If you love barbecue, you’ll love Austin. This city is known for its world-class food scene and delicious barbecue. From the famous to the lesser known, Austin, TX has a lot of great barbecue joints throughout the city.
Landscaping website, Lawnstarter, did a study of the 200 Best Barbecue Cities in America where Austin ranked within the Top 10 in the list. According to the list, Austin, TX ranks #1 for having the most BBQ festivals in the nation.
Whether you’re looking for smoked brisket or pulled pork, there’s a place for you. You can find it at the many food trucks and dedicated BBQ joints. If you want a traditional Texas barbecue experience, look no further. Here are the best places in Austin to get barbecue.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Terry Black’s BBQ
Home of the legendary Central Texas BBQ, Terry Black passed down generations of barbecue knowledge to his twin sons Michael and Mark Black. Terry’s Black BBQ has locations in Austin, Lockhart, and Dallas. Terry Black’s BBQ menu includes meats, sides, family packs, sandwich combos and tea, bottled drinks, beer, and wine for beverages.
Location: 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Must-try: Brisket, pork ribs, creamed corn, pecan pie
2. Interstellar BBQ
Named the second-best barbecue joint in 2021 by Texas Monthly, Interstellar BBQ takes pride in using the highest quality ingredients and sourcing the best wood for their BBQ. They take time to cook one batch at a time to create a delicious experience.
Location: 12233 Ranch Rd 620 N suite 105, Austin, TX 78750
Must-try: Pork belly, Scalloped Potatoes, Jalapeno Popper Sausage, Mac n Cheese
3. Loro Austin
Loro is an Asian smokehouse and bar by Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin’s BBQ. Loro’s menu features grilled and smoked meats with Southeast Asian and Japanese-inspired sauces, sides, and a bar with craft beer, boozy slushies, and cocktails. Order food from the bar and sit in their expansive indoor space or outside on the shaded porch with your friends, family, and your pups. Read our review on Loro Austin here.
Location: 2115 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
Must-try: Briskets, Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters, Chicken Karaage, Smoked Prime Bavette, Coconut Rice
4. Leroy and Lewis
New school BBQ, old school service. Leroy and Lewis have their tiny blue food truck located in Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden in South Austin and has an inventive take on crafting their barbecue. They source their meal from local ranches, farms, and purveyors.
Location: 121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Must-try: House Made Kimchi, Beef Cheeks, Smoked Burgers, Brisket
5. Black’s BBQ
Family-owned BBQ join Black’s BBQ has been actively serving the barbecue community for over three generations. The Original Black’s BBQ in Lockhart now has a location in Austin, TX located north of the UT campus, and serves BBQ cooked fresh on the old Lockhart pits, hand-delivered to the Austin location every day.
Location: 3110 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
Must-try: Feel’n Peachy Cobbler, Giant Beef Rib, Garlic Sausage
6. Sam’s BBQ
Since 1957, Sam’s BBQ offer an old taste of Austin. The no-frills landmark covered in memorabilia serves delicious brisket, ribs, and mutton in a straight-up manner. Based on the reviews, Sam’s BBQ is one of the most authentic BBQ restaurants in Austin that brings the nostalgia of old-school BBQ.
Location: 2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
Must-try: Mutton, Brisket Sausage, Rib Plate
7. Franklin Barbecue
Franklin Barbecue is known as one of the best places to get barbecue in Austin. Expect long lines that could take anywhere from 2-4 hours upon your visit, but it’s worth the wait for their tender briskets and pork ribs.
Location: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Must-try: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage, Pork Ribs
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8. Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
Situated in the historic art deco 1950s Violet Crown Shopping Center on North Lamar, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew is designed to host a nostalgic atmosphere that brings back to the old Austin neighborhood-style eatery which includes the exceptional Texas BBQ.
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew is named after the historic 1800s I. & G. N. railroad stop Stiles Switch, Texas, and the namesake of the current owner Shane Stiles while its lead pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick brings over fifteen years of experience and was trained under Bob Mueller in Taylor, TX.
Location: 6610 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78757
Must-try: Corn Casserole, Beef Ribs, Texas Frito Pie
9. Distant Relatives
New to the Austin BBQ scene, Distant Relatives opened in 2020 and is now one of the best places to get barbecue in Austin. Inspired by the textures, flavors, heritage, and narrative of the African diaspora in the United States and employs the strong elements of Pecan and mixed hardwood smoke, heightened spice profiles, and traditional preservation methods.
The food truck is located in Meanwhile Brewing Co and continues to be a project that supports agriculture and local artisans.
Location: 3508 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
Must-try: Beef Brisket, Ribs, Pulled Pork, Burnt Ends’s & Black Eyed Peas
10. La Barbecue
Owned by Alison Clem and LeAnn Mueller, daughter of the Texas BBQ legend Bobby Mueller, La Barbecue celebrates his tradition with a twist in their own recipes. You’ll find special blends of salty and savory rubs on their BBQ, succulent briskets, and housemade sausage, perfect to pair with their delicious sides.
Location: 2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Must-Try: Brisket, Chipotle Coleslaw, Sausage, Pork Ribs
11. Brown’s Bar-B-Que
Spot the bright red trailer outside South Austin near Corner Bar and you’ll find Brown’s Bar-B-Que. Led by Pitmaster Daniel Brown, the trailer serves high-quality, tender meats and drinks from the bar. Every Sunday from 3 to 5pm, you can catch Brown’s Bar-B-Que giving out free BBQ.
Location: 1901 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
Must-try: Brisket, Brisket Wrap, Sausage Sandwich
12. Iron Works Barbecue
Iron Works Barbecue is one of the highly-rated BBQ joints in downtown Austin. The name was derived from the place being an ironworks shop and was transformed into a barbecue place in 1978. Their menu includes various choices for your barbecue places, takeouts good for families, sandwich options, and meat by the pound. If you dig their sauces, you can purchase them from their restaurant or on their website.
Location: 100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Must-try: Creamed Corn, Beef Rib, Pinto Beans
13. Lamberts
Located in Schneider Brothers Builder, Lamberts serves up slow-smoked BBQ and modern Texas cooking with local beets, classic cocktails, and wines. The downtown barbecue restaurant has a fun, laid-back atmosphere with an upstairs bar and a lounge that features live music.
Location: 401 West 2nd St, Austin, Texas 78701
Must-try: Waffle Fries, Hanger Steak, Lamb Ribs
14. SLAB BBQ and Beer
Bring your flavors that may be a beak from your traditional Texas, SLAB bridges the taste bud gap of the Dirty South from Memphis, the Carolinas, Alabama, and Texas. It first began as a trailer in 2006 and opened their brick and mortar location in August 2014. SLAB’s menu specializes in delicious BBQ sammiches and specialty items that you’ll keep coming back for.
Location: 9012 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
Must-try: BBQ Nachos, Texas Trill, Notorious P.I.G.
15. Green Mesquite BBQ
Green Mesquite gets its smoky flavor from the spot’s namesake, the mesquite wood that is seasoned or “green” according to Food Network. This is Austin’s best mesquite-smoked Texas BBQ since 1998 and specializes in comfort foods including catfish, chicken fried steak, and the tastiest smoked chicken wings in the world.
Location: 1400 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Must-try: Wings, Chicken Fried Steak, Pecan Pie, Jambalaya
There’s nothing better than great barbecue, and we've rounded up the best places to get it in town. From family-owned joints to fancy sit-down restaurants, these places have earned their reputations as the best barbecue in Austin. So if you’re looking for a place that will serve up some great barbecue and sides, look no further than one of these spots.
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Posted by Ryan Rodenbeck on
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