Top 5 BBQ Joints in Central Texas

Now you can’t go to Texas and not try Texas barbeque! After all, Texas is known for its mouthwatering BBQ. I’m going to give y’all the rundown on some top barbeque places to try in central Texas. Barbequed meat has become the ultimate norm now, which means more and more incredible barbeque joints! Take a look at the top 5 BBQ joints in Central Texas of all time!

Rudy’s “Country Store” Bar-B-Q

In 1800, Rudolph, the son of Max Aue, opened a one-stop gas station, grocery store, and garage in Leon Springs. After a few years in 1989, Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q came into existence, which sits at the edge of Texas Hill Country, just north of San Antonio. This amazing BBQ joint in Central Texas is available throughout the southwest and has been serving incredible food ever since its inception. The BBQ joint serves the same original recipes from before and uses pits that are 100% wood-fired with oak to allow a slower burning BBQ process. One of its key features is that it cooks with a dry spice and serves each dish with a special sauce. Some of the most popular items on its menu include pulled pork sandwich, brisket, baby back ribs, and turkey breast, to name a few.

Hays County BBQ

Previously known as Woody’s, a famous BBQ joint in San Marcos, Texas that was opened in 1984 was later taken over by the Hernandez family in 2007. Eventually, in 2011, the name was changed to Hays Co. Bar-B-Que and Catering. This BBQ joint is known to prepare its food low and slow so that the meat is absolutely tender and flavorful. This cooking process is what makes the food absolutely delicious and mouthwatering at Hays County BBQ. Some favorites from its menu include pork chops, brisket, beef ribs, pulled pork sandwich, and sliced brisket sandwich, among many others!

Black’s Barbeque

This is one of the oldest BBQ joints of Texas that has been serving for over three generations. It was originally started in Lockhart, TX, by the Black family and now has three other locations in Austin, New Braunfels, and San Marcos. It has been around since 1932 and has been serving delicious food ever since then with the same original, authentic BBQ flavors as before. Some of its most popular items include chopped beef, brisket, turkey breast, pork spare ribs, and pulled pork.

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

What started as a great love for family and food eventually transformed into a famous BBQ joint in Texas, known as Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ. The joint came into existence when Miguel Vidal of the Vidal family took his family’s values and applied them to his work. The entire family itself takes great pride in cooking spectacular food on every possible occasion. Given the family’s long-standing tradition to BBQ on special occasions, the restaurant also depicts the same spirit and tradition. Valentina’s has a super unique menu that features grass-fed natural Angus beef and Berkridge Berkshire pork, which is the finest quality pork on the market. Its menu is one of the many factors that give it an edge over other BBQ joints with its Tex Mex flare. 

Franklin Barbeque

The two brains behind Franklin Barbeque, one of the topmost BBQ joints in central Texas are Aaron Franklin and Stacy Franklin. Aaron is also known as one of the most influential pit-masters in the United States. In 2015, he was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest. Stacy, on the other hand, is an entrepreneur by heart and is now co-owner and chief operating officer of Franklin Barbecue. Their BBQ joint came into existence due to their great interest in the backyard cookouts that they would often throw. Eventually, this led them to open a small BBQ trailer on the side of an interstate in Austin, Texas. And that’s how the Franklin Barbeque was celebrated! Aaron is also co-author of the New York Times bestselling book, Franklin Barbecue, A Meat-Smoking Manifesto, and Franklin Steak. The most popular items on their menu are brisket, ribs, turkey, and pulled pork.