Carl’s Bar-B-Q

What a great feast. Very good BBQ. Ribs, sausage, and brisket had good smoke, and the sauce was pretty close to perfect. We ordered waaay too much. Sides are enormous and the meal came with a loaf of white bread. The Mac and cheese casserole is filthy good.

Love the ribs, always tender and smokey. My wife likes the sausage and sliced beef. She orders her sliced beef lean and says it is still tender. I also really like their BBQ sauce, it’s a smokey mild sweet sauce.

Can always count on Carl’s for great bbq. Always bring people from out of town here. I can’t think of one negative thing to say about the food or staff.

I was craving a baked potato and asked Facebook for suggestions. Many recommended this place so I obliged and my pregnant belly and I headed down 290. I got the Texas chow down and banana pudding. By the time I paid for my food and ate some of the delicious pickle slices my food was ready. Got home and nearly devoured my baked spuds. Not only was the potato a great size but it was deeply stuffed. The meat is tender and tasty and the bbq sauce is a great compliment. I only was able to eat half which is good so I can enjoy this goodness for lunch tomorrow. The cherry on top was the banana pudding. One word: delicious!!! Even my picky eating 6 year old daughter agreed and she hates desserts that is not ice cream and brownies. Overall I will be back to this local joint! Great local food that actually tastes good!

Carl’s BBQ is a Cypress tradition. It’s been around as long as I have been in Cypress and probably much older by some of the stuff on the walls.
This place has always been 100% consistent. Always taste the same which happens to be incredible. Great smoke flavor topped with a sweet & tangy sauce. Their chopped beef sandwich is the best in Texas in my opinion.

I used to love coming to Carl’s with the family all the time, but due to the rude lady at the register I’ve stopped frequenting the restaurant. Every time I go she has an attitude with me and rolls her eyes which I find very rude. I’ve stopped in with my mom during lunch hour and met my dad there she was totally nice to my dad when he came in but seemed like we were in her way when we were paying. Also, when I’ve opted to take my left overs home, before they would give me everything to a bag to a container I can take extra bbq sauce in, but recently when I asked the lady at the counter gave me a container when no lid and ignored me when I asked for one and acted annoyed with me when I asked for a bag. Me and my family rather opt for a place with better customer service.

Verry rude cashier
She needs to be retrained in customer service.
I know nothing will be done because i have read a previous review of her rudeness from many previous months ago

Location has steadily declined over the last year or so. Used to be a place I visited regularly since it is close to where I live. Food quality has dropped, portion sizes have noticeably gotten smaller and overall location continues to decline. Was my dad’s favorite place when he came to visit, this year we went elsewhere. Need to get back to what they were doing in years past as its not working now and recent reviews don’t lie!

I say ditto to the person who said this is not a real BBQ joint. We were in the area and decided to try it as it was close. Wish I had read the reviews first. I ordered brisket with the burnt ends and fatty meat. The guy who took our order smiled, shook his head «yes» and acted like he knew exactly what I was wanting. They brought me lean brisket (normally you get your food immediately as it’s cafeteria style, but my husband ordered a steak so they brought it to the table) and when I told her I wanted burnt ends she was clueless as to what I was asking for. She did bring back some less lean meat that was ok, but nothing to write home about. So, for you non-​Texans, if the BBQ joint doesn’t know what burnt ends are, you should probably go somewhere else.

Soooo not a fan. Didn’t even finish my plate. My family’s friend was raving about this place and it was such a disappointment in my opinion. When we first walked in it was kinda empty, should’ve been the first clue. Second staff was uninterested in us or our questions about the menu. We ended up ordering quite a bit of different options and taking it to go since we had family friends visiting at my dads house. All in all the bbq was subpar. Ribs were ok. Not the best and not the worst, but it’s hard to mess up some ribs. Sausages were ok, a bit salty. Brisket is suppose to be moist and full of flavor but I think the brisket’s been sitting under the warmer for a while because it was a huge fail in taste and texture, very dry and bland. Sides were also a disappointment. Mac and cheese was missing the dang cheese cause it was so bland and dry. Green bean casserole was just not good. Green beans were extra mushy. Even the banana pudding tasted like something you make out a box. I didn’t even finish my plate let everyone else eat it. Since the best bbq joints in Texas are in Austin and it’s about an hour and 30 minute drive I did a quick Unilocal search and found a Rudys close by. So that’s where I went to get my fix.

Let me tell the truth. Because bbq is such a popular thing that various people has the skill to prepare, I can be very funny about it when it’s time to purchase it. I’ve been to Carl’s once before but I didn’t remember much about it. Im assuming it was pretty descent or I would’ve had a negative memory. We decided to try it out again on Sunday. We had ribs, beans, potato salad, and banana pudding. It was pretty good. It’s not the best I’ve had, but certainly was better than some others I’ve had in the area. The ribs were tender, meaty and plentiful! Yes, I said plentiful. They didn’t hold back on the quantity. The beans were «standardly» good. I really like when restaurants put their own twist to things like beans. You know, a twist like adding ground meat or a special seasoning. That stuff will make you stand out from the others. The sauce was above normal. It was pretty good. I am not a judge of sweets because they’re not my THING, but I also liked the banana pudding. What I’m trying to say is that you should try olé Carl’s bbq one day!

This place is an old standby in the Cypress area and great for those seeking non-​chain restaurants. Surprisingly, my favorite thing at this bbq joint is their burger. It’s not that their bbq is bad, in fact, it’s quite the opposite (I especially enjoy their sauce), it’s just that their burger is massive, juicy and delicious.

This is my boyfriends favorite spot. Always delicious, always enjoyable. I would consider it more than two dollar signs because for the both of us to eat & have a soda it usually ends up being over $ 25. We buy the BBQ sauce for the house & thoroughly enjoy it. If you are looking for a «hometown BBQ feel» this is it.

This place is a Cypress landmark. Been here forever and the friendly staff and great food is the reason. Chow Down stuffed potatoes are good, and usually can’t finish them. Don’t pass on the beans love those.

I really hoped this place was a winner. This is NOT real BBQ. Everyone is super friendly but the food is bland and blah. And then had the nerve to be expensive

I came here a while back and the brisket was just a okay. It had good sauce but the meat was over cooked. The sides were a little bland. There are a lot of BBQ places nearby so I probably would not go to this again.
Th people were really nice but just can’t get past the bland food.

Their bbq sauce is good and bad, it doesn’t taste like bbq sauce, but it’s a sauce that taste good. The brisket is dry without the sauce. The sausage is not spicy, which I personal like. Not as good as Rudy’s. The ribs are pretty good. Other then that it’s ok.

Carl’s BBQ has been around since 1951. And my family has been loyal customers since the 80s. They’ve been a longtime family favorite and an institution in the Cypress area. But recently, quality of food and service has certainly gone down. My bro-​in-​law told me they now have new owners, but I can’t confirm that.
But what I can say is that my recent visit was rather annoying. I stopped in to pickup some takeout for the fam. Three loaded bakers, a No. 1 (family dinner 4 pack) and a sliced brisket sandwich for pops. The food was ready in minutes, and the fellas in the kitchen are friendly. The woman behind the register was not. I assumed the food came with onions, pickles and jalapeños and had to run back inside to grab some. 1. Not sure why she didn’t offer it in the first place. And 2. She gave me one tiny container upon request. After I just spent $ 70 on food, I don’t see how that tiny container would have been enough for 8 people. A gentleman behind me also wanted extra sides and she snapped back: «Didn’t I already give you one?»
My rec is dine in that way you have unlimited amount of BBQ toppings … or take the 1 minute drive down the street to Goode Company or Rudy’s for your barbecue needs. I always want to support smaller local businesses but Carl’s needs to work on their customer service. …And their BBQ. All the brisket and bakers were DRY.

I wish I could give negative stars.
At the register, we grabbed a beer in addition to the food — zeigenbock. As the girl at the register was ringing us up, an older lady (owner?) interjects and says, «that’s an import beer» to the girl at the counter, indicating to her to charge us more for it. My husband asks her, «import? It’s a Texas beer». The lady shrugs and turns away! Incredibly rude! That’s when we realized that her issue was probably the fact that I’m an ‘import’ (Indian).
Oh, and the BBQ sauce tastes like catsup and the meat is dry. So the food by itself would still only get about 2.5 stars.
Bottom line is, any place that considers a beer brewed and bottled in Texas, an ‘import’ is anti-​texas and just plain unamerican.

This place is good. Convenient for cypress residents and also has a nice selection of sides, which is somewhat unique for a bbq joint.

This review will start in the parking lot.
As you’re walking into the restaurant you are greeted with the wonderful aroma of, wait… the beautiful smell of… SEWAGE. Smells putrid and really is a deterrent before even stepping foot into here. In the past you’ve caught a slight scent of it, but now it’s…dang.
Once you make it into the first set of doors, it’s replaced with the correct smell. BBQ.
The meats are real hit or miss here. Something is always fresh, so you have to look at what the person in front of you ordered to order it. I realize that it’s extremely wasteful to throw away food after one night, and I am not trying to sound like a «FRESH FOOD OR ELSE», but when the smoked chicken is dry, the bone in the middle is so brittle you can almost break it in half with a bit… you get what I am saying I hope. Tonight the fresh food was the ribs. They are delicious. The sausage was meh, but the loaded baked potato salad is always on point. Their bbq sauce is the thing i dislike most about the bbq. Honestly, tastes like a peppery tomato soup. not my favorite.
Now for the tough part, being hyper critical. I have been watching a bunch of bar rescue/​hotel rescue/​restaurant impossible, etc and maybe it’s made me more aware of what I am looking at when I eat? But every chair in that place was fake leather and cracked. bad. Where you can see almost tiger stripes of white against the red contrast. The tables were sticky. The food was served on Styrofoam plates and bowls which is way un-​eco friendly and something i pretty much hate. I guess I am nit picky. But I feel it’s relevant to your dining experience.
If they invested some time into fixing the horrible smell and the dining room I think I can overlook the sauce and really enjoy the place. Alas, after 4 years of coming here on and off things just aren’t changing.
adiós Carl’s, this time for good.

The meat itself is good. Brisket and pork were quite nice.
I’m not sure what they were thinking with the BBQ sauce. It tastes like spaghetti-o’s sauce! It is the worst BBQ sauce in the history of BBQ, and I’ve had catsup on BBQ served to me before.
The brown gravy for the mashed potatoes was from a mix. Any self respecting place that serves meat should make their own gravy. It’s flour, water and beef.
I think Carl’s is a holdover from a time long ago when people wanted ‘cheap’ food without much regard for quality.
Staff was friendly and the place was clean.
We’ve tried it, and I think we’re done.

Carl’s has been a BBQ staple in the Cypress area since I was a kid. Great food and friendly service.

This is the best barbecue place around! And there is an airport where people flying in just to get Carl’s barbecue. You should definitely make an effort to go

Heard that this was a good BBQ place. So, went there and ordered Ribs plate. They were so thick anf tasty. The potato salad was creamy and the beans were ok. The sauce was wonderful. The sauce is so important, with the right species and flavor. This is my second visit and my order was the same and the taste was the same, excellent. Carl’s BBQ is a winner…

My previous review had to be updated, as I have gone back quite a bit since I left it. Their service has improved, their meat has improved, and I have found that their menu is much bigger than I thought. Even if you don’t go for the barbeque, they have awesome burgers and salads. I love their smoked meat, as it is perfect, but still (and will always) dislike their sauce. If I eat the barbeque meat, I will take it togo though and use my own sauce. The pulled pork sandwich is. a classic. As I said in my previous review, their side dishes are to die for! I love the okra, the macaroni, and the potato salad. I’m sure that others are great, but I always get stopped at my favorites.

I’ve picked up twice from this place already. Absolutely loved their Texas Chow Down Spud with chopped beef! One of the best baked potatoes I have ever had. And their green bean casserole is just like mama makes it! And can I just say you gotta love any place that has good fried okra anymore. And by that, I mean it DOESN’T taste like it came pre-​breaded from the frozen food section. Yum yum! Give this place a try next time you get that BBQ cravin’!

One of my co-​workers swore up and down that this was the best BBQ place that he’s ever been. Better than Virgie’s. Better than Rudy’s. Better than anything else. Well, I took his word with a grain of salt because obviously he’s never been to Killen’s (neither have I,) Gatlin’s, Salt Lick (Austin,) or Franklin’s (Austin.) So, he didn’t really have much to compare.
I gave this place a shot. More than once just because it’s relatively close to work. Their prices are not too shabby. $ 9.95 for a one meat platter, $ 10.95 for a two meats platter or $ 12.50 for a three meats platter. Each platter comes with two sides of your choice.
I’ve tried the ribs. I’ve tried the turkey. I’ve tried the sausage. I’ve tried the turkey. And I have to admit that the ribs are pretty good. It’s probably the best meat they have here at Carl’s. The brisket is a tad too dry for me. The turkey is also a tad dry. And who could mess up sausage, right? I actually love the BBQ sauce. Now if they could tenderize the briskets a bit more and moisten the turkey a tad, it’d be pretty awesome. Especially at this price point.
The potato salad is pretty good. But I love, love, love the Macaroni and cheese. For whatever reason, it just tastes so good to me. You should definitely try it as one of your sides.
I love the fact that Carl’s is very generous with their BBQ sauce. Unlike Virgie’s or Gatlin’s where they give you a container of BBQ sauce, you have the option to have them smother your meats with BBQ sauce, or have them on the side. In addition, you can help yourself to more BBQ sauce from the bread/​corn bread station. Yup, they have a bread/​corn bread station where you can help yourself to all the bread and corn bread you can eat. But note that the corn breads are $ 0.25 each if you take them TO GO.
The banana pudding is not too shabby either. But I’ve had better.
I’d definitely come back here whenever I have a craving for some BBQ. My experience is really a 3.5 stars but I can’t see myself rounding up in this instance. So unfortunately, I had to round down.

Located on 290 not even an exit away from the house I grew up we use to get food from here all the time. Often times we order a whole bunch of food to bring home for an easy but tasty get together.
Trying to decide on a side?
I don’t think you can go wrong with fired okra or baked potato casserole!

I’ve eaten here since the mid 90’s and it never disappoints. Their slow smoked approach and excellent BBQ sauce makes Carl’s, Carls. Best chopped beef in Texas, it’s almost «creamy» if you will.
Go here for authentic Texas style BBQ.

I think their BBQ is average. Tonight I had a brisket sandwich. Nothing makes me want to order it again. Meat didn’t have a lot of taste. Sauce was average. I am being generous with 3 stars.