North Dallas is a big place. The pit sits in its northeast corner, just south of LBJ at Skillman, with a dining room and a smoker you can smell from the lot.
The best barbecue in North Dallas comes off the pecan pit at Strouderosa BBQ, 9090 Skillman Street in Lake Highlands, just south of LBJ. It is about fifteen minutes from Preston Hollow, Hillcrest and Far North Dallas. Brisket and house-made sausage smoked on site, scratch sides, a dining room open Wednesday through Sunday, online ordering and catering across the north side of town.
Which North Dallas? This corner of it
North Dallas runs from the Tollway to the lake, so here is the pin. Strouderosa sits on Skillman just south of LBJ, in Lake Highlands on the northeast side. From Preston Hollow, take Royal or Forest Lane east to Skillman and turn south, about fifteen minutes. From Far North Dallas, come down Hillcrest or Central to LBJ, head east and exit at Skillman, about the same. The card below tells you which door, and full directions and hours live on the location page.
Smoked here, not trucked in
Plenty of places on the north side serve barbecue. Fewer smoke it on the premises. Strouderosa runs its own pit over pecan, low and slow, trims and seasons the brisket by hand, grinds and stuffs the sausage in house and makes the sides from scratch. Dallas Observer readers voted it Best Barbecue, Readers' Choice 2023, and the smell in the parking lot makes the same argument for free. The story behind the pit covers how a catering trailer grew a dining room.
The first order, settled
Start with sliced brisket for the bark and a side of Mac N Threeso, which is what the regulars from Preston Hollow to Lake Highlands keep ordering. Add house-made sausage on the second visit and a Braterosa on the third. Feeding a block party or an office off the Tollway? The catering page takes a date, a headcount and an address, and take-and-bake trays finish in your own oven. The price list has every number.
What the north side orders
Brisket Enchiladas: Smoked brisket rolled in flour tortillas and smothered in Threeso.
Bone-in Wings: Smoked, sauced and served with house-made ranch and celery.
Pulled Pork Sandwich: Hand-pulled pork on a toasted bun with a cup of tangy slaw.
The rest of the board is on the menu, with every price on the price list.
1/4 lb each of your two meat choices. One small side plus white bread & the "fixins".
Price: $19
1/2 lb each of your two meat choices. Two small sides plus white bread & the "fixins".
Price: $36
1/2 lb of EVERY meat, plus 1/2 rack of ribs, three sausage links, & three medium sides plus white bread & the "fixins". Fixins = jalapenos, pickled onions, BBQ sauce, & pickles.
Price: $110
Price: $65
Pint sized for Buckaroos 12 & under, and Cowpokes 65 & over. Choice of meat: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Turkey, or Sausage. Choice of side: BBQ Borracho Beans, Candied Carrots, Coleslaw, Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Green Beans with Bacon, Jalapeno Cream Corn, Mac N Threeso.
Price: $11
1/4 lb
$10
1/4 lb
$11
1/2 lb
$19
1/4 lb
$10
1/2 lb
$16
1/4 lb
$10
1/2 lb
$16
Price: $10
1/4 lb. Chopped Beef Brisket or Pulled Pork Sandwich. Available WED -> FRI from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
1/4 lb
$13
Bone-in, 8 pc.
8 pc
$13
Two Smoked Brisket enchiladas with flour tortillas smothered in Threeso and your choice of one small side.
Meal
$13
A la carte
$5.50
Two Smoked Brisket Tacos on flour tortillas with shredded cheese and pico de gallo.
Meal
$11
A la carte
$4.50
Large Baked Potato with a 1/2 pound of Brisket or Pulled Pork, topped with THREESO, shredded cheese, sour cream and "The Fixins".
Large
$26
1/4 lb
$13
Price: $13
Price: $4
Price: $10
1 churro
$3
2 churros
$6
1 scoop
$3
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$1
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$0.75
4 oz
$0.75
Per slice
$0.75
Each
$2
2 tortillas
$1
Price: $2
North Dallas BBQ questions
Where is the best barbecue in North Dallas?
Strouderosa BBQ, at 9090 Skillman St Ste 174a in Lake Highlands, on the northeast side of North Dallas just south of LBJ. Brisket and house-made sausage smoked over pecan on site, with scratch sides, a dining room, online ordering and catering.
Is Lake Highlands in North Dallas?
Yes. Lake Highlands is the northeast corner of North Dallas, between Central Expressway and Garland, south of LBJ and north of White Rock Lake. Strouderosa sits on Skillman Street just south of the freeway.
How far is Strouderosa from Preston Hollow or Far North Dallas?
About fifteen minutes from either. From Preston Hollow, take Royal or Forest Lane east to Skillman. From Far North Dallas, take Hillcrest or Central south to LBJ, head east and exit at Skillman. The restaurant faces Skillman just south of the freeway.
What makes Strouderosa the best BBQ in North Dallas?
Everything is smoked on site over pecan: brisket trimmed and seasoned by hand, sausage made in house, sides from scratch. Dallas Observer readers voted it Reader's Choice Best Barbecue, and it has a dining room, online ordering and catering.
Does Strouderosa cater across North Dallas?
Yes. Offices along the Tollway, block parties in Preston Hollow and school events in Far North Dallas start on the catering page with a date, a headcount and an address. We confirm how the food gets there for your location and headcount.
When is Strouderosa open?
Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm; Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday, when the smoker gets its day off.
