This is just scratching the surface, people. There’s good BBQ everywhere you look in Texas. I can honestly say, the only BBQ I ate in Austin that I genuinely was like… I didn’t like that… was at… well, I’ll tell you at the end.
The prices range widely depending on where you go, so make sure you view some menus before visiting to avoid any surprises! Most of the BBQ places (especially the trucks) only serve until they’re sold out, so the earlier in the day you can get there the better.
I’ll start with the heavy hitters. These are the spots people are going to ask you about when you return from your vacation. Austin now has three Michelin Star BBQ spots:
- Leroy and Lewis transitioned from food truck to brick and mortar in 2024. While I visited their food truck back in the day, I haven’t been to their restaurant yet! But, boy, have I heard wonderful things, especially of their L&L 1/2 pound Brisket Burger.
- InterStellar: InterStellar was recently rated the #2 BBQ Joint in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine and now with a Michelin Star, its popularity has skyrocketed If possible, visit on a weekday to avoid crowds. If you must visit on the weekend, I’d say be prepared to wait in line for an hour-ish. My favorite thing from InterStellar is their Peach Tea Glazed Pork Belly. Dang, is it good! (I wish I had better photos! I visited with my family and wasn’t in blogger mode).
- La Barbecue is a woman-owned BBQ spot in east Austin. They’ve got the usual meat plates and sides, along with lots of unique burgers, hotdogs with house-made sausages, and Frito pies.
I haven’t been to Leroy & Lewis or La Barbecue yet, so I don’t have photos! They’re on the top of my “to visit” list, so I’ll certainly provide an update once I do.
Then of course there’s Franklin BBQ in east Austin. My full write-up is HERE if you want to read more, but I’ll give you the TL;DR. The brisket is exceptional, sausages are excellent, everything else is in the ‘good’ category. Weekdays during the off-season are the time to go. We arrived Wednesday at 9:30 in January and were eating by 11:30am. If you’re going on the weekend or during a more busy season, I’d plan to be in line by 8am. I’ve heard people showing up as early as 6am, but I would not recommend that, unless you really just want to do the Franklin BBQ experience. Bring a chair, bring a beverage, bring your social personality (people in line like to chat with one another). If you can go off-season during the week, waiting 2 hours is worth it.
Here are some other good spots. Good for different reasons, so hopefully you can find what you need.
- Terry Blacks on Barton Springs Road: This is my favorite BBQ in Austin. Whenever friends or family visit Austin, I always take them here. My go-to order is quarter pound of brisket, quarter pound of sausage, single serving of Mac and cheese, single serving of banana pudding. If the line is long when you’re there, don’t worry! It moves pretty quickly and if it’s hot, they’ll sell beers and other drinks at different points in the line.
- Blacks BBQ: Not the same as Terry Blacks! It’s a (messy…) family affair. You can read about it here. Just know the original Black’s BBQ’s location (owned by Uncle Kent Black) is in Lockhart, TX, but they now have an Austin location as well. Twin nephews, Mike and Mark Black used their father’s name to open Terry Blacks. Black’s BBQ is good, but something about Terry Black’s is… better. It’s hard to describe. Blacks BBQ does have excellent vanilla ice cream, though. No wait time at either location, so it’s good for families or if you’re on a time crunch!
- Franklin BBQ: This is my TL;DR on Franklin BBQ. My full write-up is HERE if you want to read more. Brisket is exceptional, sausages are excellent, everything else is in the ‘good’ category. Weekdays during the off-season are the time to go. We arrived Wednesday at 9:30 in January and were eating by 11:30am. If you’re going on the weekend, I’d plan to be in line by 8am. If it’s the spring or summer, I’d arrive even earlier. I’ve heard people showing up as early as 6am. Bring a chair, bring a beverage, bring your social personality (people in line like to chat with one another). If you can go off-season during the week, waiting 2 hours is worth it.
- Rollin’ Smoke BBQ: This truck is currently located at Chalmer’s in east Austin (a very cool spot to hang out). Their brisket sandwich is my go-to, but they’ve got all kinds of sandwiches, Frito Pies, Mac and Cheese with meats, meats by the pound, and so much more. They’ve even got a veggie option! Smoked Portobello mushrooms with crunchy spicy slaw, pickles, and onions. If you don’t want to take time to do a whole BBQ dedicated outing and would rather just eat good BBQ while you’re enjoying east Austin and the Austin bar scene, Rollin’ Smoke at Chalmer’s is an excellent hit. While it’s a truck, you can take your food inside Chalmer’s to avoid the heat.
- Micklethwait Craft Meats also made the jump after 12 years in a food truck to brick-and-mortar in 2025. Now operating out of a refurbished church in East Austin, their menu is delicious as ever. I’d recommend the bacon burger. The bacon is like, a quarter inch thick, it’s crazy good. For sides, their Mac and cheese is exceptional. This spot is lowkey – perfect for a chill BBQ lunch without being surrounded by BBQ bros. You know what I mean?
- KG BBQ: If you’re a little burnt out on the traditional Texas bbq, I’d recommend trying KG BBQ. They specialize in barbecue fused with Egyptian and Middle East flavors. From their trailer at Oddwood Brewing, Egyptian cowboy KG is cooking up unique items like Za’atar & Pomegranate Glazed Pork Ribs, lamb chops, skewers, stuffed pitas, and rice bowls featuring Mediterranean rice.
- County Line: I prefer their location on the lake off 2222. The views are great and it’s so spacious! You can sit on their patio deck and watch the river go by. County Line is much more low-key, family oriented, reasonably priced, and is set up more like a regular restaurant. They also have a more robust menu, including non-BBQ items, and a Kids’ Menu. Is it the best BBQ in town? No. Definitely not. But it’s a really good family spot with reasonable prices that still has some good Austin vibes on the river.
Final note: The only BBQ spot I’ve visited in Austin that I actually was like… I don’t like this… was Stubbs. So sorry Stubbs, but I gotta be honest!