I’ve Lived in Texas for 25 Years—This Hidden Gem Near Houston Has Michelin-starred Barbecue and Celebrity Ties

Spring, Texas

Notable celebrities like Simone Biles, Jim Parsons, and Lee Pace all grew up in Spring, Texas.

CorkScrew BBQ, located in Old Town Spring, is known for its Southern hospitality and Michelin-starred barbecue.

Prohibition Texas and MB Speakeasy, both within walking distance of CorkScrew BBQ, serve handcrafted cocktails.

Spring Creek Greenway and Pundt Park invite visitors to get out in nature, with opportunities to hike, bike, and canoe.

The historic Wunsche Bros. Cafe & Saloon dates back more than a century and serves hearty fare like chicken-fried steak.

After two decades in San Antonio, I was sure the best Texas barbecue could be found in my city—until a visit to Spring, a quiet Houston suburb, challenged everything I thought I knew about the Lone Star State’s food scene.

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Despite making the roughly 3.5-hour drive to Houston frequently, Spring had never been on my radar. But when the first-ever Texas Michelin Guide declared the town's sole barbecue joint, CorkScrew BBQ, worthy of one Michelin star, I was intrigued.

With approximately 63,000 residents—a marked contrast to Houston's population of 2.4 million—Spring has counted multiple celebrities among its numbers. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons, and Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, Lord of the Rings) all grew up in the Texas destination.

Where to Eat and Drink

Corkscrew BBQ

A butcher block filled with food from Corkscrew BBQ.

CorkScrew BBQ sits in Old Town Spring, a historic, less than one-square-mile patch that was once the original town itself. Today, it’s the suburb’s bustling downtown, packed with more than 100 shops, bars, restaurants—and one Michelin-starred love letter to smoked meat.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Will and Nichole Buckman, CorkScrew BBQ is Southern hospitality in action—from staff taking drink orders for guests still in line toa message on the chalkboard inside that captures the spirit of the place: “Brisket > Heaven."

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Order the pulled pork and a side of pit smoked beans—often second fiddles on many BBQ menus, these under-appreciated food items steal the spotlight at CorkScrew thanks to a perfect blend of seasoning and sauce. I just regretted not purchasing extra to take home to San Antonio.

There are two speakeasy lounges located within walking distance of CorkScrew. Hidden inside a nondescript white house, the aptly named Prohibition Texas is perfect for an expertly crafted old fashioned or a Texas Heat Wave with Hellfire bitters.

Also in an unassuming space, MB Speakeasy specializes in familiar handcrafted cocktails with a side of rotating live musical acts. The lounge also has a variety of refreshing mocktails so every guest feels at home.

Save your appetite for Wunsche Bros. Cafe & Saloon. Another nod to Old Town Spring's storied past, the saloon pays tribute to Spring locals Charlie and Dell Wunsche—the brothers utilized the space as a hotel, brothel, and tavern in the early 20th century. Legend has it, Charlie and Dell never closed their tab. Question is, do they haunt the cafe for the chicken-fried steak, the Spring club sandwich, a cold beer, or all of the above?

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CorkScrew BBQ isn’t the only Michelin-recognized spot here. Just a 15-minute drive from Old Town Spring, Belly of the Beast showcases chef Thomas Bille’s first-generation Mexican-American heritage through a menu of elevated Mexican cuisine. Highlights include ceviche de pescado with coconut leche de tigre (a tangy broth from the fish marinade), scallops on the half shell with peach aguachile, and Texas wagyu carne asada, along with a variety of other refined dishes. In addition to a Bib Gourmand recognition from the inaugural Texas Michelin Guide, chef Bille was awarded the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas.

Things to Do

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Visitors ride Tornado at Six Flags Splashtown.

Nature lovers can get their fix at the Spring Creek Greenway or Pundt Park. The latter is a 380-acre outdoor recreation space with two lakes, a playground, a canoe launch, multiuse trails, two pavilions, and bicycle racks.

Families exploring the area can cool down at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. The Spring area water park is open seven days a week.

Located about a half-hour drive away in Humble, Texas, the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is another family-friendly option. Free and open to the public, it features up to 300 acres of greenery, walking trails, multiple gardens, ponds, a courtyard plaza, picnic areas, and a maple collection.

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