OK vs. TX- Van’s Pig Stand vs. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

I always want to keep content going on this site, so I had a fun thought for a short article!

Upon my last visit to Okahoma, I lamented on the fact that my friends in my former home state had slim pickens with regards to BBQ. However, I had learned that Dickey’s Barbecue had become a sort of corporate BBQ representative for Texas, as it is the largest BBQ franchise in the nation originating from Dallas. So I thought I’d give Oklahoma a reasonable challenge- can OK BBQ beat Texas corporate BBQ? I picked one of the state’s best- Van’s Pig Stand in Shawnee- to face off against Dickey’s in a simple competition- which establishment had the best Brisket Sandwich, potato salad, and baked beans? In other words, a competition over a pretty classic dish.

SIDE(S) BY SIDE(S)

The beans probably have the clearest difference visually. Usually I opt for pinto beans, but I went with the sweeter baked beans. The beans from Dickey’s (on the left) weren’t too sweet, with some heft. They were more subtle than I expected, but not bland. On the right, the beans at Van’s were much more tomatoey, but also a bit too sweet. On this side, Dickey’s wins.

The potato salads were closer together in terms of quality and flavor. They were both mustardy, creamy, featured very little textural differences like celery or onions. The potato salad from Van’s was slightly more tangy, with marginally bigger potato chunks. This tang coupled with the more homestyle cut of the potatoes gives Van’s the slight edge over Dickey’s

BRISKET V BRISKET

In terms of the look of the brisket, Dickey’s (on the left) looks better, no doubt. The bread was also slightly sweeter, a nice contrast with the beef. However, upon the first bite, the fat was better rendered from Van’s, with a better, saltier bark. Van’s slices their brisket thinner, but the slices are still very juicy. There’s more smoke at Dickey’s, but far less flavor from the rub. I added the sauce and accouterments and here’s where Van’s pulls WAY ahead. Instead of just onions or pickles, Van’s also offers a deliciously sweet and tangy jalapeno relish.  The hot sauce from Van’s also has more flavor depth to offer than the standard sweet stuff from Dickey’s.

THE VERDICT

So yeah, it’s closer than Oklahomans might want to admit, but some of the best local offerings there can indeed beat Texas at its most corporate. Though we gave Texas a handicap here, it’s still important to reiterate that OK can, in this context, claim an edge over an insanely successful franchise.