TravelingHouston

BBQ · Barbecue No. 1Old Town Spring30.0807°N 95.4200°W22.3 mi from downtown

CorkScrew BBQ

The Michelin star that smells like red oak

Will and Nichole Buckman turned a catering side hustle into one of the first barbecue joints anywhere to earn a Michelin star. The brisket and beef ribs explain why.

Directions ↗Official site ↗

CorkScrew started in May 2010 as a catering gig after Will Buckman's coworkers begged for more of his potluck brisket. A trailer on Budde Road followed in 2011, and the couple eventually moved into Old Town Spring, with a patio and a line that forms well before the doors open. Everything is cooked over red oak, from prime brisket to a beef rib with a dark, peppery crust and a clean, lingering smoke. Pulled pork is a quiet favorite, and a scoop of peach or apple cobbler is the right ending. In 2024 the Michelin Guide gave CorkScrew one star, and it kept that star in 2025. Will and Nichole still run the place themselves, which you can taste in how consistent the plates are.

What to expect

  • Order at the counter, then wait for your order to be called when the tray is ready.
  • The dining room is modest; most seats are in a larger, mostly covered outdoor area.
  • Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating, not inside.
  • The small lots fill fast, so expect to park on the street in Old Town Spring.

What to order

  1. Prime brisket, fatty and lean
  2. Beef rib
  3. Pulled pork
  4. Peach or apple cobbler
  • 2010Since
  • Will and Nichole BuckmanOwners
  • Red oakWood

Close by as the crow flies.

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