Smoke & Sizzle: Lockhart’s BBQ Feud Gets the Documentary Treatment

Barbecue Runs in the Family

LOCKHART, Texas — In the state’s official barbecue capital, family ties and smoky pits go hand in hand—and sometimes head-to-head. A new video from KXAN and Texas Monthly dives into a longtime Lockhart rivalry between two families who share roots, but not recipes.

Old-School vs. New-School Smoke

In “Family Beef: Blood makes you related, BBQ makes you rivals,” the Morales and Martínez families take center stage. The Morales crew sticks to time-honored traditions—post oak wood, secret seasoning, and a deep respect for Lockhart’s history. The Martínez side is all about pushing the envelope, using prime cuts and modern smoking methods to draw in a younger, more curious crowd. Both claim to serve the best brisket in town.

The Big Throwdown

The story builds up to the “Barbecue Throwdown,” a local showdown that brings out big crowds and even bigger opinions. Good-natured trash talk flies. “They said our brisket was too simple,” jokes Richard Morales. Maria Martínez fires back: “They’re stuck in the past—our brisket speaks for itself.”

More Than a Rivalry

Still, it’s clear there’s love behind the competition. The video shows family matriarchs swapping stories over tamales, kids running around the pits, and grandparents sharing barbecue memories. In Lockhart, smoked meat isn’t just food—it’s the glue that holds generations together.

Drama That Sparks New Joints

And this kind of family drama? It’s part of Lockhart’s barbecue DNA. Case in point: the famous split at Black’s Barbecue that led to the opening of Terry Black’s in Austin. Turns out, a family feud can sometimes spark a whole new fan favorite.

Barbecue That Brings People Together

In the end, it’s not about who wins—it’s about what barbecue means to this community. Whether you lean Morales or Martínez, there’s one thing everyone agrees on: Lockhart barbecue is always worth gathering around.

Watch the video here.