Posted on 01/21/2023 12:57:52 PM PST by DallasBiff
Barbecue is a way of life in Texas, there’s just no way around it. The nationally recognized smoked meat scene found in the Austin area is so important that pitmaster Aaron Franklin even won a James Beard Award and pitmaster Damien Brockway is a semifinalist in this year’s awards.
Here is Eater’s updated definitive guide to the finest barbecue in Austin, including places with and without lines, outdoor picnic table seating and indoor table service, restaurants and food trucks, and all the briskets, ribs, and sausages a person could ever want. This means Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, the Austin outpost of Black's Barbecue, newcomer Distant Relatives, and many others. Brisket is naturally recommended at all of the restaurants and trucks below.
(Excerpt) Read more at austin.eater.com ...
Good post - headed that way in May & planning to test BBQ in Lockhart & Elgin. Spending a week in Fredericksburg.
Forgot Austin. Go to Stanley’s in Tyler.
“ They missed the BEST ONE, Salt Lick. Probably because they don’t do Payola.”
Salt Lick is in Driftwood and I happen to like it for the atmosphere. Typically head up there when we want to spend a Saturday listening to music and eating good BBQ. But my favorite is Blacks in Lockhart . Best beef ribs I have ever eaten.
Bkmk
I am a BBQ enthusiast and have lived in the Austin area for 60+ years.
This is a better list: https://www.theinfatuation.com/austin/guides/best-bbq-in-austin
I wont eat at Blacks in Austin — they don’t even cook on-site. The food is shuttled in from their Lockhart store in ice chests daily and simply kept warm at the Guadalupe Street location.
The Salt Lick location in Driftwood is a fun experience for the tourists, but its barbecue is not anywhere near the level of the other places listed above.
YMMV.
Avoid Franklin Barbecue unless you like a little BBQ with your pepper.
ditto...especially blacks
I’ve been wanting to go to Franklins but with my current back problems I can’t stand in line for 3 hours. I’ve heard it’s amazing.
You can order ahead and have it picked it up.
A dangerous trek to say the least ... it’s Travis County, home of crazy perverted demented demon possessed liberals. No barbecue is worth the risk of traveling to Austin.
Coopers in Gruene Texas served me about the best meal I’ve ever had. I celebrated by going to Salt Lick the next day. Was not disappointed.
In Austin, I like The County Line for the experience and service. I’ve always had a good meal there. I think there is still a location on The Riverwalk in San Antonio, too.
For lunch or dinner that’s close to home, I enjoy Rudy’s. It’s a chain, true, but each site prepares its own meats and you can watch the cutters slice it.
I used to go to Po-kee-Jo’s occassionally for the sides. They catered a function I attended and I thought they did a fine job.
If you want a great BBQ sandwich, give SLAB a shot.
If you go there, enjoy the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. (Chester Nimitz’s birthplace, for those that didn’t know). Don’t forget the Marine Corps Annex down the street, too! You can easily spend an entire day visiting those two places!
“Salt Lick is in Driftwood and I happen to like it for the atmosphere. Typically head up there when we want to spend a Saturday listening to music and eating good BBQ. But my favorite is Blacks in Lockhart . Best beef ribs I have ever eaten.”
Thanks! Haven’t been to Blacks, but will try it my next chance.
Okay, now you have to list those other ingredients!
Hurtado in Arlington (Texas). He calls it Mexicue. His brisket is better than Franklin’s. He rotates his sausage ingredients but my favorite is the Oaxaca cheese and poblano pepper.
I’m now starving. Thanks a lot 🤣
Agree!…Salt Lick
Fredericksburg is known for German food!…town was settled by them
A must see is the Admiral Nimitz Museum/World War 2 Museum
Rudy’s is a favorite!
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