Expert Austin Sandwich Shop Is Turning Into a Barbecue Restaurant

One of the city’s essential sandwich shops, Noble Sandwich Co., is turning its original location into a barbecue restaurant on 12233 Ranch Road 620, Suite #105 in far northwest Austin. Interstellar BBQ, which has been operating as a barbecue pop-up since the summer by co-owners and co-chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez, will open sometime in January 2019.

An Eater tipster noticed signage on the door of Noble Sandwich, which stated that the co-owners/co-chefs wanted to “try something new.” Noble Sandwich’s last day on 620 is on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24.

Interstellar has been smoking up the usuals (brisket, pulled pork shoulder, sausages), and other items like red pepper chicken, white queso, and all sorts of sides (pinto beans, slaws, salads), since July. Pop-ups have been held in places like Jester King Brewery and even Noble Sandwich Co.

The duo isn’t new to smoking meats either. The shop’s menu includes sandwich fillings include that famous smoked duck pastrami, smoked pork belly, roast beef, and barbecue-perfect pickled vegetables.

Noble Sandwich’s Burnet Road restaurant will remain a sandwich shop. It’s also focusing on opening its Austin-Bergstrom International Airport location too, pegged for 2019 as well.

Bates (who is a former chef of Italian restaurant Asti) and Martinez opened Noble on 620 back in 2010, followed by the Brentwood shop in 2014. They were going to expand into Georgetown, but those plans were nixed as of the spring.

This article has been updated to reflect Noble Sandwich/Interstellar BBQ’s correct 620 address.

• Interstellar BBQ [Instagram]
• All Coverage of Noble Sandwich Co. 620 [EATX]
• All Coverage of Noble Sandwich Co. [EATX]