One of the Most Charming Places in Texas

The Food Network named The Original Black's Barbecue one of the most charming small-town restaurants in the entire country — and the pick for Texas.

That's right: not Austin, not Houston, but Lockhart, a town of just over 14,000, earned the spotlight thanks to its rich barbecue history and a family legacy that goes back to 1932.

As the article notes, Black's started as a meat market and has grown into a Texas barbecue institution, still owned and operated by the Black family four generations later. Today, it stands as the oldest barbecue joint in Texas run by a single family, with four Central Texas locations and a reputation that spans the country.

If you've ever walked through the doors, smelled the oak smoke, or had brisket cut fresh off the block — you already know why Food Network called it a must-visit.