Best Barbecue Spots in Austin, TX

Here are my goto spots for barbecue in Austin, TX! I grew up in Austin and barbecue was a once a week meal. I am someone who always loves barbecue but mainly for its delicious sides!

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Interstellar BBQ

This is my absolute favorite BBQ spot in Austin, TX. It's situated slightly north, away from the main tourist areas, but trust me, it's worth the visit despite the potential 2-hour wait in line. Let me explain why: I've been championing this place as the best BBQ joint in Austin for years, and recently, Texas Monthly recognized them as the second-best BBQ in the whole of Texas. As a result, the wait time has increased from zero on weekends to an average of about 2 hours.

However, if you can make it on a weekday, the line is considerably shorter, although you can still expect to wait for about an hour. Nevertheless, it's well worth the wait. I highly recommend trying their  brisket taco, delectable pork belly bites, succulent pork ribs, flavorful seasonal sausages, and don't miss out on their delicious frito pie. Click their website here.

KG BBQ

KG BBQ is an Egyptian BBQ spot in Austin with big recognitions, including James Beard and Michelin nods. I especially love their lamb racks and chicken shawarma, but honestly, their sides might be the best in the city. The brisket rice bowl is a standout Egyptian rice topped with a hefty portion of brisket, cashews, and pomegranate seeds. And don’t skip the Egyptian mac and cheese—it’s one of the best I’ve ever had and an absolute must order.

Micklethwait

Micklethwait is renowned in town for being one of the top BBQ spots that typically doesn't have a long wait. However, as word has spread about this hidden gem, you can now expect a wait of around 40 minutes to an hour on weekends. What truly distinguishes Micklethwait is their outstanding selection of sides. While their BBQ is above average, I personally prefer Interstellar. Although not listed on their online menu, I highly recommend trying their flavorful Brisket Nachos and indulging in their scrumptious Frito pie. Click their website here.

La Barbecue

LA Barbecue is a great choice for anyone craving a delicious barbecue sandwich. The quality of their BBQ is on par with Micklethwait, but personally, I find the pickles at LA BBQ to be even more enjoyable. Additionally, their sides are truly delectable. However, it's important to note that you can expect to wait for about an hour here. Typically, I opt to drive to both Micklethwait and LA Barbecue and decide based on the shorter wait time between the two. Click their website here.

Franklin BBQ

Franklin Barbecue is one of Austin’s most famous spots, and Aaron Franklin is largely responsible for putting the city’s barbecue scene on the map. While BBQ was always big in Austin, he made waiting three to four hours part of the experience. If you visit, aim for a weekday or a rainy day and line up at least an hour before opening. These days, with so many other BBQ options in town, you can usually get in with just 30–60 minutes of waiting. We lined up about 30 minutes early and were seated around noon, but by 1 p.m., they were already sold out.

Everything here is sliced fresh to order, which is part of why service moves slowly especially since only one person handles the brisket. The sides are underwhelming; I wasn’t a fan of the potato salad or the pickles. But the brisket is the star. Even the lean brisket is incredibly tender, with a pepper forward rub that hits gradually after a few bites. The ribs are excellent too. You can even request a tour of the pits after your meal. Despite the hype, it’s a must-visit Austin classic. You can also preorder to skip the line. Click here for their website,

Parish Barbecue (My Favorite as of 2026)

Parish BBQ is a new spot that opened in 2025. The owner, previously at Franklin BBQ and Interstellar, has taken his BBQ knowledge and combined it with Creole flavors for a unique fusion concept. You’ll find pulled duck with orange zest, the most tender pork ribs, perfect brisket every time, boudin balls, and crawfish dressing. Everything I’ve tried multiple times has been solid. I’m a big fan of the pimento mac and cheese too. They’re still running as a humble food truck, but I can see awards in their future. Get there early and try the Lagniappe Platter—it comes with a little of everything, meats and sides included.

Leroy and Lewis

People argue that Leroy and Lewis is the best barbecue in the world. I’ve been twice first to their food truck, then to their brick and mortar. Service can be a bit slow, which explains the two- to three-hour wait, so get there early because they do sell out. Certain meats are only available on specific days—the beef cheeks, for example, are Fridays only. Weekends feature specials, and they also serve special course, menu dinners. From my experience, the barbecue is good, but not quite as mind blowing as some other Austin spots. Where they really shine is in their uniqueness, like adding kimchi to the menu or making a seriously good smoked burger. Definitely worth a stop if you have time, but don’t stress if you can’t make it.

Terry Blacks

This particular BBQ spot can also be found in Dallas, but it has quickly become one of the most popular destinations in Austin, TX, located on Barton Springs. One of the great things about Terry Blacks is that even though the lines can be long, they move incredibly fast, and people are constantly leaving their busy parking lot. On a busy Saturday, you can expect a wait time of around 20 minutes. The only slightly stressful aspect is finding an available clean table to sit at.

I highly recommend trying their sausage, beef rib, and brisket. Personally, I'm a big fan of their creamed corn and mac and cheese sides. While it may not be the absolute best BBQ in the world, Terry Blacks maintains a high level of consistency. It's the perfect choice if you're looking to avoid long waits and simply want to experience authentic Texas BBQ.Click their website here.
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Mum Foods

I think Mum Food's is a hidden gem that people haven't caught wind of yet. It reminds me of when Interstellar first opened. They sell their pastrami and barbecue at farmers markets and have gone back and forth on opening their brick and mortar. They're currently open at the brick and mortar, but the hours are pretty limited to lunchtime. On my initial visit, I was surprised to find that they didn't serve brisket on Wednesdays and only offered burnt ends. Luckily, because of that, I got to try their special brisket burnt end sandwich, and it was divine! They easily have the best pastrami in town too, and what sets them apart is that they make their bread from scratch, and it's delicious. The other spots on this list tend to just give you Martin's potato buns and white bread, but Mum's makes a brisket tallow bread, special rye breads, and pumpernickel. The matzo ball soup and BBQ sides are solid too!

Click here to check out their menu.

Other Options

Southside Market BBQ (Elgin)

This was my childhood spot. We would drive up to Southside on the weekends. Southside Market in Elgin is the oldest barbecue joint in Texas still open. They opened in 1882. The barbecue here is decent and I like their chopped brisket potato and their potato salad. Their sausage is really popular and you can find it sold across multiple HEB's in Austin, TX. If you want a barbecue spot with a Texas flair, I recommend going to the Elgin location, checking out the old building, and getting some Blue Bell ice cream afterwards.

Click here to check out their menu.

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Salt Lick Barbecue

This spot is technically located in the Dell Diamond in Round Rock and Driftwood. There's a running joke that Salt Lick is just for the photo op and that you only go there to take a photo of their barbecue pits. While I like the bread they serve, in my personal opinion, the barbecue here is not that great. If you just want a photo with their famous roasting pit, then this is the place to go.

Click here to check out their menu.

Spot's I've tried: Rudys, Black BBQ, Rollin Smoke, Fiasco BBQ

Spot's I want to try: CM Smokehous, Two Goose, Space Kat BBQ