I don't know if it qualifies as "the best" in Dallas, but I love the barbeque at  Peggy Sue BBQ.  Their sauces are out of this world and their brisket sandwiches (both chopped and sliced) are incredible as well.  A lot of hard core Texas bbq people say that you shouldn't have sauce if the smoking is done correctly, but I personally think the sauce is very important. Peggy Sue is right by the SMU campus, which is very beautiful and a nice place to stroll pre or post BBQ.

My mouth is watering thinking about Peggy Sue's spicy barbecue sauce on a chopped brisket sandwich.

Other great options are  Off The Bone Barbeque and  Meshack's Bar-be-que Shack.  Meshack's is literally a shack.  Off The Bone is "nicer", but still divey.  Peggy Sue's would be "very nice" compared to the other two. 

Pecan Lodge [inside the Dallas Farmers Market] is the #2 BBQ place in the entire state, according to Texas Monthly (www.tmbbq.com). Get there for an early lunch, or they'll be out of that beautiful brisket. Enjoy!

Head south. Like SOUTH. Anywhere that begins to look dicey or make you question if you made a 'wrong turn', then start looking for BBQ signs. Painted on trucks, building sides, trailer sides. Sides. Then you're golden. If they have table cloths - run. If 'utensils' are metal in form - run. Fort Worth has solid BBQ. East Texas ( Nacogdoches, Tyler, Lufkin, Garrison, Pal, and so forth) has good BBQ. In Dallas, it's a bit dressed up, saucy and all. Solid smoked brisket does not require sauce. Go South. Find a guy in a lot selling it out of a trailer - you will be concerned, it will be worth it. I will get 'scolded' for this but it's truth.

In Dallas proper, Mike Anderson's BBQ House is my fave, and not far from Hotel Zaza Dallas. It's only open for lunch and gets packed, so arrive on the early side of the hour. But as noted from others, the best stuff is a little father afield if you don't mind a couple hours' drive.

Off The Bone Barbeque- If you don't look carefully, it's easy to miss it and drive right pass it. But, once you see it, you'll never want to leave.

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse- The original Sonny Bryan's has been THE PLACE to get serious BBQ for years. Get your chicken, sausage, brisket, and ribs done right. 

Baby Back Shak- Clarence Cohen's no-frills Memphis-style joint delivers mouthwatering meat and HUGE stuffed baked potatoes. You should try the baby backs, if you haven’t figured that out by now.

Odom's Bar-B-Que- Pay no attention to the bars on the windows or the “No Guns” sign on the front door. Once inside you’ll find the friendliest people and some of the best 'cue in town. Don’t miss the ribs. I always get a mixed to-go order of Ribs and Beef drenched in the tangy BBQ sauce when I'm in Big D.

Outside of Lockhart, Texas these places should whet your BBQ craving while in Big D!!

Hotel Zaza Dallas is in Uptown which is just north of Downtown Dallas. Very nice hotel. As far as the best barbque in Dallas goes, that would spark a great debate. I personally have a couple of favorite spots, depending on the mood and style. For the most part I do my own barbque and the best barbque usually is not from a restaurant. However, when I'm not in the mood we go to Bone Daddy's House of Smoke. It's not the best but it has it's on uniqueness, especially with the violated chicken that makes it worth the visit. Also consider Pecan Lodge and Lockhart Smokehouse. But whatever you do, don't waste your time or money on Sonny's or Red Hot and Blue. Colter's Barbecue would be better than those last two places. Dallas is full of "hole in the wall" spots with great barbque and food, but I wouldn't recommend your first visit be anywhere off the beaten track. Take care and enjoy Dallas!

Babb Bros. BBQ & Blues http://www.babbbrothers.com/

Hello! I live right next to Hotel Zaza Dallas (GREAT LOCATION!)

1. Lockhart Smokehouse (oak cliff or plano)

2. Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse (next to hotel)

3. Red Hot & Blue (75 and walnut hill)