Brothers Hong and Phong Tran, with Hong's wife Michelle, pooled their savings to open Brisket & Rice in 2022 in a corner of a gas station on FM 529, cooking Central Texas style barbecue for the work crews nearby. The signature plate says everything about the place: slices of prime brisket over jasmine fried rice tossed with Chinese sausage and a fried egg, smoky and savory in the same bite. Pork ribs are tender and delicately smoked, and the jalapeño sausage has real snap. In September 2025 the family moved into a former Tex-Mex restaurant on Highway 6 North, with a covered patio about as big as the dining room and far more parking. More smokers were added to cut down on sellouts, but the line still moves at lunch.
What to expect
- Order ahead online for pickup to skip the lunch line.
- With the fried rice you'll be offered quick pickles and jalapeños; say yes.
- The walls carry vintage Vietnamese and American shop signs, like the old gas-station spot.
- Cards are accepted, and the dining room is air-conditioned.
What to order
- Brisket fried rice
- Pork ribs
- Jalapeño sausage
- Poor man's macaroni
- 2022Since
- Hong and Phong TranPitmasters
- Opened Sept 6, 2025New home