Michael's Guide to Austin Barbecue
BBQ Galore
Below are my suggestions for barbecue eateries in and around Austin (mostly in). Yes, you can believe the hype, which is why I created a separate guidebook solely for 'cue! A few general notes: first, most of the best barbecue places start serving around lunchtime (11am-noon) & keep selling until they're entirely sold out of meat. This can occur as early as 12:30 in some cases (e.g. Franklin), but usually mid-afternoon elsewhere. Unless otherwise noted, the barbecue places cited here follow the above schedule, and most are closed on Mondays. You'll also likely encounter a line at every place listed, though it could be anything from five minutes to five hours in length – and no, that ain't hyperbole. Brisket and pork ribs are nearly always the main go-to items, with exceptions as noted.
I'm going to do the unthinkable (by Austin standards): I'd suggest skipping Franklin – unless you order it well in advance, in a large quantity, for a to-go order. Yes, it's as good as ever. Yes, waiting in line for it is as big of a PITA as ever.
A lot of visitors don't realize that Austin's barbecue scene was largely moribund before Franklin sauntered into town in the late aughts: Texas barbecue is obviously legendary – and has been for over a century – but pre-Franklin, most of Central Texas's legendary 'cue spots were in Lockhart, a town about 45 minutes southeast of Austin. The Lockhart eateries are still there, of course, but several have opened Austin branches, plus a number of all-new places have launched as well – mostly in the same fashion as Franklin (which originally launched in a nondescript parking lot east of UT, with little more than a trailer and smoker).
Still, the line – which was on hiatus during the early part of the Covid pandemic, but came roaring back in 2022 – really isn't worth it, in this Texan's opinion (but the to-go option certainly is, assuming you have at least four – and preferably six – hearty eaters, given the four-pound minimum order requirement for takeout orders).
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Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StI'm going to do the unthinkable (by Austin standards): I'd suggest skipping Franklin – unless you order it well in advance, in a large quantity, for a to-go order. Yes, it's as good as ever. Yes, waiting in line for it is as big of a PITA as ever.
A lot of visitors don't realize that Austin's barbecue scene was largely moribund before Franklin sauntered into town in the late aughts: Texas barbecue is obviously legendary – and has been for over a century – but pre-Franklin, most of Central Texas's legendary 'cue spots were in Lockhart, a town about 45 minutes southeast of Austin. The Lockhart eateries are still there, of course, but several have opened Austin branches, plus a number of all-new places have launched as well – mostly in the same fashion as Franklin (which originally launched in a nondescript parking lot east of UT, with little more than a trailer and smoker).
Still, the line – which was on hiatus during the early part of the Covid pandemic, but came roaring back in 2022 – really isn't worth it, in this Texan's opinion (but the to-go option certainly is, assuming you have at least four – and preferably six – hearty eaters, given the four-pound minimum order requirement for takeout orders).
At least in Texas Monthly's opinion – and they're more or less the go-to bible for Texas barbecue – Interstellar now has the best barbecue in Central Texas, and the second-best in the entire state. While I haven't eaten at literally every well-regarded BBQ joint in the state, I'm inclined to agree with TM. Unusually even by Texas standards, Interstellar is located in an entirely nondescript strip mall on the edge of town. (Given that barbecue has to be smoked for an extended period in a huge smoker – and produces significant amounts of heat & smells – they're generally not well-suited for malls of any sort.) Getting there is one of its only negatives: it's a 25-mile drive from my place, along Austin's northern border. Note: Interstellar is closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays.
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Interstellar BBQ
12233 Ranch Rd 620 NAt least in Texas Monthly's opinion – and they're more or less the go-to bible for Texas barbecue – Interstellar now has the best barbecue in Central Texas, and the second-best in the entire state. While I haven't eaten at literally every well-regarded BBQ joint in the state, I'm inclined to agree with TM. Unusually even by Texas standards, Interstellar is located in an entirely nondescript strip mall on the edge of town. (Given that barbecue has to be smoked for an extended period in a huge smoker – and produces significant amounts of heat & smells – they're generally not well-suited for malls of any sort.) Getting there is one of its only negatives: it's a 25-mile drive from my place, along Austin's northern border. Note: Interstellar is closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays.
Thanks in part to Franklin – but also owing a debt to Sam's, Austin's OG barbecue joint that's been around for over 60 years – East Austin has emerged as a definite barbecue destination, as well as a foodie one in general. Micklethwait is hard to spell, but reliably produces some of the best traditional barbecue in town. (Note: its hours are among the area's slimmest – Micklethwait is open Thursday-Sunday, 11am till no-more-food – but it's one of the few places besides Franklin that allows for online ordering in advance.)
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Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveThanks in part to Franklin – but also owing a debt to Sam's, Austin's OG barbecue joint that's been around for over 60 years – East Austin has emerged as a definite barbecue destination, as well as a foodie one in general. Micklethwait is hard to spell, but reliably produces some of the best traditional barbecue in town. (Note: its hours are among the area's slimmest – Micklethwait is open Thursday-Sunday, 11am till no-more-food – but it's one of the few places besides Franklin that allows for online ordering in advance.)
Distant Relatives is one of the newest and most unusual barbecue places in town, and yet almost instantly garnered a rep as one of Austin's best. It happily defies norms in myriad ways while serving up what it classifies as a "modern African American" spin on the classics, up to and including focusing on pork more than beef: this is a place that didn't even *have* brisket available when it first opened in 2021 (they originally used beef chuck instead), and now serves it with a smoked-mustard sauce of a variety more commonly seen in the Carolinas. Also, its pulled pork is arguably its best menu item – seasoned with a tamarind molasses sauce btw – and it's definitely the only barbecue place I've visited where a chicken leg quarter is a menu highlight (seasoned with a chili-vinegar dip here). Conveniently, Distant Relatives is located on the site of one of Austin's top microbreweries, Meanwhile Brewing, which has a full array of brews available. (Note: Distant Relatives opens at noon Wed-Sun.)
Distant Relatives
Distant Relatives is one of the newest and most unusual barbecue places in town, and yet almost instantly garnered a rep as one of Austin's best. It happily defies norms in myriad ways while serving up what it classifies as a "modern African American" spin on the classics, up to and including focusing on pork more than beef: this is a place that didn't even *have* brisket available when it first opened in 2021 (they originally used beef chuck instead), and now serves it with a smoked-mustard sauce of a variety more commonly seen in the Carolinas. Also, its pulled pork is arguably its best menu item – seasoned with a tamarind molasses sauce btw – and it's definitely the only barbecue place I've visited where a chicken leg quarter is a menu highlight (seasoned with a chili-vinegar dip here). Conveniently, Distant Relatives is located on the site of one of Austin's top microbreweries, Meanwhile Brewing, which has a full array of brews available. (Note: Distant Relatives opens at noon Wed-Sun.)
La Barbecue is traditional 'cue in every way but one: it's helmed by a female pitmaster. LeAnn Mueller first opened up shop – okay, more like trailer – in South Austin before relocating to its now-permanent digs in East Austin. (For a while there it operated adjacent to a nearby quickie mart.) While theirs isn't Distant Relatives-caliber, La Barbecue does an unusually good take on pulled pork; most Texas cliches are pretty tired at this point, but one that's as fervent as ever is its cattle industry (and, in turn, Texas barbecue predominantly focuses on beef instead of pork).
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La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez StLa Barbecue is traditional 'cue in every way but one: it's helmed by a female pitmaster. LeAnn Mueller first opened up shop – okay, more like trailer – in South Austin before relocating to its now-permanent digs in East Austin. (For a while there it operated adjacent to a nearby quickie mart.) While theirs isn't Distant Relatives-caliber, La Barbecue does an unusually good take on pulled pork; most Texas cliches are pretty tired at this point, but one that's as fervent as ever is its cattle industry (and, in turn, Texas barbecue predominantly focuses on beef instead of pork).
If you're looking for great barbecue that's relatively nearby, Terry Black's is your best bet (it's about a 15-minute walk from my place, but note the somewhat steep incline in between the two). Just to clarify, Terry Black's Barbecue and Black's Barbecue – the latter is located north of the UT area – are operated separately and related only in terms of the Black family's internal feuding.
An area where Terry Black's is decidedly different from the Texas norm is its operating hours: it's open seven days a week & serves dinner along with lunch, and closes at 10pm on weekends. (My lone comment there would be that the best 'cue in Texas follows the lunch-till-sold-out model for good reason.)
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Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdIf you're looking for great barbecue that's relatively nearby, Terry Black's is your best bet (it's about a 15-minute walk from my place, but note the somewhat steep incline in between the two). Just to clarify, Terry Black's Barbecue and Black's Barbecue – the latter is located north of the UT area – are operated separately and related only in terms of the Black family's internal feuding.
An area where Terry Black's is decidedly different from the Texas norm is its operating hours: it's open seven days a week & serves dinner along with lunch, and closes at 10pm on weekends. (My lone comment there would be that the best 'cue in Texas follows the lunch-till-sold-out model for good reason.)
Like I said in my Terry Black's write-up, Black's is a wholly separate institution, and in its case it's the oldest of the bunch: the original Black's opened way back in 1932 down in Lockhart – thanks to the union of an impoverished cattle rancher and meat-market entrepreneur during the Depression era. (Somewhat confusingly, the original Black's barbecue in Lockhart is now formally *named* The Original Black's BBQ Lockhart, mainly to differentiate itself from a planned Lockhart branch of Terry Black's. Yes, this barbecue soap opera gets old, even if its beef doesn't – and I'd pick Black's over its little brother if forced to choose.)
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Black's Barbecue Austin
3110 Guadalupe StLike I said in my Terry Black's write-up, Black's is a wholly separate institution, and in its case it's the oldest of the bunch: the original Black's opened way back in 1932 down in Lockhart – thanks to the union of an impoverished cattle rancher and meat-market entrepreneur during the Depression era. (Somewhat confusingly, the original Black's barbecue in Lockhart is now formally *named* The Original Black's BBQ Lockhart, mainly to differentiate itself from a planned Lockhart branch of Terry Black's. Yes, this barbecue soap opera gets old, even if its beef doesn't – and I'd pick Black's over its little brother if forced to choose.)
Last but definitely not least, Valentina's roughly follows the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups philosophy: two great tastes that taste great together. Aside from its mashup of two very different foods, Valentina's is unusual by barbecue standards given that it opens for breakfast at 7:30am: breakfast tacos are another Texas standard – particularly in Austin and San Antonio – and Valentina's Real Deal Holyfield breakfast taco is easily one of the best. (In Austin, Texas, America, Earth, *and* the universe.) Note that they stop serving breakfast at 11am, and otherwise have similar Wed-Sun operating hours to other barbecue places.
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Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ
308 Menchaca RdLast but definitely not least, Valentina's roughly follows the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups philosophy: two great tastes that taste great together. Aside from its mashup of two very different foods, Valentina's is unusual by barbecue standards given that it opens for breakfast at 7:30am: breakfast tacos are another Texas standard – particularly in Austin and San Antonio – and Valentina's Real Deal Holyfield breakfast taco is easily one of the best. (In Austin, Texas, America, Earth, *and* the universe.) Note that they stop serving breakfast at 11am, and otherwise have similar Wed-Sun operating hours to other barbecue places.