Austin Barbecue Joints Share Their Craziest Customer Requests

Ordering barbecue is simple: get a whole bunch of meat, slices of bread, pickles, some sides and desserts, and you’re set. Sometimes, though, customers forget where they are, what they're in the mood for, and sometimes change their minds. Eater asked Austin barbecue restaurants and trailers for the strangest orders ever placed at their counters.

Franklin Barbecue

Someone said, "I’ll have the fried chicken plate," and another asked, "Just give me a burger."

Micklethwait Craft Meats

"A customer wanted to fly his helicopter to the trailer to pick up beef ribs, but couldn’t find a suitable landing spot."

Freedmen’s

Someone asked: "Can you smoke these briskets that I bought at HEB for me for free? Also, you can't use any black pepper."

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q

Many upside down Frito pies for Rachael Ray’s Feedback party during SXSW this year at the restaurant/venue.

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew

The barbecue restaurant had to make 1,000 Buford T's Diablo sandwiches for an UberEats giveaway during SXSW. Everything was made two hours before Stiles opened for the day.