The Best BBQ in Austin, Ranked
2024-11-23 · 5 min read
Franklin Barbecue is the most famous barbecue restaurant in the world, and the brisket earns that reputation bite by bite. Aaron Franklin's process involves 12 to 14 hours of post oak smoking at low temperature, producing a bark so deeply flavored it tastes like the Platonic ideal of beef. The line starts at 6 AM for an 11 AM open. Bring a lawn chair and a book. It is worth it.
la Barbecue, founded by LeAnn Mueller from a Texas barbecue dynasty, operates out of a permanent trailer on East Cesar Chavez. The beef rib is a showstopper, a single bone with enough meat for two people, coated in a peppery bark and rendered to the point where the fat melts on contact with your tongue. The sausage, made in-house, is the best in the city.
Micklethwait Craft Meats in East Austin brings a whole-animal, craft approach to Texas barbecue. Tom Micklethwait cures his own meats, makes his own sausages, and sources from local ranches. The pulled pork sandwich might be the best non-brisket item in Austin barbecue, and the rotating specials keep regulars coming back week after week.
Interstellar BBQ in Cedar Park, just north of Austin, emerged as one of the area's most exciting pitmasters. Their beef rib and turkey breast are exceptional, and the sides, particularly the elote corn, show a level of care that most barbecue joints do not bother with. The wait is shorter than Franklin's, the quality is not far behind, and the vibe is more relaxed.
Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ merges two Texas food traditions with stunning results. The breakfast tacos stuffed with brisket are legendary, and the Real Deal Holyfield, a massive flour tortilla filled with brisket, cheese, guacamole, and pico de gallo, is one of the most satisfying things you can eat in the state. It proves that barbecue and Tex-Mex were always meant to be together.
