Smokey Joe’s BBQ. Photography by Kathy Tran.

Smokey Joe’s BBQ in Oak Cliff is among the four Dallas restaurants to make the Texas Monthly “Top 50” list of the best barbecue places in Texas.

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Kris Manning, 31, is the second-generation owner of Smokey Joe’s, at 6403 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, and the longtime pit master is Earl Harris. Manning has reinvented the place since taking over from his dad in 2016.

Here’s what the magazine says about it:

Its original brick pit has been replaced with offset smokers that put out lean brisket covered by swooshes of fat cap. The pork ribs shimmer and offer a touch of sweetness. Even better is the Maxi, a sandwich with sliced sausage and chopped brisket, whose rough, inky-black bark is nicely juxtaposed with a pink-hued smoke ring. The meat is then topped with thick pickle disks and served in a soft, buttery bun. Finish with a slice of the luscious, scratch-made sweet potato pie.
The other Dallas spots on the list are Cattleack BBQ, Slow Bone BBQ and Terry Black’s BBQ. Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth was named No. 1 on the list and has been overwhelmed with customers.