Thelma’s Bar B Que

I shouldn’t have to pay $ 2 to have that awful «bbq sauce» on the side. Otherwise, the ribs are great, and I’m a fan of the potato salad. Be prepared to become a diabetic if your order the tea or kool-​aid.

I fondly recall having great BBQ here as a student at UH. Thelma herself would take your order, and you’d better hope you were ready by the time you got to the counter! Meat was very tender, juicy, and well-​prepared. I normally got the brisket and chicken. It’s a shame this place closed though.

Hope you got your fix of ‘cue and attitude as Thelma’s is now closed. The original location was far better anyway.

I didn’t love this place, but I’d still go back. I love the environment (I’m a sucker for a hole in the wall restaurant), love the Kool-​Aid, the meat was pretty good. I wasn’t crazy about the barbecue sauce (it’s a bit too tangy for my taste) and everything was covered with it. I wish I would have had it on the side.
Not the best barbecue in Houston, nor is it as good as my old man’s, but still worth a visit.

thelma’s was a bit of a letdown for me, but maybe it’s just because i had too high of expectations.
first the good: the portions were humongous! i ordered the dinner plate with brisket and ribs, and the plate probably could have very well fed two people. i really loved the okra and tomato stew as a side too — somehow they were able to get rid of that sticky stuff out of the okra while maintaining good texture and taste. the staff are nice, and i love the chill vibe of the place.
now on to the bad: the meat was a bit of a letdown for me :(the ribs i got were so tough — i felt like i was eating beef jerky. i have mixed opinions about the brisket too. half of it was so dried out i had trouble cutting it and tearing it with my teeth… the other half was cooked just right and was very, very good — very moist and melted in my mouth like i was hoping all of my brisket would have been.
i had just enough of good brisket for me to warrant a second visit. i’ll reserve final judgment until then.

If you near the Houston area and near this place, then stop by for good BBQ. Its really good and they don’t go cheap on the portions. Keep it up!

Dope,
Huge portions and BANGIN sauce ! Don’t loose your number !

I came by Thelma’s for lunch while I was in the area. I know some people say the lines are long, but at 1:30, there was zero wait. At 2 pm, the line definitely grew.
So hearing that the portions are large, my husband and I split a 2 meat box and it was plenty filling for both of us. We opted for the link sausage and brisket with green beans and yams. We got okra instead of green beans when the actual order came, but no biggie.
The sauce on everything wasn’t as bad as I expected, based on reviews. I thought it was a tasty sauce. The links were great. The brisket wasn’t too fatty. The fatty parts were slim… ha. The yams were very tasty, more sugar in that of course. The okra was good, and not slimy! I think it had a little kick to it too. I think I might’ve liked the sides more than the meat. Not that I thought the meat was bad, just nothing to write home about, so there isn’t much to say.
The iced tea does taste like an arnold palmer, and it is delicious! I love lemon in my tea and a small dose of sugar, but the heavier sugar in this did not bother me. I found it rather… delightful.
The signs about «no sagging pants» and talking on cell phones while ordering are very entertaining. I might come back if I were in the area, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get bbq here. If you are averse to hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants and places that look a bit dilapidated in sketchy parts of town, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Southern. Sweet. For Evvverrraayythang.
I know that barbecue is intensely personal. I can tell that this place is definitely a favorite for some (it was packed) but I’m not a fan of the incredibly sweet bbq sauces. Additionally, every bite of my chopped beef potato had fat dripping on each piece of meat. Just not appetizing.
I understand that there is sweet… and then southern sweet but the tea that i ordered was sugar-​betes waiting to happen. I diluted that in half with water. Mind you, every barista/​coffee shop worker criticizes me for my drinks being too sweet. My teeth hurt just thinking about it.
Aside from the portions being large, I’m not quite sure if there was a real reason for me to return to play dirt derby in their parking pit.

After being told so many to try this place, I am sad to say that I was disappointed overall with my experience. The food is just okay, and the parking is terrible. I was informed that the food was way better at the old location. Such is life.

5 Stars just for their fried catfish and the originality of this place… while waiting in line look over the menu and read ALL the rules that Mrs. Thelma has posted near the order window… if the restaurant is open and the ordering window is not, be patient, someone knows you’re there and someone will come and take your order or the bbq will burn… one of the first lessons I learned
You with the cell phone, put it away or your order will not be taken and then you won’t get to taste the flakiest fried catfish you ever laid your eyes on… it is a BBQ joint and I had a go at it also but I kept coming back for their catfish
I was warned that it was not in the nicest of neighborhoods. What do I care, my stomach is blind. Don’t expect anything fancy. Place your order, pour yourself some sweet tea if you ordered it, serve yourself some of their tartar sauce, raw sliced onion and pickles, grab some napkins and utensils and sit down patiently and wait.
I wake up sometimes hearing that beautiful phrase «Come on 89, your order is ready honey.» (Don’t loose your number or you won’t get your food). They should get a sixth star for calling me «honey».
I’m telling you this place is full of rules, worse than the nuns I had while in Catholic School. I wish the nuns would have learned how to fry catfish like this, I would have listened.

Hole in the wall (but spacious) and no frills (everything is in to-​go containers or wrapped in foil). Didn’t find the service rude; they were doing their job and they were in a bbq joint in Houston in the middle of August.
All the proteins I tasted were great: ribs (smokey and smothered in sauce), brisket (tender, moist and smothered in sauce) and chicken (moist with an appropriate amount of sauce).
The sides: coleslaw (of the sweet variety, very tasty), okra (had a weird fishy taste to it), greenbeans (wasn’t a fan of the texture but the taste made up for it), yams (perfect), texas toast (only available with the dinner plate, softest bread you can find)
The portions were huge!!! We were going back to the hotel, so taking the left overs with us, sadly, was not an option.

Good lord this is good barbeque! Venturing up Scott, I decided to try Bobbie Ques since Thelma’s was closed. Actually a friend recommend Bobbie Ques (they’d never been to Thelma’s before) so I figured it was worth a try. I had Bobbie Ques on Monday and Thelma’s again on Thursday. comparison time? I think so.
Bobbie Ques:
Nice interior
Good sauce
Potato salad is great!
Well priced
Peach tea is pretty good (although its reeeeeally sweet)
Portions are big
Thelma’s:
Not so great interior
Great Sauce
Yams are delish
The meat is smoked to perfection
Well priced
Well portioned
Bobbie Ques is good, but if you’ve had Thelma’s you’re spoiled. Both have good tasting food but Thelma’s is soooo good. This is simply me comparing the bbq chicken dinner meals though. I get the same thing every time at Thelma’s, its just that good.

Like Odysseus journeying back to Ithaca, I had many the twists and turns on my way back to Thelma’s. Its old location was a Houston BBQ institution, a decrepit house just off the beaten path from downtown. It was close enough to the city center that it became a mecca spot of sorts for businessmen, families, and tourists alike. Then, like Troy, it burned.
Thelma didn’t stay down for long, but she did up and leave the shanty near downtown for the comforts of the third ward. The added proximity makes it more of an odyssey to visit, and thus all this time had passed since I last made my pilgrimage. Along the way, I have been captured by Houston Calypsos (Goode Co and Pappas), seduced by sirens (Lockhart), and even attacked by Circe herself (the mind-​blowing Gatlin’s).
I almost didn’t make it. On the way to a Dynamo game, I suggested a pregame fix at nearby Thelma’s. The place closes at 7 (and isn’t open Sundays); we arrived a few minutes after. We were told it closed, and dejected, we left. But Athena smiled upon us that night, as one fine patron came running after us right after we left, telling us that Thelma had deemed us worthy to serve after all.
The brisket was just as moist as I remember. It’s the fattiest brisket you’ll ever eat, and it just melts in your mouth like butter. It can get sliced so thick, that upon viewing, there’s hardly any char or smoke ring, almost resembling a fully cooked prime rib. Don’t worry, it’s not, although it is almost unlike any other brisket you’ll ever eat in your life.
The sauce is heaped and ladled directly onto the meat, and no, please don’t ask for it on the side. It’s a sweet, tangy sauce slightly on the watery side, but still delectable.
The other winner here is the candied yams, which are just the best iteration of yam you’ll ever put in your mouth. I’m sure everything else is very good, but all I need are those two.
The end of story cautionary tales: Both the sandwiches and the plates are huge portions. Either be prepared to share, take to go, or get incredibly stuffed. Lines used to get really long at the old location, though not sure the same applies here. Nevertheless, know what you want to order and no cell phones, please! Minimum of $ 5.00 in order to use a credit card. And the «BBQ Nazi» stuff is honestly overrated. Be friendly, and she will do the same unto you.
And beyond all, enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Both are well worth the story.

Thelma’s Bar B Que was a small little store front. It’s interior reminded you of grandma’s kitchen with a small television, a few tables and chairs. Thelma was no joke. She took your order, and commanded your staff to serve you quickly and courteously. She offers a variety of meats, sides and only lemonade or sweet southern tea.
One thing to know about Thelma, don’t enter her restaurant on your cell phone or she will not serve you. And you will be asked to leave, just like your grandma, she don’t play with disrespect. Also if you are going to Thelma’s take your appetite because her portions are large and the food is excellent.

I have a new definition for «moist.» The loose brisket at Thelma’s was the fattiest brisket that I’ve ever had. It melts in your mouth and breaks apart when prodded with a fork. It was Babe-​Ruth-​fat. But why only three stars? Although the texture on the meat was great, it lacked gusto. The beef should be flavored throughout and not masked with barbecue sauce. The bark had a hint of sweetness instead of the salt & pepper smokiness that is associated with Texas barbecue.
The rub on the ribs was zesty and wonderful. You will also love the ribs here if you like eating beef jerky. They were so tough that I had to tear them apart into smaller pieces with my fingers. The sweet tea here tastes like an Arnold Palmer and was pretty good. However, I’ll be going to Gatlin’s and Pierson’s for my BBQ fix. They have better food and friendlier service.

We came during UH Spring Break and it actually wasn’t that busy on this particular Friday afternoon. I made sure to stay off the phone and smile sweetly while ordering – and not to ask for any changes, additions, or alterations.
I honestly never remember much about the sides, other than the pillowy-​soft white bread that comes with each meal, but the meat is what has me loving this place. Yes they drench it in sauce. But I’m a fan of putting that aforementioned bread to work as a sponge and consuming every last drop of the sauce. Get the two-​meat plate and you can have yourself one large meal for 9 bucks, or definitely two satisfying meals.
My favorites are usually the sausage and the ribs and both are hearty and delicious. The links are well-​spiced and pair nicely with the sauce. The ribs are meaty and tender, with a great smokey flavor. I’ve had the brisket once at an event and remember it being good as well. My co-​worker swears the fish is some of the best she’s had. I want to get it… but the links and ribs are so dang hard to turn down…
Do beware of the iced tea – apparently it’s been incredibly over-​sweetened at times. And this was told to me by a woman who normally puts 8 sugars in her medium coffee. Never had (and probably wouldn’t ever) so no star loss for this.

When Thelma’s burned down the first time, I began to wonder why the cruel fates of the universe destroyed one of the most wonderful BBQ places in Houston. Then I went to the new location, and my faith in the universe was fully restored.
The food is just as good at the new place as it was at the old one. Good prices, good servings, and good service if you’re not a jerk. Don’t sass Ms. Thelma, don’t try to confuse her with your razzle dazzle and whatnot, and you will be rewarded with the fruits of her labor. Seriously, y’all, she goes through a lot.
The bbq beef baked potato is the best baked potato I have ever had in my life. I’m serious. Everyone doubts me when I say things like that but I really, honestly, have never had a baked potato that tasted so damn good. I majored in English and words alone are unable to encapsulate the perfect blend it had between just enough butter and sour cream, perfect tender brisket slathered over it, and the most fluffy, perfectly baked potato I’ve ever had.
I think about it now and I want to cry. I’m almost not joking. Go there. Get one. Do it now.

I have been going to Thelmas BBQ for years before her last place burnt down. I have to say I think the food was better at the old place, now days its good for a fix of bbq. Thelma herself is always there and you may either see her taking orders or conversing with the patrons around the place. The staff can be very short with you and customer service is not at the top of list of requirements to work at thelmas. You may find yourself waiting at the window that orders are taken for a while as no one will be there.
The food at thelmas is not bad but its just not so good that I would travel more then 30 mins max to get to it. The brisket is good you can order it fatty or lean. The chicken is what my Girlfriend orders and she likes it alot its all she eats. If you order the chicken you need to order the chicken dinner where you get a half chicken. If you go with the other option its chefs choice on what piece of chicken you will get. The ribs are good when you can get them. Ribs are her number one seller and she is out of them more times then she is not. Last time I was able to get the ribs I had one rib that was dry and not covered in sauce. That rib was great, better then the ones with all the sauce. I will order then next time dry with sauce on the side, but it cost 2 dollars extra for that for some reason.
The sides are nothing to write home about the best ones are the beans and the cabbage, also the yams if you like sweet. The dirty rice is like stir fried rice, I heard a patron say she uses wild rice and thats why it taste like that. I dont think its the worst place but its not the best place its a good place at best to get your fix.

I really think that who you are eating with here sets the tone for whether you love or hate this place. I am not familiar with anyone that sorta’ likes this place, it is a straight up love/​hate dynamic. With that being said — I only come here with one group of people that I like very much. Since I like being with them I do not mind (a) the long wait, (b) the attitude of the staff, which is quite simply awful, and © the occasional weird oopsy-​doodle that might happen in the kitchen to your order. My sincere advice is do not come here without knowing what you are getting into … and come with people you like for the experience, don’t take a date or a client or someone like that to this place. Come with your bros, amigos, chicas, or whatnot.
This is a place you either love or love-​to-​hate. Being appropriately admonished by a good friend about what to expect before even getting in the car to head over here my first time, my gut reaction was «why would anyone ever come here?» and really the only thing I could come up with is that my friend was a total masochist.
But I like my unique experiences and I will try anything once «for the story.» Thelma’s is one of the places that everyone should go at least once — if only for the story. It is one of those unique places that would be hard to replicate — but if you are in the business of easily replicable and highly inconsequential I am sure Pappas BBQ is your Mecca.
If you are not familiar with the area you might miss the place. So keep your eyes open when you pass UH (or if coming from the other way, if you hit UH then you went way too far)
Parking is a bit of an issue if you come at peak lunch hour. This place gets bizzay like Paul Wall’s track «Bizzy Body.» Okay I will stop with the rap references. It gets busy in here! I am typically only here at peak lunch hour because that’s when my stomach commands me to eat, apparently like everyone else. There is always a very long line. Like it will wrap all around the interior of the restaurant and out the door, depending on when exactly you get your spot in line, or if you can get a table and stick around to eat you can watch the line grow like the game of Snake.
The personality of Thelma and her staff is to be… overbearing? Demanding? Angry? Threatening? Intimidating? Not sure which is most appropriate. Just consider it like the Soup Nazi in Seinfeld. You are going to get bossed around like a little child.
But you will do it because of the food. The Soup Nazi had great soup and Thelma’s has great BBQ. The prices are also very fair. And it is a nice dose of culture, something very far removed from a typical Subway lunch, and that is a good thing.
If you are one of those «green it, mean it» types you are going to be pissed at how much styrofoam gets used. Oh well.
I really do not care for the attitude of the staff. But I would come here over Pappas any day. So that makes it a three star maneuver.