Distant Relatives is an american bbq restaurant in Austin.
Distant Relatives is Damien Brockways modern African-American BBQ at Meanwhile Brewings South Austin yard, with smoked collard greens as a quiet showstopper.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: Damien Brockway's modern African-American BBQ at Meanwhile Brewing's South Austin yard pulls a fraction of Franklin's queue and is the best new BBQ in town.
Tip: Sit at Meanwhile Brewing and order BBQ to the table; the smoked-collard-greens side is the room's quiet showstopper.
Address: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Mum Foods Smokehouse is a american bbq room in Austin. Order the Rachel sandwich and a side of matzo ball soup; the kitchen runs Wednesday-Sunday lunch only.
Why locals love it: The pastrami sandwich was voted the best in Texas and made the Infatuation's 18 Best Sandwiches in America list, yet the Manor Road deli rarely has a line.
Tip: Order the Rachel sandwich and a side of matzo ball soup; the kitchen runs Wednesday-Sunday lunch only.
Cuantos Tacos is michelin-recognised mexico city-style trompo tacos on a $4-a-taco price scale at a small east 12th truck the visitor lists tend to skip past.
Why locals love it: Michelin-recognised Mexico City-style trompo tacos on a $4-a-taco price scale at a small East 12th truck the visitor lists tend to skip past.
Tip: Order suadero, al pastor and the chorizo verde; portions are small enough that three tacos is the entry point.
Discada is a 24-hour-marinated, six-hour-slow-cooked discada taco truck on East Cesar Chavez, Michelin-recognised and one of Texas Monthlys best in Austin.
Why locals love it: A single 24-hour-marinated, six-hour-slow-cooked discada taco served from an East Cesar Chavez truck, Michelin-recognised and one of Texas Monthly's best Austin tacos.
Tip: One taco only; order four to share. The truck shifted from Rosewood to East Cesar Chavez in 2025.
El Naranjo is a mexican room in Austin. The mole negro is the canonical order; daughter Ana Torrealba's Sunday-supper menu is the most experimental window.
Why locals love it: Iliana de la Vega's James Beard-winning Oaxacan dining room on South Lamar has a permanent reservation queue but flies under the visitor radar of Suerte and Comedor.
Tip: The mole negro is the canonical order; daughter Ana Torrealba's Sunday-supper menu is the most experimental window.
Dai Due is jesse griffiths's wild-game and butchery school plus restaurant on manor road is a bib gourmand kitchen most visitors miss for the bigger names.
Why locals love it: Jesse Griffiths's wild-game and butchery school plus restaurant on Manor Road is a Bib Gourmand kitchen most visitors miss for the bigger names.
Tip: Sit at the supper-club nights for the most experimental menu; the New School of Traditional Cookery runs hunting and butchery classes too.
Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum in Austin: cantonese room. Ling Qi Wu rolls dumpling dough at the West 6th counter while you watch; the dim sum cart on Sunday.
Why locals love it: Ling Qi Wu rolls dumpling dough at the West 6th counter while you watch; the dim sum cart on Sunday brunch is a quiet citywide reservation routine.
Tip: Sunday brunch books a week ahead; lunch weekdays runs the same kitchen with a la carte from the open dim sum counter.
