Austin has sooooo much good barbecue. It can be hard to weed out the bad and over sauced from the delicious and expertly rubbed. We went out and compiled our favorite list of BBQ joints in Austin so you don’t have to do any of the hard work!
SMOKEY DENMARK’S ON GOVALLE
Smokey Denmark’s has been around for 52 years but it is still wildly unknown to Austinites. It took a couple years to hit its stride, but the barbecue is seriously top notch! We recommend trying their world tour of regional sauces and the jalapeno cheese sausage. They are both in a league of their own!
VALENTINA’S TEX MEX BBQ ON BRODIE LN
In the world of Texas barbecue, going fusion is a dangerous play. If you’re mixing Tex Mex and BBQ, you have to be careful! Valentina’s is proof that fusion definitely works if you put in all the right ingredients! Their barbecue is arguably the best smoked meats south of Lady Bird Lake! They have homemade tortillas and smoked corn as well if you want to try something new!
LAMBERT’S ON SECOND STREET DISTRICT
The last five years of barbecue in Austin have come to be defined by post oak-smoking trailers, salt-and-pepper rubs, and long ass lines. We love their coffee-rubbed brisket, and their crispy wild boar ribs! Don’t miss the baked mac and cheese. Mostly because, cheese. Plus, you can wander upstairs to hear music any night of the week.
STILES SWITCH BBQ & BREWS ON BURNET RD
In addition to standard offerings, Stiles Switch has three types of sausage: the Stiles Original (fiery pepper, beef, and pork mix), the Thorndale (mildly spicy beef) and the delicious, no-fail jalapeno cheddar (beef and pork mix). We also love the beef ribs that are blackened in a peppery crust but are juicy and pink on the inside!
SCOTTYS BBQ ON EAST CESAR CHAVEZ
Near the busy Eastside intersection, Scotty’s has some delicious barbecue options that are off the beaten path! We recommend the brisket and pork because they are both tender and moist. Try out the sweet and tangy Dr Pepper sauce to compliment any of the delicious meats.
