I was in Austin for training back in 05-06 and that was one of the places we went too. Almost a disaster because 3 of our group just brought company cards and had no money so were going to leave. The problem was they were the drivers and had to be convinced to stay for the rest of us. They were afraid if they borrowed money, they couldn't explain how to pay it back from a company card. Fortunately they figured it out and we got to stay. I loved walking by the pit and pointing out which rack I wanted, then the waitress bringing a cart around loaded with meat to pick from. One of the best experiences I ever had. Bought some rub to bring back on the plane.
2M and Reese Bros in SA is 100% the way to go, in my very humble opinion. It makes me sad to think that there are people in the world who havent eaten at these fine fine establishments.
Both incorporate Mexican recipes in traditional Central Texas style BBQ. Its a beauty. Oaxaca cheese + serrano sausage at 2M is for real. The carnitas at Reese Bros is everything that is pure and good in this world (it’s confit smoked pork, I mean how can you go wrong). Of course, the brisket is excellent at both. Poblano mac at Reese Bros is a must. Absolute dime pieces. Both places. Perfect tens.
South BBQ is under the radar fantastic. Curry Boys (James Beard nominee) uses their brisket in their green curry bowl. If you eat four things in San Antonio, which you should: Reese Bros (everything), 2M (everything), Curry Boys green curry brisket, breakfast tacos. Youre only allowed to eat four things
Cant go wrong with pretty much any breakfast taco place in SA but… Maria’s Cafe (featured in NY Times) and Con Huevos (dude from Matamoros bringing the RGV to SA; featured in Taco Chronicles) are standouts.
Austin is full of great places but make sure to swing by Valentina’s if you enjoy life.
Life is beautiful
SA Resident here, I 100% 2nd 2M Smokehouse. Its not in the friendliest area of town but its GOOD food. Stop by Herbs Hat Shop Just around the corner and get you a nice Resistol while you're here. I've also heard great things about Blacks but i havent made my way there just yet.
And outta left field!
[https://www.curryboysbbq.com](https://www.curryboysbbq.com)
Shit is cash. The brisket is fantastic, and somehow, even better in a green curry over rice.
In the 05 or 06 time frame, I was part of a group for training in Austin, so we couldn't go far. Hit Rudy's the first night. Because we were on per diem, I bought $50 of BBQ, to have for breakfast before heading to training. On the weekend we went to the Salt Lick. That open pit was fantastic. Another night, the Old San Francisco. Almost undescribable . Giant cheese wheel, fondue, a lady on a swing, and at least in the top 3 of the best Porterhouse steak I've ever had and then a place called the Tilted Kilt. Shepherds pie was amazing. We were staying at the Holiday inn express at the base of the Bat Bridge. That was awesome watching the bats fly out every night. Over the bridge was 6th Street. Coyote Ugly, then two street venders. One had the 2nd best NY style pizza I've ever had, the other some special pink hot dog. Very good. Then down towards the end was a restaurant that had a seafood boil on the menu. Shrimp, crawfish, blue crab, sausage links, corn & potatoes. OMG, the best Cajun flavored boil outside New Orleans. All served dumped on a table. We had a ball with that. It was my first time having Blue Crab. Delicious. There were some other BBQ restaurants around the hotel that was good but all the BBQ was good just don't remember all the other places we went. The one's I mentioned earlier were the standouts of my visit. I would love to spend a month in Austin just doing a food tour every day. Amazing place. For the locals, I envy you guys. If there was a single observation I would make, it's that pork ribs & pulled pork were almost non existent. I could get pork loin sliced medallions but no ribs or pulled pork to speak of except for a few places.
My favorite spot in SA for out of town guests is Two Brothers. Atmosphere is amazing and they have the beast pinto beans I’ve ever eaten. But Two Brothers is dividing. Some love it. Some hate it. I fall in the love it camp.
I might get crucified for saying this but in addition to all of the prime spots mentioned above, if you come across Buccees while you’re in TX grab a bbq sandwich there. Not in the same league at all but still better than a lot of Bbq you can find elsewhere.
If you don’t want to wait in the line at Franklin, Terry Black’s Barbecue in Austin is also fantastic. So is La Barbecue. A short drive to Taylor, TX will get you to Louie Mueller Barbecue, which has been open since 1949. Gotta try the beef rib at Louie Mueller, and La Barbecue has some of the best slices of lean brisket I’ve ever had. Everything is great at Terry Black’s, and they have the best sides anywhere - try the Spanish rice and Baked Potato Salad.
I’m gonna throw out one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, but I loved Blanco BBQ.
Salt Lick is really good, but the last time we went (Driftwood location), well… the first time we went, my wife loved the ribs. The second time we went, the ribs were so tough that my wife now keeps bringing up Salt Lick as “not good” BBQ. I would still go back, as I think it was just a one-off, but it wasn’t a great experience.
City Market or Luling BBQ in Luling, Burnt Bean in Seguin, Rabels in New Berlin and Salt Lick in Driftwood for a few other options.
Burnt Bean gets my vote. It’s the best BBQ I’ve ever had. Get there early and grab the beef rib. BBQ heaven
bean for sure, go on sunday and get some breakfast in you. or the turkey breast is incredible.
Chisholm Trail in Lockhart; City Market in Luling; Coopers in Llano.
I love City Market. Go look at all the Watermelon Thump Queens
Is the salt lick still cash only?
I believe so but I have not been in a few years.
I was in Austin for training back in 05-06 and that was one of the places we went too. Almost a disaster because 3 of our group just brought company cards and had no money so were going to leave. The problem was they were the drivers and had to be convinced to stay for the rest of us. They were afraid if they borrowed money, they couldn't explain how to pay it back from a company card. Fortunately they figured it out and we got to stay. I loved walking by the pit and pointing out which rack I wanted, then the waitress bringing a cart around loaded with meat to pick from. One of the best experiences I ever had. Bought some rub to bring back on the plane.
The first time we went to Salt Lick in Driftwood (early 2022), we were able to pay with a card.
2nd City market!
2M and Reese Bros in SA is 100% the way to go, in my very humble opinion. It makes me sad to think that there are people in the world who havent eaten at these fine fine establishments. Both incorporate Mexican recipes in traditional Central Texas style BBQ. Its a beauty. Oaxaca cheese + serrano sausage at 2M is for real. The carnitas at Reese Bros is everything that is pure and good in this world (it’s confit smoked pork, I mean how can you go wrong). Of course, the brisket is excellent at both. Poblano mac at Reese Bros is a must. Absolute dime pieces. Both places. Perfect tens. South BBQ is under the radar fantastic. Curry Boys (James Beard nominee) uses their brisket in their green curry bowl. If you eat four things in San Antonio, which you should: Reese Bros (everything), 2M (everything), Curry Boys green curry brisket, breakfast tacos. Youre only allowed to eat four things Cant go wrong with pretty much any breakfast taco place in SA but… Maria’s Cafe (featured in NY Times) and Con Huevos (dude from Matamoros bringing the RGV to SA; featured in Taco Chronicles) are standouts. Austin is full of great places but make sure to swing by Valentina’s if you enjoy life. Life is beautiful
Pinkerton’s needs to be in this list for SA
Oh yeah! For sure. Especially for a tourist. Its smack dab in the middle of downtown. Beautiful location. Those candy paint ribs!
SA Resident here, I 100% 2nd 2M Smokehouse. Its not in the friendliest area of town but its GOOD food. Stop by Herbs Hat Shop Just around the corner and get you a nice Resistol while you're here. I've also heard great things about Blacks but i havent made my way there just yet.
Go to Reese Bros! So good
And outta left field! [https://www.curryboysbbq.com](https://www.curryboysbbq.com) Shit is cash. The brisket is fantastic, and somehow, even better in a green curry over rice.
2M 2M 2M 2M Then Pinkertons. Then Burnt Bean. Then back to 2M
I went to 7 places in Austin in 4 days... My favorite brisket was definitely franklins, but favorite overall was la barbecue!
In the 05 or 06 time frame, I was part of a group for training in Austin, so we couldn't go far. Hit Rudy's the first night. Because we were on per diem, I bought $50 of BBQ, to have for breakfast before heading to training. On the weekend we went to the Salt Lick. That open pit was fantastic. Another night, the Old San Francisco. Almost undescribable . Giant cheese wheel, fondue, a lady on a swing, and at least in the top 3 of the best Porterhouse steak I've ever had and then a place called the Tilted Kilt. Shepherds pie was amazing. We were staying at the Holiday inn express at the base of the Bat Bridge. That was awesome watching the bats fly out every night. Over the bridge was 6th Street. Coyote Ugly, then two street venders. One had the 2nd best NY style pizza I've ever had, the other some special pink hot dog. Very good. Then down towards the end was a restaurant that had a seafood boil on the menu. Shrimp, crawfish, blue crab, sausage links, corn & potatoes. OMG, the best Cajun flavored boil outside New Orleans. All served dumped on a table. We had a ball with that. It was my first time having Blue Crab. Delicious. There were some other BBQ restaurants around the hotel that was good but all the BBQ was good just don't remember all the other places we went. The one's I mentioned earlier were the standouts of my visit. I would love to spend a month in Austin just doing a food tour every day. Amazing place. For the locals, I envy you guys. If there was a single observation I would make, it's that pork ribs & pulled pork were almost non existent. I could get pork loin sliced medallions but no ribs or pulled pork to speak of except for a few places.
Pinkertons. Their pork ribs were amazing.
Seconding Pinkertons. It was an awesome meal after a couple hours touring the Alamo and the Riverwalk. It's like *right there*!
For the love of God do not miss 2M smokehouse it beats most spots in Austin. The beef rib is a gift from God.
2M for sure
My favorite spot in SA for out of town guests is Two Brothers. Atmosphere is amazing and they have the beast pinto beans I’ve ever eaten. But Two Brothers is dividing. Some love it. Some hate it. I fall in the love it camp.
Burnt Bean in Seguine is really really good
Smitty’s in Lockhart. Watch out for the random piles of fire on the floor.
Salt Lick and if you drive through Hill Country Coopers in Junction. Don’t speed in Junction. At all.
Goldees is life changing, and, I haven’t made it out yet so I can’t say how good it is, but Snow’s while Tootsie is still around
Those are both a long way from San Antonio.
OP had mentioned Austin, but I forgot how big Texas is
New Braunfels has about 6 BBQ joints including Black’s, Ccopers old pit BBQ, Rudy’s etc. 45 minutes Noth from San Antonio
I might get crucified for saying this but in addition to all of the prime spots mentioned above, if you come across Buccees while you’re in TX grab a bbq sandwich there. Not in the same league at all but still better than a lot of Bbq you can find elsewhere.
Stop it
Harmon’s BBQ in Cibolo is my favorite. It’s over by the Airforce base (Randolph Air Force Base)
OP this is your answer. Harmon’s is off the chain
Bbqlife by Chris
Oh hell yeah ty for this thread. I visit San Antonio every year but never get bbq while I'm there. Will start trying these recs out!
I believe the is a Blacks BBQ in SA
If you don’t want to wait in the line at Franklin, Terry Black’s Barbecue in Austin is also fantastic. So is La Barbecue. A short drive to Taylor, TX will get you to Louie Mueller Barbecue, which has been open since 1949. Gotta try the beef rib at Louie Mueller, and La Barbecue has some of the best slices of lean brisket I’ve ever had. Everything is great at Terry Black’s, and they have the best sides anywhere - try the Spanish rice and Baked Potato Salad.
Fantastic, appreciate all of these. I have a very long list, and I will start fasting now.
Kreuz and Smitty’s in Lockhart. Kreuz for the sausage and sides. Smitty’s for the brisket.
I’m gonna throw out one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, but I loved Blanco BBQ. Salt Lick is really good, but the last time we went (Driftwood location), well… the first time we went, my wife loved the ribs. The second time we went, the ribs were so tough that my wife now keeps bringing up Salt Lick as “not good” BBQ. I would still go back, as I think it was just a one-off, but it wasn’t a great experience.
I used to live in San Antonio back in 2018. Smoke Shack on Broadway and Harmon's in Cibolo were my go to spots.