Where to Find the Best BBQ in Austin
By Sean Creamer on October 22, 2022
When you wander about the Sixth Street area, there is an ever-present smokey barbecue scent wafting from the nearby restaurants.
It is impossible to miss, as many pitmasters across Austin have a personalized take on grilled meat. The practice goes back over 100 years when European immigrants working as butchers smoked meat to preserve it. These cuts became the most popular items on the menu, paving the foundation of modern BBQ.
Today, many cooks and grillmasters ply the trade, using different marinating and smoking techniques to fine-tune their edible art. BBQ is a way of life in Austin, and people will line up pre-dawn at certain establishments to score a plate of food. Whether you like burnt tips, juicy brisket, or ribs that fall off the bone, you will find the best BBQ in Austin.
If you are a newcomer to the scene, it can be tough to nail down what BBQ joints you need to hit up first. That is why the team at Prevu Real Estate brainstormed their favorite haunts to get the best barbecue bites in Austin.
Best BBQ in Austin
- Sam's BBQ
- Terry's Black Barbecue
- Stubb's Bar-B-Q
- Rollin' Smoke BBQ
- Franklin Barbecue
- Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
- Distant Relatives
- Pok-E-Joe's Smokehouse
Sam's BBQ
Kicking off the list is Sam's Bar-B-Que, which famously states that patrons "don't need no teeth to eat my barbecue."
This cornerstone of the East Austin BBQ scene has withstood many trials of time, including two fires and a corporate buyout. Sam's is a master class in "do not judge a book by its cover," as the exterior of the building has seen better days.
But your reservations will melt away as the meat melts in your mouth, so needless to say you will not need barbecue sauce with your brisket. Sam's was a favorite haunt of legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who once had Sam's beef rib plates sent to his NYC studio as nothing was comparable in the Big Apple.
Today, Brian Mays, whose father purchased Sam's Bar-B-Que back in the 1970s, runs the establishment and is beyond proud of his business, stating that his double-walled brick pit sets him apart from newcomers in this corner of Texas Hill Country.
Make sure to bring friends to help you scarf down the mutton and enjoy some old-Austin flavor.
Address: 2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone Number: (512) 478-0378
Terry Black's Barbecue
If you go to Butler Metro Park on the southern shores of the Colorado River, you should head across the park to grab a bite at Terry Black's Barbecue.
The pitmasters are fourth-generation smokers from Lockhart, Texas, and now twin sons Michael and Mark Black run the business known for its brisket. There is a trifecta of BBQ in Austin, as pitmasters prepare sausages in a Czechoslovakian style, cooks prepare ribs in a Southern or African-American manner, and grillers still use techniques from the 1800s to smoke a brisket.
So if you are craving traditional brisket, you want to go to Terry Black's. The building looks like it belongs on a Louisiana bayou, with weather-worn wood adorned by a neon sign welcoming locals from the park to come in and enjoy the great food.
Make sure you head out early if you dine out on the weekend, as lines commonly form here and the last thing you want to do is wait in the scorching Texas sun.
Address: 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Phone Number: (512) 394-5899
Menu: https://www.terryblacksbbq.com/austin/menu/
Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Spending time with friends around the wax paper tray is part of the fun when getting BBQ in Austin. And when you can get live music mixed in, you are in for a good time.
Christopher "Stubbs" Stubblefield perfected his craft as a cook overseeing meal prep for soldiers in the Korean War. His food brought Americans together in times of duress, and he wanted to bring that same energy home to Lubbock, Texas.
In the 1970s, Stubb's opened up a location on Sixth Street with a stage for live music, introducing a new era of mingling music with quality grilled meats. Musicians like Muddy Waters, George Thorogood, and Linda Ronstadt would play for their supper, trading some tasty guitar licks for scrumptious BBQ.
The tradition stands strong today, and many people come to this downtown Austin BBQ joint as Stubb's always has a revolving cast of musicians crooning sweet songs to diners munching away on ribs that fall off the bone.
Address: 801 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (737) 465-1218
Menu: https://www.stubbsaustin.com/menu
Rollin' Smoke BBQ
What's great about barbecue is that you do not need a restaurant to get the good times flowing. Sometimes all you need is a picnic table, some good friends, and a heaping plate of BBQ.
Pitmasters historically built their forges outside, creating a space where friends and family could come together at the end of the week to enjoy some home-cooked food. And while most people now munch on BBQ at an indoor restaurant, you can get a slab of outdoor grilling at Rollin' Smoke BBQ in East Austin at the Arbor Food Park.
The pitmasters smoke their meats onsite, using pecan and ash wood in a Moberg Smoker so patrons can get the freshest Que possible. Rollin' Smoke's dedication to the craft made the BBQ joint a local favorite, and the establishment takes care to hold a high standard in grilling.
Like many barbecue joints, Rollin' Smoke offers an amazingly charred-yet-tender brisket and tasty pulled pork, but the weekend menu is what most folks come for. On Fridays, there's a pork rib special, and on Saturdays, people from all over come down for the elusive pork spare rib, which sells out fast.
Address: 1108 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (512) 705-5499
Menu: https://rollinsmokeatxbbq.com/
Franklin Barbecue
You cannot mention Austin BBQ without making mention of Franklin Barbecue, over on East 11th street.
This Downtown Austin staple is on the eastern side of the 35 and is easy to get to if you're near the waterfront or wandering around Historic Sixth Street. This storied establishment tops most lists for best BBQ in Austin, and it is common to hear tourists asking their friends, "where is Franklin’s BBQ in Austin?"
Anthony Bourdain once said that pitmaster Aaron Franklin's brisket was the "finest he ever had," which is no surprise considering that Franklin's pitmaster skills earned him the first James Beard Award presented to a BBQ chef. This kind of attention helped put Franklin Barbecue on the map, but locals lined up for prime smoked cuts well before the hype took off.
Many people come for the crunchy yet tender brisket, but Franklin Barbecue offers much more than slabs of beef. Folks line up for hours to wait for ribs, chicken, hearty sides, and delicious hunks of bread.
So if you are trying to avoid the crowds, make sure you get here early and maybe bring a chair and a 10-gallon hat to beat the heat.
Address: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (512) 653-1187
Menu: https://franklinbbq.com/menu
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
You can find some of the prettiest views in Austin if you wander down by the majestic Colorado River. And on East 2nd Street, by the 1st Street Bridge, is the equally beautiful Lamberts Downtown Barbecue.
Located in the renovated Schneider Brother's Building, patrons coming to Lamberts will see the exposed brick facade exterior and the restored interior. Considering the posh space, the owners open their doors for privately catered events like wedding rehearsals, company events, and other gathers. The pitmasters at Lamberts make one of the best briskets in town and is one of the more famous Austin BBQ places.
But when the upstairs is open, you can routinely find live music at the upstairs bar and lounge. For the past 15 years, diners have come to Lamberts to enjoy some of Austin's best-smoked BBQ while having a crafted cocktail.
The restaurant carries an extensive list of bourbon, rye, and whiskey, so if you want an old-fashioned with your oak-grilled pork chop, Lamberts is perfect for you.
Address: 401 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 494-1500
Menu: https://lambertsaustin.com/menus/
Distant Relatives
While many people try BBQ in Downtown, sometimes you have to go off the beaten path to find the best bites in Austin.
If you're near McKinney by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, you must make a trip to Distant Relatives. At almost two years old, it is a relatively new addition to the Austin BBQ scene, located at the food park behind Meanwhile Brewing, where there are a host of food trucks. Despite being in an industrial park, locals from all over South Austin and beyond to try the renowned spiced pork ribs.
Pitmaster Damien Brockway pays homage to African-American grilling styles by liberally slathering the ribs, chicken wings, and brisket in plenty of spice. Even if you are avoiding the meat sweats, you can grab a side of collard greens, which some locals call the best in town.
This moniker is not given out lightly, as Brockway's cooking has a nomination for a James Beard Award and has had a mention in Texas Monthly. So if you plan to get a bite with your brew, ensure you show up early to get the best bites.
Address: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Phone: (512) 717-2504
Menu: https://www.distatantrelativesatx.com/menu
Pok-E-Jo's Smokehouse
Consistency is key, which is part of why Pok-E-Jo's is a neighborhood favorite.
If you are in South Lamar or Barton Hills, chances are you have heard of Pok-E-Jo's Smokehouse. If not, you need to set aside some time to stop by for their famous smokey brisket.
Originally opened in the 1970s by a fellow named Porky Joe, he and his business partner thought Pok-E-Jo's flowed better off the tongue. Now, the smokehouse is one of the most successful BBQ enterprises in Austin, and there are several locations throughout the city.
Folks love coming back for the large, German-style side portions, great cuts of meat, and the unique wood smokes and herbs used to flavor the meats. Having a hidden gem right in the center of SoLa is fantastic, as it means you do not have to wait in line for over 45 minutes to snag a plate of BBQ.
Address: 4109 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78704
Phone: (512) 440-0447
