Aaron Franklin BBQ Visit & Other Great BBQ Spots In Texas!

damnfingers said:
Made me want to go back to San Antonio and eat something other than Mexican food!

Besides all the great BBQ I had on this trip I also had some amazing Steak Fajitas at La Margarita.

Overall good eating!

Greg
 
Wow, I just lived vicariously through you, Greg!  Thanks for the great Texas BBQ tour!! ;D  Brisket sausage???  That's WAY over the top!  Gonna have to see if I can find that online!
 
DivotMaker said:
Wow, I just lived vicariously through you, Greg!  Thanks for the great Texas BBQ tour!! ;D  Brisket sausage???  That's WAY over the top!  Gonna have to see if I can find that online!

Yea I surprised when I found the Brisket Sausage, looking forward to giving it a try!

Greg
 
Well I am back in Texas for a few days, so it is BBQ time.

I arrived yesterday around 1:30 pm and my first stop was John Mueller Meat Company in Austin. I made great time and arrived around 2:00 pm and to my surprise…

Nope not open and no sign of life at all, I was so close. Not willing to give up I decided to take a drive to Aaron Franklins place which is just down the street and see if I could score some brisket. The line was just a bit out the front door, but when I got in line, I noticed the front door had a sign saying sold out….

Not willing to give up and by now almost in BBQ shock, I decided I would try one more time, so I headed to Micklethwait Craft Meats. Arriving around 2:20 pm, there was a line but a short one. I decided since I was running short on time I would buy some Brisket to go. So I ordered 3 lbs. (not cut) with a couple of slices on the side.

All I can say is man these guys know what they are doing, the brisket is super juicy, tender and the taste is amazing. You can really taste a hit of ground pepper with each bite. While my rub has pepper in it, I plan to add an additional dusting on my next brisket.

The rest of the 3 lb. brisket, I have wrapped and will freeze and take home in a few days to share with friends.

The first photo is of John Muellers BBQ place, the others are from Micklethwait Craft Meats.



Greg
 
For dinner, we were downtown and decided to give Stubb's BBQ a try.

The reviews that rate this place on Tripadvisor as average are pretty spot on and our group of travelers all felt the BBQ was average at best.

For dinner we tried the Brisket, Ribs and Green Fried Tomatoes, Pinto Beans and Fries.  The Brisket while tender, lacked flavor and was not very juicy. The ribs while fall off the bone also lacked flavor. The green fried tomatoes were cut to thick and really did not have much flavor. The pinto beans, you guessed it lacked in flavor.

On the positive side the fresh cut fries were excellent and I have to say the sauce was tasty.

With so many really great BBQ places in Austin, I would give this place a pass.

I am hoping to make a stop at Blacks BBQ here in Austin in the next day or so. They started in Lockhart and now have opened up in Austin.




Greg
 
smokeasaurus said:
Aaron Franklin worked for John Mueller......I think he has one of Muellers pits at his place now..........

That is what I understand also, it's interesting that Mueller setup his operation very close to Franklins.

Greg
 
I just heard that thieves stole John Mueller Meat barbecue pit, this last week.

He has also been out of town attending and working the Q for a Cause charity fundraiser in Houston, so this may be why he was not opened yesterday.

So maybe when I am back in a few weeks I will give his Q a try.

Greg
 
Black’s BBQ Austin Location (this is their new location)

The original location is in Lockhart Texas, this has been a Family-run business since 1932 dishing brisket, ribs & links.

On my tour of BBQ places to eat in Austin, yesterday’s lunch stop was Black’s BBQ.

I ordered the Brisket and ribs with a side of beans. The Brisket was really tender and the ribs were fall off the bone (I thought the brisket could have been seasoned more). The pinto beans were good, just a hint of spiciness. Their sauce had a bit of tang and overall the lunch was tasty.

I considered buying some of their rub, but after looking at the ingredients I noticed that it had what I consider a high salt level (28 percent, they claim that it is very concentrated and just too lightly dust your meat) so I decided to pass.

Today’s lunch I plan to stop at La Barbeque, which is located in a food truck in downtown Austin.







Greg
 
Ok Greg, I had enough......................when's the BBQ crawl.............come on... somebody get it going
 
BedouinBob said:
Wow Greg, it must really be hard to have to go through that much BBQ. Suffering for the cause!  ::)  :)

Bob,

I am giving my best for our team here :)

Next week may be salad week..

Greg
 
Wow if you are looking for just one BBQ place to eat in Austin my choice would be have to be LA Barbeque.

While there are many really great places in Austin, this place really is really amazing.
Owner and Pitmaster John Lewis worked not only for Aaron Franklin but also John Mueller before he set out on his own and now runs his BBQ in Austin.

I arrived around 10:30 (Friday) and already there were 50 folks in line. While I waited I visited with many of the regulars and tried to decide what I would have for lunch.

While I waited (2 hours) they offered free Lone Star beer and brisket samples. By the time I was at the front of the line, I could hardly wait to sample the BBQ.

For lunch I ordered Brisket, a Beef Rib, Sausage and Chipotle Coleslaw (total price $40.00). While not a cheap lunch, the quantity and the quality of the food was outstanding.

The beef rib was the best I have ever had and the largest.

The brisket was very tasty, the sausage had a bit of a kick and the coleslaw was excellent.

Overall I was really happy with my lunch and even waiting 2 hours, seem like a deal.













Greg


 
Well my Austin trip wrapped up this morning as I fly home for a few weeks.

I normally don't eat breakfast but Salt Licks BBQ has a place in the Austin airport, so I had Brisket tacos with beans and cheese (Excellent)!

My next trip to Austin will be in two weeks and I plan to hit John Mueller's BBQ and maybe one other.

Greg

 
I did not see anyone mention Lamberts in downtown Austin. It was on someone's top 50 restaurants in the United States list a few years ago. We ate there and enjoyed it, but it is no Franklin's.
 
prudentsmoker said:
I did not see anyone mention Lamberts in downtown Austin. It was on someone's top 50 restaurants in the United States list a few years ago. We ate there and enjoyed it, but it is no Franklin's.

Brian,

We almost took some business clients there but ended up down the street at a Mexican place that was so so....

I will put Lamberts on my list, but John Mueller BBQ for sure in a few weeks and Freedmen's Bar (a craft bar with really good BBQ).

Greg
 
Clients??? So let me get this straight- you are eating some of the finest BBQ in the United States and deducting it? Do you need any help? I have been teaching Operations Management at the college level for over 10 years:)
 
prudentsmoker said:
Clients??? So let me get this straight- you are eating some of the finest BBQ in the United States and deducting it? Do you need any help? I have been teaching Operations Management at the college level for over 10 years:)

When I can you bet, expense it. But most of my customers are not willing to stand in a trailer line to get the best stuff :)

I will keep you in mind on my next trip ;)

Greg
 
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