Hutchins BBQ McKinney, TX

McKinney, TX located about thirty minutes north of Dallas this suburb is currently the second fastest growing city in the U.S. and according to CNN Money the second best place to live in the country.  It also houses a great barbecue joint that not many people even know of including yours truly and a lot of the locals.  It popped up on my radar when I read last May's Texas Monthly magazine's barbecue edition.  Hutchins placed in the top 50 and this November took part in Texas Monthly's BBQ Fest in Austin.  I've been three or four times since last May and will continue to go back. If you live in the DFW area it's worth the drive. So, with that being said you know my opinion on this place will be favorable.

Chopping block is where you start

As you walk in the smell of smoked meat permeates the air and if the smell makes you lose your bearings, the line starts to your right. The serving pit is to the pitmaster's right and two smoking pits are to his left.  They don't claim to cook barbecue the central Texas way but they use brick-lined floor pits that you find in any place in Lockhart, TX and you can taste central Texas in their brisket. So you start at the chopping block and place your meat order which is similar to a lot of places in the Dallas area but that is where the similarity ends. Next onto the hot side steam table and then to the cold table for your cold sides and by the way their sides are way above par of most other places.  You don't hear me say this often but don't skip on the sides.

Sausage and brisket (most recent visit)

After being rung up at the register the drink station and relish bar are in the next room to the right. Relish bar has the usual complement of pickles, jalapenos, onions, etc. but take a 180 degree turn and this place has another surprise in for you.  Yes, your often present soft serve ice cream machine is here but with a complement of sundae toppings and one to two cobbler choices included in the price of your meal, oh and banana pudding too. So how is the barbecue?

Second visit

Although, I ordered ribs, brisket, and sausage on my first visit I failed to take a photo so I've included some foodie pics from my follow-up visits.  The ribs are very good and I highly recommend them but I've always been an overall bigger fan of sausage and brisket.  The sausage is above store quality and they offer mild, jalapeno, and hot link varieties, but the brisket! The brisket is Lockhart, TX quality.  You can even order lean or moist and it is seasoned perfectly with just a simple salt and pepper rub.  The bark, smoke ring, and fat rendering create a smoky melody of perfection, I mean just look at the pictures.  Hutchins brisket is right there with Pecan Lodge and Lockhart Smokehouse when it comes to metroplex barbecue so take the drive to McKinney and get yourself some!

Texas Monthly knows it's good!

Hutchins BBQ

Phone: 972-548-2629

Sun-Thur 11 AM - 9 PM
Fri, Sat 11 AM - 9:30 PM

http://www.hutchinsbbq.net/

Next week, Pecan Lodge in Dallas, until then!