Burns Original BBQ

You have to take your hat off to a legend. And that's what Burns Original is: an Acres Homes landmark that's been providing Houstonians with East Texas-style barbecue for around 50 years. To know Burns is to know the city, and the food at Burns Original is undeniably well-executed and hard to forget. 

Like most barbecue joints in Houston, Burns is a counter-service spot. The restaurant consists of a tiny house with just enough space at the front where you order. There are meats sold by the pound and sides that make this place worth a visit on their own. Everything comes in large and in charge: ribs and sausage, chopped beef and brisket, green beans and dirty rice, and party packs that could feed Nick Cannon’s family reunion.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Burns showcases the best of old-school East Texas-style barbecue, where the pork rib is king and sides are as essential to the tray as the meat. So the gigantic portions make sense—everyone wants as much of the food here as possible. No snappy sausage links get left behind, no matter how eye-watering the heat is. The crisp edges of chopped beef on the loaded baked potato make us forget that bacon is even a thing. And the quintessential Burns experience includes eating all of the above on the picnic tables out front.

Burns feels like a cookout. After placing an order, you’ll (politely) be shuffled to the porch where even in the thick of summer, folks will be chowing down on a patio that’s cooled by a single industrial fan in the corner. Strangers shovel baked beans in synchronicity with one another, and suck the meat off of pork ribs until the bones glisten. The entire menu will be spotted on someone’s plate—a rack of ribs, snappy sausage links, and southern-style sides. While some places specialize in brisket or potato salad, Burns’ specialty is, well, everything. The best order here only depends on who you’re asking. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Ribs

The pork ribs are everything you hope for in East Texas-style barbecue. They're smoky, glistening with a tangy sauce, and a must-order.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Macaroni & Cheese

The gooey mac and cheese is one of the best sides at Burns. This should make it onto your plate at all costs.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Baked Potato With Chopped Beef

With approximately one metric ton of toppings, the baked potato comes piled high with shreds of cheddar cheese, dainty green onions, and that sweet, sweet chopped beef. You can make a full day's worth of meals out of this singular potato.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Sausage Links

The Housemade sausage links at Burns are wonderfully spicy, and the casing has a snap we can't even replicate with our fingers.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Dirty Rice

It’s not difficult to find dirty rice in the city, but the dirty rice at Burns is special. It has meat fused to each grain of rice, and is loaded with rich heat. We’ll gladly keep sweating through the spoonfuls.