If it’s barbecue you’re craving, these seven Texas Hill Country BBQ joints are worth a visit. Just bring along your appetite and a couple of friends to join in the fun.
Texas is known for BBQ and offers an almost endless list of options statewide. But what about Central Texas? What’s a good spot for a tasty barbecue snack or full-fledged meal?
To answer that question, we’ve put together a list of Hill Country BBQ joints that, while not exhaustive, will give you a pretty good taste of the region’s ‘cue — from famous spots to more off-beat locations.
The Salt Lick in Driftwood
Sandra Bullock famously declared it her favorite restaurant more than 15 years ago, but The Salt Lick has been a Hill Country favorite since its humble beginnings in 1967. The original Salt Lick is about 20 miles outside Austin in Driftwood. You can order by the plate or all-you-can-eat family style. In addition to the standard offerings, The Salt Lick also offers up Bison Ribs, if you’re feeling adventurous.
The Driftwood location allows patrons to BYOB, but has added the neighboring Salt Lick Cellars which offers Texas beer and wine to go which diners can get to enjoy with their meal.
There’s also a Round Rock location and a more limited menu can be found in the Austin and Dallas (DFW) airports.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ in Austin
Austin is blessed with many excellent options for BBQ. Valentina’s stands out because it combines quality BBQ with excellent Tex-Mex options. Got a large group and can’t decide between BBQ or Tex-Mex? You don’t have to. Valentina’s provides the perfect blend of two legendary Hill Country cuisines, which explains why it’s become a local favorite. (They also serve breakfast.)
For lunch and dinner, there’s brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs (weekends only), and sausage (both original and spicy Oaxaca), as well as beef and chicken fajitas. Valentina’s also offers “Tex Sandwiches” (sliced brisket, chopped brisket, pulled pork, and pulled chicken) as well as“Mex Tacos” (smoked brisket, cerveza beef fajita, smoked chicken fajita, smoked carnitas, and pulled pollo). The choice of sides and appetizers ranges from beans, slaw and potato salad to smoked corn, Mexican rice, and roasted tampiquena. You can even enjoy your choice of chips and queso or guacamole.
Eaker Barbecue in Fredericksburg
A relative newcomer on the Hill Country BBQ scene, Eaker Barbecue in Fredericksburg offers an excellent traditional Texas BBQ experience—but it doesn’t stop there.
Sure, you can get brisket smoked over mesquite and post oak with sides of beans, potato salad, cole slaw and cream corn. But you can also enjoy Korean-style Gochujang pork ribs with Kimchi fried rice and Korean cucumber salad.
This uncommon menu combination makes this already excellent BBQ joint really stand out from the crowd. Still hungry? There’s also pulled pork, dry rub pork ribs, turkey, bbq sausage, sandwiches, and an array of desserts.
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano
The original Cooper’s Old Time Bar-B-Que pit sits in Llano, about 75 miles northwest of Austin on state highway 71W. And it’s a meat lover’s paradise, offering a broad range of meats including sirloin steak, ribeye steak, prime rib, beef ribs, pork ribs, cabrito, pork loin, pork chops, chopped beef, turkey, chicken, jerky, sausage, and, oh yeah, mouth-watering brisket.
And while few things in this world are free, the pinto beans at Coopers are offered gratis, so help yourself to this tasty side.
The original Llano location was opened in 1962, but other locations include New Braunfels and downtown Austin. (Full disclosure: We at Team Wildflower have enjoyed them all.)
The Original Rudy’s BBQ in Leon Springs
Rudy’s BBQ has grown into a multi-state chain which probably serves to keep it from being included on most best BBQ lists that tend to focus on single locations. We think that’s a real shame.
So, if you find yourself between San Antonio and Boerne in the unincorporated village of Leon Springs, do yourself a favor and drop in on the Original Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ.
Situated on what was once the Old Spanish Trail, Rudy’s has been serving up brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken, sausage, and chopped barbecue 365 days a year since 1989. The murals on the interior walls depict the previous flash-flooding challenges that have long since been addressed with the surrounding terrain. On another historical note, the structure directly behind Rudy’s once housed the original Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
At the original location, you can eat in, get an order to go, pick up a few groceries, and even fill your tank with gas. And the long-time staff and friendly service allows this location to retain a Mom-and-Pop vibe. Many local residents often leave the serious holiday cooking to the experts at this long-time iconic Leon Springs landmark. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Pig Pen BBQ in Dripping Springs
Having recently expanded from a highly successful food truck and wedding catering business, Pig Pen BBQ in Dripping Springs now occupies a convenient location offering spacious indoor and outdoor seating. Standard offerings include brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey, and two kinds of sausage—hot link and jalapeño cheddar. Sides include “Texas-sized spuds” along with charro beans, green beans, potato salad, and hand-cut fries.
Current specials are “Texas-sized beef ribs” and a Mexican chicken plate on Friday, pork loin and pork chops on Saturday. Be sure to check the website for menu updates and other specials. Pig Pen BBQ also serves breakfast tacos, so if you’re in Dripping Springs in the morning, check them out—and feel free to mention we sent you, too.
Black Board Bar-B-Q in Sisterdale
If you think you haven’t had much reason to visit Sisterdale—a tiny, but historical, burg about 15 miles outside Boerne, you do now. BlackBoard Bar-B-Q is not the kind of restaurant you might typically expect to find in a rural setting, either. In addition to cooking up a superb Wagyu beef brisket, you can make a reservation (strongly recommended), and the sides are decidedly upscale. (Think Asian slaw and steamed sesame rolls.)
“I like having fun with the sides. Is it upscale ‘Southern fusion?’ I don’t know. Maybe?” said Jake Gandolfo, BlackBoard Bar-B-Q’s owner/chef back when we first met him a few years ago. That was back before folks like Texas Monthly discovered the place and shared it with the world.
Fortunately, even with new owners, the barbecue still holds up.
Want to go full-on Hill Country in Sisterdale? We suggest you pair your trip to BlackBoard with wine tastings at the nearby award-winning Sister Creek Vineyards and Saint Tryphon Farm & Vineyards.
This article original published in January 2022. It has been updated.
