BY MIKE PUCKETT

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McKenzie’s Barbecue is located off Interstate 45 on North Frazier St. just minutes from downtown Conroe. Texas is known for its BBQ and while in Conroe you will not find any better. McKenzie’s Barbecue is a family tradition, from brothers to sister and now the torch has been passed on to the second generation.

Darin and his wife Kathy McKenzie opened the Conroe location in 1995. Each year, for well over a decade, it has been voted the Best BBQ in Montgomery County. This no small feat… keep in mind we are deep in the heart of Texas.

As you walk into the large restaurant, you can immediately smell the aroma of smoked meats and BBQ. You can actually taste the love smoked deeply into their meats.

The environment here is exactly what you would expect to see in a true Texas BBQ palace: symbols of state and American pride on all the walls, including historical documents and signs. I took about 10 minutes to just walk around this cool little museum of Texas history. After that, it was time to get down to business! We ordered a couple of sweet teas and a sampler platter of fried pickles, fried jalapenos and onion rings. Unbelievable fried goodies! This platter comes with Ranch Dressing to dip it all in, but, boy, I tell ya what, there is no need. Everything is perfectly breaded, not excessively so like in some places, and the flavor was great. I highly suggest you get this as an appetizer. I mean, what Texas meal is complete without something fried, right?

For our meat bonanza, we ordered the Sliced Beef Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, Sausage and Jalapeno Sausage. Take a look at the bark on that brisket and pork ribs! Now that is how you do it! Honestly, as good as the best ribs I have ever had.

My favorite is always Pork Spare Ribs and these just fell right off the bone. The Jalapeno Sausage was also very good and spicy. All in all… it was all good! Take a look at the photography and let me know if you don’t want to go hop in the truck and grab some BBQ!

Like craft beer, BBQ has different styles and preferences depending on the location and who you’re talking to, but in my mind all BBQ is good, just some is better than others. Well, the BBQ here at McKenzie’s is definitely better than others!

So, when you are in Conroe visiting the lake or traveling from Houston to Dallas or vice versa, I highly recommend you stop by and get your Texas BBQ fix from the best. You can thank me later!

PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE PUCKETT