What is Goode Co. Barbeque on Kirby Drive?
Goode Co. Barbeque on Kirby Drive is a barbecue restaurant at 5109 Kirby Drive in Houston. The company calls it “The Original.” It is the first restaurant of Goode Co., a Houston restaurant company.
The restaurant cooks over mesquite. Texas Monthly described mesquite fires as the founder’s trademark in 1986.
How did the restaurant start?
Jim Goode was a commercial artist who left the advertising business. In 1977 he bought a struggling barbecue business on Kirby Drive instead of starting one from scratch. Texas Monthly reported in 1992 that the site was a failing restaurant called the Barbecue Barn, run by a widow who wanted to sell it.
Goode redid the barn-style building with wooden tables, cowboy photographs and antiques. He hand-painted a company motto on the side of the barn. His uncle Joe, a former Air Force cook, helped run the restaurant in its early days.
Who was Jim Goode?
Goode was born in Velasco, Texas, in 1944, according to Texas Monthly. He was the youngest of five children. He died at his home in Houston in February 2016, at age 71.
His son, Levi Goode, leads the company as owner and president, according to the company’s history page.
What is the restaurant known for?
The company lists mesquite-smoked beef brisket, Czech sausage, pork ribs, Jambalaya Texana and jalapeño cheese bread among the dishes to order on Kirby. It also lists Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie. The pie is based on Goode’s mother’s recipe.
What other restaurants grew from Goode Co. Barbeque?
Goode Co. opened a taqueria in 1981 and a seafood restaurant in 1986. Later openings included barbecue locations on the Katy Freeway in 1989 and the Northwest Freeway in 2008, and the Armadillo Palace in 2004. The company’s website listed six restaurant brands in 2026.
Is Goode Co. Barbeque on Kirby Drive still open?
Yes. The Kirby Drive location was taking online pickup orders in 2026, and the company website listed Goode Co. Barbeque among its restaurants.