with the CM Classic Burger, double elk smashburger, loaded waffle fries, pork crispito tacos, and rotating quesabirria and barbacoa creations. Even the restaurant’s Caesar salad gets a barbecue-inspired twist with beef tallow Caesar dressing. By combining traditional smoking techniques with playful mashups, CM Smokehouse offers a modern take on Austin barbecue.

Tejas Birria (KSAT 2026)TEJAS BIRRIA

1540 Satterwhite Rd, Buda, TX 78610

Tejas Birria specializes in Tijuana-style birria de res, serving slow-cooked beef in a casual San Antonio food truck setting. The signature quesibirria tacos combine tender beef and melted cheese inside crispy tortillas, served with cilantro, onions, lime, salsa, and a rich consomé for dipping. The menu also includes the Birria Melt, which piles beef birria and melted cheese between slices of buttery, toasted Texas toast.

For a bigger bite, the Birria Pizzadilla is a massive, shareable creation filled with more than a pound of slow-cooked beef and plenty of melted cheese. Large groups can opt for the Tejas Platter with quesibirria tacos, consomé, and toppings, while house-made aguas frescas and horchata offer a refreshing pairing. With tender beef, bold spices, and plenty of cheese, Tejas Birria puts a San Antonio spin on Tijuana-style street food.

Choches BBQ (KSAT 2026)CHOCHE’S BBQ & BAR

1995 N Veterans Blvd A, Eagle Pass, TX 78852

Choche’s BBQ & Bar in Eagle Pass combines craft Texas barbecue with Tex-Mex flavors and influences from its border-town surroundings. The menu features slow-smoked brisket, pork ribs, massive beef ribs, pulled pork, turkey, sausage, and award-winning chicken quarters. Specialty dishes add another layer to the barbecue lineup with pork belly burnt ends, brisket nachos, smoked bacon-wrapped “Twinkies,” and aguacate chicken topped with creamy avocado salsa.

House-made sides include potato salad prepared from a family recipe, pinto beans with bacon and onions, Ruffles macaroni and cheese, and street corn. Choche’s also doubles as a family-friendly sports bar with beer on tap, frozen drinks, TVs, live music events, and extended hours on game days. The combination of Central Texas smoking techniques and regional flavors gives the barbecue a personality rooted in Eagle Pass and the Texas border.

Perfect Tender (KSAT 2026)PERFECT TENDER HOT CHICKEN

6565 Babcock Rd, Ste 9, San Antonio, TX 78249

Perfect Tender Hot Chicken in San Antonio serves Nashville-style hot chicken, crispy wings, and over-the-top comfort food in a casual sports bar setting. Chicken tender plates can be ordered at several spice levels, ranging from plain to the fiery F.A.F.O., while the chicken tender sandwich pairs crispy chicken with signature comeback sauce. Another standout is the Chicken & Waffles Sandwich, which stacks spicy tenders between Belgian waffles with maple whipped cream, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.

One of the restaurant’s biggest attention-grabbers is its Texas-Sized Giant Mozzarella Stick, a 10-inch block of mozzarella that is double-breaded in panko, fried until golden, dipped in hot oil, and covered with seasoning. Wings, nuggets, fries, beer, Jarritos, and sweet specialty drinks round out the menu. Between the customizable hot chicken and enormous cheese stick, Perfect Tender delivers a menu designed for diners who like their comfort food big, crispy, and bold.

J-Bar-M (KSAT 2026)J-BAR-M BARBECUE

2201 Leeland St, Houston, TX 77003

J-Bar-M Barbecue in Houston serves Central Texas-style smoked meats alongside Tex-Mex-inspired plates and creative comfort food. The barbecue lineup includes prime brisket with a peppery bark, pork ribs, smoked turkey, pulled pork, half chickens, and house-made sausages, including jalapeño cheddar. The menu also stretches beyond the traditional barbecue tray with brisket tacos, quesadillas, loaded baked potatoes, smokehouse salads, and a distinctive brisket lasagna.

Traditional and modern sides include macaroni and cheese, Brussels sprouts, beans, potato salad, corn, and coleslaw. J-Bar-M also serves breakfast and brunch dishes with eggs, bacon, house-made breakfast sausage, potatoes, and Texas toast, along with desserts such as banana pudding, chocolate cake, and a giant cinnamon roll. A full bar with craft cocktails and local beers rounds out the experience, giving diners plenty of ways to enjoy Texas barbecue beyond the traditional meat-and-sides combination.

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