This story was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated.
No Texas city has Austin beat for its sheer volume of worthy barbecue destinations. Sure, the Houston area’s widespread suburbs might be richer in excellent smoked meats, and the Fort Worth scene is hot and new, but the amount of world-changing barbecue within our capital’s limits is staggering. In the June 2025 issue, we published our list of the top fifty barbecue joints, along with fifty more honorable mentions, but our barbecue recommendations don’t stop there. You can get a great meal at any one of these barbecue joints in Austin and its suburbs.
In the City of AustinB. Cooper Barbecue
This unassuming trailer can be easy to miss when driving past. In the city where everyone stands in long lines for barbecue, you won’t find any waiting crowds here. You will find smoked lamb breast, solid sliced brisket, and impressive pork ribs. The showstopper, though, is the elote, which is served on the cob. 1221 E. Sixth, 512-690-6220
Briscuits2025 Top 50
This food truck has an unusual specialty: barbecue served on homemade biscuits. Co-owners Christopher McGhee and Will Spence have steadily added to the menu, which now includes an inside-out cinnamon roll with smoked cream cheese icing, smoked chicken wings, and homemade sausage, alongside the fantastic smoked brisket they started out with. 4204 Menchaca Road, no phone
The sweet smell of oak smoke has been steady outside Corner Bar, in South Austin, since this food truck moved there more than a decade ago. The joint’s smoky beef back ribs, juicy chicken thighs, and smoked cabbage make it unique. It does the basics well, too—try the mustardy barbecue sauce. 1901 S. Lamar Boulevard, 512-517-8520
Barbecue served on homemade biscuits is the specialty at Briscuits. Photograph by Daniel Vaughn 
The Tipsy Texan sandwich at Franklin Barbecue. Photograph by Daniel Vaughn
CM Smokehouse
Cade Mercer serves his barbecue at Bouldin Acres locations in Austin. The baby backs are deep-fried and sauced like wings; the smoked turkey is breaded, fried, and coated with buffalo sauce; and there’s smoked brisket in the patty melt, the cheesesteak, and the famous Crunchwrap. 2027 S. Lamar Boulevard, 512-536-0132; 1806 W. Braker Lane; 10400 Menchaca
Distant Relatives2025 Honorable Mention
Chef Damien Brockway describes his barbecue as “modern African American,” and it’s the most exciting take on barbecue that Austin has seen in some time. Try the flawless smoked chicken quarters, luscious pulled pork, smoky brisket, and array of inventive sides. Take home a container of smoked peanuts to let the experience linger a little longer. 3901 Promontory Point Drive, 512-717-2504
Come to Distant Relatives for chef Damien Brockway’s “modern African American” barbecue.Photograph by Daniel VaughnFranklin Barbecue2025 Top 50
Aaron and Stacy Franklin started the modern barbecue movement in Austin, and they have inspired a generation of pitmasters across the world to smoke Texas-style brisket. Not bad for a joint that only opened in 2009. Franklin’s brisket is still the standard, but don’t miss the tender pork ribs, house-made sausages, and weekends-only beef ribs. 900 E. Eleventh, 512-653-1187
InterStellar BBQ2025 Top 10
One of the best barbecue dishes in the state is John Bates’s peach-tea-glazed pork belly burnt ends. Put them alongside the jalapeño-popper sausage, a stellar brisket taco, and the smoked scalloped potatoes, and you’ve got Texas Monthly’s number two barbecue joint in the state. Bates also serves his smoked meats in tacos at the Yellow Bell Tacos food truck, in northeast Austin. 12233 Ranch Road 620 N., 512-382-6248
This combination Japanese izakaya and Texas smokehouse offers a full menu of barbecue favorites, and plenty more. Try the bento box with smoked brisket, a welcome new take on the traditional barbecue tray. The serrano-limón-miso barbecue sauce will make you want to dunk your brisket in it. 2713 E. Second, 512-803-2224
KG BBQ2025 Top 50
This might be the only Egyptian-influenced barbecue joint in Texas. Cairo native Kareem El-Ghayesh opened this food truck in 2022 and serves fresh flavor combinations like smoked brisket shawarma topped with salata baladi and tahini sauce. Try the za’atar-dusted pork ribs, the smoked lamb chops, and the house-made sausage as well. 3108 Manor Road, 737-294-8598
KG BBQ is inspired by pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s native Egypt.Photograph by Daniel VaughnLa Barbecue2025 Top 50
The restaurant’s artwork, curated by owner Ali Clem and her late wife, La Barbecue founder LeAnn Mueller, is likely the best collection in a Texas barbecue joint. The array of smoked meats is just as impressive, with house-made smoked sausages, sweet-glazed spareribs, and impeccable sliced brisket. Try the brisket with cucumber kimchi, or go for the homey shells and cheese. 2401 E. Cesar Chavez, 512-605-9696
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue2025 Top 10
You can finally enjoy LeRoy and Lewis’ barbecue indoors at its new restaurant. Smoked brisket and flat iron are available daily, and tri-tip is added in the dinner hours. The fantastic smoked burger (and more) is always available at the bar if you want to skip the line. Stop in on a Wednesday evening for some of the best chicken wings you’ll find anywhere, or plan ahead and make a reservation for one of the special steak nights. 5621 Emerald Forest Drive, 512-945-9882
This self-described Asian smokehouse now has two locations in Austin and others in Dallas and Houston. The well-smoked meats run the gamut from brisket to salmon, and all are served with unique sauce-and-herb combinations. Baby back ribs are available Sundays and Mondays only, but the excellent sake-can chicken (beer-can chicken, but with sake) and the smoked butcher’s cut are always on the menu. 2115 S. Lamar Boulevard, 512-916-4858; 11601 Domain Drive, 512-916-4806
Micklethwait Barbecue2025 Honorable Mention
Tom Micklethwait believes in simplicity when it comes to preparing barbecue. His salt-and-pepper spareribs are the epitome of the Central Texas style, and the house-made sausages are always stellar. A slice of the juicy smoked brisket is great on its own, but it’s even better when draped over one of the finest Frito pies you’ll ever eat. 4602 Tanney, 512-791-5961
This joint moved from a food truck into a restaurant in 2021. Go for the superb smoked brisket, massive spareribs, and juicy slices of smoked pork belly. The smoked beef cheek barbacoa, available on Sunday mornings, is some of the best in the city. Save room for the shortbread chocolate chip cookies. 9900 S. Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Suite M700, 512-808-8271
Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen2025 Top 50
Combine a New York deli with a Texas barbecue joint, and you get Mum Foods. The smoked pastrami is impeccable and served on house-made bread. Get a scoop of chicken salad or the matzo ball soup if you want to stick with the deli theme. But do yourself a favor and get a link of the old-school ring sausage and a few slices of brisket from the barbecue menu. 5811 Manor Road, 512-270-8021
The smoked pastrami sandwich at Mum Foods.Photograph by Daniel VaughnParish Barbecue
Louisiana cooking blends with Texas smoke at this trailer parked behind Batch Craft Beer. Pitmaster Holden Fulco stuffs brisket étouffée into links for a unique take on boudin. He also cures and smokes ham from his own recipe, then serves it thick on a sesame-seed bun with slaw spiked with Creole mustard. The ribs are coated with a Steen’s cane syrup glaze, and Tabasco honey butter accompanies the fried rolls known as pistolettes. 3220 Manor Road, 512-596-1913
Kyle Stallings brings together the barbecue styles of East and Central Texas. The best example is the sweet-glazed spareribs. Now located inside Chalmers bar, Rollin Smoke is just as well-known for its selection of sandwiches, including the Playboy, which features brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. Look for the quesatacos on Sundays. 1700 E. Cesar Chavez, 512-705-5499
Stiles Switch BBQ2025 Top 50
The Austin location of Stiles Switch (in addition to the one in Cedar Park) is popular for its standard barbecue menu and daily specials like the smoked prime rib and the smoked brisket burger. The sweet-and-spicy pork ribs will have you coming back, as will the excellent, fatty brisket and the trio of juicy sausages. 6610 N. Lamar Boulevard, 512-380-9199
This sister restaurant to Stiles Switch is no copy of the original. The menu combines barbecue and Tex-Mex with items like burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and chalupas. Barbecue by the pound is as good as it’s always been, and don’t miss the Sunday brunch buffet. 166 Hargraves Drive, Suite G-100, 512-212-7211
Terry Black’s Barbecue2025 Honorable Mention
It’s hard enough to serve consistently great barbecue a few times a week. The fact that Terry Black’s does it in five locations (the others are in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lockhart, and Waco) and for lunch and dinner seven days a week is remarkable. The beef rib is king here, but the sliced brisket won’t leave you disappointed either. The house-made sausages and smoked turkey are also standouts. 1003 Barton Springs Road, 512-394-5899
A tray from Parish Barbecue.Photograph by Daniel VaughnIn the Austin Suburbs
Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue, in Pflugerville2025 Honorable Mention
The late John Brotherton and his crew made this joint famous with smoked-meat sandwiches. They’re still on the menu, and so is some of the best smoked brisket you’ll find in the Austin area, as well as an impressive array of sausages, including the house specialty, brisket boudin. 15608 Spring Hill Lane, Suite 105, 512-547-4766
Henry’s Barbecue, in Del Valle2025 Honorable Mention
The menu is simple, and so is the small restaurant building near the Austin airport. Expect peppery brisket, sweet-glazed pork ribs, and juicy pulled pork. The smoked-sausage sandwich with a side and a drink for just $10 is one of the few barbecue deals left in Austin. 2403 E. Texas Highway 71, 512-599-4008
Smoky Buns, in Round Rock
This trailer previously housed the Smokey Denmark’s barbecue operation and LeRoy and Lewis before Jesse Escobedo made it his own. On Fridays and Saturdays, he serves tender slices of smoked pork belly that pair perfectly with the avocado crema sauce. The pork ribs are savory, and the brisket gets a crunchy bark in the smoker. The pork belly fried rice is a must, as is the macaroni salad with diced cucumber, roasted corn, edamame, and furikake. 311 Highland Estates Drive, 737-241-9988
Easy-Access Barbecue
Visiting your favorite barbecue joint can be a challenge. Many have limited hours or long lines, or maybe they’re open only a couple days a week. Then there’s the gamble of dealing with wet weather or extreme heat while dining outside at food trucks. That’s why we’ve identified a few spots on this list as “easy-access barbecue.” They’re all open for lunch and dinner at least five days a week, don’t often experience long lines for service, and have indoor, air-conditioned seating. The Austin area doesn’t have many joints that meet those requirements, but they are CM Smokehouse, Loro, Rollin Smoke BBQ, Stiles Switch BBQ, and the Switch.
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