Best BBQ vs. Austin
Submitted by matt on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 8:06am.
OK, I live south, but work north (on Parmer). I'm sure I haven't hit all the best BBQ stops up there. Taking recommendations.
For me, in the SOUTH:
* Green Mesquite (Oakhill)
* Saltlick (FM1826)
* Rudy's (also up north)
* Don's BBQ (Oakhill)
* Smitty's (Lockhart - ok, that's a stretch for "South Austin")
In my old Schlumberger days, Iron Works (near Cesar Chavez and I-35) was the place to be. I went there many a time with my friends, just for the love of friendship, really. As a 95% ovo-lacto-fisho vegetarian, I can't vouch for the meat, but I can tell you the salad bar sucked.
We hit Iron Works when I was working at Freescale Oakhill - mainly for going-away parties. It was alright, but expensive if I remember right. Same for Stubbs - good, but expensive for the portions you get.
Like I mentioned above, I still like Don's BBQ in Oakhill. They had a brisket sandwich lunch special w/ 2 sides & a drink for $5.25. Couldn't beat it. And my 2 sides were.....two banana puddings. Oh yeah.
I'm so hungry now.
Matt
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Banana pudding... That sounds right up Dan Bodoh's alley... I should mention that to him.
Matt - fret not for there is a Rudy's down south off of 360 just before Barton Creek Mall. I always found Rudy's to be quite tasty, but I don't get out much to BBQ as my wife is vegetarian. I always wanted to go to the Salt Lick, but haven't been able to despite living here for 4+ years now.
Cheers,
AM
"With the birth of every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." - Rabindranath Tagore
AM- You must go to the Salt Lick ASAP. According to my husband, it is the best brisket in town. I personally find plenty of non-meat items to eat there. I always get the veggie plate, which comes with potato salad, beans, pickles, onion slices, and bread. Their potato salad is THE best, especially with their delicious BBQ sauce drizzled on top. The beans are OK. As a Puerto Rican, I am not a huge fan of BBQ beans as it is, but they do in a pinch. I usually am too full for the cobbler dessert (the BEST also).
Do you find the smokiness of the beans or BBQ sauce distasteful? That's one thing my wife cannot stand - the smoky flavour. She doesn't even like smoked cheese.
"With the birth of every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." - Rabindranath Tagore
You know, it's funny you mention that. My wife HATES the smokey flavor too...in anything (including cheese and beans, as you said). It doesn't bother me at all.
That's precisely the reason she didn't like Big Oak BBQ in Buda. However, I loved it.
Matt
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AM - yes, I've been to the Rudy's down south too. We typically do not visit the south location (even though I live south) because my wife doesn't care for Rudy's. So I go with coworkers to the 183 location.
I've heard Saltlick on 360 isn't as good as the original on FM1826. The original location is the place to go, as Maria said. They once gave a Motorola discount on Fridays for family-style (8+ years ago), but they don't any longer. For a while, it was the best deal in town.
My wife loves the BBQ at County Line on the Lake. I do too, but it's relatively expensive. The warm wheat bread with honey butter melts in your mouth....Mmmm. And you can buy a day-old loaf for a dollar.
OK, I better stop. Getting hungry.
Matt
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Leslie Smiers
Big Oak Bar-B-Que in downtown Buda is very good also. I love their pulled port sandwich.
I completely forgot! And I live just a few minutes from Buda too. I love their pulled pork too. Need to go back.
A few years ago there was a BBQ festival, and I was told Big Oak had a sampling line a mile long. That's how I heard about it.
There must be other BBQ places in Buda, but I haven't tried them yet. I should.
Matt
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Mmmmmm.... County Line bread.....
Several years ago The New York Times ran an article about the 10 best BBQ places in Central Texas. We tried all 10 over the cource of 6 weeks. Some of the places listed above were on the list. Top of the NYT list and a 4 out of 4 for the Fielder family is Cooper's BBQ in Llano, TX. Everything on the menu, and if it walks, runs, flys, crawls or swims they have, is wonderful.
http://www.coopersbbq.com/
Be careful about going to Cooper's when there is a convention in town. The Texas Biker's Rally had eaten everything and was starting to gnaw on the tables by 12:30.
Smitty's has above average ribs but everything else is just average; to my scarred palate.
Guy Fielder
Experienced C-Level Leader
Professional Geek Wrangler & Nerd Herder
I have to stick up for Smitty's here. I suppose that everything depends on palate preferences, but Smitty's brisket is incredibly tender and flavorful. I completely omit sauce when I am there because it doesn't need it. Can't say the same for Donn's or Rudy's. Salt Lick, of course, you go BECAUSE of the sauce. Also at Smitty's, the sausage is unbelievable. It nearly melts in your mouth. Sausage at Southside Market in Elgin is also excellent. If you are a chicken guy (or gal) Black's BBQ in Lockhart has a terrific smoked chicken. Haven't been to County Line in 15 years, so I can't speak to their current quality.
Cooper's is on my To Do list.
There is also a Cooper's in Round Rock that is owned by the son of the original founder of Cooper's in Llano.
"It's hero time, Chuck."
- Peppermint Patty in "You're The Greatest, Charlie Brown"
The cream corn at Rudys is amazing. Biggest reason why I go there all the time :)
Angie Lee
Veriseo Corporation
Semiconductor Staffing
Angie@Veriseo.com
If y'all don't mind a little drive I recommend Bertram Smokehaus (on TX 29 west of Georgetown out towards Burnett) is one of the best I've found. Tender and tasty brisket, ribs, and chicken, excellent sides (coleslaw, potato salad and beans) and they grill an awesome rib-eye too if you like steak...
For sure I am highly suspect to judge but I strongly recommend the Brazilian BBQ in Southwest Pkwy, between 360 and MoPac.
http://www.estanciachurrascaria.com/
It is all you can eat meet and it is more expensive ($18 / person - lunch time) but for me it is well worth the price.
Another similar restaurant (Fogo de Chao) is about to open in downtown Austin, but they are even more expensive (and better too). There are Fogo de Chao in Dallas and Houston already and they are always crowded.
If anybody wants to go to Estancia for lunch, please let me know. I may join you (each one paying his/her own bill)...
I think you've given me some new places to try, and/or meet you for lunch!
Matt
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I haven't been to all the places mentioned above, but I cannot live without the County Line. Those beef ribs are huge, and amazing. I like them so much that when I was in college at the U. of Florida, my mother would use the County Line's Air Ribs service and have them send me ribs for my birthday.
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Christopher Iamele
Email: ciamele@austin.rr.com
Chris - no kidding? Air Ribs? That's fantastic! I love their ribs too. It's been so long since I've had them though.
Mmmm......ribs....
Matt
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Speaking of the Salt Lick, AMD and Robert Scoble put on an awesome free party there at last years SXSW. It was the best bbq I've been to in Central Texas. Along Highway 71 near Bastrop there are a series of postage stamp sized BBQ places and they're all really good. Pokey Joe's is good in a pinch.
Yes, I had heard of that Salt Lick / SXSW gig. Note that's "heard", and not "ate at".
Matt
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I have a podcast where I interviewed Scoble at last year's Salt Lick. I've been talking to him on gtalk and skype about doing something this year. He's busy with this new http://fastcompany.tv project. I have to keep bugging him because he has so many balls that he's juggling, and sxsw is one of them.
There was a place, that used to have the best brisket in Austin - IMHO.
They used to be in the Farmer's Market on Burnet called 'BBQ World Headquarters'. Sadly, they are now out of business, but their angus brisket was the best I've ever had. Bar none. Even better than the Salt Lick and Rudy's and {insert your BBQ place here}.
Where else can you get great BBQ and fill up your tank. Rudy's. Plus they have awesome breakfast tacos to boot.
MMmmmm... those breakfast tacos are great. I've never seen a flour tortilla filled up like they do it at Rudy's.
Matt
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Pokey Jo's, Rudys, Salt Lick, Iron Works (next to Conv Ctr), and the ones out in Elgin (forget the names) are my favorites.
Any good places up north? Although the hour+ drive to south austin might be worth if its some kicking BBQ.
There is a Pokey Joe's on Parmer near Lamplight Village. Don't waste your time with Branch BBQ on Wells Branch... at least when I've been there the brisket was dry and the sausage overcooked. The Bill Miller at I35 and Wells Branch is also not very good. There are 3 Rudy's in the north area, one on 183, one on I35 in RR and one on 620 near 2222. They are like Rudy's in general, O.K. for "fast food" BBQ. Then there is always County Line on the Lake on 2222 near 360.
If you don't mind a drive, Bertram Smokehaus I've mentioned before is incredible... and a bit further over to Burnett or Llano and you've got a number of other well known places.
Pokey Jo's in the Arboretum is pretty good if you're in a rush and want a quick fix.
Any good BBQ in the Parmer Lane & Mopac area?
The Pokey Joe's is only a few blocks east on Parmer from Mopac.
The only store in that area is Frys.
I'm not sure what you mean by that... Fry's isn't quite the only store in that area.
I mean in that general vicinity. I work on Parmer west of Mopac. I often will hit Little China on Metric south of Parmer. Great little Chinese restaurant with decent lunch prices. But sometimes I want BBQ.
Up north, try "Branch Bar-b-que" on Wells Branch just West of IH 35 (in the shopping center at the light where the Diamond Shamrock is)
I'm not a fan of PokeJoe's sauce either, but Branch's is about my favorite.
I get the Elgin sausage.
Oh - and.. Try the Peach Cobbler...
My fiance and I tried Branch BBQ once and were not favorably impressed. Perhaps it was because it was during a UT football game or something, but the brisket was dry and the sausage was overcooked. The sides basically seemed like H-E-B deli...
Pokey Joes, 2121 W Parmer,
sorry about my feeble humor.
also
Texas Bar & Grill
14611 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 255-1300
My only problem is that I don't like Pokey Joes. I had it once, and didn't like the sauce.
Well ok, I'm sure that's not my only problem.
If its like a lot of the smaller chains, you might try the particular store before you completely give up on it. I've found that how they do things can sometimes vary significantly from one location to another.
Yeah it's average. I tolerate it when I'm really hungry and it's convenient.
Maybe try that Texas Bar and Grill. I went there once. To ask directions.
SaltLick (original) is always great even if it is a long drive for me.
Rudy's if I can not find anything else.
No Pokey Joes for me, just have not enjoyed it at any of the ones I have been to.
Got a good list to check out!!!
Generally my family BBQs every weekend during Spring-Fall. Also do some BBQ cook offs, so by the time I get around to going places I am burned out for a few months.
I went to "Smokey Mo's" (I think that's the name) up in the HEB plaza on Parmer & McNeil. In my opinion, the sauce tasted very close to Rudy's, but without the long line, and a few dollars less. I might be hitting there again when I have the lunch time need for BBQ. It's very close to Freescale on Parmer.
Have not been there in a good while, but I do like them. My kids go to the daycare there by Freescale and I live in Avery Ranch so they are convenient.
Well, having grown up on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma, I grown to actually prefer pork bbq, as opposed to beef. Yes I like Rudy's brisket, but when I have my druthers, I go to someplace that has good pork. County Lines baby back ribs are high on my list of best, but the pork chops at Coopers in Llano are the absolute best. And when I don't want to drive that far, I go to Opie's in Spicewood; just a short drive from Bee Caves up 71; same pork chop as Cooper's (he used to cook at Cooper's).
For a quick lunch (and when I'm on that side of town), Bee Caves BBQ (about 2 miles north of 360 on Bee Caves Road) has a great chopped beef sandwich, and they have home made black berry cobbler. But it's strickly to go, or eat outside on the picnic table, which is usually OK. Also a quick "good" and cheap lunch can be had at Smokey J's; corner of 2222 and 620.
Once in a while I'm in the mode for bbq chicken, and Pokey Joe's is the deal. Once a week a half a bird is a buck off, but can't remember which day that special is.
My wife loves a good pork chop. We need to try Opie's; I had not heard of them. Thank you!
Careful there pilgram. Those chops are about 3" thick.
3 inches? Holy cow. Is there a half order???
Nope, no half order. Take some home. It's better even the next day (but don't forget the sauce).
Cooper's and Opie's both sell by the pound. You walk up to the pit, and actually pick out the piece that you want.
Enjoy (the gift that keeps on giving, big pork chops!).
Wow now that is something I would like to try. I am a big boy, but a 3 inch thick pork chop may do me in.
Oh alright - sounds good. Ugh...9:30pm, and I'm hungry now.
Just to resurrect the near-oldest thread on door64, the Texas Monthly results are in for best BBQ joint in Texas:
Snow's BBQ in Lexington, Texas
See http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-06-01/multimedia3.php
Apparently they are open one day a week, and only until the meat runs out. What a business model.
Looks like it's time for a road trip!
I'm not sure how much I trust that publication, but it would be interesting to try the BBQ for myself...
well the busters on 620 near the intersection of 620 and 71. friday they have a crawfish broil, but outside of that just good ol bbq