Brisket and Bloodlines: A Lockhart BBQ Rivalry Uncovered

Where Smoke Meets Family History

LOCKHART, Texas — In Lockhart, barbecue isn’t just a weekend meal—it’s a family legacy. A new video from KXAN and Texas Monthly explores a spirited rivalry between two local families whose shared roots haven’t stopped them from going head-to-head over brisket.

Two Styles, One Passion

In “Family Beef: Blood makes you related, BBQ makes you rivals,” we meet the Morales and Martínez families—each deeply embedded in Lockhart’s barbecue tradition, but with very different approaches. The Morales family leans into classic techniques: old-school pits, oak wood, and a recipe handed down through generations. The Martínez side brings fresh energy, high-end cuts, and bold flavors, aiming to shake things up for modern barbecue lovers.

Getting Fired Up for the Throwdown

Their friendly feud comes to a head at the “Barbecue Throwdown,” a local cook-off that draws barbecue fans from all over. There’s some light teasing—Richard Morales quips that the other side is “all flair, no flavor,” while Maria Martínez playfully insists, “We’re just evolving. They’re stuck in 1980.”

Rooted in Rivalry, Bonded by Barbecue

But underneath the competition, there’s real connection. The video captures sweet moments—grandparents sharing stories, kids helping out at the pits, and a shared table full of food and laughter. In Lockhart, barbecue is more than a business—it’s how families stay close.

Family Drama with a Smoky Legacy

This kind of drama isn’t new to Lockhart. The famous rift that led to Terry Black’s opening in Austin started with a split at the original Black’s Barbecue. That family divide sparked one of the best-known barbecue spots in Texas—a reminder that out of tension can come tradition.

A Town Brought Together by Barbecue

In the end, it’s not just about who makes the best brisket. It’s about how barbecue continues to bring Lockhart’s families—and visitors from far and wide—together, one smoked bite at a time.

Watch the video here.