as scrumptious says, hit up jmueller. Also a lockhart adventure, you have 4 to choose there, kruez, smitty's, black's, chisolm trail. Black's has consistently put out my favorite brisket there. I actually prefer black's brisket at it's peak over franklin as it has a more pronounced bark.
Another place worth the trip that was the hypebeast a few years ago -
snow's bbq in up in lexington.
Also of note if you are in Austin - micklethwait craft meats, sam's, stiles switch.
I'd honestly pass on rudy's, county line, and salt lick. I don't like being a naysayer, but county line and salt lick are pretty much clusterfarked all the time and just kind of pales in comparison to all your other options. Rudy's is what it is, ie, you were on your way home and realized there is no food in the kitchen and oh hey rudy's is right here lemme just turn off and grab some take out. I would not go out of my way for it.
tl;dr
hit up j mueller
brave the line at franklin (bring booze)
take a trip out to lockhart / taylor / elgin / lexington
if you have time leftover try
sam's, micklethwait, and stiles switch.
