I went to Austin this last weekend to visit my little sister and eat a chitload of BBQ. We hit 8 joints in 3 days and had a huge time - and huge bellies by the end of it.
We started Friday at 8 am in line at Franklin's. We were about 35 folks back.
Brother Gore came and joined us - it was so cool that it worked out to meet him and we had a great time. This is Brethren you want to hit a BBQ joint with fo sho.
Not sure what time this was, but the line was wrapping around the block.
The meat cutter getting it done.
We got brisket, turkey and sausage.
Gore got brisket and pork ribs. I saw that Gore found the sausage to be fatty and he's right - the difference is he wasn't into it and I was - more for me! :whoo:
The brisket blew my farking mind. It hit all the parameters - taste, tenderness, smoke, flavor, bark - all that came together in a way I have never experienced. I would wait in line for this stuff again - and, to be clear, part of the thing with waiting in line is knowing what you're getting into. I had a nice time catching up with my sis, chatting with Gore, and talking with the folks around us. Not something I would do often, but would definitely do again.
The pits at Franklin's.
We moseyed on over to John Mueller Meat Co. and they were sold out - this was at around 1pm. Gore went there Wed when they were closed.
Gore - it was great to meat you and I hope we can do something like this again.
Later that evening we went to Elgin. First we hit Southside Market.
We got different plates and all picked off of each other.Their brisket was pretty dang good but I was really there for the sausage, which was excellent. The beans were phenomenal as well.
We had another plate of food but I can't find the pic of it - it was pork ribs and something else. I was surprised at how good the pork ribs were at all these places we went to - I normally associate TX with beef, but they got the pork ribs going on as well.
Anyway, we went to Meyer's after that. The chicken here was incredible and the sausage was great as well.
Very good pork ribs and mac n cheese.
Saturday we went to Lockhart. We started at Smitty's.
All of the food was really dang good! Great atmosphere as well. Everybody who worked here, and everywhere we went for that matter, was really friendly. Seems to be the norm at BBQ places everywhere and I really like that.
Walking away from Smitty's.
Next we hit Black's. My favorite was the beef rib and the cobbler. Excellent, excellent stuff. I actually didn't like their brisket as much as Smitty's and Kruez. I'm guessing you get varying quality by the day or even by the piece of meat at these places, so at any given moment it might be possible for one to be better than the others. It was still very good brisket albeit a little dry.
After Black's we went to Kruez. It feels like entering a sanctuary when coming in to order.
The brisket and the sausage were great, but I need to talk about the pork chop. I have never eaten anything like this - they're cooked as a whole roast and sliced off. By far the most tender, delicious and juicy pork chop I have ever had - period. One of the best kind of anything I've ever eaten. A couple bites around the edge let me know that a great deal of salt was used in the process. Also got the shoulder clod which I have always been very curious about. I loved it - kinda like a very tender roast i.e. it's sliced. Now I know what to shoot for when cooking one of these things.
The sausage was great - I bought a bunch of uncooked to take home.
For dinner we met some family at Salt Lick. Fun place!
Goofing by their pit.
One of their Oylers.
Their beef ribs are back ribs.
It's probably not fair to talk about their food after going to the places in Lockhart. I'll say that I would go there again if it involves a group of folks and we're out to have fun. It's worth noting that this place is overrun by beautiful TX gals, who are among the best you can find anywhere. I lived in Austin in the 80's and my research conducted at that time indicated that they are absolutely delicious.
Sunday. John Mueller Meat Company. This may have been my overall favorite - the food is completely amazing and the atmosphere is a good as it gets. It feels like a party. John is working the crowd and getting people, myself included, to help slice the brisket. Here's from inside the serving trailer.
Fire door open.
Incredible sausage and brisket. His sauce is more like a soup, and it is amazing. I was drinking it straight by the end of the meal.
Here are his beef and pork ribs - fanfarkingtastic. Also the best beans of the weekend and a squash dish that was also fanfarkingtastic - yes, squash. The rubs were fantastic - very large grain pepper, a nice heavy crust on everything. I farking loved every bite as did everybody who was with us.
I wish I had taken a shot of the whole place (and the other whole places too :tsk
It's a dirt lot with a couple trailers, a couple tents, some picnic tables, and speakers hung up in trees playing outlaw country music. I can't think of a better way to spend the morning. If you get there 1/2 hour before opening you should be good. Once the line starts, it never gets any shorter. I can imagine John Mueller will get to a point where he will need to move to a bigger spot, so anybody who can hit this place now should. Just fantastic.
I brought home some sausage. SoCal farkers will be eating this at the next bash - what's left of it anyway.
It was a phenomenal weekend. I hope to get back before too long and check out some other spots like Snow's, Taylor Cafe, etc. I have to mention that "The Prophets of Smoked Meat" by Daniel Vaughn was a great resource for this trip as well as a couple of friends who are local and work around the area and are into checking out BBQ spots.
I would say anybody who is a fan of smoked meat should check this out if they can. These people are basically wizards IMO. It's also worth noting that the people who cook and serve this stuff are all working very hard - it's hot, sweaty, and dirty work. Bless them all for what they do.
It was really nice to visit Austin again, overrun as it may be. I have many fond memories (or lack thereof) from there and this really was a great weekend to go back.
Thanks for looking!
We started Friday at 8 am in line at Franklin's. We were about 35 folks back.
Brother Gore came and joined us - it was so cool that it worked out to meet him and we had a great time. This is Brethren you want to hit a BBQ joint with fo sho.
Not sure what time this was, but the line was wrapping around the block.
The meat cutter getting it done.
We got brisket, turkey and sausage.
Gore got brisket and pork ribs. I saw that Gore found the sausage to be fatty and he's right - the difference is he wasn't into it and I was - more for me! :whoo:
The brisket blew my farking mind. It hit all the parameters - taste, tenderness, smoke, flavor, bark - all that came together in a way I have never experienced. I would wait in line for this stuff again - and, to be clear, part of the thing with waiting in line is knowing what you're getting into. I had a nice time catching up with my sis, chatting with Gore, and talking with the folks around us. Not something I would do often, but would definitely do again.
The pits at Franklin's.
We moseyed on over to John Mueller Meat Co. and they were sold out - this was at around 1pm. Gore went there Wed when they were closed.
Gore - it was great to meat you and I hope we can do something like this again.
Later that evening we went to Elgin. First we hit Southside Market.
We got different plates and all picked off of each other.Their brisket was pretty dang good but I was really there for the sausage, which was excellent. The beans were phenomenal as well.
We had another plate of food but I can't find the pic of it - it was pork ribs and something else. I was surprised at how good the pork ribs were at all these places we went to - I normally associate TX with beef, but they got the pork ribs going on as well.
Anyway, we went to Meyer's after that. The chicken here was incredible and the sausage was great as well.
Very good pork ribs and mac n cheese.
Saturday we went to Lockhart. We started at Smitty's.
All of the food was really dang good! Great atmosphere as well. Everybody who worked here, and everywhere we went for that matter, was really friendly. Seems to be the norm at BBQ places everywhere and I really like that.
Walking away from Smitty's.
Next we hit Black's. My favorite was the beef rib and the cobbler. Excellent, excellent stuff. I actually didn't like their brisket as much as Smitty's and Kruez. I'm guessing you get varying quality by the day or even by the piece of meat at these places, so at any given moment it might be possible for one to be better than the others. It was still very good brisket albeit a little dry.
After Black's we went to Kruez. It feels like entering a sanctuary when coming in to order.
The brisket and the sausage were great, but I need to talk about the pork chop. I have never eaten anything like this - they're cooked as a whole roast and sliced off. By far the most tender, delicious and juicy pork chop I have ever had - period. One of the best kind of anything I've ever eaten. A couple bites around the edge let me know that a great deal of salt was used in the process. Also got the shoulder clod which I have always been very curious about. I loved it - kinda like a very tender roast i.e. it's sliced. Now I know what to shoot for when cooking one of these things.
The sausage was great - I bought a bunch of uncooked to take home.
For dinner we met some family at Salt Lick. Fun place!
Goofing by their pit.
One of their Oylers.
Their beef ribs are back ribs.
It's probably not fair to talk about their food after going to the places in Lockhart. I'll say that I would go there again if it involves a group of folks and we're out to have fun. It's worth noting that this place is overrun by beautiful TX gals, who are among the best you can find anywhere. I lived in Austin in the 80's and my research conducted at that time indicated that they are absolutely delicious.
Sunday. John Mueller Meat Company. This may have been my overall favorite - the food is completely amazing and the atmosphere is a good as it gets. It feels like a party. John is working the crowd and getting people, myself included, to help slice the brisket. Here's from inside the serving trailer.
Fire door open.
Incredible sausage and brisket. His sauce is more like a soup, and it is amazing. I was drinking it straight by the end of the meal.
Here are his beef and pork ribs - fanfarkingtastic. Also the best beans of the weekend and a squash dish that was also fanfarkingtastic - yes, squash. The rubs were fantastic - very large grain pepper, a nice heavy crust on everything. I farking loved every bite as did everybody who was with us.
I wish I had taken a shot of the whole place (and the other whole places too :tsk
It's a dirt lot with a couple trailers, a couple tents, some picnic tables, and speakers hung up in trees playing outlaw country music. I can't think of a better way to spend the morning. If you get there 1/2 hour before opening you should be good. Once the line starts, it never gets any shorter. I can imagine John Mueller will get to a point where he will need to move to a bigger spot, so anybody who can hit this place now should. Just fantastic.
I brought home some sausage. SoCal farkers will be eating this at the next bash - what's left of it anyway.
It was a phenomenal weekend. I hope to get back before too long and check out some other spots like Snow's, Taylor Cafe, etc. I have to mention that "The Prophets of Smoked Meat" by Daniel Vaughn was a great resource for this trip as well as a couple of friends who are local and work around the area and are into checking out BBQ spots.
I would say anybody who is a fan of smoked meat should check this out if they can. These people are basically wizards IMO. It's also worth noting that the people who cook and serve this stuff are all working very hard - it's hot, sweaty, and dirty work. Bless them all for what they do.
It was really nice to visit Austin again, overrun as it may be. I have many fond memories (or lack thereof) from there and this really was a great weekend to go back.
Thanks for looking!
