The best craft barbecue in Dallas is now available in grocery stores


Updated June 20 after tasting the products

Spectacular slow-smoked Texas brisket, beef ribs and sausages is now available in Dallas grocery stores, thanks to a new partnership between Terry Black’s and Tom Thumb supermarkets.

Robert Talamantez runs the Deep Ellum barbecue operations and told us that five area Tom Thumb stores now sell prepackaged portions of Terry Blacks’ products for retail purchase. Talamantez says all the bbq sold in the stores is identical to what’s sold at Terry Black’s Deep Ellum restaurant, slow-smoked on Terry Black’s smokers – and not some remote, commercial commissary.

That means if you don’t live close to Deep Ellum, you can swing by one of the participating Tom Thumb stores to pick up the same bbq for home. Talamantez says the ‘que is pulled off the smokers, chilled then vacuum sealed before heading to the stores. It’s an ideal way to keep some in your fridge – or pack it up and ship it to someone out of town.

Talamantez told us the company is already selling hundreds of pounds a week, with a goal to increase distribution to more than 20 area Tom Thumb stores. Eventually, he says, you may even be able to purchase brisket, ribs and sausages cut to order from a butcher block counter inside select Tom Thumb stores.

Among the current offerings:

Original Texas Smoked Sausage – five links, $15

Jalapeño & Cheddar Smoked Sausage – five links, $15

Whole Smoked Turkey – $40

Texas-Sized Smoked Beef Rib – one rib, $20

½ Texas Smoked Brisket – $40

Full Rack of Pork Ribs – one rack, $40

Chopped Brisket – one pound, $20

If you don’t find yourself in Deep Ellum on the regular, head to one of the partner Tom Thumbs instead.

We had an opportunity to try the the bbq packa for ourselves, and came away mightily impressed. The idea of walking into a grocery store and leaving with a dinosaur-sized beef rib and a pound of brisket is especially appealing right now.

And if you know someone who needs a barbecue fix shipped to their door, pick up a package then beeline to UPS.

Haven’t eaten Terry Black’s barbecue yet? You need to. I think it’s hands-down the best barbecue in Dallas right now.

Here are the locations where Black’s says the to-go cue should be regularly available

• 2380 North Field Street

• 5809 East Lovers Lane

• 7700 Northwest Highway

• 7177 Inwood Road

• 6333 East Mockingbird Lane