Best barbecue joints?

[alarimer]

My family and I will be in Austin in August and my dad really wants some real Texas BBQ. He read about those places in Lockhart? Anybody have any opinions on which one is best? Kreuz's or another one?

[Melissa G]

1. Baby Back Ribs at Artz Rib House on South Lamar.

No need to drive to Lockhart.

[gr8dane_daddy]

19. I second Artz Rib House

and I highly, highly, highly recommend the peach/raspberry cobbler ala mode...best I ever had!

[Longhorn]

2. Salt Lick on 1826 near Driftwood.

But last I knew, BYOB.

[Lithos]

3. What type of BBQ does he like?

Texas BBQ can mean quite a bit. There are some good places around the area.

Kreuz's is famous, though I think it's more memory than not. But it is still very good. Texas Monthly always raves about it. If your dad likes sauce, then skip this place as he won't get any.
Smitty's - The other place. Pretty identical to Kreuz's
Salt Lick BBQ - Can be good, though I think it's also more memory than not.
Stubbs BBQ - It's more East Texas in its style, but it is very tasty.
County Line BBQ - Texas Monthly likes it, personally I think they get by on image and sugar - a lot of sugar.
Iron Works - A lot of fat, but ok.
Green Mesquite - Tasty and cheap. Not great, but very good value.

You can also try:

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-06-01/feature.php

[alarimer]

6. I am not sure what he likes.

I might suggest Stubbs, because it's kind of famous. Unless he has his heart set on going to Lockhart.

[jobycom]

4. I believe blood has been shed over the Lockhart debate.

It's such a tight feud that either choice would be great to anyone but the most fanatical barbecue zealot--meaning most people in Lockhart.

First, let me give the disclaimer that I'm vegetarian, you shouldn't eat meat for the good of your health and soul, and any advice I give is under duress. Okay, I've fulfilled the moral disclaimer obligation: In Austin, if you want the best, try County Line (two locations). For the best inexpensive barbecue shack with a variety of side dishes, try Poke Joe's. For the best pure barbecue without a lot of side dishes and other stuff, try Rudy's--there are several locales, all are great. You order by the pound, so it's more traditional Texas barbecue, less of a cafeteria-style shack.

If you leave Austin, try Salt Lick, in Dripping Springs, which is just 15 miles or so southwest of Austin. I'd say try that, anyway, and skip the Austin spots, if you only have time for one. Better than the Lockhart places, though not by much.

For barbecue sausage, there are a couple of places in Elgin, east of Austin. DO NOT go to Southside Market--it's overrated, and bad service (or was eight years ago when I still ate such places. I've heard it still is).

If you want even more suggestions and ratings, try auschron.com and austin360.com. Both sites have restaurant reviews. Auschron.com (The Austin Chronicle) is the best. The other is the corporate-owned magazine, and everything has a glitzy I'm-not-real-Austin-but-I've-learned-how-to-pretend-I-am feel to it. Not bad reviews, just not as good. :)

Okay, one more try. You should go vegetarian, try Mother's Cafe and Garden, and try the barbecue tofu. Yummers! Had to try. :)

[alarimer]

5. Okay thanks.

We have a Rudy's here in Corpus that I like a lot. I like Poke Joes too. My employer uses them to cater a lot, so I guess I would rather try something else.

[jobycom]

7. Ah, sorry, didn't notice that you were from nearby. Yeah, scratch Rudy's and PKJ's.

I was thinking you were from farther afield, but you're already experienced. Definitely try the Lockhart joints, then, and the Salt Lick. I know you've already got a County Line in Corpus (or used to, anyway).

Austin has good barbecue, but not a lot of great barbecue if you've already experienced good barbecue elsewhere. The outlying towns might be better. There's Lockhart, Elgin, and Taylor. Elgin's more known for its sausage, but it's barbecue is underrated. Crosstown Barbecue is best in Elgin, then Meyers (famous for sausage). I don't like Southside, and when I lived in Elgin, many of the locals hated it, too.

Taylor has one great place whose name I've forgotten. Probably find it in Texas Monthly.

[alarimer]

10. Yes the County Line closed here.

Some time ago. Thanks for the suggestions. I might suggest stopping in Elgin because it's on the way back from College Station. Unless there are other plans for that evening that I am not aware of.

[jobycom]

13. Elgin.

If the barbeque places are closed (they close early, IIRC), try City Cafe, on Main Street. Great steaks, dumplings, and chicken-fried stuff. They are famous for their pies, though I'm not much on dessert, and never tried them.

[Horse with no Name]

8. I've eaten at quite a few of the Top 50

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-06-01/feature10-1.php

But by far...the best is in Tioga
http://clarksoutpost.com/

[alarimer]

12. Sometime when I am up there I will try it.

I think we plan to stay near Austin this time though.

[GOPisEvil]

9. Here's the lowdown on Lockhart

There was Smitty's - Smitty's is the old joint downtown. Good stuff. Great brisket.
Smitty's begat Kreuz Market. It's newer, larger and nicer. But it's pretty much Smitty's.
Black's is the only place open on Sunday, and they have the best sausage. If you like Que, you can't go wrong with any of the three.

[alarimer]

11. Thanks.

I will pass that along.

[PfcHammer]

14. How bout Bill Miller ? hehe.

it's ok if you can't find anything else. i do like their brownies though.

[Gman]

15. Iron Works

you may even see someone famous in there. I saw Eric Clapton in there once.

[bonzotex]

16. Go to Lockhart

Austin has several places that are pretty damn good, but just do the guaranteed real deal and go to Lockhart. You won't be disappointed by Kreuz, Smitty's or Black's. All these places will have lines, sometimes very long, at lunch. If you don't like waiting, go in the afternoon before 5.

Asking who makes the best Texas BBQ is always a good way to start a food argument. Truthfully, at a certain level, despite minor differences, the top place are all really, really good, and then there is everybody else who just makes a Texas BBQ-like facsimile. The places others have recommended in this thread are all good too.

I've been to most of the Texas top 50 and if I had to choose one or two it would be Kreuz in Lockhart or Cooper's in Llano. I like Kreuz because I don't care about sauce and they tend to serve you pretty quickly. They do beef shoulder which is very lean and fine grained, plus world class brisket and their jalapeno sausage is really superior. Try a side of warm sauerkraut with it. Your Dad will be veeeeeery happy.

[ceile]

17. I prefer Black's to Kreuz's.

Also, downtown Austin (8th and Red River) try Stubb's.
http://www.stubbsaustin.com/
The serrano cheese spinach is to DIE for.

[Dover]

18. I had forgotten just how incredible the Salt Lick barbeque is until

I was recently going through Austin's airport and saw they had a restaurant there. What a great idea for the airport to offer local fare. I ordered a bbq sandwich (I think it was the shredded beef) and just about melted into my chair with pleasure. OMG! If I was from out of state and had one of those at the airport, I might not leave...lol!