Discover the Best Austin BBQ: A Guide to the City's Best Barbecue Joints

Nov 23, 2023

Experience an amazing range of delightful Austin BBQ restaurants and uncover the finest Texas-style barbecuing that Austin has to offer. Let us take you on a savory tour, highlighting eateries with signature briskets and imaginative fusion dishes. All showcasing unique flavors and methods inspired by classic Texas cuisine.

Key Takeaways

• Experience the best of Austin BBQ with Franklin Barbecue’s legendary brisket and award-winning sauce.
• Try something new at Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ or KG BBQ for a flavorful fusion of Texas barbecue and Mexican/Egyptian cuisine.
• Explore unique twists on traditional favorites from LeRoy & Lewis, Terry Black’s family tradition, Interstellar’s stellar flavors, Distant Relatives African twist, Micklethwait Craft Meats communal dining, or Stiles Switch craft beer and smoked meats.

Franklin Barbecue: The Brisket Legend

Franklin Barbecue, once a small food truck in the heart of Austin, is now renowned for its award-winning barbecue sauce and smoked meats. Pitmaster Aaron Franklin has perfected the art of slow-cooking each beef brisket to create flavorful masterpieces that draw droves of patrons eager for a taste. Visitors can also expect mouthwatering offerings such as turkey ribs and sausage with generous sides, plus bourbon banana pie for dessert. Preordering online or pickup are options available if you don’t have time to wait in line!

The atmosphere at this popular joint is filled with enthusiasm, from its staff’s warm welcomes to its loyal followers celebrating being part of what makes up today’s dynamic BBQ scene here in Austin. No doubt adding flavor is why customers make Franklins an essential stop when experiencing all things barbecue-related within our city limits!

Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ: A Flavorful Fusion

For those looking for something more exciting, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ brings the bold flavors of Mexican cuisine and traditional Texas barbecue together. Pitmaster Miguel Vidal from San Antonio has created a menu full of delectable treats such as smoky brisket tacos, beef fajitas, and pulled chicken sandwiches with his own unique flair.

Accompanying these delicious meats are one-of-a-kind sides like jalapeno cheese grits and lemon poppy slaw that give each dish an extra special kick. Located in South Austin at a food truck location, it provides customers with a great atmosphere to enjoy their meal made up of all things BBQ, including ribs and sausage, coupled with its Mexican twist on recipes.

Whether you prefer lean-cut meat or spicy dishes, Valentina’s won’t let you down by making sure they serve quality products while introducing elements from both cuisines into your plate when desired – all found under one roof! With this flavor combination found nowhere else, be prepared to experience quite the flavorful adventure!

LeRoy and Lewis: New-School BBQ with a Twist

At the LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue food truck, visitors can experience a modern spin on classic BBQ. Found at Cosmic Coffee’s patio/garden setting, they offer creative dishes such as beef cheeks, halved avocados with barbacoa filling, and pork belly burnt ends.

Their menu includes smoked turkey breast pieces, smoky chicken wings, and succulent beef cheeks, which even Chef Damien Brockway of Distant Relatives is a fan of, especially paired with their specialty scalloped potatoes! Brisket burnt ends are also among the other popular items available for order or seating in their first-come-served patio area.

The cuisine has gained praise from customers all around due to its unique take on traditional barbecue while still delivering amazing taste profiles that will make you crave more each time you visit LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue. Whether it’s dining outdoors or taking your meal home made easy, this spot delivers something worth trying if you’re looking beyond everyday cooked-up barbecues.

Terry Black’s BBQ: A Family Tradition

Terry Black’s BBQ in South Austin is a family business with Mark and Michael at the helm, serving classic Texas barbecue. Here they offer top-quality smoked meats, including tender brisket, savory pork ribs, succulent turkey, and sausages that will make your mouth water. All this is served alongside popular sides like creamy mac ‘n cheese, potato salad, or baked corn to give customers traditional barbecue options for every taste!

The atmosphere here is laid-back while the staff is friendly, making it an ideal place if you’re looking for great-tasting Texas barbecue classics such as their renowned brisket and smoked turkey, along with all the other delicious offerings on the menu!

Interstellar BBQ: Stellar Flavors and Creative Sides

Located just south of Cedar Park in North Austin, Interstellar BBQ is a must-try restaurant. The menu, which was created by pitmaster John Bates’ chef background, provides classic as well as modern barbecue flavors at their peak balance for each dish served. Highlights include tipsy turkey and pork belly with a peach tea glaze that is certain to wow anyone’s taste buds. Creative sides like mac and gouda plus Mexican chocolate rice pudding with crushed Oreos add extra enjoyment when dining here—something praised by another professional pitmaster, Evan LeRoy, who even dubbed the tastes “out of this world.” For an amazing experience, any barbecue enthusiast should pay a visit to Interstellar BBQ on their next trip through Austin!

Distant Relatives: African-Inspired Barbecue

If you’re looking for a unique and flavorful twist on the classic barbecue, Distant Relatives is your place to go. Located in South Austin’s Meanwhile Brewing parking lot, this food truck serves up African diaspora-inspired BBQ that will delight even the most discerning taste buds. Pitmaster Damien Brockway pulls from his roots when creating dishes like pork ribs with heavily spiced flavors, pulled pork topped off with black-eyed peas, or smoked mustard butter sauce poured over their famous spare ribs; no detail has been overlooked here! The Texas Monthly unranked section mentioned them recently. They also received two consecutive James Beard nominations, showcasing how popular they’ve become due to their innovative barbecuing techniques. Visit Distant Relatives today and enjoy one of Austin’s hidden gems.

Micklethwait Craft Meats: Communal Dining and Gourmet Sides

Located in East Austin, Tom Micklethwait’s venture into crafting smoked meats and gourmet sides is what put this particular barbecue joint on the map. Situated by a vintage 1960 Comet trailer equipped with picnic tables and vegetable gardens, visitors are welcome to dine in for an enjoyable experience full of unique flavors sure to satisfy any appetite. Their menu offers a variety, from housemade sausages to frito pies—everything carefully crafted using quality ingredients that make it worthy enough to be a must-visit when exploring the best barbecues in town!

Brown’s Bar-B-Que: An Undiscovered Gem

Located not far from Corner Bar on South Lamar in Austin, Brown’s Bar-B-Que is a must for barbecue enthusiasts. This unpretentious food truck provides affordable, succulent meat and side dishes that never disappoint. People who have visited this hidden gem frequently highlight the beef ribs as being particularly delectable—even Damien Brockway of Distant Relatives approves!

It couldn’t be easier to savor all the deliciousness of Brown’s: choose between indoor or outdoor seating; takeout or home delivery options are available too. Whatever way you pick, Don’t miss out on their signature banana pudding—it might just be Travis County’s best dish by some accounts!

Tempted yet? Get yourself down there today and try one of the most fantastic barbecues around—Brown’s. Bar B Que awaits your visit with open arms (and mouths!).

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew: Craft Beer and Smoked Meats

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew is a welcoming spot for craft beer and smoked meat lovers in Austin, set within an Art Deco-style atmosphere. Offering up barbecued meats like beef ribs, pork ribs, or turkey sandwiches, along with daily specials that will leave your taste buds tingling, it’s sure to become one of your favorite stops for mouthwatering meals! For those wanting something sweet to complete the feast, they offer delicious peach cobbler as dessert. Stiles Switch is not only renowned for its hospitality but also known by visitors from far away who can’t resist experiencing some scrumptious barbecue while sipping on their choice of local craft brews!

KG BBQ: Egyptian-Texan Fusion

For an innovative barbecue experience, KG BBQ is the place to go. Drawing inspiration from Texas and Egyptian techniques as well as flavors found in la Barbecue, this food truck serves up a truly unique menu of mouthwatering dishes that can’t be experienced anywhere else.

Be sure to try their specialties: lamb bacon ribs or pomegranate pork ribs! Not only do they offer outdoor seating for those who wish to dine in, but takeout services are also available so you can savor these flavorful delicacies wherever you want at your convenience, Thursday through Sunday. Austin’s culinary scene has been enriched with KG BBQ’s interesting fusion of tastes. It certainly shouldn’t be missed out on by any adventurous eaters seeking delicious food!

Summary

Discover Austin’s best barbecue scene, from iconic brisket to modern fusion cuisine. Explore the city’s various barbecue joints that offer a variety of flavors and styles of traditional Texas BBQ—one for every enthusiast! So whether you’re native or just passing through, come experience this diverse array of mouthwatering options unique to this area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What BBQ is Austin known for?

For truly legendary BBQ, look no further than Franklin Barbecue in Austin; its renowned brisket draws long lines, so come early and hungry with a collapsible chair.

Who is the famous BBQ guy in Austin, Texas?

Aaron Franklin is well known in Austin, Texas, for his incredible BBQ. His eatery (Franklin Barbecue) has achieved icon status due to its delicious brisket, and from 2009 onwards, it’s sold out of beef daily, with even President Obama dropping by! The restaurant now has a passionate following across the nation, including celeb fans like Jimmy Kimmel.

Is Austin good for BBQ?

Yes, Austin is great for BBQ! There’s a fantastic selection of traditional sit-down joints, vintage trucks, and newcomers serving up some of the finest BBQs in the world.

What is the most famous barbecue joint in Austin?

Franklin Barbecue has gained worldwide fame for its spectacular brisket, which is an award-winning dish. The restaurant situated in Austin attracts long lines of people eager to try the mouthwatering food from this iconic place.

Which barbecue joint offers a fusion of Texas BBQ and Mexican flavors?

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ brings together the best of two cuisines: Texas-style barbeque with Mexican flavors. This restaurant offers a unique mix that you won’t find anywhere else.