Top 10 Barbecue Spot is Moving into Houston — and BBQ Fanatics are Going Crazy: New Restaurant Partner Helps Make it Happen

It’s been a standout year for restaurateur and pit master Leonard Botello IV. After merely two years in business, Botello’s Brenham-based Truth BBQ not only became one of Texas’ must-visit barbecue destinations, garnering hours-long waits every weekend, but Truth also landed a highly coveted Top 10 spot on Texas’ Monthly The 50 Best Barbecue Joints in Texas rankings.

But Botello’s not resting on his recent success. The 29-year-old ,third-generation restaurateur revealed that he is bringing a second-iteration of Truth BBQ to Houston.

“I knew if I could cook it, they would come,” says Botello, who’s a Houston native. “When I had the opportunity to establish myself in a small town like Brenham, on the side of Highway 290, I couldn’t pass it up because barbecue on the side of the road is some of the best barbecue I’ve had. Everything just fell into place at the right time and in the right location.

“Finding the perfect spot has been in the works for several months, and I am grateful to now have an opportunity to take Truth back to my hometown [of Houston] which has been a goal of mine for several years.”

It’s a move that’s guaranteed to shake up the Houston barbecue scene. Some of the city’s most well known barbecue havens are stationed outside of the Houston city limits. Of course Killen’s Barbecue, which also made the Top 50 list, is in Pearland, and CorkScrew BBQ (Texas Monthly’s No. 7) is in Spring.

However, Botello will erect his second Truth location inside Houston’s 610 Loop contending with newcomers such as The Pit Room (also in The Loop) as well as Pinkerton’s Barbecue (1504 Airline Drive), and Roegels Barbecue Co (2223 South Voss) — all of which also made Texas Monthly‘s Top 50.

The new Truth BBQ will also arrive in Houston with a new investor — one of Houston’s most well-known restaurateurs Johnny Carrabba.

“All it took was a drive down to Brenham to realize that Leonard is the real deal,” Carrabba says. “The first time I came to Truth and saw Leonard and his family working together, it reminded me of working with my family when I first started.

“It’s time to bring this to Houston, while still keeping the original outpost in Brenham top of mind to Houstonians as a fun day trip. He has had this passion and dedication at such a young age that you don’t see often really at all. We’re just ready to sit back and let Leonard do his thing.”

An official debut date (or exact location) for Truth BBQ Houston has not yet been released, so stay tuned.