Best BBQ in Austin: Where the Line Is Worth It

Everyone who visits Austin asks the same question: is the Franklin line actually worth it? Short answer, sometimes. The real answer is that the best BBQ in Austin is spread across a half dozen spots now, and most of them will not cost you a morning of your life. Here is where to go and what to order.

Franklin Barbecue: Still the Benchmark

Franklin is still Franklin. Salt and pepper brisket, smoked overnight, sold until it runs out. The line starts forming around 8am for an 11am open at 900 E 11th St, and on a Saturday you are looking at three to five hours. If you go, go on a weekday, bring a chair and a cooler, and order the fatty brisket. One visit is worth doing once. Repeat visits are for people with flexible jobs.

LeRoy and Lewis: The Michelin Star That Earned It

LeRoy and Lewis on South First started as a food truck doing new-school cuts and now holds a Michelin star and a top ranking on the Texas Monthly list. The beet BBQ sauce sounds like a gimmick and is not. Order the beef cheeks if they have them, and do not skip the cauliflower burnt ends. Prices run higher than average, about $34 a pound for brisket, but the cooking backs it up.

InterStellar BBQ: The North Austin Move

InterStellar sits in a strip mall off 183 in Northwest Austin and turns out brisket that trades punches with anyone in town. The move here is the scratch-made sides and the peach tea glazed pork belly. Lines exist but they move, and you can usually eat within 45 minutes of showing up. If you live north and have not been, this is your spot.

No Line, Still Great: Terry Black's and la Barbecue

Terry Black's on Barton Springs Rd is the answer when someone lands at 2pm on a Tuesday and wants great brisket in 20 minutes. It is open until 9pm and rarely sells out. la Barbecue on E Cesar Chavez smokes its brisket 14 to 16 hours and the chipotle slaw earns its spot on the tray. Neither requires planning your day around lunch.

New in 2026: Two Goose and Stack City

Two Goose BBQ opened in January at 706 N Lamar Blvd in a rebuilt vintage Spartan trailer with the smoker installed inside. The pitch is blue collar prices during the week and prime cuts on weekends, which makes it one of the cheaper quality trays in town. And SLAB rebranded as Stack City BBQ up north in February, same sandwiches, new name. Both are worth a stop before the crowds figure them out.

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: BBQ plans change fast when a spot sells out at 1pm. Check the Eats section of the ATX Weekly app before you drive across town, and save your favorites so you always have a backup tray within ten minutes.