East Austin BBQ Joint Named Best in the U.S. (And No It's Not Franklin's)

Debates over barbeque are a time-honored tradition in Texas.

Barbeque fan Johnny Fugitt took a road trip across the country to the best barbeque in America. He visited 48 states and 365 restaurants - all in 365 days - and wrote his book, The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America.

His pick for the number one restaurant?

Kerlin BBQ at 1700 East Cesar Chavez Street.

Fugitt, a St. Louis native, wrote this review on his blog BarbequeRankings.com:

“I sat down with a sampler plate and was blown away. The brisket was absolutely fantastic. The high heat gives the bark a crunchier texture that barbecuephiles are sure to love. I had a fatty cut and it just melted in my mouth. Both the high quality of beef and long cooking time (relative to the temperature) were evident on the first bite,” he wrote.

“The ribs were also sublime with a perfect texture and balanced rub. My neighbors were hooked on the pork belly sliders and everyone seemed to agree that the blue cheese slaw and cream corn were very good. I also thoroughly enjoyed Kerlin’s peppery sauce which is a hybrid of a vinegar and tomato based sauce.”

He also told Business Insider he didn’t gain any weight during the project.

Check out his book here.

[PHOTO: Image via Shutterstock]