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Austin Barbecue by the Numbers

Vital meat statistics

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Stiles Switch's barbecue array
Stiles Switch's barbecue array
Stiles Switch/Facebook
Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

In the city that truly loves barbecue, how much smoked meat is actually sold? What really runs out first at Franklin Barbecue? How much brisket does Stiles Switch crank through in a day? Which dessert is the favorite at Micklethwait Craft Meats?  In honor of Barbecue Week, Eater presents a by-the-numbers breakdown of barbecue at five different very popular joints.

Franklin Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue Franklin Barbecue/Official

Brisket: 10,662.24 pounds per week
Ribs: 1,823.30 pounds per week
Sausage: 1,200 pounds per week
Beans: 250 pounds dry, 600 pounds cooked per week
Potato salad: 750 pounds per week
Popular sandwich: Tipsy Texan
Popular dessert: bourbon banana pudding pie
What sells out first, second…?: pork ribs, turkey, pulled pork, brisket

Micklethwait Craft Meats

Cabbage and beans: 150 to 200 pounds per day
Popular order: two meat plate with brisket, ribs, coleslaw, and grits
Popular sides: jalapeno cheese grits, lemon poppyseed coleslaw
Popular sandwich: brisket
Popular dessert: moon pie
What sells out first, second…?: beef ribs, sausage, brisket
Highest number of orders in a day: 200 orders
Largest preorder: 1,000 people

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Red River

[Photo: <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/stubbs-bar-b-q-austin?select=rwaeNQEeNTvVc31_BIrGSQ">Helen L./Yelp</a>] [Photo: Helen L./Yelp]

Brisket: 700 pounds per day
Pork spare ribs: 200 racks per day
Sausage: 900 links per day
Pinto beans: 50 gallons per day
Serrano cheese spinach: 65 gallons per day
Potato salad: 70 gallons per day
Popular orders: Stubb’s family-style all-you-can-eat, with three meats and three sides
Popular sandwiches: half-lean, half-marbled brisket sandwich, pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw
Popular dessert: pecan pie a la mode
What sells out first?: Brisket
Highest number of orders in a day: over 3,500
Largest preorder: all-you-can-eat for 2,200 people

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew

Brisket: 3,000 pounds per week
Pork ribs: 240 racks per week
Beef ribs: 600 pounds per week
Sausage: 600 pounds per week
Beans: 150 pounds dry per week
Potatoes: 200 pounds per week
Popular order: brisket 
Popular sandwich: Diablo
Popular sides: corn casserole, dill potato salad
Popular dessert: chocolate banana pudding
Highest number of orders in a day: over 3,000 on a Saturday

Freedmen’s

Brisket: 1,000 pounds per week
Pork ribs: 500 pounds per week
Sausage: 160 pounds per week
Pinto beans: 100 pounds dry per week
Potatoes: 250 pounds per week
Cabbage: 250 pounds per week
Popular orders: Holy Trinity, Lunchbox
Popular sandwich: Lunchbox (lunch), Smoke Stack (dinner)
Popular dessert: smoked banana pudding
What sells out first, second…?: ribs, pulled pork, sausage, brisket
Largest preorder: 35 briskets and pork rib racks, 12 pork butts, and 50 to 60 pounds of sausage for a restaurant buy-out

Stubb's Bar-B-Q

801 Red River Street, , TX 78701 (737) 465-1218 Visit Website

Franklin Barbecue

900 East 11th Street, , TX 78702 (512) 653-1187 Visit Website

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew

6610 N Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757 Visit Website

Micklethwait Craft Meats

1309 Rosewood Avenue, , TX 78702 (512) 791-5961 Visit Website

Freedmen's

2402 San Gabriel Street, , TX 78705 (512) 220-0953 Visit Website