• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Micklethwait Craft Meats: All the Taste, None of the Lines

November 18, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena 1 Comment

Micklethwait Craft Meats Plate

All you need for season is salt and pepper–anything more and you’re cheating

It’s 11 a.m. in Austin, Texas and you can almost hear the collective sound of BBQ pits across the city creaking open. This is BBQ Rush Hour.

Most BBQ aficionados are still waiting in line, tempted by the aroma of smoked brisket and brontosaurus beef ribs. But if you’re at Micklethwait Craft Meats, there’s a good chance you walked right up to give your order.

Opened in 2012, Micklethwait Craft Meats is a BBQ trailer on E 11th Street about half a mile from the current BBQ gold standard, Franklin’s. I always get a kick out of watching people wait in line for hours as I make my way to Micklethwait.

Micklethwait Craft Meats Food Trailer

BBQ tastes even better in 35 degree weather

If there isn’t usually much of a line, you may wonder whether Micklethwait deserves attention. It does. Micklethwait has some of the best pork ribs in town, but it doesn’t have the hype associated with some of the other BBQ joints in town that have received national press coverage.

Instead, you get a consistent, methodical approach from Tom Micklethwait (an actual original Austinite) who quit his day job as a pastry chef at Vespaio and bought a 1960’s era Comet trailer to take on his new project.

From Scratch

So what is it that sets Micklethwait Craft Meats apart from the other BBQ joints in town? For starters, Tom decided to make virtually everything he serves in-house and fresh daily, even the bread. You also get the option of ordering a proper BBQ plate: up to 3 different meats and 2 sides, just like your local church fundraiser.

Did I mention they actually offer dinner service as well? Most days they are open until 8 PM, or until they sell out.

One of my favorite things about BBQ in Texas is the tradition associated with it. Everyone has a specific way of eating it and you better believe they won’t be afraid to share their opinion.

1960s Comet Trailer

Micklethwait’s 1960’s Comet

Case in point: do you bother with sides when you order BBQ at the top trailers around town? Some say its a waste of space, others tell me you need something to balance out the smoked meat. Well, if you go to Micklethwait, I hope you are part of the second camp because these are the best gourmet sides in the game. The mainstays are potato salad, cole slaw, beans and jalapeno cheese grits.

Showing a deep commitment to his craft, Tom even opts to make his beans from scratch by the sack and not from a can. But the standout for me has always been the jalapeno cheese grits, the perfect complement to smoked brisket.

Craft Meat

The term “hipster barbecue” has been coined in Austin to refer to BBQ joints on the east side that serve out of a trailer (just don’t say it in front of John Mueller). If you run your place out of a trailer that’s more than 50 years old and have “Craft Meats” as part of your business name, you better believe the term applies.

But no matter what you call it, Tom Micklethwait knows how to smoke meat. The brisket is lean and juicy, with perfect smoke rings around the outside. I’d rank Tom’s brisket as third best in the city, right behind Franklin’s and La Barbecue.

If you were to ask Tom though, the real star is the sausage. This is where he gets to be creative because there isn’t a straightforward recipe he follows with each of his sausages.

Even better, he offers much more than your typical kielbasa or jalapeno cheddar varieties. On any given day, you are just as likely to see lamb or duck sausage. Personally, I’m waiting for the day I see the pork belly andouille back on the menu.

Brisket, Pork Ribs, Jalapeno Cheese Grits, and homemade potato salad

Brisket, Pork Ribs, Jalapeno Cheese Grits and homemade potato salad

Suggested First Plate

If you’re going to try Micklethwait Craft Meats for the first time, this is my recommendation:

3 Meat Plate
Brisket
Pork Ribs
Sausage of the Day
Jalapeno Cheese Grits
Beans
Moon Pie

The bottom line here is that Micklethwait is one of the most affordable and accessible BBQ trailers in Austin. Tom Micklethwait’s thoughtful and considerate approach to everything he serves from his trailer is noticeable in the quality of his meats and the variety of his sausage.

The food trailer also offers one of the best BBQ catering menus in town, with Smoked Turkey just in time for Thanksgiving.

@Crafty_Ed wants to know: 

What is your favorite BBQ trailer in Austin?

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: bbq, food trucks

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week of October 2

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of October 2, 2023, include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, Maisie Peters in Concert, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. […]

10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, Boulderfest 2023, American Indian Heritage Day 2023, and more! Editor’s […]

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of September 29 which include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, NAMIWalks Central Texas, Oktoberfest at Banger’s, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events - Top 10 Things to Do

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

The much-awaited Labor Day 2023 is right around the corner! And as we all know, everybody wants to make the most of this special day and enjoy the last bits of summer. Labor Day pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. In addition to that, it also symbolizes the end of […]

Caverns in Texas - 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Looking for caverns in Texas? Want to explore the best caves in Texas? Luckily, there’s a great mix of both in Austin! Before we dive into the different bat caves in Texas or caverns Texas has to offer, what’s the difference between the two? Well, while used interchangeably, a cave is a naturally occurring cavity […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Rooftop Bar Austin – 20 Best Bars, Dinner Spots, High Rise Restaurants Near You
  • Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Birthday Freebies Austin 2023 – List of Over 45 Best Restaurants, Food Places, & Stores with Birthday Month Deals Near You

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x