A Guide to Central Texas Barbecue

Central Texas is a food lover’s paradise, and its legendary barbecue is a must for any culinary traveler. The celebrated Texas BBQ Trail winds through Austin, Lockhart, Luling, Driftwood, Elgin, and Taylor—each offering a unique take on this iconic cuisine.

What Makes Texas Barbecue Unique?

Texas BBQ stands apart from other regional styles primarily because it’s centered around beef, especially brisket. Many pitmasters also smoke prime rib, beef shoulder clod, and both short and long beef ribs. Another hallmark of Texas BBQ is the presence of European-style sausages—horseshoe-shaped links filled with loosely packed, spiced meat—a legacy of German and Czech immigrants.

While you’ll find pork ribs, turkey, ham, pork chops, and chicken, the stars are always brisket and sausage. The Texas BBQ experience is straightforward: approach the pit, order meat by weight, and receive hand-sliced cuts served on butcher paper. Sides are minimal—maybe cheese, pickles, or bread. Sauce is usually optional and served on the side, if at all.

Nowhere is Texas barbecue more concentrated or acclaimed than in and around Austin, home to the famed “Texas Barbecue Belt.”

The Texas BBQ Trail: Town by Town

Lockhart: The Barbecue Capital of Texas

Lockhart, 32 miles south of Austin, is recognized by the Texas Legislature as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas.” It’s home to three renowned BBQ joints:

• Kreuz Market (kreuzmarket.com): Founded in 1900, Kreuz is a massive, historic smokehouse known for brisket, prime rib, shoulder clod, turkey, pork chops, and signature sausages. With seating for over 500, it remains authentic and steeped in tradition.
• Smitty’s Market (smittysmarket.com): Since 1948, Smitty’s has served brisket and sausage in a communal, no-sauce setting. The smoky, dry-rubbed brisket is a local favorite.
• Black’s Barbecue (blacksbbq.com): Open since 1932 and family-owned, Black’s is famous for meaty beef ribs, house-made sauce, and a down-to-earth atmosphere.

Luling: City Market

Just south of Lockhart, Luling’s City Market (lulingcitymarket.com) is a legendary stop. Serving only brisket, ribs, and sausage, City Market keeps it simple. Sides are limited, but the brisket and unique, house-made barbecue sauce are outstanding.

Driftwood: The Salt Lick

Driftwood’s Salt Lick (saltlickbbq.com) is perhaps America’s most famous BBQ spot. Founded in 1967, it specializes in smoky brisket, ribs, sausage, and chicken, with standout beef ribs and two house sauces. The sprawling venue also produces its own wine and even offers BBQ at the Austin airport.

Elgin: Southside Market and More

Elgin is renowned for its all-beef sausage, known as “Elgin Hot Guts,” from Southside Market (southsidemarket.com). The town’s BBQ joints are casual, counter-service affairs with excellent German-style sausages.

Taylor: Louie Mueller Barbecue

Taylor was founded by Central European immigrants, and Louie Mueller Barbecue (louiemuellerbarbecue.com), established in 1949, is famous for thick, tender brisket and simple, classic flavors.

Austin: The Heart of Texas BBQ

Austin offers a vibrant BBQ scene with both classic and contemporary options:

• Stubb’s (stubbsaustin.com): Known as much for its live music as for its barbecue, Stubb’s is an Austin institution with nationally distributed sauces and a lively atmosphere.
• Franklin Barbecue (franklinbarbecue.com): Famed for its brisket and long lines, Franklin’s only serves lunch until the meat sells out. Consider ordering ahead for pickup.
• Lambert’s (lambertsaustin.com): An upscale, “fancy barbecue” spot downtown, Lambert’s features brisket, pork ribs, cold-smoked trout, and Texas quail, plus rare-for-Texas pulled pork and live music.
• Sam’s BBQ: A local favorite on Austin’s East Side, Sam’s is known for smoked mutton and old-school vibes—once the go-to of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and known for its late-night hours and classic no-frills barbecue. (UPDATE: Pending closure. Check local sources for open times.)

Beyond Austin: Houston’s Top BBQ Spots

Houston’s BBQ scene is booming. Regional magazine Texas Monthly highlights these standout joints:

• Corkscrew BBQ: Famous for brisket and spare ribs, now in Old Town Spring.
• Gatlin’s BBQ: Known for brisket, dirty rice, and peach cobbler, now in a larger location.
• Killen’s Barbecue: Worth the trip to Pearland for brisket, ribs, sausage, and decadent sides.
• Pinkerton’s Barbecue: The Heights’ go-to for massive beef ribs and sweet pork ribs.
• The Pit Room: Montrose location with homemade sausage, brisket, beef ribs, and brisket-fat tortillas.
• Roegels Barbecue Co.: A local favorite for chicken, brisket, ribs, daily specials, and bourbon banana pudding.
• Tejas Chocolate Craftory: Unique for house-made chocolate and BBQ—try the pork belly with mole and juicy brisket.

Plan Your Texas BBQ Adventure

Whether you’re a brisket connoisseur or just starting your barbecue journey, the Texas BBQ Trail offers some of the best smoked meats in America. From iconic smokehouses to hidden gems, each stop delivers a unique slice of Texas culinary tradition.

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