BBQ holds a sacred place in the pantheon of Austin food-stuffs. As the crowning point in the Texas Trinity (Tex-Mex, breakfast tacos, BBQ), smoked meat goes beyond foodie culture. It’s integral to the fabric of what makes Austin “Austin.”
Ultimate Guide to Austin Pitmasters at Texas Monthly BBQ Festival 2019
Breakfast tacos, Tex-Mex, and barbecue. The three points of the foodie Texas Trinity. Arguably the tip of this triangle of tasty treats, barbecue fandom goes beyond intense. Tell somebody you prefer Rudy’s over Franklin’s and prepare for battle. But barbecue doesn’t stop with Central Texas. The Lone Star State is flush with some of the […]
Slab BBQ & Beer Is Smoking Dope Barbecue at Two Austin Locations
Texans will argue that brisket reigns supreme when it comes to barbecue. If you’re open to being convinced otherwise, visit Slab BBQ & Beer, where the pulled pork isn’t too shabby, either. Between the slow-cooked meats and hip hop over the speakers, Slab is smoking what it calls “dope” barbecue. This team is extremely passionate […]
Day Trip to Lockhart, Texas to Find More Than Barbecue
Lockhart is synonymous with barbecue, so much so that it’s been dubbed the Barbecue Capital of Texas. As a result, every year, people make a pilgrimage to indulge in the holy trinity of meat perfection, otherwise known as Black’s, Smitty’s, and Kreuz. This small Texas town of 12,000, located just 30 minutes south of Austin […]
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest Brings the Best Meat With (Almost) No Lines
Getting out of my Uber in front of the Long Center last Sunday and seeing the crowds gathering to eat some of the best barbecue in Texas gave me a slight feeling of overwhelm. The 8th annual Texas Monthly BBQ Fest was the biggest one yet, with over 4,000 meat lovers in attendance. Thirty BBQ joints […]
Late Night Barbecue Without Lines? Enter Rollin Smoke
In Austin, barbecue is religion. There are devotees of the Church of Franklin, disciples of La Barbecue, and followers of many other local barbecue faiths. The quality and quantity of smoked meat destinations in Austin are true highlights of our city. While this is great for Austin residents and visitors, all the options can make […]
Snow’s BBQ Ranks as Best Barbecue (and Line?) in Texas
Guest article by Cristopher Rubio I had been craving Snow’s BBQ for a couple months, the eatery ranked number one among Texas Monthly’s “Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas.” So a few Saturdays ago, I convinced my in-laws, Mayra and Jorge, to join me for a visit. The following is a running diary of an […]
Highlights From Aaron Franklin’s First Hot Luck Festival
Hot Luck founder Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, along with partners James Moody of The Mohawk and Michael Thelin of Feast Portland, just wrapped up a successful four-day food and music festival that featured more than 50 celebrated chefs from around the country, over half of whom reside right here in Austin. The concept was inspired […]
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue Food Truck Reimagines Texas Traditions
If I’ve learned anything from a year of living in Texas, it’s the fact that every Texan has a strong opinion about how BBQ should taste. Actually, “opinion” is a weak word in this case. “Indisputable truth” better explains the situation. In a state where brisket is king, opening a BBQ joint that specializes in creative meats […]
TMBBQ Fest Brings the Heat and the Meat to Austin
Texas Monthly invited 27 BBQ purveyors to participate in the 7th annual TMBBQ Fest at the Long Center on Oct. 30, 2016. Austin pitmasters represented our city well, claiming five of the coveted spots at the festival and sharing the stage with others from among the top 50 pitmasters in Texas. The pitmasters, crews and volunteers brought in their […]