BBQ runs in my blood as my family settled in Lockhart in the early 1900s, and I grew up going to visit my great aunts and uncles and grandparents several weekends every year there. We’d have our daily Black’s or Kreuz BBQ dose and visit with Blue Bell ice cream and peach cobbler until we drove back to Houston. When at home, we’d also have Goode Co. BBQ for lunch every Sunday, and it was a way for our family to stay together and be Texans, I guess! Now that I have a more refined palate, I’m confident in saying Austin has THE BEST barbecue in Texas with the most moist brisket and religious experience you could find. Here are my favorite places to go in Austin for those fall-off-the-bone ribs, peppery brisket, and of course, mac ‘n cheese to pair!
The Best BBQ in Austin
Terry Black’s Barbecue — Terry Black’s is straight-up Texas barbecue, born and bred in Lockhart, the BBQ capital of the world where my great grandparents immigrated from Poland in the early 1900s. Not only are my extended family members who grew up there tightnit with them, but their Barton Springs Road location must be the busiest and most profitable BBQ in town since they are open for lunch AND dinner and consistently packed. They run a full operation here with a great cafeteria-style service line, and the food is always consistent. You don’t have to worry about getting bad brisket at the end of the day because the food is always on par. The brisket here is less bark-y, and more fatty and rich than others, but still good and tender, making it a place you could eat at more often without getting the meat sweats. Don’t miss the epic beef rib, green beans, baked beans with brisket, and corn muffin that you’d probably never even catch! Don’t let the line fool you, they move swiftly compared to the others!
La Barbecue — La Barbecue started as a food truck and now has its own Michelin-starred space on East Cesar Chavez, always with a line around the corner for the brisket, turkey, and ribs. All the meat is locally-sourced, grass-fed and completely free of hormones, and this brisket is more fatty and juicy than most. The barbecue counter comes from Alison Clem and the late LeAnn Mueller, who comes from Texas bbq royalty, and their sides really shine — especially the Shells & Cheese, which has a little kick, and their Chipotle Slaw. While you wait, don’t miss Rockman across the street for treats after your meal!! Also, they have double smashburgers every Wednesday and Thursday nights from 3-6 p.m. which I have to try!
Franklin Barbecue — You can’t talk about BBQ in Austin without paying tribute to Franklin’s. No one can make a best BBQ list and leave out Franklin Barbecue (except Michelin). The Austin icon is as good as everyone says, with top-notch brisket that will make your eyes bulge out and a richness that you’ll be tasting for days. Aaron Franklin won a James Beard award, and they are known for their long line that wraps around the old east side building in the wee hours of the morning before they open as early as 6 a.m. these days. You’ll never forget your first bite of brisket here as it’s truly unlike anything you’ve ever had. I think you can find brisket that could be as good as Franklin’s, but never better. It’s like meat candy — it’s so good and moist, and the pork ribs are ones I won’t skip, even though “I don’t eat pork,” because they fall off the bone since they are so tender when you pick them up! As a local, if you want this BBQ sooner rather than later, I recommend saving Franklin’s for an offsite catering order, which is super easy and allows for leftovers and no line.
Leroy and Lewis — Constantly innovating the barbecue game with Beef Cheeks, Barbacoa, and even vegan-friendly Cauliflower Burnt Ends, Leroy and Lewis just opened its first brick-and-mortar. Leroy and Lewis sources all their cuts from small, local purveyors, and the Brisket Sandwich really impressed me with its tenderness and perfect fit in a squishy bun, which must have been Martin’s potato bun. It was so delicious we didn’t even bother to add barbecue sauce, but I love that their sauce is made from beets and is less sweet. The Deluxe Frito Pie looks like something a drunk person should eat, yet I found myself happily diving in for lunch with my parents one rainy afternoon, and the Beef Cheeks are so tender, you can cut right through it with your teeth. I need to try their burger as I’ve heard rave reviews for years! This to me is the most fun BBQ menu, yet equally delicious as the rest, in town! The line takes longer than it looks FYI!
Rollin’ Smoke BBQ — More people should know about Rollin’ Smoke, a BBQ food truck with brisket that’s just as tender as all the top spots you know. Kyle, the owner, is a BBQ expert that offers a unique menu with items like a Quesataco, a fried, cheesy, smoked barbacoa taco, and Pastrami Burnt Ends. This can be the spot for a traditional plate, or you can try a new item with every visit. I recommend checking out their instagram to see what special they have on any given day, and they just moved to the bar Chalmers on the east side!
Mum Foods — The best pastrami I’ve ever had (even better than Katz’s) comes from Mum Foods, which started at farmers’ market stands before turning into a pop-up, and eventually opening their brick-and-mortar far east on Manor Road. Stand in line with your tray to order sandwiches, sides, meat by the half-pound, and even matzo ball soup — it’s a Jewish Texas deli meats smokehouse and sure feels homey like it. It also reminds me a lot of the vibes of Lockhart BBQ restaurants. Get the pastrami, brisket, and pickles for a veggie relief.
KG BBQ — The Egyptian-style barbecue at KG BBQ isn’t traditional due to all the Mediterranean ingredients, like nuts, pomegranates, za’atar, and raisins, but still feels familiar and I loved that there’s no smoky aftertaste for days when you want to feel a tad lighter. Chef Kareem came here from Egypt and taught himself how to make BBQ, while also learning to two-step on the reg!. You can find him at The White Horse or Sagebrush during the evenings as he’s definitely a Texas convert now. The chicken rice bowl makes for an easy lunch, and their mac ’n cheese reminds me of the lasagna at Il Brutto with its bechamel sauce. Their rice pudding was named one of Bon Appetit’s best desserts of 2023 for good reason as it isn’t too sweet, and I loved the crushed pistachios on top. You can enjoy outdoor and indoor seating, and their truck is only open Thursday through Sunday at Oddwood Brewing on Manor Road.
Salt Lick BBQ — Driftwood’s famous Salt Lick BBQ offers classics, like the brisket, beef ribs, and turkey, and their Driftwood location offers all the Texas outdoor stereotype you could want. I’m not a fan of the brisket, but I do enjoy trekking out here for a fun evening with a group, and it feels like how I grew up eating BBQ — but just stick to the turkey here! It’s BYOB or you can order wine from next door, I believe. The Sunday Specials of Habanero Chicken and Prime Rib can entice you to make the weekend trip with the fam and friends.
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Barb-B-Que — Cooper’s is a straight-shooter Texas barbecue joint with probably the most expansive list of offerings I’ve seen at a barbecue joint. There’s the usual suspects of brisket and ribs, plus whole and half chickens, chopped beef, pork chops, ribeye, and beyond. Their party rooms make for great event spaces for things like a rehearsal dinner I attended, and their catering business is super popular.
Churchrow BBQ – If you were disappointed when Valentina’s closed a few years back, Churchrow comes from its former pitmaster, as well as the owner behind my beloved Taco Flats. With influences from both of those original businesses, Churchrow serves tender meats in Tex Mex-influenced forms such as tacos, nachos, meat-topped queso, and enchiladas. You can also stick to BBQ classics and be fully satisfied, but I love that you can order a taco to try the smoked meats and not feel overly full afterwards. Try the Tejanita Taco with smoked and grilled chicken thighs, roasted poblano and red onion, pico, guacamole, tomatillo salsa; Shells and Cheese; or Holy Roller sampler platter with brisket, sausage, pork rib, and pulled pork.
Micklethwait Barbecue — Micklethwait opened their first brick and mortar in a former church with a steeple located pretty far east past Springdale. This menu reminds me of Leroy and Lewis with interesting side options like the Lemon Poppy Slaw, which I loved because I love anything with lemon, and the Citrus Beet Salad, which did end up being my least favorite. Definitely get the Jalapeño Cheese Grits and Mac and Cheese, equally great, and the slaw. At some point, I think brisket is just the best that it can be so you can say Franklin’s is superior, but in my opinion, the brisket here gets the job done and will woo any BBQ first-timer with its ideal bark and fatty, moist meat. Anyone who gets this brisket is getting a great slice of Texas BBQ! I also really liked the turkey, and they have pulled lamb, ribs, and special beef ribs on Saturdays. My friend Angela and I split a $22 two-meat plate with two sides, plus two extra sides, and spent about $15 each, making this the most affordable BBQ that I sure have had at this level of high quality in Austin. The huge outdoor patio would be a great place for a party to come and go and even bring kids to run around.
Lamberts — Lamberts is the finest dining BBQ style restaurant that you can find for lunch (which has a BBQ plate option like you might find at these other traditional joints), dinner, and weekend brunch downtown. It is the first of the McGuire Moorman Lambert restaurants and my absolute favorite mac ‘n cheese in town. They have a full bar, happy hour, outdoor patio, and live music upstairs with great acts if you are looking for a nicer dinner and still want BBQ. Go for the Queso with Burnt Ends, Gulf Red Snapper, Prime Rib with a Mustard & Brown Sugar Crust, Broccoli, and Waffle Fries!
