The Anderson Mill-adjacent restaurant from John Bates and Brandon Martinez (of the long-gone Noble Sandwich Co.) was named the second-best barbecue joint in the state by Texas Monthly. The menu meats-by-weight (including sliced or chopped brisket), sandwiches, and tacos. The sides are particularly great as well. Expect lines.
Service-style: Counter-service with indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; takeout orders placed in person.
Days and hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. until everything is sold out.
Recommended orders: Pork ribs, beef kielbasa, tipsy turkey, peach tea-glazed pork belly, tomato-zucchini salad, smoked scalloped potatoes.

The Brentwood barbecue restaurant is a prime spot with actual seating that is focused on good smoked meats, plenty of daily specials like smoked prime rib, sandwiches, crispy half-chickens with Alabama white sauce, and solid desserts. Lead pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick trained under Bob Mueller in Taylor. There’s a second location up in Cedar Park, and a Cajun-focused offshoot out in Dripping Springs.
Service-style: Counter-service with Indoor and patio dine-in areas; takeout orders placed online or in-person.
Days and hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Recommended orders: beef ribs, pork ribs, turkey, barbecue sandwiches, peach cobbler.

The Austin branch of the renowned Lockhart barbecue destination will have to do for those who can’t make the trip down to the smoked meat capital of Texas. Find the same very good menu at this local spot from the Black family.
Service-style: Counter-service with indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; takeout orders placed online or in-person; third-party deliveries.
Days and hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Recommended orders: beef ribs (only available for on-site ordering), brisket, barbecue chicken, sausages.

Everyone knows about the long lines at Franklin Barbecue — it’s been well documented — but for many, it’s worth the wait for those perfect briskets from pitmaster Aaron Franklin. For those looking to plan ahead, it accepts preorders. For an Asian-y take on the famed brisket, head over to Loro, Franklin’s other restaurant in collaboration with lauded Austin Japanese restaurant Uchi.
Service-style: Counter-service with indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; takeout orders placed in-person; advanced preorders online; national shipping.
Days and hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. until sold out (typically around 2 to 3 p.m.)
Recommended orders: brisket, beef ribs, turkey, sausage, bourbon-banana pie.

Pitmasters owner Tom Micklethwait and Ren Garcia serve up thoughtful smoked meats at this Central East Austin food truck. Expect the staples (brisket, Tex-Czech sausages, ribs), as well as barbacoa. The standout sides round out the meal, like lemon-poppy slaw and jalapeno cheese grits. The revamped space now features an on-site bar Saddle Up and sibling truck Taco Bronco.
Service-style: Food truck service with an outdoor dine-in area; takeout orders placed online or in-person; national shipping.
Days and hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. until sold out.
Recommended orders: sausage, barbacoa, beef ribs.

While a newcomer to the city’s barbecue world, chef Damien Brockway and his Govalle truck have already made a huge impression (one of Eater’s best new restaurants of 2021 and Eater Austin’s food truck of 2021. The menu honors and explores what modern African-American fare really is with a Texas lens, which leads to items such as pulled pork served alongside tamarind barbecue sauce and brisket with a smoked mustard butter sauce.
Service-style: Food truck service with indoor and outdoor dine-in areas courtesy of host site Meanwhile Brewing; takeout orders placed in person.
Days and hours: Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. or until sold out.
Recommended orders: Brisket, chicken, burnt ends.

The barbecue menu at the Holly truck, courtesy of pitmaster Bill Kerlin and Amelis Kerlin, is a solid one with Likewise, their other East Austin truck, Kerlaches on Webberville Road, offers up a Texan’s dream come true: brisket stuffed into kolaches.
Service-style: Food truck service with an outdoor dine-in area; takeout orders placed in person or email at orders@kerlinbbq.com with 72-hour notice.
Days and hours: Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until sold out.
Recommended orders: brisket, barbecue kolache, pork belly burnt ends.

The Holly barbecue restaurant from LeAnn Mueller has a new permanent home befitting the funky cool vibes. On deck are beautiful briskets, ribs, and house-made sausages, plus beers and cocktails.
Service-style: Counter-service with indoor and patio dine-in areas; takeout orders placed online or in-person.
Days and hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m to 6 p.m.
Recommended orders: brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs, sausages, Bobby Dawg, shells and cheese, pickles.

The new-school barbecue trailer and Eater Austin’s food truck of 2017 from pitmaster Evan LeRoy offers up twists on the usual smoked meats classics. Think beef cheeks, halved avocados stuffed with barbacoa, cauliflower burnt ends, cheddar cheesecake, and more.
Service-style: Food truck service with outdoor and indoor dine-in areas courtesy of host site Cosmic Coffee; takeout orders placed in person.
Days and hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. or until sold out.
Recommended orders: beef cheeks, barbacoa, burger, cauliflower burnt ends, cheddar cheesecake.

The far south Austin food truck from pitmaster Miguel Vidal mashes up two of the city’s favorite foods into one mega-meal. Delicious meats like smoked brisket or pulled pork can be found in tacos or sandwiches.
Service-style: Food truck service with outdoor dine-in areas available; takeout orders placed in person.
Days and hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until sold out, with breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
Recommended orders: brisket, Real Deal Holyfield breakfast taco, smoked brisket taco.