LeRoy and Lewis in Austin is the South Austin brick-and-mortar of Sawyer Lewis and Evan LeRoy's BBQ since 2023, a 5,000-sq-ft smokehouse known for beef cheek and Texas sides.
Tip: Beef cheek is the kitchen's signature beyond brisket; order it before 13:00 or it runs out.
Address: 5621 Emerald Forest Dr, Austin, TX 78745
Distant Relatives in Austin is Damien Brockway's modern African American BBQ trailer at Meanwhile Brewing's South Austin yard, a James Beard semifinalist with cookery-roots plates.
Try: Modern African-American barbecue
Tip: Sit at Meanwhile Brewing's beer garden and order the BBQ to the table; the kitchen runs to 17:00.
Mum Foods in Austin is Geoffrey Ellis and Travis Crawford's pastrami smokehouse on Manor Road, a Michelin-recognised deli serving the city's award-winning pastrami sandwiches.
Try: Pastrami sandwich and brisket
Tip: The Rachel sandwich made The Infatuation's 18 Best Sandwiches in America list 2024; order it as the entry point.
The Salt Lick in Driftwood is the 30-minute-drive-from-Austin open-pit BBQ since 1969, a destination Hill Country smokehouse with byob policy and family-style platters.
Try: Brisket, sausage and ribs from the open pit
Tip: BYOB is the trick; the place is bring-your-own-beer and the wait at 13:00 Saturday can stretch to 2 hours.
Franklin Barbecue in Austin is Aaron Franklin's 2009 East 11th brisket pilgrimage, the James Beard-winning shop that codified central Texas barbecue and a queue from 09:30am.
Try: Smoked brisket
Tip: Queue from 09:30am or pre-order online for pickup; the brisket sells out by 14:00 on most days.
Terry Black's Barbecue in Austin is the Black family's Barton Springs Road BBQ, a Michelin Plate winner from the 94-year-old Lockhart family lineage, with brisket sliced to order.
Try: Smoked brisket and beef ribs
Tip: The line moves fast and the kitchen runs to 21:30 most nights; ask for fatty brisket and a side of pinto beans.
La Barbecue in Austin is Ali Clem's Cesar Chavez post-oak barbecue, a Michelin-recognised shop with a James Beard-recognised owner, sliced brisket and house-sausage queues.
Try: Smoked brisket and house sausage
Tip: The kitchen runs Wednesday through Sunday only; order online ahead to skip the queue at 11am open.
