After seven weeks of fan-based voting and thousands of votes cast, the people have crowned the inaugural winner of the 2026 Texas Barbecue People’s Choice Award for the Best Pork Ribs in Texas.
The road to the championship was anything but easy. Beginning with 64 of the best barbecue businesses in Texas, competitors battled through four regional brackets advancing through public voting. In the end, only one business remained standing.
So, with no further delay, the 2026 Texas Barbecue People’s Choice Award for the Best Pork Ribs in Texas belongs to Schulze’s Pit Room of Seguin, Texas.
Winning any championship is an accomplishment. Winning the inaugural championship is something entirely different. There will be future winners of this and other categories, but there will only ever be one first. Schulze’s Pit Room will forever hold the distinction of being the very first business to earn the title of Texas Barbecue People’s Choice Award Winner of any category.
What makes this award unique is that it was decided by the people who love Texas barbecue. No selected judge sat behind a table scoring appearance, taste, or tenderness. For seven weeks, barbecue enthusiasts determined which business they believed served the best pork ribs in Texas and ultimately, the people have spoken.
Congratulations to the entire team at Schulze’s Pit Room. Your hard work, dedication to your craft, and commitment to producing exceptional Texas barbecue have earned you a place in the history books as the inaugural People’s Choice Champion.
Congratulations to Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue & Steakhouse and your fans as well in your runner-up showing. Texas Barbecue was very proud to have you make such a strong run towards the title and quite frankly, we are not surprised at all on your strong showing.
Finally, we would like to thank all 64 businesses for participating and for helping make the inaugural People’s Choice Awards a success. Each of you produces such a winning product.
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