The food in NYC is amazing, but we just can’t do BBQ like they do in the south.
There’s lots of debate as to what is the best BBQ spot in Austin. I went to a few spots while I was there over the long week(end).
My favorite spot in Austin has to be… (drumroll please)…
la Barbecue!
la Barbecue!
However I will give some honorable mentions to a few other spots that win on other aspects. Here’s my list of BBQ spots in Austin (& Dallas) thus far, I still have so many places to try!
Best Overall - la Barbecue
What to Order: Brisket, Ribs, Shells & Cheese
Website: https://www.labarbecue.com
la Barbecue has the best overall BBQ food from the brisket to the ribs to the Mac & cheese. I stopped here on Thursday before my flight (I had to get in all the BBQ I could!) and there was a line at lunch - and no these weren’t all tourists!
Upon getting on the line, we were already greeted by a nice waitress asking us if we wanted to order drinks as we wait online. Once we made it into the store (which only fit one group at a time), they offered us some brisket to try - how nice is that!
Then it came to eating the food, we grabbed a table outside and feasted! The quality was amazing and I rolled out of there super happy! The shells & cheese had a bit of a spicy kick, which I enjoyed, the chipotle slaw was good, but just not my style - but good if you like that style! And if you have any room left over, the homemade banana pudding was a great way to end the meal!
Best Ambiance - Hard Eight (Dallas)
What to Order: Brisket, Ribs, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato & BBQ Chicken
Website: https://www.hardeightbbq.com
You can smell the BBQ as soon as you get to Hard Eight. You can see and pick what you want right off of the giant grill - there are so nanny options, it is hard to choose! They had everything from brisket to bacon wrapped chicken to sausage! In addition to that, there were sides galore, I tried sweet corn for the first time! I love everything I ordered, you can’t go wrong with anything - there are also a ton of sides to choose from and don’t forget the sweet tea!
Best Pastrami - Mum Foods Smokehouse
What to Order: Pastrami
Website: https://www.mumfoodsatx.com
The pastrami at Mum Foods Smokehouse just melts in your mouth, it is so tender, well seasoned and smoked (you can see the smokers in the parking lot/front of the restaurant). I had the pastrami, burnt ends and brisket with shells & cheese, slaw and a few other sides. The pastrami and burnt ends were my favorites, the pastrami is a must have if you go to Mum Foods! They also have fountain drinks made locally in Austin - I really liked the prickly pear lemonade and ginger beer. And you need a caffeinated pick me up or it’s too early for som pastrami, they have a coffee shop in the front of the smokehouse - Talisman Coffee, which was very cutely themed with sloths!
This is just the tip of the iceberg for all the BBQ spots to try in Austin & Dallas! Where should I go next, what are your favorite spots?