BBQ Restaurants in Kountze, Beaumont Make Texas Monthly's Top 50 List

If you're looking for some of the best barbecue in Texas, you don't have to go any farther than Kountze or Beaumont.

Texas Monthly Magazine has placed Caroline's Quality and Quantity Barbecue in Kountze, and Willie Ray's in Beaumont, in this month's edition of the top 50 barbeque restaurants in the state.

The owners say it's hard work to keep up the ranking, but it pays off when the ribs fall right off the bones.

Many of the visitors to Caroline's Quality and Quantity Barbecue in Kountze are regular customers. They say the food's so good, word quickly get around.

"We get customers from Warren, Wildwood, from all around," says Caroline Yarbough, the owner.

People come from across the Golden Triangle for the tender brisket, ribs, sandwiches and everything else they make.

"I remember the first day we opened on that corner, cars were lined up down the street." says Arthur Yarbough, the pit master.

"Put a lot of love in it, and time," says Caroline.

Their time is measured in hours. The ribs have to smoke for 6, brisket for about 12 and the homemade links for almost 20.

The Yarbough's say all that time smoking makes for melt in your mouth food.

"When we serve people sliced beef, we don't put a knife in it. The fork is your knife," says Arthur.

Twice Texas Monthly Magazine listed Caroline's as one of the top 50 barbecue spots in Texas. It's back in this month's edition.

"I didn't know he was with Texas Monthly, he was looking at me, writing and eating. Writing and eating," says Caroline.

And that's what makes Caroline's Barbecue - quality and quantity.

One of the customers says the food's so good, he had an accident after leaving in November and could think about only one thing.

"All I was worried about was my barbecue from Caroline," says one customer.

So, if you're looking for a good plate of homemade Texas barbecue piled high with sauce and all the fixings, Caroline says they'll make room at the table.

Caroline's Quality and Quantity Barbecue is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 7 a.m.

It's located off Highway 69 and Third Street in Kountze.

There are 3 tables inside.

The Texas Monthly reviewers had only one regret: that "their stomachs weren't bigger."