13 Best BBQ Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Mike | March 10, 2023

It’s no big secret that barbecue is the heart and soul of Texas cuisine so you should come on down and try to find the BBQ restaurants. We made a list of Austin’s best BBQ hot spots for you.

Here are 13 restaurants we have listed around the Austin area. Some of these barbecue spots are food trucks and some are establishments with country-style themes. There are many options for how you can order your BBQ. Pick one near your home or make it an adventure and drive across town!

1. Interstellar BBQ

Address: 12233 Ranch Road 620 N Suite 105 Austin, TX 78750 @interstellarbbq

When you think about barbecue, you think about meat right? Interstellar has meals with meat and non meat items for Vegetarians. Walking in the Interstellar BBQ is like going into a family cookout. The customer service treats you like family. Try their savoy beef kielbasa and tasty tomato-zucchini salad. They are open at 11 a.m. until everything is sold out and the days are Wednesday through Sunday.

3. Blacks barbecue

Address: 3110 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 @Blackbbqaustin

The Black family has been serving the barbecue for three generations in the central texas area. Located near the University of Texas at Austin. Black’s Barbecue has indoor and outdoor dine-in service, online takeout orders, and third-party deliveries. They are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the days are Sunday through Thursday.

4. Sam’s BBQ

Address: 2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702 @samsbbq_atx

If you want to support black owners and love old fashion barbecue, Sam’s BBQ is the place for you. Walking in the Sam’s BBQ, you are walking into black history museum with highly decorated interior walls. You can only order by online pickup orders. The hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

5. Franklin Barbecue

Address: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 @franklinbbqpits

Franklin Barbecue is brisket heaven in the Austin area. Even though the lines are long, Franklin barbecue is worth it. Meals that people recommended are of course the savoy brisket, beef ribs, and the turkey. The hours and days are 11 a.m. until they are sold out and Tuesday through Sunday.

6. Micklethwait Craft Meats

Address: 1309 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702 @craftmeats

A dinning with a camping aesthetic, Micklethwait Craft Meats is a very unique food truck in Central East Austin. They have outdoor dine-in service, online and call-ahead pickup orders, and even national shipping. Recommended meals are sausage and pulled lamb. The hours are 11 a.m. until sold out Thursday through Sunday.

7. Terry Black’s BBQ

Address: 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 @terryblacks_bbq

One of Texas Barbecue royalty, Terry Black’s BBQ is owned by Mike and Mark Black. Indoor and outdoor dine-in service, online pickup orders, and they also have national shipping. They are open every day but at different times, 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Meals that people love brisket and smoked turkey

8. Distant Relatives

Address: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744 @distantrelativesatx

One of South Austin’s popular BBQ spots, Distant Relatives is owned by Damien Brockway. The menu explores current African-American soul barbecue meals. They service outdoor dine-in, in-person and phone call takeout orders. They are open from noon to 8 p.m. or until sold out Wednesday through Sunday. Meals that people love brisket, pulled pork, and green mango slaw.

9. Kerlin BBQ

Address: 2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 @kerlinbbq

Austin’s barbecue secret is Kerlin BBQ owned by Bill Kerlin and Amelis Kerlin. Located in the East Side Food Park on Cesar Chavez. They serve klobásníky on Sundays, which is a roll made of sweet dough. People also like barbecue kolache and pork belly burnt ends. Their ordering style is Outdoor dine-in service, to-go orders, and they even have email preorders with 72-hour notice.

10. La Barbecue

Address: 2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 @la_barbcue

Owned by two dynamic women named LeAnn Mueller & Alison Clem, La Barbecue is a great place for a quick lunch in the East Cesar Chavez area. These ladies will give you indoor and patio dine-in service during lunch and dinner. Definitely get the brisket & mac. The times and days are 11 a.m to 6 p.m and Wednesday through Sunday.

11. Brown’s Bar-B-Que

Address: 1901 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 @brownsbarbque

A great spot in South Austin with cheap prices is at Brown’s Bar-B-Que. The corner spot is open for on-site services with indoor and outdoor seating and in-person takeout orders. The times are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and on Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you ever stop by, try their savoy pulled pork sandwich.

12. Leroy & Lewis

Address: 121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704 @leroyandlewis

If you are looking for a barbecue restaurant with a great atmosphere near St. Edward’s University, this is the place for you. Leroy and Lewis is all about new school service. Speaking of school, they have New School BBQ University. You can take classes on how to make their food and behind the scenes of the restaurant. They opened at 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

13. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

Address: 11500 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748 @valentinastexmexbbq

If you want Barbecue for breakfast, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is the place for you. This family owned restaurant is mixed and prides themselves with Texas culture and Mexican culture. They are open Wednesday – Sunday and the times are 7:30 am to 6 pm. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is located behind the Star Bar on Sixth Street. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ’s customer service was phenomenal

So this was TexasTasty’s list of the must-hit BBQ Spots in Austin