12 Places Serving the Best BBQ in Austin
While there are infinite places to get your BBQ fix in Austin, TX, there are only a handful of joints worthy of being called the best BBQ in Austin.
There are the traditional BBQ joints that unfailingly churn out slabs of fork-tender brisket encased in a thick layer of smoky, peppery bark. There are the places that artfully pull pork and chicken into succulent little shreds, creating a canvas for a light brushing of tangy homemade BBQ sauce, propped up by an array of luscious sides. Then, there are the eclectic BBQ joints that play fast and loose with the near-religious rules of Texas BBQ — and get away with it.
No matter what the style, the best BBQ in Austin is always ingenious in simplicity, defined by quality and mind-blowing in flavor. It’s time for a road trip. Here’s where to find the best BBQ in Austin.
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- La Barbecue
- Kemuri Tatsu-ya
- Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
- Micklethwait Craft Meats
- Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
- Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que
- SLAB BBQ
- EastSide Tavern
- Terry Black’s BBQ
- Franklin Barbecue
- Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
- Brown’s Bar-B-Que
1. La Barbecue
Thanks to a talented pit crew, high-grade beef and a lot of love, La Barbecue delivers some of the best BBQ in Austin — the very kind you'd enjoy with a cooking class in Austin or on a food tour in Austin. La Barbecue specializes in Central Texas-style barbecue, slathering meats with salty and savory rubs.
The Vibe
The edgy convenience store setting, paired with splashy murals from artist Xavier Schipani, make La Barbecue an Instagram-worthy spot to enjoy a taste of the best BBQ in Austin.
What to Order
Masses of voracious meat lovers can be found congregating on the outdoor patio over smoky cuts, such as monster beef ribs that get their rightful share of adulation and buttery all-natural beef brisket cooked low and slow over Texas post oak for 14 to 16 hours. The beef at La Barbeque boasts an unrivaled level of quality that can be tasted — they source their beef from a local ranch, where it’s lovingly grass-fed and completely free of hormones.
La Barbecue | 2401 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702 | $$
2. Kemuri Tatsu-ya
An izakaya — a Japanese neighborhood pub — may seem like an unlikely place to find the best BBQ in Austin, but in this izakaya-meets-smokehouse, anything is possible.
The Vibe
Kemuri Tatsu-ya’s interior is a hybrid of Japanese and Texan aesthetics with austere wood paneling and intimate booths reminiscent of the izakayas in Tokyo while Texas-pride taxidermy hangs on the walls. This is the place to be for a truly eclectic and out-of-the-box taste of the best BBQ in Austin — and also makes a unique spot for a fun date idea in Austin.
What to Order
The word kemuri translates to "smoke" in Japanese and at Kemuri Tatsu-ya, Texan smoked offerings like brisket and sausage are served alongside smoked mackerel and BBQ eel.
In true izakaya fashion, grilled skewered meats like miso-marinated scallops and chicken tails can be found on every table. Tex-Mex flavors also make an appearance, as in the Tokyo street corn dressed with yuzu pepper aioli and cotija cheese.
Kemuri Tatsu-ya | 2713 E. Second St., Austin, TX 78702 | $$
3. Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
Back in 2006, Lamberts Downtown Barbecue burst onto the scene with something different. It isn't “real barbecue,” since you're not ordering by the pound or eating off a cafeteria tray, but it still earns its stripes as some of the best BBQ in Austin.
The Vibe
Tucked away in the gorgeously restored, high-beamed Schneider Brothers Building, this warm and cozy restaurant is as eclectic as the dry goods store the space used to house, featuring brunch by day, and live music and classic cocktails by night.
What to Order
Lamberton's menu features modern spins on tons of Texas classics, with selections including wild boar ribs, coffee-rubbed brisket and more. You can also get one of the best brunches in town here; the oak-grilled hangar steak with egg in the hole is a must-try.
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue | 401 W. Second St., Austin, TX 78701 | $$$
4. Micklethwait Craft Meats
Micklethwait has found the perfect sweet spot between paying homage to old-school Texas barbecue and innovating enough to turn the heads of traditionalists. After a career in baking, Austin-born Tom Micklethwait now slings some of the best BBQ in Austin.
The Vibe
People from all over Texas gather around Micklethwait’s vintage Comet trailer in Austin for a downhome backyard BBQ feel. Picnic tables and shady trees complete the look.
What to Order
Your options here run the gamut, including super peppery brisket embraced by a midnight-dark bark, rosy pork ribs and a fat-slicked beef rib. Beyond the standard fare, you'll find rare offerings like pulled goat, barbacoa and smoked sausages ranging from duck with cherries to lamb with tangerine zest.
You won’t just find the best BBQ in Austin here, but some delicious accompaniments, too: The cheese grits vie for the title of best side in the city. Oh, and leave room for buttermilk pie.
Micklethwait Craft Meats | 1309 Rosewood Ave., Austin, TX 78702 | $$
5. Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew hosts a nostalgic atmosphere that lets you enjoy some of the best BBQ in Austin while also reminiscing about old Austin neighborhood eateries, combining exceptional Texas BBQ and cold Texas craft brews.
The Vibe
The walls of this charmingly funky joint are adorned with old-school photos and signs, while exposed rafters hang overhead. The communal tables here help set the scene for a welcoming honky-tonk promising not to disappoint.
What to Order
In addition to standard Austin BBQ offerings, such as their beef ribs that deliver a blackened, peppery crust contrasting a juicy pink-red interior, Stiles Switch has three types of sausage, all perfectly cooked and showcasing that satisfying casing snap.
Pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick takes pride in being some of the best BBQ in Austin, working with a passionate team that sets the bar high with a “no corners cut” method of preparation and selection of quality product.
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew | 6610 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78752 | $$
6. Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que is a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves a taste of Texas Hill Country BBQ. And in an era where the best BBQ in Austin is all about smoke and sauce, Cooper’s is all about the meat.
The Vibe
Named by Texas Monthly as one of The Top 50 Barbeque Joints in Texas, Cooper’s consistently ranks high with their cowboy-style cooking done over direct coals.
Tommy Cooper started Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in 1962 with two pits in a dirt floor restaurant. The BBQ was served on trays and butcher paper, just as it is today where it’s evolved into some of the best BBQ in Austin.
What to Order
On your first-ever visit to Cooper's, it's hard to know where to begin. We'd suggest kicking things off with a plate of lightly-glazed ribs or the melt-in-your-mouth brisket — where you'll be treated to a layer of smoky fat nestled beneath a perfectly seasoned crust.
Neither of those strike your fancy? The substantial beef ribs here are blackened to crisp perfection and fall right off the bone.
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que | 217 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 | $$
7. SLAB BBQ
SLAB, which stands for Slow Low and Bangin’, features bold flavors and new-school concepts that are a break from traditional Texas BBQ. SLAB brings mouthwatering pecan and oak-smoked meats and award-winning BBQ sauces to the table.
The Vibe
Pitboss and founder Mark Avalos began SLAB in a food trailer in 2006, and has since expanded into two brick and mortar locations. He’s also been featured on the Travel Channel for his famous “sammiches.”
If you’re after some of the best BBQ in Austin, you can find these not-so-delicate delicacies at one of SLAB’s restaurants, via their catering services or by chasing down their food truck.
What to Order
This is one of the most fun restaurants in Austin if you appreciate good wordplay. Newcomers are advised to try The Notorious P.I.G. loaded with pulled pork, mustard coleslaw and Backyard Red Sauce, while gluttons for pain are challenged to conquer The Donk — a behemoth sandwich weighing in at over a pound and riding high with everything but the kitchen sink.
SLAB BBQ | 9012 Research Blvd. C4, Austin, TX 78758 | $
8. EastSide Tavern
EastSide Tavern offers some of the best BBQ in Austin. This modern rustic tavern is where executive chef Cade Mercer has found the perfect balance of real smoked Texas BBQ and bar food, as well as beer and cocktails.
What to Order
Ribs, pulled pork, poultry and the ever-popular juicy brisket are all sold by the pound. Offerings like the BBQ-loaded baked potato and the over-the-top Heartstopper Burger with brisket, pulled pork, sausage, bacon, jalapeños, onions and queso steal the show.
EastSide Tavern also promotes Austin’s best brunch with a Tullamore D.E.W.-infused smoked banana bread French toast topped with an insanely delicious whiskey cream cheese whip.
The Vibe
Guests can enjoy a spacious rooftop with sweeping downtown views while cooling off with a Frosé or indulging in some of the best BBQ in Austin.
EastSide Tavern | 1510 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702 | $$
9. Terry Black’s BBQ
An old-school barbecue joint boasting legendary status, Terry Black’s BBQ features some of the undisputed best BBQ in Austin. Their “Brisket is King” mural says it all.
The Vibe
The front-of-the-house staff at Terry Black’s BBQ has an impressive knowledge of Texas barbecue, while fourth-generation pitmasters tend the smokers in the back of the house.
Terry Black’s also presents the unique opportunity to get the full BBQ experience by joining those pitmasters on an impromptu pit tour of some of the best BBQ in Austin.
What to Order
The perfectly charred, terrifically tender brisket takes center stage at Terry Black’s BBQ, and the chopped beef sandwich comes in hot for a close second place. And when it comes to sides, Terry Black’s has an unmatched level of quality and variety.
Terry Black’s BBQ | 1003 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704 | $$
10. Franklin Barbecue
A heavyweight in Austin’s barbecue scene, Franklin Barbecue draws lines that are as epic as their world-renowned brisket. The brisket has received accolades from Anthony Bourdain and the James Beard Foundation, though every cut of slow-cooked meat here is memorable — and not only because of the hours in line required to get some of the best BBQ in Austin.
What to Order
Franklin's famed brisket is near tender enough to cut with a spoon, singing with flavors of black pepper and the oak it was smoked with. Needless to say, the quality extends across the menu, so you can't really go wrong here.
The Vibe
Located in the heart of Austin's historic East Side, Franklin's is a corner joint that's become an establishment. Every die-hard barbecue lover must make the pilgrimage to Franklin's at least once in their meat-eating lives to enjoy a staple of some of the best BBQ in Austin. Just be sure you come early, and be patient. You won't regret it.
Franklin Barbecue | 900 E. 11th St., Austin, TX 78702 | $$
11. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
When it comes to the best BBQ in Austin, going fusion is a dangerous play, but Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ is proof that it can be done — and work to wondrous effect. This trailer serves up traditional Texas barbecue fare with a Mexican twist and it might just be the truest expression of the fusion of two traditional Texas foods.
The Vibe
The tight-knit family who runs this ship has a reputation for treating customers as one of their own, and the crowd is no different. Guests are frequently found chatting up fellow patrons while sharing a seat at one of the many umbrella-covered picnic tables.
What to Order
Valentina’s barbecue comes in sandwich or taco form, or by the pound.
Pitmaster Miguel Vidal’s mesquite-smoked brisket is to die for, especially when nestled into a homemade flour tortilla. It's then crisped up on a hot griddle and served with housemade guacamole and salsa. It may not be traditional, but it’s certainly some of the best BBQ in Austin.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ | 11500 Menchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748 | $$
12. Brown’s Bar-B-Que
In the competitive world of best BBQ in Austin, Brown’s Bar-B-Que is refreshingly down to earth. It's just a bright red trailer next to Corner Bar, some picnic tables, a man and his barbecue.
What to Order
The man, Austin native Daniel Brown, smokes his certified Angus brisket for a whopping 20 hours, achieving the perfect crust and smoke ring. He also smokes a mean (and huge!) pork rib, incredibly juicy chicken thighs and sides including his famous bacon-laced sautéed cabbage.
The Vibe
Brown's Bar-B-Que is proving that the best BBQ in Austin doesn’t have to come with hype or a huge price tag. And, the staff here creates a friendly, convivial atmosphere radiating come-as-you-are vibes that invite patrons to dine as comfortably as if they were in a friend’s backyard.
Brown's Bar-B-Que | 1901 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704 | $
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If one thing is certain, there is absolutely no shortage of great food in Austin. From out-of-the-box fusion fare to tried-and-true traditional plates, it’s easy to find the best BBQ in Austin. With all of this mouth-watering Texas BBQ, the only question is, where to eat first?
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