These BBQ Spots In Austin Will Satisfy Your Craving

Franklin in Austin is arguably the best BBQ in the world. You have to get there by 8 a.m. to grab a spot in line for their 11 a.m. opening because they run out of food when they run out (you can’t just stick a 12-hour brisket on after someone orders.)

Austin, Texas is hosting a college football game. Well, San Antonio is, but close enough. Some team is playing another team. My friend in Austin who supports UCLA, that I marginally care about (the team, not my friend of course,) says he is organizing a bus, a box, accommodations at his place, the whole nine yards. Five minutes later my trip is booked and I am heading to Austin: the BBQ capital of the world!

Now this is Texas, so I do my research. First, beef is king. So that means the top four things to get are brisket, beef ribs, brisket, and beef ribs.

Internet research tells me I must go to Franklin and the Salt Lick.

First the game. I would call the whole the experience a pre-game for BBQ-a-palooza weekend, but it was awesome in it’s own right to be sure! We get in a luxury 30 person bus with practically a fully stocked bar. We stop at Buc-ee’s in New Braunfels, which is apparently the largest rest stop in the world for truckers. You can buy anything here. Pulled pork, 30 kinds of jerky, an entire wall of candy, a full texas smoker, clothes, etc. After an actual pit stop, back on the bus and we get to the game. A nice box with surprisingly good food and more drinks. I go find another friend in his meager seats, invite him and his girlfriend up to the box. When we get there, I find out I just invited my friend and his friends’ wife, but not his friend, her husband who was sitting right there. Oh…that guy probably hates me now. Oh well. UCLA smacks down K-State. Back on the bus, good party on the way back since everybody is in a great mood. Good time had by all.

Back to your regularly scheduled program, BBQ-a-palooza!

Franklin is arguably the best BBQ in the world. You have to get there by 8 a.m. to grab a spot in line for their 11 a.m. opening because they run out of food when they run out (you can’t just stick a 12-hour brisket on after someone orders.) So I try the Task Rabbit app, because I don’t have that kind of time, patience, nor the willingness to wake up early. $20-$25/hour to get someone to stand in line for you. Multiply that by 3 hours. Answer – Go to Salt Lick.

I arrive at Salt Lick, meeting a high school friend that I haven’t seen in 15 years and his girlfriend. We meet at the original location in Driftwood, not Round Rock. Driftwood! Can you imagine a better name? It is in the middle of nowhere. It is sprawling. It is kitchy, casual, and down home. What I mean to say is: it is awesome. The pit is ridiculously impressive. It is BYOB which is another favorite thing of mine, and you can even go next door and buy local wine from the area. Go for Salt Lick’s wine, and local craft beers if you don’t want to BYOB. We BYOB’d some local Shiner and Lone Star, of course. Incidentally we later went to check out the wine, and it was not half bad. Actually, it was 20% bad since I didn’t like one out of five, but I was pleasantly surprised!

We order everything: pork ribs, sausage, beef ribs, brisket, chicken. Sides are for the weak. I repeat: sides are for the weak! I am also told that I must get the turkey, it is the best thing here. Except, this is Texas. Turkey is for the weak! This BBQ has the best beef parts I have ever eaten. My mouth is salivating as I write this many moons later.

Operation legendary BBQ and high school reunion success!

My host then tells me if I like Salt Lick, I need to check out Lockhart. This is the mecca city within the mecca state just outside of Austin! There are many choices, but Blacks, Kreuz, Smitty’s seem to be three of the best.

We end up at Kreuz, which looks like an old, massive red feed barn, or at least what this Los Angeles kid would imagine it to look like. This is a church, really a cathedral, to worship all things slow smoked. Order meat in the meat line and they slap it onto butcher paper as you order, then you grab a table. First a quick tour of the pit. Wow! Way bigger than Salt Lick! There is a separate line for sides. Others went. They were weak. You order by the pound. I get two pounds of brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, sausage (don’t judge, there are others.) Kreuz is famous for the sausages, it’s no joke, especially the original and the jalapeno cheese. Fantastic. The brisket is THE BEST I have ever tasted. So fatty and tender, Ridiculous! All of the food here is just a bit oversalted in my opinion, but I don’t care. I will hydrate the rest of the day if I have to.

We did not hit the others, but next time, I am definitely doing a progressive meal at all 3 places in Lockhart, as apparently Blacks is the place for the Flintstone-size dinosaur bone (beef rib,) Smitty’s for brisket, and of course Kreuz for sausage! And hitting Salt Lick again. And maybe splurge and hit Franklin. But probably not.

Jason Canter

Contributor

Jason loves beaches, sailing, diving & trying new foods. His travel style is about staying central & close to the action. His favorite country is Mexico & he never travels without his Tumi roller.