Barbeque in Texas?

[ronuva]

I am going to Austin soon and want to sample some Texas Barbeque. Any suggestions. Thanks!

[ArmyMAJretired]

The Salt Lick

[LouC]

I am going to Austin soon and want to sample some Texas Barbeque. Any suggestions. Thanks!

I am certain with all the Texans here on the forum you will get some help.

I lived in the Dallas and North Dallas area and could recommend some places in that area if they are still there but I don't know Austin.

Sorry.

Someone will help I am certain.

[ronuva]

Thanks! I have tried their sauce and I can't wait to try their food. It has been on my list to try for a long time

[johnrocks]

I heard that The Pit Barbeque is a good place, personally I like the taste of the bbq here in Louisiana better,probably has to do with what I was raised on, the Texas joints I've been to all serve pinto beans I think, where we serve the beans like Van Camp's pork n beans, I think they are red kidney beans, it's just a sweeter bean to me.

[LouC]

:(( I miss the real world....

[NascarGirl2448]

TEXAS barbecue?? According to Country Living magazine, the BEST barbecue in the nation is right here in North Carolina!

[PeterGriffin]

The Salt Lick

Solid choice. I would give a slight edge to Iron Works, within the city limits.

[BillBrown]

I've never been sent to a BBQ place that I wound up liking.
Arthur Bryant's in KC is some of the worst BBQ I ever ate, for example.

The best BBQ is sold in places that you fear for your life walking into.
Those places don't make the gourmet lists.

[johnrocks]

I've never been sent to a BBQ place that I wound up liking.
Arthur Bryant's in KC is some of the worst BBQ I ever ate, for example.

The best BBQ is sold in places that you fear for your life walking into.
Those places don't make the gourmet lists.

:)) You know,your right, the best I ever ate was in a small town in a Parish northwest of here,they converted an old ESSO gas station to a BBQ shack....to die for:drool:

[JohnRandolph]

I am going to Austin soon and want to sample some Texas Barbeque. Any suggestions. Thanks!

Ok, here is the trick. The best Austin bbq isnt in Austin, but it is very near by.

The Salt Lick out in Driftwood
Louie Mueller's or Rudy Mikeska's in Taylor
Cooper's in Llano
Southside Market in Elgin

If you want to stay in the city limits go to Iron Works.
Rudy's Meat Market on South Loop 360 isnt bad, and you can buy yourself a bottle of their "Sause" to take home with you. Dont go with the Sissy Sause (yellow label), go with the real thing (white label).

[JohnRandolph]

TEXAS barbecue?? According to Country Living magazine, the BEST barbecue in the nation is right here in North Carolina!

Bah! What would they know? Mustard doesnt go on BBQ, and the only place for pork is in sausage

[BillBrown]

Ok, here is the trick. The best Austin bbq isnt in Austin, but it is very near by.

The Salt Lick out in Driftwood
Louie Mueller's or Rudy Mikeska's in Taylor
Cooper's in Llano
Southside Market in Elgin

If you want to stay in the city limits go to Iron Works.
Rudy's Meat Market on South Loop 360 isnt bad, and you can buy yourself a bottle of their "Sause" to take home with you. Dont go with the Sissy Sause (yellow label), go with the real thing (white label).

Kritz, in Lockhart, used to be good.

His best bet is to just drive through the black part of town until he sees a beer joint with smoke pouring out from behind it.

[JohnRandolph]

Kritz, in Lockhart, used to be good.

His best bet is to just drive through the black part of town until he sees a beer joint with smoke pouring out from behind it.

That used to be Stubb's, under the upper deck of I-35. Great bbq and good blues. The old boy died, the property sold, and somebody has licensed his name, face, and are selling some sauce. I saw it in a grocery store the other day.

[PeterGriffin]

Southside Market, a very solid recommendation. I'm putting the others on my "To Do" list, I trust JR's judgment on such matters :D

I love the best examples of all different styles of BBQ, Texas, East Carolina, West Carolina, Kansas City, Mongolian, Korean....

[NascarGirl2448]

Bah! What would they know? Mustard doesnt go on BBQ, and the only place for pork is in sausage

Lexington is known nationwide for their barbecue, thank you :) Its about the only thing the town has going for it, but if the pig statues along Main Street are any indication (that are auctioned off at the annual BBQ festival every October) people really don't care about only being known as the BBQ capital of the nation, if not the world.

[ArmyMAJretired]

Solid choice. I would give a slight edge to Iron Works, within the city limits.

Been there too. Both good but I liked the Salt Lick better.

[BillBrown]

Lexington is known nationwide for their barbecue, thank you :) Its about the only thing the town has going for it, but if the pig statues along Main Street are any indication (that are auctioned off at the annual BBQ festival every October) people really don't care about only being known as the BBQ capital of the nation, if not the world.

I've had BBQ in North Carolina.
The best pork BBQ I've had was in Memphis, Tenn.
I don't remember the name of the place. The sign has a pig (looks like Porky) wearing a butcher's cap.

[ArmyMAJretired]

Not Barbeque but the Texas Land and Cattle Company served a smoked sirloin that was OUTSTANDING!!!!!

[ArmyMAJretired]

I've had BBQ in North Carolina.
The best pork BBQ I've had was in Memphis, Tenn.
I don't remember the name of the place. The sign has a pig (looks like Porky) wearing a butcher's cap.

Corkeys

[JohnRandolph]

Southside Market, a very solid recommendation. I'm putting the others on my "To Do" list, I trust JR's judgment on such matters :D

I love the best examples of all different styles of BBQ, Texas, East Carolina, West Carolina, Kansas City, Mongolian, Korean....

Southside market, that Elgin hot sausage is the stuff that was too good for the Gods on Mt. Olympus.

[NascarGirl2448]

I've had BBQ in North Carolina.
The best pork BBQ I've had was in Memphis, Tenn.
I don't remember the name of the place. The sign has a pig (looks like Porky) wearing a butcher's cap.

Never been to Memphis, but highly doubt its better than Lexington!

[BillBrown]

Corkeys

I think that's it. It was good. It was pulled pork shoulder. I made myself sick eating it.

[PeterGriffin]

Elgin Hot Guts. Mmm.

What's good around Lake Travis area? I'll be up there this weekend.

[BillBrown]

Elgin Hot Guts. Mmm.

What's good around Lake Travis area? I'll be up there this weekend.

What's that Czech town that makes the good sausage?
I get it confused with the Seventh Day Adventist town. They're close and have similar names.

[JohnRandolph]

Elgin Hot Guts. Mmm.

What's good around Lake Travis area? I'll be up there this weekend.

Its been a while, but when I lived in Austin, either the Oasis or Hudson on the Bend were both great places to eat.

The deck at the Oasis has the best sunset view you will ever see.

[PeterGriffin]

What's that Czech town that makes the good sausage?
I get it confused with the Seventh Day Adventist town. They're close and have similar names.

I dunno, I can think of a half dozen examples of "Czech town that makes the good sausage" in the Hill Country and I haven't been here that long...lol.

[BillBrown]

I dunno, I can think of a half dozen examples of "Czech town that makes the good sausage" in the Hill Country and I haven't been here that long...lol.

I don't know if you would call it hill country. They're both off 35 between Fort Worth and Austin.
I think it's West, Texas, that has the sausage and bakeries.
Keene is the Seventh Day Adventist town. It's either that or the reverse.

[JohnRandolph]

I don't know if you would call it hill country. They're both off 35 between Fort Worth and Austin.
I think it's West, Texas, that has the sausage and bakeries.
Keene is the Seventh Day Adventist town. It's either that or the reverse.

Ive never been to Keene, but I have eaten some amazing pastries in West.

[BillBrown]

Ive never been to Keene, but I have eaten some amazing pastries in West.

They are good. They also have some of the prettiest blond headed girls I've ever seen, working in those shops.

Keene used to not sell any tobacco and everything closed on Saturday.

Someone told me they have opened up a little as new people moved in. I know at one time you couldn't buy cigarettes there.

[PeterGriffin]

I don't know if you would call it hill country. They're both off 35 between Fort Worth and Austin.
I think it's West, Texas, that has the sausage and bakeries.
Keene is the Seventh Day Adventist town. It's either that or the reverse.

Ahh. Haven't been down that stretch. When I'm headed to Austin I'm on the 290 from Houston. Before Elgin and a few miles from the highway in either direction, there are a lot of little towns and almost all of them have some killer BBQ.

Kolaches were a welcome discovery in Texas, thinking of the Czech influence around here. I loves me a good kolache.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

DO NOT get your barbecue at the Austin airport. bleh

[PeterGriffin]

DO NOT get your barbecue at the Austin airport. bleh

Was it Pappas?

[JohnRandolph]

Ahh. Haven't been down that stretch. When I'm headed to Austin I'm on the 290 from Houston. Before Elgin and a few miles from the highway in either direction, there are a lot of little towns and almost all of them have some killer BBQ.

Kolaches were a welcome discovery in Texas, thinking of the Czech influence around here. I loves me a good kolache.


That trip on 290 has a lot of possibilities, like taking the kids on the tour of the Blue Bell plant in Brenham.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

I don't recall the name of the place, Peter. It was just near my gate and I was hungry. Wound up throwing it out.

[BillBrown]

Ahh. Haven't been down that stretch. When I'm headed to Austin I'm on the 290 from Houston. Before Elgin and a few miles from the highway in either direction, there are a lot of little towns and almost all of them have some killer BBQ.

Kolaches were a welcome discovery in Texas, thinking of the Czech influence around here. I loves me a good kolache.

West has super Kolaches. They also make sausage rolls that are good.
My wife used to make me buy a bunch of them to bring home when I was driving through there.

[PeterGriffin]

That trip on 290 has a lot of possibilities, like taking the kids on the tour of the Blue Bell plant in Brenham.

That does sound fun. This weekend is a solo shot. "Work trip" (making huge quote marks in the air with my fingers).

[JohnRandolph]

Was it Pappas?

Airport food, right up there with your average high school cafeteria or food cart vendors in Tijuana.

[JohnRandolph]

That does sound fun. This weekend is a solo shot. "Work trip" (making huge quote marks in the air with my fingers).

Its worth the stop, there is even a free sample at the end of the tour.

Since you are going to be solo, I would recommend the Chicken Fried Steak and a cold Lone Star at the Broken Spoke on South Lamar. If you are lucky Gary P. Nunn or the Geezenslaws will be playing that night.

[jeepers]

:)) You know,your right, the best I ever ate was in a small town in a Parish northwest of here,they converted an old ESSO gas station to a BBQ shack....to die for:drool:

The best Q is in a shack and the best Chinese, you need to see dead ducks in the window.

:))

[jeepers]

Southside Market, a very solid recommendation. I'm putting the others on my "To Do" list, I trust JR's judgment on such matters :D

I love the best examples of all different styles of BBQ, Texas, East Carolina, West Carolina, Kansas City, Mongolian, Korean....

Stop, please. I'm living in the outlands and now I'm salivating...

[wayoverthehill]

What's that Czech town that makes the good sausage?
I get it confused with the Seventh Day Adventist town. They're close and have similar names.West is the Czech town. Keene is the 7th Day Adventist.

[wayoverthehill]

I don't know if you would call it hill country. They're both off 35 between Fort Worth and Austin.
I think it's West, Texas, that has the sausage and bakeries.
Keene is the Seventh Day Adventist town. It's either that or the reverse.Keene is not off 35. It is on Hwy. 67 just before you get to Cleburne. My parents used to live there (no, they were not Adventists and my mom used to get ticked because there was no Saturday mail delivery - LOL).

Are you thinking of Ennis? They make sausage there and there is also a large Czech population. It is off I- 45.

[wayoverthehill]

Ahh. Haven't been down that stretch. When I'm headed to Austin I'm on the 290 from Houston. Before Elgin and a few miles from the highway in either direction, there are a lot of little towns and almost all of them have some killer BBQ.

Kolaches were a welcome discovery in Texas, thinking of the Czech influence around here. I loves me a good kolache.Texas kolaches were a big disappointment to me, coming from Chicago where they make the REAL ones. Oh well, you can't have everything, right?

[PeterGriffin]

Texas kolaches were a big disappointment to me, coming from Chicago where they make the REAL ones. Oh well, you can't have everything, right?

Kolache snob.

[PeterGriffin]

This thread couldn't have been timed better. Had a light lunch, making tracks early, which will put me in Elgin just in time for some hot guts as a tuneup, then I should knock off at least 1 or 2 of JR's tips by Sunday. Maybe I'll snap off a few pics and post 'em.

[Darkblade]

Ok, here is the trick. The best Austin bbq isnt in Austin, but it is very near by.

The Salt Lick out in Driftwood
Louie Mueller's or Rudy Mikeska's in Taylor
Cooper's in Llano
Southside Market in Elgin

If you want to stay in the city limits go to Iron Works.
Rudy's Meat Market on South Loop 360 isnt bad, and you can buy yourself a bottle of their "Sause" to take home with you. Dont go with the Sissy Sause (yellow label), go with the real thing (white label).

and if you go to llano get on the llano river and pan for some gold. that rivers got some. and there are several public access points. the city has one, and the haliburton family has a recreational access area. there is a wonderful access further down the road called malcomb long's. his huge recreational camping and picnic area comes complete with wandering peacocks and assorted other critters. just buy a pan somewhere like on the internet and get a scoop or a shovel and some wading footgear read a few paragraphs on where gold likes to accumulate and go for it. you won't get rich but if you find some you can take pride in it even if its a few tiny grains.

[ScottFree]

How 'bout a little music to set the mood for your trip?

Video: Guy Clark singin' Texas Cookin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAtmhPUAg4U)
4 mins.

[RickRhetoric]

TEXAS barbecue?? According to Country Living magazine, the BEST barbecue in the nation is right here in North Carolina!


Yeah, if you love shredded pork soaked in vinegar (sawdust and vinegar).

[OldSchoolConservative]

Actually Eastern North Carolina especially east of I-95 is worldwide famous for its pork barbecue that has vinegar based sauces. Mustard base sauces are found are more prevelant in South Carolina wheras vinegar based sauces are the sauce of choice in Eastern North Carolina. Western North Carolina barbecue otherwise known as Lexington style barbecue uses more of a tomato based sauce. The interesting thing is that it is a civil war of sorts in North Carolina between the pulled pork vinegar based sauce of Eastern North Carolina vs the more of a pork tenderloin tomato based sauce of Western North Carolina. The consensus is that Eastern North Carolina style is better.

[NascarGirl2448]

Actually Eastern North Carolina especially east of I-95 is worldwide famous for its pork barbecue that has vinegar based sauces. Mustard base sauces are found are more prevelant in South Carolina wheras vinegar based sauces are the sauce of choice in Eastern North Carolina. Western North Carolina barbecue otherwise known as Lexington style barbecue uses more of a tomato based sauce. The interesting thing is that it is a civil war of sorts in North Carolina between the pulled pork vinegar based sauce of Eastern North Carolina vs the more of a pork tenderloin tomato based sauce of Western North Carolina. The consensus is that Eastern North Carolina style is better.

:)) Obviously some people in this state have rather eccentric taste buds. Everyone I know prefers Lexington BBQ to the eastern style stuff any day.

[NascarGirl2448]

Yeah, if you love shredded pork soaked in vinegar (sawdust and vinegar).

Come over here and eat some REAL BBQ. It does NOT taste like sawdust. Its the best in the nation.

[JohnRandolph]

Yeah, if you love shredded pork soaked in vinegar (sawdust and vinegar).

Only time pork should be near vinegar is when the feets get pickled.

You can smoke the ribs, turn the bellys into bacon, the butts into hams, toss the jowls into beans, make chops from the backstraps, and the rest is for sausage. Other than tossing the ribs and sausage onto the pit - if its a pig, it aint BBQ

[BillBrown]

Only time pork should be near vinegar is when the feets get pickled.

You can smoke the ribs, turn the bellys into bacon, the butts into hams, toss the jowls into beans, make chops from the backstraps, and the rest is for sausage. Other than tossing the ribs and sausage onto the pit - if its a pig, it aint BBQ


I've been in Texas all my life.
I like BBQ beef and pork both.

Since spare ribs are my favorite, I guess I have to say I prefer pork.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

I think that everyone should either make or acquire some of the type of barbeque that they think is best, then bring it to me for a decision. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/TheGirlFromlpanema/eat.gif

[wayoverthehill]

Kolache snob.:)) You ought to see how picky I am about Kosher corned beef!

[RickRhetoric]

Come over here and eat some REAL BBQ. It does NOT taste like sawdust. Its the best in the nation.

I is already "here" and been here for some time y'all (retired from the army here in North Carolina). I've long given up on finding barbecue -- everything is pulled pork soaked in vinegar -- can't even taste the meat because of the overwhelming vinegar taste.

But North Carolinians love the stuff -- so that's just fine. To each his own, or whatever.

Other than the food being less than ideal, Eastern North Carolina is a wonderful place to retire and live.

Y'all come, ya heah?

[NascarGirl2448]

I is already "here" and been here for some time y'all (retired from the army here in North Carolina). I've long given up on finding barbecue -- everything is pulled pork soaked in vinegar -- can't even taste the meat because of the overwhelming vinegar taste.

But North Carolinians love the stuff -- so that's just fine. To each his own, or whatever.

Other than the food being less than ideal, Eastern North Carolina is a wonderful place to retire and live.

Y'all come, ya heah?

Been to Eastern NC (I'm in the Triad area myself) and frankly, other than the gorgeous beaches, there isn't a whole lot in the eastern part of the state. In my neck of the woods we have the mountains not too far away (perfect for a ski weekend!) or half a dozen lakes to do everything from swimming to boating and fishing and whatever else. Not to mention several state parks (perfect for a weekend picnic). Life just doesn't get much better than having several options to enjoy the great outdoors.

[RickRhetoric]

Been to Eastern NC (I'm in the Triad area myself) and frankly, other than the gorgeous beaches, there isn't a whole lot in the eastern part of the state. In my neck of the woods we have the mountains not too far away (perfect for a ski weekend!) or half a dozen lakes to do everything from swimming to boating and fishing and whatever else. Not to mention several state parks (perfect for a weekend picnic). Life just doesn't get much better than having several options to enjoy the great outdoors.

Yes ma'am! I agree.

I guess I'm just sort of in eastern North Carolina. I think I'm in what is called the "sand hills," (Cumberland County, Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope AFB).

We like it here. Beaches to the east and mountains to the west. Affordable retirement. People are nice too.

But the barbecue still ... sucks! :))

[NascarGirl2448]

Yes ma'am! I agree.

I guess I'm just sort of in eastern North Carolina. I think I'm in what is called the "sand hills," (Cumberland County, Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope AFB).

We like it here. Beaches to the east and mountains to the west. Affordable retirement. People are nice too.

But the barbecue still ... sucks! :))

I've been down your neck of the woods (have family in the Fayetteville area). Nice area, but I like living in the Triad. Anyway, I've tasted that eastern style BBQ and prefer Lexington style any day! The last weekend in October is our big BBQ festival. You ought to come up here and check it out.

[RickRhetoric]

I've been down your neck of the woods (have family in the Fayetteville area). Nice area, but I like living in the Triad. Anyway, I've tasted that eastern style BBQ and prefer Lexington style any day! The last weekend in October is our big BBQ festival. You ought to come up here and check it out.

Thanks mucho for the invite. But we'll be spending the winter in my country of origin then -- Spain. Got some real beef barbacoa there, and lechón asado (roast pork) as well.

Enjoy! Bien provecho at the festival.


Triad is getting crowded -- to many of them there yankees settling there now.

[OldSchoolConservative]

I live in Eastern North Carolina and I do admit that I like lexington style barbecue better than the vinegar based pulled pork in my area. But with that said outside of North Carolina eastern NC pulled pork vinegar based barbecue is still famous and way moe famous than Lexington style. It is true that too much vinegar ruins the pulled pork barbecue IMHO but a lot of that has to do with what eatery you dine at. Some barbecue joints drench their barbecue in vinegar whereas better eateries go light on the vinegar and allow the eater the choice to determine how much vinegar they want o their barbecue. Pulled pork barbecue done right is terrific.

[EnchantedFrog]

I grew up in Texas then moved to NC. When I first got here, I was driving up I-85 and pulled in for lunch at a BBQ place with a drive thru. I got a couple of barbeque sandwiches and got back on the interstate.

When I bit into the first sandwich, I nearly ran off the road. Not only was it PORK, but it also had COLE SLAW on it.

I find that now I like both Texas style AND North Carolina style barbeque, but Texas definitely has the edge.