If you’re coming to Truth BBQ in Houston for the first time, a little planning helps. Our Heights location serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with both services running until we sell out. That means timing matters, especially if you already know there’s something specific you want on your tray.
You’ll find us at 110 S Heights Blvd, just west of downtown Houston. The menu covers the Texas barbecue staples you’d expect — brisket, ribs, sausage and turkey — along with scratch-made sides and desserts that deserve some room of their own.
Here’s what to know before you come by.
Quick takeaway: Truth BBQ Houston is located at 110 S Heights Blvd. Lunch starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and dinner starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Both services run until sold out, so arriving earlier gives you the best shot at the full menu.
Where Is Truth BBQ in Houston?
Our Houston restaurant is in the Heights at 110 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX.
The Heights location is the larger counterpart to the original Truth BBQ in Brenham, where Leonard Botello IV first opened the restaurant in 2015. If you’ve been to Brenham before, the Houston restaurant will feel familiar in all the ways that matter: the same focus on smoked meats, scratch-made sides and a menu built around doing a few things very well.
But the Houston location has its own rhythm. It’s a destination for locals, visitors, lunch crowds and people making barbecue part of a full day in the city.
If you’re deciding between the two locations, our guide to Truth BBQ Brenham covers what to expect at the original restaurant and whether it’s worth making the drive from Houston.
Truth BBQ Houston Hours: When Should You Visit?
Truth BBQ Houston is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
- Lunch: Tuesday-Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. until sold out
- Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. until sold out
- Monday: Closed
The important part is “until sold out.”
Barbecue isn’t something we can replenish on demand halfway through a service. Briskets, ribs and other meats spend hours in the smoker before they ever make it to the cutting block. Once a particular item is gone for that service, it’s gone.
If you’re flexible about what you order, there’s no need to overthink it. But if brisket, beef ribs or another favorite is the reason you’re coming, earlier is generally better.
Lunch tends to be the classic Truth experience: show up hungry, build a tray and settle in. Dinner gives you another way to fit barbecue into the day without having to plan around an early lunch.
Note: Hours can change around holidays or special events, so it’s always worth checking the current schedule before heading over.
What to Expect When You Arrive
If it’s your first time at a Texas barbecue restaurant, the process is fairly straightforward.
You’ll make your way through the line, choose your meats and build out the rest of the tray with sides and whatever else catches your attention. There’s no need to arrive with your exact order mapped out, although looking over the menu beforehand can make things easier if the line is moving.
The atmosphere is casual. Come as you are, bring an appetite and don’t feel like everyone at the table needs to order the same thing.
In fact, sharing is one of the better ways to approach the menu if it’s your first visit. Order a few meats by the pound, add several sides and let everyone try a little of everything.
Lines can vary depending on the day and time. Weekends and other busy periods naturally draw more people, and barbecue tends to reward an earlier arrival if you want maximum choice.
That doesn’t mean you need to turn lunch into a logistical operation. It just helps to know that sellouts are part of the deal.
What Should You Order at Truth BBQ Houston?
There’s no single correct Truth order, but there are a few good places to start.
Start With the Brisket
If this is your first visit, brisket belongs on the tray.
It’s the meat most closely associated with Central Texas barbecue, and it’s a good reference point for everything else that follows. You’ll get the bark, smoke, rendered fat and texture that come from a long cook on a wood-burning offset smoker.
If you’re ordering for a group, get enough that everyone can try some rather than giving each person an individual serving.
Add Another Meat or Two
From there, build around the brisket.
Pork ribs, sausage and smoked turkey all bring something different to the tray. Turkey, in particular, tends to surprise people who think of it as the obligatory lighter option. Ours is wet-brined before smoking, which helps keep the breast juicy while still picking up plenty of smoke.
The best approach for a first visit is usually variety rather than volume. Two or three meats give you a much better sense of the menu than ordering a huge portion of just one.
For a deeper breakdown, our first-timer’s guide to Truth BBQ walks through exactly what we’d recommend ordering on your first visit.
Don’t Treat the Sides Like an Afterthought
The sides are made from scratch, and they’re part of the meal rather than something added to fill the empty corners of the tray.
Depending on what you’re in the mood for, that might mean mac and cheese, tater tot casserole, creamed corn, pinto beans or coleslaw.
If you’re sharing, order a few. Richer sides like mac and cheese and tater tot casserole work well alongside brisket and ribs, while coleslaw can give the tray a little contrast.
We put together a separate guide to the sides at Truth BBQ if you want a closer look before you order.
Save Some Room for Dessert
This is easier said than done.
After a tray of brisket, ribs and sides, dessert can feel ambitious. Still, it’s worth considering before you declare yourself finished.
If you’re with a group, sharing one is usually enough to get the point without turning lunch into a competitive event.
Can You Order Truth BBQ Houston Ahead of Time?
Yes. If you want Truth without building your day around the line, curbside ordering is available through Toast.
Ordering ahead can be especially useful if you already know what you want, you’re picking up food for several people or you need to get lunch or dinner on a tighter schedule.
Availability can vary based on what has sold out, so ordering online also gives you a quick look at what’s currently available.
Of course, pickup and dining in are two different experiences. If you’ve never visited Truth before and have the time, eating at the restaurant gives you the full version: ordering at the counter, watching the tray come together and trying a few things while everything is fresh.
If you’re not in Houston at all, select Truth BBQ meats can also be shipped so you can put together a barbecue spread at home.
A Few Tips for Your First Visit
You don’t need a complicated strategy to eat at Truth. A few basics will make the visit easier:
- Check the hours before you leave. Lunch and dinner both run until sold out.
- Come earlier if you have a must-order item. The later you arrive, the greater the chance that a particular meat has sold out.
- Order for the table. A few meats and sides shared across the group will let you try more of the menu.
- Don’t skip the sides. They’re made from scratch and built to hold their own next to the barbecue.
- Look at the menu ahead of time. You don’t need to know your exact order, but having a rough plan helps.
- Use curbside ordering when convenience matters. It’s a good option when you want the food without making a full stop of it.
And if you’re visiting with someone who already has strong opinions about brisket versus ribs, let them order first. It keeps things moving.
Come See Us in the Heights
Truth BBQ started in Brenham, but our Houston location has become a destination of its own. Whether you’re coming in for brisket, building a tray with a little of everything or finally seeing what the tater tot casserole talk is about, the best plan is simple: come hungry and give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
Visit us at 110 S Heights Blvd in Houston for the full experience, or order online for curbside pickup if you’d rather bring Truth home. And if you’re outside Houston, select meats and other items are also available for shipping so you can get a taste of Truth wherever you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Truth BBQ located in Houston?
Truth BBQ Houston is located at 110 S Heights Blvd in the Heights, just west of downtown Houston.
What are Truth BBQ Houston’s hours?
Truth BBQ Houston serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11 a.m. until sold out and dinner Tuesday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m. until sold out. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Does Truth BBQ Houston serve dinner?
Yes. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m. and continues until sold out.
What should I order at Truth BBQ Houston?
Brisket is a natural place to start, especially for a first visit. From there, consider adding ribs, sausage or smoked turkey, plus scratch-made sides such as mac and cheese, tater tot casserole, creamed corn, pinto beans or coleslaw.
Can I order Truth BBQ Houston online?
Yes. Truth BBQ Houston offers online ordering for curbside pickup through Toast. Availability may vary depending on what has sold out that day.
Does Truth BBQ ship barbecue?
Yes. Select Truth BBQ meats are available for shipping, making it possible to enjoy Truth even if you’re outside Houston.
Is the Houston location different from Truth BBQ Brenham?
Yes. Brenham is the original Truth BBQ location, while the Houston restaurant is in the Heights. Both share the same focus on smoked meats, scratch-made sides and Texas barbecue, but each location has its own setting and experience.