I remember many years ago Sonny Bryan’s on Harry Hines was a great place to go and get a brisket sandwich and onion rings (mind you, I’m talking late 80s-early 90s). The other non-chain options were the original Baker’s Ribs in Deep Ellum, and Peggy Sue. We thought these were good because the other options were places like Dickey’s, Colters and at some point Rudy’s. Oh — and Spring Creek and Red Hot and Blue (ugh). In Fort Worth it was Angelo’s, Riscky’s and Cousins. MId-CIties had North Main, which was great only because it was all you can eat. We nitpick about bbq now because we can, and have better choices, but didn’t really know that Sonny Bryan’s and Bakers were just OK.
Not that different in Austin (where I live now). 15 years ago there was Mueller’s on Manor, when he showed up and had meat. Franklin’s trailer didn’t hit until 2009. Austin was a bbq wasteland. You had to go to Lockhart or Taylor. I remember thinking that Salt Lick was really good (it’s not terrible, just not as good as it seemed at the time. More about hanging out and drinking beer).