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.
Tip: BYOB is the trick; the place is bring-your-own-beer and the wait at 13:00 Saturday can stretch to 2 hours.
Address: 18300 FM 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619, Austin
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.
Veracruz All Natural in Austin is Reyna and Maritza Vazquez's Webberville Road taco truck, a Food Network Top 5 tacos pick and the Austin migas breakfast-taco benchmark.
Try: Migas breakfast taco
Tip: Order the migas taco on a homemade corn tortilla; arrive before 09:30am to dodge the office-worker rush.
Cuantos Tacos in Austin is Luis Robledo's East 12th food truck, a Mexico City-style trompo taco operation on nixtamalized tortillas, Michelin-recognised in the Austin guide.
Try: Mexico City-style trompo tacos
Tip: Order at least three tacos; portions are small but the masa and the al pastor are the right reason to come back.
Discada in Austin is the East Cesar Chavez taco truck serving a single 24-hour-marinated, plow-disc-cooked taco, Michelin-recognised and the Texas Monthly best-tacos list.
Try: Cowboy-wok discada tacos
Tip: One taco only; order four to share, the meat is six-hour slow-cooked beef and pork.
